WO2015119588A1

WO2015119588A1 - Wearable nebulizer

Info

Publication number: WO2015119588A1
Application number: PCT/TR2015/000043
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kuralkan HAMİT KANUNİ; Kuralkan BEKİR
Original assignee: Gama Araştirma Patent Tasarim Ve Endüstri̇yel Ürünler San. Ti̇c. Ltd.Şti̇.
Priority date: 2014-02-10
Filing date: 2015-02-09
Publication date: 2015-08-13

Abstract

The invention particularly relates to a wearable nebulizer (10), which operates via a rechargeable power source positioned into a power unit (50), without being connected to the electrical system during its functioning. A nebulization unit (30) and the power unit (50) are separated and connected via a connection cable (60). The nebulization unit (30) can be connected to the patient via a mask (20) or a mouthpiece and the power unit (50) can be worn by the patient through wearing means (70). The invention provides, at the same time, a separation of inhalable fine particles (90) from coarse particles (80) in order to make only the fine particles (90) reaching the patient. A collection chamber (40.1) collects the coarse particles (80), which can be afterwards re-introduced into the medicine chamber (30.2) of the nebulization unit (30).

Description

DESCRIPTION

WEARABLE NEBULIZER

The Related Art

The present invention relates to easy-to-use mobile nebulizer device, which converts a therapeutic dose of a liquid medicine into an aerosol vapour in the form of respirable particles, and facilitates their intake and delivery to the lungs via respiration as quick as possible.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a nebulize device, which enables connection of the mask or mouthpiece providing respiration with the medicine unit where the medicine is placed, and disintegrating the liquid medicine into respirable particles of vapour form, which is mobilized without the need for being held by hand by means of a connection to the electronic unit required for operation of the device, and which comprises an apparatus positioned between the units and providing separation of coarse particles. The Prior Art

Recently, use of medicine via rtebuiization is being preferred more and more due to advantages such as local and quick effect, use of medicine at a lower dose, and the scarcity of side effects compared to systemic drug use.

These are devices that provide effective- administration of medicine to infants, patients who can not be administered a measured dose, and patients with severe asthma.

Nebuiizator devices vaporize liquid-form medicine via sound waves, a contracting- and-loQsening plate, or pressurized air. and thus enable their intake by respiration.

3 Types of nebulizers are used in the prior art. Jet nebulizers, ultrasonic nebulizers, and vibrating mesh nebulizers are used in the prior art. Jet nebulizers continuously generate aerosol at the moments of inhalation, exhalation, and holding breath. Ultrasonic nebulizers generate aerosol particles via high frequency vibration of the piezoelectric crystal. The electric current reaching the piezo electric crystal form a high frequency vibration at the crystal. This vibration causes emission of high frequency sound waves, which impact on the top surface of the liquid and turn it into aerosol. Vibrating mesh nebulizers comprise a plate which contracts and loosens when in contact with electric current. Approximately 1000 perforations are found on this plate, through which aerosol medicine particles are formed by micro spraying.

Nebulizers are used with a mouthpiece or a mask.

Nowadays, nebulizers are used as plugged in or their power demands are met by means of batteries .

Jet nebulizers are based on the idea of passage of a gas, which is pushed strongly via an electrical compressor, or which is pre-compressed (via oxygen or air), through a small hole called a, and converting the liquid found around this hole into vapor-mist form by suction via negative pressure while passing through the hole. The electrical compressor is required to be plugged in continuously.

In this case, the device is required to be used in close position to a plug-socket or via an interconnecting cable. Besides, these devices are quite noisy and heavy, since they also use compressor for compressing air.

With recent improvements, ultrasonic and mesh nebulizers are developed, which can be used with the help of a battery and thus without being plugged in, They can be used externally with rechargeable power sources.

Ultrasonic and mesh nebulizers are smaller and quieter, and they provide faster nebu!ization, while not changing the concentration of the remaining medicine. They are particularly suitable for children and home-treatment purposes. During use of these devices, mask and mouthpiece are used, and especially in mesh nebulizers, the unit ensuring nebulizaiion is required to be used in connection with a mask or mouthpiece.

