Abstract: A nebulizer device, comprising: (a) a housing defining an interior volume therewithin, including a reservoir portion for holding medicament therein for entrainment into a carrier gas to form a delivery gas mixture comprising nebulized medicament and carrier gas; (b) a discharge port connected to the housing in flow communication with the interior volume therewithin, for discharging the delivery gas mixture from the housing; (c) a jet passage member having (i) an inlet portion for introduction of carrier gas thereinto and (ii) a nozzle portion positioned in the interior volume of the housing for discharging carrier gas in jet form in the interior volume, for entrainment of medicament from the reservoir portion of the housing in the carrier gas jet, such nozzle portion comprising a nozzle orifice accommodating carrier gas flow therethrough, wherein the nozzle orifice has an equivalent orifice diameter in the range of from about 0.005 inch to about 0.020 inch.

Abstract: A continuous flow nebulizing device for patients receiving long term nebulized medicant respiratory therapy. The nebulizing device comprises a nebulizer vial through which nebulizing fluids are delivered from a large supply vessel to conventional nebulizing apparatus. Thereby, the nebulizing apparatus connected to the continuously replenished nebulizer vial, delivers a larger volume of nebulized medicants on a continuous basis to a patient than can be provided by a conventional nebulizer vial without removing the conventional nebulizer vial from the nebulizer. For critially ill patients, the nebulizing device is used as part of a nebulizer/ventilator circuit. For voluntary respiratory patients, the nebulizer device output is used without a ventilator. Medicant supplying circuits are provided whereby a single medicant is selectably delivered from a plurality of large supply vessels without disconnecting the nebulizing vial from the nebulizer.

Abstract: A continuous flow jet nebulizing device and method for delivering respiratory powdered medication to the lungs of a patient. The nebulizer device of the present invention comprises a nebulizer housing having a lower, generally conical-shaped lower housing portion defining an interior volume enclosed by the housing, and a nozzle element at the upper portion of the housing, coaxially aligned with the cone-shaped lower portion. The nozzle element extends through the housing, with an upper inlet portion coupleable to a suitable source of compressed carrier gas, and a lower portion of the nozzle element forming a discharge structure for directing of gas downwardly to the lower extremity of the conical-shaped lower portion of the nebulizer housing. At the upper portion of the nebulizer housing is an exit port for discharge of solids-containing carrier gas from the nebulizer housing to an exterior treatment locus.