Abstract: An apparatus for delivering medicinal aerosol on-demand during patient inhalation wherein delivery of aerosol from a nebulizer (22) is optimized by synchronizing delivery to the inspiration of a patient (58)is disclosed. A control unit (32) monitors airway pressure and controls the flow of gas so that aerosol delivery is triggered by patient inhalation, in which event delivery continues for a predetermined time period which is adjustable by the user. The apparatus can be used with a mouthpiece (56), a face mask (66) without an integral exhalation valve, or a face mask (68) with an integral exhalation valve. The apparatus significantly increases the efficiency of delivery of medicinal aerosol by sensing a patient's inhalation and exhalation cycles and delivering aerosol only after a certain inhalation pressure is sensed following a certain previous exhalation pressure. These pressures, which are compared against predetermined thresholds, correspond to the actual patient breathing condition.

Abstract: A nebulizer (10) for generating high concentrations of inhalable medicinal aerosols over a wide range of flow rates and mass outputs for medical inhalation therapy applications. A primary orifice (26), secondary orifice (44), inter-orifice gap (54), stagnation baffle (60), and spray gap (66) are scalable within defined parameters to provide any desired flow rate or mass output. The nebulizer is ideally suited for inhalation therapy of infants and children and can provide aerosols with flow rates ranging from less than 1 liter per minute to approximately 3 liters per minute at normal compressed gas pressures. The design parameters can also be scaled within defined limits to produce greater flows for treatment of adults or for use in other applications requiring high volumetric flow rates.

Abstract: A fluid injector for use with a needle-less syringe or needle-less add-on IV line is disclosed. The injector is connected to a main IV line and has a fluid passageway from the syringe or the add-on IV set to the main IV line. The injector comprises an anti-backflow valve member where the member is movable under fluid pressure along between a first position where the fluid cannot flow through the injector and a second position where the fluid can flow through the injector. The member is a sinking type and has a specific gravity greater than 1.0. The injector also comprises a valve located near the syringe end of the injector for receiving the fluid from the syringe or the add-on IV line for injection into the main IV line and for automatically preventing air embolus entering into the IV line. The anti-air embolus valve comprises a piston in a conduit. The piston is movable between a first position and a second position. The piston has a central bore for the passage of the fluid, a capped end and an inlet end.

Abstract: A fluid injector for use with a needle-less syringe or needle-less add-on IV line is disclosed. The injector is connected to a main IV line and has a fluid passageway from the syringe or the add-on IV set to the main IV line. The injector comprises an anti-backflow valve member where the member is movable under fluid pressure alone between a first position where the fluid can flow through the injector and a second position where the fluid cannot flow through the injector. The injector also comprises a valve located near the syringe end of the injector for receiving the fluid from the syringe or the add-on IV line for injection into the main IV line and for preventing air embolus entering into the IV line. The injector permits leaving a single or a group of drug filled syringes on line at all times with a continuously, rapidly flowing IV line and provides instantaneous "on demand" delivery of drugs or fluids from the syringe.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for dispersing a fluid supplied from an external source having a feed supply. An inlet accepts a fluid from the feed supply for passing the fluid through an outer perimeter of the device in a downstream direction and has an axes contained in a plane. An outlet is provided downstream from the inlet for allowing the fluid to exit. A bluff body is positioned between the inlet and the outlet and has an axes contained in a plane perpendicular to the inlet axes plane. At least one passageway internal to the outer perimeter and external and extending downstream from the outlet for passing a second fluid is provided.