Patents Assigned to Microflow Engineering SA
  • Patent number: 7367661
    Abstract: The invention concerns a nozzle body for a liquid droplet spray device for atomising a high viscous liquid substance such as perfume. A first and second substrate enclose a space for containing the liquid substance. Outlet means are arranged in the second substrate and have at least one outlet nozzle and at least one output channel, said output channel having straight side walls. Each output channel has a stepped shape having a wider portion and a thinner portion, the wider portion being arranged adjacent the space. The thinner portion contains a protrusion section protruding beyond the top surface of the second substrate such that the exterior side wall of the protrusion section is at a substantially straight angle with respect to the top surface of the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Microflow Engineering SA
    Inventors: Joseph Hess, Jean-Marc Flick, Bo Hu, Philippe Luginbuhl, Raphael Weber
  • Patent number: 7073731
    Abstract: An apparatus for freshening air, including a base unit; a power supply operably connected to the base unit; a driving and switching circuit connected to be powered by the power supply; a first plug portion connected to the driving and switching circuit; a detachable autonomous liquid droplet dispensing cartridge detachably engagable with the first plug portion. The detachable cartridge has (a) a second plug portion matingly engagable with the first plug portion, (b) a first airless bag for storing a first nebulizable liquid, (c) a second airless bag for storing a second nebulizable liquid, and (d) a casing enclosing the first bag and the second bag. A nebulizer is provided so that a first nebulizable liquid flows from the first bag and the second nebulizable liquid flows from the second bag so that the first nebulizable liquid and the second nebulizable liquid are nebulized by the nebulizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Microflow Engineering SA
    Inventors: Joseph Hess, Myriam Muller
  • Publication number: 20050077376
    Abstract: An apparatus for freshening air, including a base unit; a power supply operably connected to the base unit; a driving and switching circuit connected to be powered by the power supply; a first plug portion connected to the driving and switching circuit; a detachable autonomous liquid droplet dispensing cartridge detachably engagable with the first plug portion. The detachable cartridge has (a) a second plug portion matingly engagable with the first plug portion, (b) a first airless bag for storing a first nebulizable liquid, (c) a second airless bag for storing a second nebulizable liquid, and (d) a casing enclosing the first bag and the second bag. A nebulizer is provided so that a first nebulizable liquid flows from the first bag and the second nebulizable liquid flows from the second bag so that the first nebulizable liquid and the second nebulizable liquid are nebulized by the nebulizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Applicant: Microflow Engineering SA
    Inventors: Joseph Hess, Myriam Muller
  • Patent number: 6805303
    Abstract: The invention concerns a liquid droplet spray device for atomising a liquid substance, comprising a housing comprising a first substrate, a second substrate superposed on the first substrate and a space enclosed by said first and second substrates for containing the liquid substance. An outlet means is arranged in at least one of said first or second substrates and comprises at least one outlet nozzle (19) and at least one output channel (20) connecting the space (12) to each outlet nozzle (19). A vibrating element (18) is disposed to vibrate liquid in said space (12) so as to eject said liquid substance as a spray through said outlet nozzles (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Microflow Engineering SA
    Inventors: Joseph Hess, Bo Hu
  • Patent number: 6802460
    Abstract: An apparatus for freshening air, including a base unit; a power supply operably connected to the base unit; a driving and switching circuit connected to be powered by the power supply; a first plug portion connected to the driving and switching circuit; a detachable autonomous liquid droplet dispensing cartridge detachably engagable with the first plug portion. The detachable cartridge has (a) a second plug portion matingly engagable with the first plug portion, (b) a first airless bag for storing a first nebulizable liquid, (c) a second airless bag for storing a second nebulizable liquid, and (d) a casing enclosing the first bag and the second bag. A nebulizer is provided so that a first nebulizable liquid flows from the first bag and the second nebulizable liquid flows from the second bag so that the first nebulizable liquid and the second nebulizable liquid are nebulized by the nebulizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Microflow Engineering SA