In this case, the whole device is required to be hold manually together with the mask and kept in a fixed position durin the treatment. Since the medicine is required to be taken by respiration, during the nebuiization process, the device is required to he held properly at th mouth region in order to provide proper intake of the medicine, and in some medicine types, to prevent harm on the face region. In the prior art systems, the nebuiization unit disintegrating the medicine and ensuring respiration, and comprising the power and medicine chambers is found as a single body, where the mask or mouthpiece is used by being connected to this body. This situation necessitates the whole device being heid by the patient or somebody else during the treatment. Use of the device together with its main body does not permit holding the mask by putting it on the head.

Considering that these kind of devices are used for 10-25 minutes for treatment purposes according to the type of the medicine, the course of treatment, and the type of disease, and considering the weakness and fatigue of the patient, and use of the device on children, maintaining the device in fixed position around th mouth region together with the whole device bod within the set time period would be difficult, and thus improvement is necessitated in the relevant technical field.

Moreover, since the nebuiization devices used in the prior art disintegrate the medicine by various methods, particles of different sizes occur in each case. Standard and uniform-size particles can not be formed. During respiration, particles of different sizes may stick on different parts of the mouth, throat, and trachea of the patient due to the difference in their sizes and weights. Especially coarse particles have limited mobility due to their weight, and thus they might stick on the mouth and trachea of the patient before they reach the lungs.

Among the particles of various sizes obtained with the prior art nebuiization devices, while finer particles reach the depths of the lungs, the coarser particles stick especially on the throat of the patient with the impact of the centrifugal force.

This may lead to situations where non-negligible amounts of the medicine are not delivered and the medicine is used belo the required dosages, and thus has negative effect on the relief and recovery of the patient. Moreover, since this situation can not be controlled and the actual amount of medicine delivered can not be- determined, it may have negative effects on the use of the medicine and the situation of the patient. Since the patient can not take the adequate dose and can not feel relief, he/she may tend to use the medicine again, 5 and thus consumption of the medicine increases, and furthermore, other kinds of illnesses may occur as a result of the residue medicine stuck on the throat or that would reach the stomach as a result of swallowing.

When the prior art embodiments and the relevant applications are examined, complicated and high-cost systems and nebulizer systems where transmission is SO ensured to the mask via an interconnection cable fixed on the power unit are encountered-

Moreover, when the prior art embodiments and relevant applications ar examined, systems for disintegrating the medicine into particles and facilitating its respiration via various means are encountered.

15 The crucial points in the nebuiization devices that are especially manufactured for use at home are to provide intake of medicine effectively via respiration, and at the same time ensure ease of use and facilitate control of the dosage of medicine taken. It is desired to provide ease of operation for the user and simple and light components to be used in the mechanism for complete grasp on the device during use.

!⁽⁾ When the intended purposes of nebulizer devices are considered, another point of great importance is to ensure delivery of effective dose to the lungs.

At this point, the mechanism of the present invention is a mobile nebuiization device, which is easy to use to meet all the demands, measures the amount of medicine taken, and provides respiration of suitable particles by separating particles Of different :5 sizes and weights.

Purpose and Brief Description of the invention

Purpose of the invention is to provide use of nebulizers, which operate via rechargeable internal or external power sources positioned on a main body, without being plugged in, such that the nebuiization unit and the body would be separated during use, and to provide effective use of medicine by separating respirab!e and coarse particles and providing re-use thereof.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide use of the mask and the nebulization unit together without being held manually and by being fixed without the need for holding during use.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide separation of the medicine particles of different sizes and weights formed in the nebulization device.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide recovery and re-use of coarse particles.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide delivery of the required dosage to the lungs of the patient with the least possible loss.

Another purpose of the invention is to eliminate the loss and other sickness effects to be caused by coarse particles during use.

With the present invention, in the nebulizers which can be used via internal or external power sources without being plugged in, the use of the nebulization unit in connection with the mask and without being held manually is facilitated by means of forming a connection between the unit that provides the required power for nebulization and the unit that provides nebulization, the hands of the user are freed and thus intake of medicine is facilitated, and moreover, separation of the medicine particles of different sizes and weights formed in the nebulization device and recovery and re~use of coarse particles ar provided, and deliver of the required dosage to the lungs of the patient with the least possible loss is also provided while eliminating the loss and other sickness effects to be caused by coarse particles during use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 gives the mounted view of all parts of the nebulizer device,

Figure 2 gives the mounting details of the mask and the nebulizatio unit.

