NEBULIZER, A CONTROL UNIT FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME AND A METHOD OF OPERATING A NEBULIZER

摘要

There is provided a method of operating a nebulizer, the method comprising controlling an actuator in the nebulizer to operate in a pulsed operation mode; measuring the sound produced by the nebulizer during operation; and using the measurement of the sound as an indication of the performance of the nebulizer. A control unit for a nebulizer that is configured to perform this method is also described.

主权项

1. A method of operating a nebulizer, the method comprising:
outputting a control signal to an actuator in the nebulizer to control the actuator to operate in a pulsed operation mode; wherein the control signal causes the actuator to periodically actuate at a first frequency for a first number of cycles of the first frequency during an active portion and to be at rest for a second number of cycles of the first frequency during a rest portion, the pulsed operation mode having a period equal to the combined length of an active portion and a rest portion, measuring the sound produced by the nebulizer when the actuator is operating in the pulsed operation mode; processing the measurement of the sound to extract an audible tone associated with the operation of the nebulizer, the audible tone having a frequency generally corresponding to the inverse of the period of the pulsed operation mode; and using the volume or level of the audible tone as an indication of the performance of the nebulizer.