US3861386A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic nebulizer
Assignee: Misto and Gen Equipment Co
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Filing: 1971-05-19
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Granted: 1975-01-21
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Expires: 1991-05-19
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic nebulizer having a transducer at an end of a liquid receiving nebulizer chamber, for generating ultrasonic waves in the liquid in the chamber, which waves are concentrated substantially at the surface of such liquid. The ultrasonic waves cause extremely rapid formation and collapse of cavitities in the liquid which upon encountering the liquid surface produce aerosol adjacent such surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Raleigh J Harris
- 👤 Allan E Peck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M11/00; A61M11/005; A61M11/001; A61M11/002; A61M15/00; A61M15/0085; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/10; B05; B05B; B05B17/00; B05B17/04; B05B17/06; B05B17/0607; B05B17/0615; A61M16/00; A61M16/10; A61M16/14; A61M16/16; A61M16/162
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A nebulizer, comprising: a. a generally vertically elongated nebulizer chamber having a closed bottom end and an outlet at its upper end, for receiving therein liquid with the upper surface of said liquid a predetermined level above said bottom end; b. an electromechanical transducer supported at said bottom end with a surface thereof acoustically connected to the liquid in said chamber; c. means for exciting said transducer for causing it to generate ultrasonic waves; and d. means defining an ultrasonic beam concentrating chamber for concentrating said waves at said predetermined level including a portion of said nebulizer chamber of substantially circular interior cross-section extending vertically from said transducer substantially to said predetermined level, said interior cross-section being of uniform diameter between points immediately above said transducer and immediately below said predetermined level, the distance between said points being at least twice the length of said uniform diameter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A nebulizer, comprising: a. a generally vertically elongated nebulizer chamber having a closed bottom end and an outlet at its upper end, for receiving therein liquid with the upper surface of said liquid a predetermined level above said bottom end; b. an electromechanical transducer supported at said bottom end with a surface thereof acoustically connected to the liquid in said chamber; c. means for exciting said transducer for causing it to generate ultrasonic waves; and d. means defining an ultrasonic beam concentrating chamber for concentrating said waves at said predetermined level including a portion of said nebulizer chamber of substantially circular interior cross-section extending vertically from said transducer substantially to said predetermined level, said interior cross-section being of uniform diameter between points immediately above said transducer and immediately below said predetermined level, the distance between said points being at least twice the length of said uniform diameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
150 words
A nebulizer comprising: a. a generally vertically elongated nebulizer chamber having a closed bottom end and an outlet at its upper end, for receiving therein liquid with the upper surface of said liquid a predetermined level above said bottom end; b. an electromechanical transducer of generally flat form supported at said bottom end and including a planar surface acoustically connected to the liquid in said chamber; c. means for exciting said transducer for causing it to generate ultrasonic waves; and d. means for concentrating said waves at said predetermined level including a portion of said nebulizer chamber of substantially circular interior cross-section extending vertically from said transducer substantially to said predetermined level, said interior cross-section being of uniform diameter between points immediately above said planar surface of said transducer and immediately below said predetermined level, the distance between said points being at least twice the length of said uniform diameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
A nebulizer comprising: a. a generally vertically elongated nebulizer chamber having a closed bottom end and an outlet at its upper end, for receiving therein liquid with the upper surface of said liquid a predetermined level above said bottom end; b. an electromechanical transducer of generally flat form supported at said bottom end and including a planar surface acoustically connected to the liquid in said chamber; c. means for exciting said transducer for causing it to generate ultrasonic waves; and d. means for concentrating said waves at said predetermined level including a portion of said nebulizer chamber of substantially circular interior cross-section extending vertically from said transducer substantially to said predetermined level, said interior cross-section being of uniform diameter between points immediately above said planar surface of said transducer and immediately below said predetermined level, the distance between said points being at least twice the length of said uniform diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The nebulizer of claim 2, including: e. a separable, elongated vial for liquid insertable into the upper end of said chamber with a bottom wall substantially at said predetermined level; f. said bottom wall including a downwardly extending central depression curved for concentrating said waves at substantially said bottom wall and upper surface of the liquid in said vial.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a device for ultrasonic nebulization of liquid, including a generally vertically elongated nebulizer chamber having a closed bottom end and an outlet at its upper end, receiving therein said liquid with an upper surface a predetermined level above said bottom end, a generally flat electromechanical transducer at said bottom end having a planar surface in acoustical contact with said liquid and means for causing said transducer to generate ultrasonic waves in said liquid, means for concentrating said waves at said predetermined level, comprising: a. a nebulizer chamber portion of substantially circular interior cross-section extending from said planar surface substantially to said predetermined level, said interior crosssection being of uniform diameter between points immediately above said planar surface of said transducer and immediately below said predetermined level, said points being spaced apart a distance at least twice the length of said uniform diameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a device for ultrasonic nebulization of liquid, including a generally vertically elongated nebulizer chamber having a closed bottom end and an outlet at its upper end, receiving therein said liquid with an upper surface a predetermined level above said bottom end, a generally flat electromechanical transducer at said bottom end having a planar surface in acoustical contact with said liquid and means for causing said transducer to generate ultrasonic waves in said liquid, means for concentrating said waves at said predetermined level, comprising: a. a nebulizer chamber portion of substantially circular interior cross-section extending from said planar surface substantially to said predetermined level, said interior crosssection being of uniform diameter between points immediately above said planar surface of said transducer and immediately below said predetermined level, said points being spaced apart a distance at least twice the length of said uniform diameter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3387607A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-20 | 1978-07-22 | 1979-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-20 | 1982-07-22 | 1983-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-20 | 1986-07-22 | 1987-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |