End-of-dose detection in nebulizers

    公开(公告)号:US10967138B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-04-06

    申请号:US15762387

    申请日:2016-09-22

    Abstract: A digital processor of a nebulizer controller controls and monitors drive current (I) applied to an aperture plate. The drive current is detected as a series of discrete values at each of multiple measuring points, each having a particular drive frequency The processor in real time calculates a slope or rate of change of drive current with frequency and additionally determines a minimum value for drive current leading up to the peak value. The processor uses both the value of the minimum drive current during the scan and also the maximum slope value to achieve reliable prediction of end of dose, when the aperture plate becomes dry.

    PHOTODEFINED APERTURE PLATE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME

    公开(公告)号:US20200347507A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-11-05

    申请号:US16852692

    申请日:2020-04-20

    Inventor: Hong XU

    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing an aperture plate includes depositing a releasable seed layer above a substrate, applying a first patterned photolithography mask above the releasable seed layer, the first patterned photolithography mask having a negative pattern to a desired aperture pattern, electroplating a first material above the exposed portions of the releasable seed layer and defined by the first mask, applying a second photolithography mask above the first material, the second photolithography mask having a negative pattern to a first cavity, electroplating a second material above the exposed portions of the first material and defined by the second mask, removing both masks, and etching the releasable seed layer to release the first material and the second material. The first and second material form an aperture plate for use in aerosolizing a liquid. Other aperture plates and methods of producing aperture plates are described according to other embodiments.

    Photodefined aperture plate and method for producing the same

    公开(公告)号:US10662543B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-05-26

    申请号:US15001551

    申请日:2016-01-20

    Inventor: Hong Xu

    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an aperture plate includes depositing a releasable seed layer above a substrate, applying a first patterned photolithography mask above the releasable seed layer, the first patterned photolithography mask having a negative pattern to a desired aperture pattern, electroplating a first material above the exposed portions of the releasable seed layer and defined by the first mask, applying a second photolithography mask above the first material, the second photolithography mask having a negative pattern to a first cavity, electroplating a second material above the exposed portions of the first material and defined by the second mask, removing both masks, and etching the releasable seed layer to release the first material and the second material. The first and second material form an aperture plate for use in aerosolizing a liquid. Other aperture plates and methods of producing aperture plates are described.

    HIGH FLOW NASAL THERAPY SYSTEM
    74.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20200155788A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-05-21

    申请号:US16750507

    申请日:2020-01-23

    Abstract: A high flow nasal therapy system (1) has a gas supply (2), a nebulizer (12), and a nasal interface (7). There are two branches (11, 10) and a valve (6) linked with the controller, the branches including a first branch (11) for delivery of aerosol and a second branch (10) for delivery of non-aerosolized gas. The controller controls delivery into the branches (11, 10), in which flow is unidirectional in the first and second branches, from the gas supply towards the nasal interface. The first branch (11) includes the nebulizer (12) and a line configured to store a bolus of aerosol during flow through the second branch (10). The valve (6) comprises a Y-junction between the gas inlet on one side and the branches on the other side.

    END-OF-DOSE DETECTION IN NEBULIZERS
    75.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20180256829A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-09-13

    申请号:US15762387

    申请日:2016-09-22

    Abstract: A digital processor of a nebulizer controller controls and monitors drive current (I) applied to an aperture plate. The drive current is detected as a series of discrete values at each of multiple measuring points, each having a particular drive frequency The processor in real time calculates a slope or rate of change of drive current with frequency and additionally determines a minimum value for drive current leading up to the peak value. The processor uses both the value of the minimum drive current during the scan and also the maximum slope value to achieve reliable prediction of end of dose, when the aperture plate becomes dry.

    METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN APERTURE PLATE
    77.
    发明申请
    METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN APERTURE PLATE 审中-公开
    生产孔板的方法

    公开(公告)号:US20150336115A1

    公开(公告)日:2015-11-26

    申请号:US14719036

    申请日:2015-05-21

    Abstract: An aperture plate is manufactured by plating metal around a mask of resist columns having a desired size, pitch, and profile, which yields a wafer about 60 μm thickness. This is approximately the full desired target aperture plate thickness. The plating is continued so that the metal overlies the top surfaces of the columns until the desired apertures are achieved. This needs only one masking/plating cycle to achieve the desired plate thickness. Also, the plate has passageways formed beneath the apertures, formed as an integral part of the method, by mask material removal. These are suitable for entrainment of aerosolized droplets exiting the apertures.

