Abstract: An apparatus for generating respirable aerosol internal to a selected one of a plurality of medicament receptacles (40) containing pre-measured amounts of powdered medicament is disclosed herein. The medicament receptacles (40) are disposed in a medicament carrier (38) contained within a housing (10), and are sealed from exposure to the outside environment. The medicament carrier (38) is preferably a ring-shaped member detachably coupled to a carriage (24) which can be rotated to any one of a plurality of selected positions. A pair of aerosolization conduits (54, 56) having ends capable of puncturing the seal (44) covering the medicament receptacle (40) selected by the patient are also provided. Compression of the cover (12) and the carriage (24) pushes the selected medicament receptacle (40) against the edges of the aerosolization conduits (54, 56) causing the aerosolization conduits to puncture the seal (44) and penetrate the medicament receptacle (40).

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 method and apparatus for administering medicinal aerosol to a patient's lungs through an endotracheal tube (22) connected to a ventilator (100) or other respiratory apparatus, in which a charging volume (26) connected to a nebulizer (102) for generating medicinal aerosol is inserted between the ventilator (100) and the endotracheal tube (22), such that the charging volume (26) is filled with medicinal aerosol during patient exhalation, and the medicinal aerosol in the charging volume (26) is delivered into the endotracheal tube during patient inhalation. Additional amounts of medicinal aerosol are delivered into the endotracheal tube (22) during patient inhalation through hose (24) between the charging volume (26) and the nebulizer (102).