SLIT VALVE FOR NEBULIZER GAS JET

摘要

A nebulizer (10) has a housing (12,14) including an aerosol outlet (22) and a bottom wall (52) with a side wall (50) connected thereto defining a reservoir (54) for a liquid (106). A gas jet (58) extends along a longitudinal axis (60) of the housing (12,14) and through the bottom wall (52) of the housing (12,14), the gas jet (58) defining a gas flow lumen (66) having a gas orifice (64) at its distal end. A liquid nozzle (16) having a liquid orifice (102) at a distal end corresponding to the distal end of the gas jet (58) surrounds the gas jet (58). The liquid orifice (102) is spaced from the gas orifice (64) for nebulization of liquid (106) fed to the liquid orifice (102). A diaphragm (126) made of an elastomer has a slit (130) which is biased closed. Cooperating shoulders between the diaphragm (126) and the gas flow lumen (66) maintain the diaphragm (126) in the gas flow lumen (66) with the slit (130) transverse the length of the lumen.