    Inventors: Joseph Hess, Myriam Muller
  • Patent number: 6722582
    Abstract: The invention concerns a liquid droplet spray device for atomising a liquid substance, comprising a housing comprising a first substrate, a second substrate superposed on the first substrate and a space enclosed by said first and second substrates for containing the liquid substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Microflow Engineering SA
    Inventors: Joseph Hess, Bo Hu, Philippe Luginbühl, Jean-Marc Flick
  • Publication number: 20030080214
    Abstract: The invention concerns a liquid droplet spray device for atomizing a liquid substance, comprising a housing comprising a first substrate, a second substrate superposed on the first substrate and a space enclosed by said first and second substrates for containing the liquid substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Microflow Engineering SA
    Inventors: Joseph Hess, Bo Hu, Philippe Luginbuhl, Jean-Marc Flick
  • Publication number: 20030066904
    Abstract: The invention concerns a liquid droplet spray device for atomising a liquid substance, comprising a housing comprising a first substrate, a second substrate superposed on the first substrate and a space enclosed by said first and second substrates for containing the liquid substance. An outlet means is arranged in at least one of said first or second substrates and comprises at least one outlet nozzle (19) and at least one output channel (20) connecting the space (12) to each outlet nozzle (19). A vibrating element (18) is disposed to vibrate liquid in said space (12) so as to eject said liquid substance as a spray through said outlet nozzles (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Microflow Engineering SA
    Inventors: Joseph Hess, Bo Hu
  • Patent number: 6405934
    Abstract: The liquid droplet spray device (1) comprises a housing formed of a superposition of a first and a second substrate (5, 6) and a space (2) within the housing for containing a liquid substance (3), vibrating means (8) for applying a frequency vibration to the substance (3) thereby generating the liquid droplet spray, and outlet means (7, 9, 10) for ejecting the liquid droplet spray. The outlet means comprise a cavity (7), output nozzles (9) and output channels (10) connecting the cavity (7) to the outlet nozzles (9). According to the invention, the vibrating means (8) creates a standing wave pattern within the liquid substance (3), and the outlet means are arranged such that said outlet nozzles (9) are superposed on the vibration mode peaks of the standing wave pattern. Advantageously, the first and second substrates have similar geometrical shapes. Minimal retention and optimal flow of the substance are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Microflow Engineering SA
    Inventors: Joseph Hess, Hu Bo, Raphael Weber, Isabel Ortega, Cedric Barraud, Nicolaas Frans de Rooij, Bas de Heij
  • Patent number: 6196219
    Abstract: The liquid droplet spray device (5) has a micromachined substrate (8, 18, 18a; 8a, 18, 18a), a space (9) within the substrate for containing a liquid substance (4), an inlet channel for supplying (7) the liquid (4) to the space (9), and outlet structure (13, 14, 15) for ejecting the liquid as a mono-dispersive droplet spray when the liquid undergoes a vibration. The outlet structure comprises a cut-off pyramid-shaped tapered cavity (13) which is micromachined in the space (9). The outlet structure further comprises at least one output (14) and output channel (15) connecting the tapered cavity (13) to the outlet (14), the outlet (14) and the output channel (15) having a non-tapered vertical shape. Thanks to such a device, the exact amount ejected may be determined accurately which allows for a predicted lung deposition of the droplets by using appropriate control means adapted to the kind of patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Microflow Engineering SA
    Inventors: Joseph Hess, Hu Bo, Raphaël Weber, Isabel Ortega, Cédric Barraud, Bart van der Schoot, Nicolaas Frans de Rooij, Bas de Heij
  • Patent number: D562957
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Microflow Engineering SA
    Inventors: Amir Feriani, Joseph Hess
  • Patent number: D562958
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Microflow Engineering SA
    Inventors: Amir Feriani, Joseph Hess