NEBULIZER WITH FLOW-BASED FLUIDIC CONTROL AND RELATED METHODS

摘要

Various embodiments of a breath-activated nebulizer with flow-based fluidic control and related methods of using such a nebulizer are disclosed. The nebulizer (10) may include a body (20) comprising a reservoir (22) for holding medication (30), a nozzle (74) for emitting a jet of pressurized gas, and a fluid conduit (26) in communication with the reservoir for delivery of the medication proximate the jet to produce an aerosol of medication. The nebulizer may also include a nebulizer outlet (40) in communication with the body for delivery of the aerosol to a patient, an entrainment passage (28) for providing entrainment flow from atmosphere during inhalation by the patient, and a control conduit (77) in fluid communication with the fluid conduit for delivery of a control gas to the fluid conduit to prevent the delivery of the medication proximate the jet. In some exemplary embodiments, the control conduit may comprise a gas passage proximate the entrainment passage to allow the control gas to flow across the entrainment passage. During the inhalation by the patient, the entrainment flow through the entrainment passage may substantially prevent the control gas from flowing across the entrainment passage so as to interrupt the delivery of the control gas to the fluid conduit.