    Abstract translation: 通过在具有期望的尺寸,间距和轮廓的抗蚀剂柱的掩模上镀覆金属来制造孔板,其产生约60μm厚度的晶片。 这大约是完全期望的目标孔板厚度。 继续进行电镀,使得金属覆盖在柱的顶表面上,直到达到所需的孔。 这只需要一个掩模/电镀周期来实现所需的板厚度。 此外,板具有形成在孔下方的通道,其形成为该方法的整体部分,通过掩模材料去除。 这些适合于夹带离开孔的雾化液滴。

    AEROSOL DELIVERY SYSTEM
    78.
    发明申请
    AEROSOL DELIVERY SYSTEM 审中-公开
    航空运输系统

    公开(公告)号:US20150122248A1

    公开(公告)日:2015-05-07

    申请号:US14530173

    申请日:2014-10-31

    Abstract: A system for delivery of aerosol therapy to spontaneously breathing patients comprises a housing which defines a chamber. The housing has a base, a top and a main body extending between the base and the top. An ambient air inlet is located adjacent to the base and is normally closed by an inlet valve. The housing also has a patient port for receiving a mouthpiece or a face mask. The mouthpiece has an exhaust outlet closed by an exhaust valve. Similarly, the face mask has an exhaust outlet closed by an exhaust valve. Exhaled air is exhausted through the valves and to prevent recirculation through the chamber which would adversely affect dose efficiencies. The housing also has an aerosol port for receiving a vibrating mesh aerosol generating device. The aerosol port is located in a side of the main body of the housing for delivery of aerosol into the chamber between the inlet valve and the patient port. A boss extends upwardly from the base and is spaced-apart inwardly of the main body of the housing to define a reception space or well.

    Abstract translation: 用于将气溶胶疗法递送到自发呼吸患者的系统包括限定腔室的壳体。 壳体具有在基部和顶部之间延伸的基部,顶部和主体。 环境空气入口位于基座附近,并且通常由入口阀封闭。 外壳还具有用于接收口器或面罩的患者口。 接口具有由排气阀关闭的排气口。 类似地,面罩具有由排气阀封闭的排气口。 呼出的空气通过阀排出,并防止通过室的再循环,这将不利地影响剂量效率。 壳体还具有用于接收振动网孔气溶胶发生装置的气溶胶口。 气溶胶口位于壳体的主体的一侧,用于将气溶胶输送到入口阀和患者端口之间的腔室中。 凸台从基座向上延伸并且与壳体的主体向内间隔开以限定接收空间或井。

    METHOD OF PRODUCING AN APERTURE PLATE FOR A NEBULIZER
    79.
    发明申请
    METHOD OF PRODUCING AN APERTURE PLATE FOR A NEBULIZER 审中-公开
    生产用于网络的孔板的方法

    公开(公告)号:US20150101596A1

    公开(公告)日:2015-04-16

    申请号:US14401480

    申请日:2013-05-24

    Inventor: Brendan Hogan

    Abstract: A photo-resist (21) is applied in a pattern of vertical columns having the dimensions of holes or pores of the aperture plate to be produced. This mask pattern provides the apertures which define the aerosol particle size, having up to 2500 holes per square mm. There is electro-deposition of metal (22) into the spaces around the columns (21). There is further application of a second photo-resist mask (25) of much larger (wider and taller) columns, encompassing the area of a number of first columns (21). The hole diameter in the second plating layer is chosen according to a desired flow rate.

    Abstract translation: 光刻胶(21)以要制造的孔板的孔或孔的尺寸的垂直列的图案施加。 该掩模图形提供限定气溶胶颗粒尺寸的孔,每平方毫米具有多达2500个孔。 将金属(22)电沉积到柱(21)周围的空间中。 进一步应用包括多个第一列(21)的区域的更大(更宽和更高)的列的第二光刻胶掩模(25)。 根据期望的流速选择第二镀层中的孔直径。

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