Inhalation therapy device with a nozzle nebuliser

Abstract

The invention relates to an inhalation therapy device with a nozzle nebuliser, in particular with a nozzle nebuliser having a nozzle element which is easy to clean and is thereby simple and reliable to handle so that the nozzle is not damaged and the geometry of the nozzle is not affected during cleaning. The aerosol generator comprises a nozzle element, said nozzle consisting of at least a first part and a second part, said first part of the nozzle element being made of a more resilient material than said second part of the nozzle element, and said first part of the nozzle element being attached to said second part of the nozzle element. Owing to the resilient material, the nozzle can deform during cleaning and can return to the original shape without altering its initial geometry.

1 . A method for making an inhalation therapy device, the method comprising:
 forming a nebulizing chamber;   forming an aerosol generator arranged to release an aerosol into the nebulizing chamber with a medicament, the aerosol generator comprising a nozzle and an outer member;   forming the nozzle from a first part and a second part, said first part of the nozzle comprising a resilient deformable material, and including a deformable tip having a nozzle outlet with a nozzle edge configured to deliver a reproducible droplet spectrum of said aerosol through the nozzle outlet;   forming the second part of the nozzle;   molding the first part of the nozzle on the second part of the nozzle; the first part of the nozzle tapering from the second part with a cross-section of the first part converging to the deformable nozzle tip; and   placing a removable outer member in the nebulizing chamber to define at least one medicament channel extending between the nozzle and an outer member and in fluid communication with the nozzle outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising forming the first part of the nozzle of a reversible deformable material, wherein the nozzle outlet widens in dependence on flow through the nozzle outlet so that a stable state is established between flow and medicament sucked into the flow. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first part of the nozzle is produced with the second part of the nozzle in a two-component method, comprising molding the first part of the nozzle on the second part of the nozzle. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , comprising making said first part of the nozzle from a more resilient material than the second part. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising making said first part of the nozzle from a more resilient material than the second part. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising molding the first part and the second part from two different materials. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the forming of the nozzle comprises injection molding the first part and attaching to the second part to form a nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , comprising fixedly connecting the first and second parts so that the transitions between the first part and the second part are free of steps, indentations or gaps. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first part of the nozzle is silicone rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second part of the nozzle comprises polyethylene or polypropylene. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising making the first part of the nozzle with a cross-section which tapers further than a cross-section of the second part of said nozzle. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first part of the nozzle consists of a resilient material resuming original geometry following deformation. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising molding the nozzle edge so as to be reversibly deformable.