Figure 3 gives the sid view of the mounted state of the mask and the nebulization unit.

Figure 4 gives the perspective view of the adaptor.

Figure 5 gives the side view of the adaptor. Figure 6 gives the representative view of the adaptor particie direction. Figure 7 gives the view of the adaptor mounting pieces,

REFERENCE NUMBERS

10. Wearable Nebulizer device

20. Mask

30. Nebuiszation unit

30.1. Plug

30.2. Medicine .chamber

40. Adaptor

40.1. Collection chamber

40.1.1. Housing

40.3. Inlet direction

40.4. Receiving surface

50. Power unit

50.1 On/Off button

50.2. Charge indicator

50.3 USB connection port

50.4. Hanger connection

50.5. Warning lamp

60. Connection cable

70. Hanger

70.1 Lock

80. Coarse particie

90. Fine particle DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention particularl relates to providing use of a nebuiization unit (30) and a power unit (50) in nebulizers that can operat via a rechargeable internai or external power source positioned in the power unit (5:0), without being plugged in, and at the same time, ensuring effective use of medicine fay separating respirable fine particles (90) and coarse particles (80) and then re-use thereof.

The invention has the same operating principle with the ultrasonic and mesh nebulizer devices described in the prior art as comprising internai and external power source and usable without being plugged in, so that it provides ease of carrying an use in addition to ensuring effective use of and saving from medicine.

The wearable nebulizer device (10) is formed of the pieces, general views of which are given in Figure 1.

The power unit (50) meets the energy demand of the device. It operates with a battery or a rechargeable battery,

The power unit (50) comprises an on/off button (50.1) that enables turning the device on and off, a charge indicator (50.2) that rs off when the device is fully charged and on while the device is being charged, a micro USB connection port (50,3) that enables charging of the device easily through a computer or a plug, a hanger connection (50.4) where the lock (70.1) of the hanger (70). which facilitates being wearable and mobile and facilitates wearing on the user's neck, is mounted, and a warning lamp (50.5) showing the operating status of the product.

The power unit (50) is carried by being positioned on the neck of the user via the hanger (70).

Moreover, it is made of a long-life and light battery. It provides the required energy for the nebu!izatidn unit (30). Following placement of the power unit on the neck of the user, energy is transmitted via the connection cable (6G),

In this way, the nebuiization unit (30) and the power unit (50) can be separated from each other, so that ease of carrying and usage is obtained.

Differing from the prior art devices, the nebuiization unit (30) is not connected directly to the power unit (50), and energy is transmitted through a connection cable (60), so that use of the nebulization unit (50) by being connected to the mask (20) is provided. in this way, the power unit (50), which forms most of the weight of the device required to be held during use could be made mobile and easy to handle.

The nebulization unit (30), which is actually light, and which provides conversion of the liquid into particles and respiration thereof, is separated and directly connected to the mask (20), In this way_; treatment can be made without the requirement for the patient to hold anything by hand.

Medicine to be used in treatment is placed into the medicine chamber (30.2) found on the nebulization unit (30). The plug (30.1) is placed and the device is made ready for use. Aerosol medicine particles are formed by means of micro spraying via contraction and loosening of the plate having 1000 perforations, when electric current is transmitted to the nebulization unit (30) through the connection cable (60).

In order to deliver the particles to the lungs quickly and in proper amounts, the nebulization unit (30) needs to be found at the closest distance from the mask (20).

The particles formed are delivered to the lungs during respiration by means connecting the mask (20) to the nebulization unit (30) front part or being transmitted via the adaptor (40).

Masks (20) are standard in the market and the can be connected by using an appropriate adaptor (40) or a mouthpiece for providing ease of use, since they are disposable and required to be replaced all the time.

The crucial point in the wearable nebulization device (1 ) of the invention is providing the us of the power unit (50) supplying energy and the nebulization unit (30) separate from each other. In order to provide delivery of the particles to the lungs quickly and in proper amounts, the nebulization unit (30) is directly connected to the mask (20) and worn on the face of the user together with the mask (20) in a light form, so that it does not need to be held by hand.

In this case, th required energy is transmitted through the connection cable (60), and the nebulization unit (30) is connected to the mask (20) directl and/or via an adaptor (40). The connection cable (60) can be set in desired length.

In this way, the power unit (50) is worn on the neck externally and the mask is worn on the face (20), so that the whole system can be used without any requirement for holding by hand.

5 The adaptor (40) connected between the mask (20) and the nebulization unit (30) enables use with any brand of standard mask (20) and at the same time provides particl separation.

However, the device can also be used by being connected directly to the mask (20) without using the adaptor (40).

1 The adaptor (40) also performs the task of a separator.

The collectio chamber (40.1) found on the adaptor (40) catches the coarse particles (8:0) coming out of the device (10) and enables their re-use.

Among the particle of various sizes obtained with the prior art nebulization devices, while finer particle (90) reach the depths of the lungs, the coarser particles (80) stick i 5 especially on the throat of the patient with the impact of the centrifugal force.

This may lead to situations where non-negiigibie amounts of the medicine are not delivered and the medicine is used below the required dosages, and thus has negative effect on the relief and recovery of the patient.

The adaptor (40) is designed with a gradient with the purpose of eliminating this 10 drawback, and a receiving surfac (40.4) is formed for coarse (80) and fine (90) particles following the inlet part.

The aerosol medicine particles (80, 90) formed by micro spraying are transmitted from the nebulization unit (30) to the adaptor (40) at a specific angle at the inlet direction (40.3) seen in Figure-6.

!5 The lighter fine particles (90) coming close to the receiving surface (40.4) are directed towards the outlet with the pressure effect formed before them, and thus reach the mask. Meanwhile, coarse particles (80) can not change their direction with the impact of the momentum they gained at the moment of exit, and thus hit on the receiving surface (40.4) and start to accumulate as a result of compacting.

Coarse particles (80) accumulating on the surface flow downwards with the impact of the gravity, and then reach the collection chamber (40.1) due to the design of the adaptor (40).

Afterwards, the collection chamber (40) shown in Figur & is taken out of its housing (40.1.1) and discharged into the medicine chamber (30.2).

In this way, the whole dose of required medicine would be used and respired in the form of fine particles (90).

This both ensures dose control and prevents loss of medicine and at the same time other possible diseases would be avoided by preventing accumulation at the throat of the user.

The invention provides use of the nebuiization unit (30) and the power unit (50) separately, and eliminates the need for holding th power unit by means of wearing it on user's neck or placing it on a surface, and the nebuiization unit is positioned on the mask in order to enable delivery of particles to the lungs in a quicker manner and in proper amounts, and at the same time, provide effective use of medicine by means of separating the respirable fine particles (90) and the coarse particles (80) by an adaptor (40), and then providing re-use of the coarse particles.

Claims

1 - The invention is a wearabie nebulizer device (10} used in treatment of respiratory tract diseases and eliminating the need for holding a power unit providing the required electrical current and a nebuiization unit (30) converting medicine found in liquid form into respirab!e particles of vapor form, and It is characterized m that; it comprises transmission of electrical current required by the nebuiization unit (30), which forms aerosol medicine particles via micro spraying b contraction and loosening, from the power unit (50) by means of a connection cable (60) of desired length, use of the nebuiization unit (30) as a whole with a mouthpiece and/or mask (20) enabling respiration, by means of being directly connected to this mouthpiece and/or mask (20), a hanger (70) enabling wearing of the power unit (50), from which the energy required by the nebuiization unit (30) is transmitted, on the neck of the user separate from said nebuiization unit (30) and mask (20), a hanger connectio (50.4) formed on the power unit (50), and a lock (7.0.1) providing connection of the hanger (70).

2- Wearabl nebuiizer device (10) according to claim 1 , and it is characterized in that; it comprises a USB connection port (50.3) which enables easy charging.

3- Wearable nebulizer device (10) according to claim 1 , and it is characterized in that; it comprises a connection cable (60), which provides transmission of current between the power unit (50) and the nebuiization unit (30), and which can be extended as desired.

4- Wearable nebulizer device (10) according to ciaim 1 , and it is characterized in that; it comprises an adaptor (40) separating the coarse particles (80) and the fine particles (SO) formed at the nebuiization unit (30), a receiving surface (40.4 formed at a specific angle within said adaptor in order to cause the coarse particles (80) hit thereon, and a collection chamber (40.1) providing collection of the coarse particles (80) that accumulate by hitting and compacting on the receiving surface (40.4) formed with said specific angle.