Nebulizer

Abstract

A nebulizer for nebulizing a liquid from a container includes a fluid pump for withdrawing the liquid in doses from the container and pressurizing the respective doses for nebulization. The nebulizer includes in addition an air pump with a piston/cylinder arrangement for pumping air into the container to pressurize the liquid in the container to help withdrawing the liquid from the container.

1 . A nebulizer ( 1 ) for nebulizing a liquid ( 2 ), comprising:
 a preferably replaceable container ( 3 ) containing multiple doses of the liquid ( 2 ),   a fluid pump ( 5 ) for withdrawing a dose of the liquid ( 2 ) from the container ( 3 ) and pressurizing the respective dose for nebulization,   an air pump ( 30 ) for pressurizing the liquid ( 2 ) in the container ( 3 ) to help withdrawing the liquid ( 2 ) in doses from the container ( 3 ), and   preferably a housing part ( 18 ) which can be detached from the nebulizer ( 1 ) or opened for inserting or replacing the container ( 3 ),   characterized in that the air pump ( 30 ) comprises or forms a piston/cylinder arrangement for pumping air into the container ( 3 ) to help withdrawing the liquid ( 2 ) in doses from the container ( 3 ).   
     
     
         2 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the air pump ( 30 ) is arranged in the housing part ( 18 ). 
     
     
         3 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the air pump ( 30 ) is—in particular pneumatically—connectable or connected to an outer casing ( 20 ), a base ( 22 ) and/or a venting hole ( 23 ) of the container ( 3 ). 
     
     
         4 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the air pump ( 30 ) is actuated by a movement of the container ( 3 ) within and/or relative to the housing part ( 18 ) and/or a housing ( 19 ) of the nebulizer ( 1 ). 
     
     
         5 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the container ( 3 ) is moveable preferably stroke-like in the nebulizer ( 1 ) when withdrawing a dose of liquid ( 2 ) and/or when pressurizing or dispensing a dose of the liquid ( 2 ). 
     
     
         6 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the air pump ( 30 ) comprises a pump piston ( 31 ) and a cylinder ( 32 ), wherein the pump piston ( 31 ) is axially moveable within the cylinder ( 32 ). 
     
     
         7 . The nebulizer according to  claim 6 , wherein the cylinder ( 32 ) is formed by the housing part ( 18 ) or an insert ( 33 ) attached thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The nebulizer according to  claim 6 , wherein the nebulizer ( 1 ), in particular air pump ( 30 ), comprises a sealing device ( 57 ) acting between the pump piston ( 31 ) and the cylinder ( 32 ), wherein the sealing effect of the sealing device ( 57 ) depends on the direction of movement of the pump piston ( 31 ) relative to the cylinder ( 32 ), in particular wherein the sealing device ( 57 ) is adapted to increase the sealing effect during withdrawing a dose of liquid ( 2 ) from the container ( 3 ) and to reduce the sealing effect when pressurizing the dose of the liquid ( 2 ) for nebulization. 
     
     
         9 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the air pump ( 30 ), in particular the sealing device ( 57 ), comprises a preferably elastic seal ( 54 ) acting between the pump piston ( 31 ) and the cylinder ( 32 ), wherein the seal ( 54 ) is movably attached to the pump piston ( 31 ). 
     
     
         10 . The nebulizer according to  claim 9 , wherein the sealing effect of the sealing device ( 57 ), in particular its seal ( 54 ), depends on the position of the seal ( 54 ), in particular relative to the pump piston ( 31 ). 
     
     
         11 . The nebulizer according to  claim 9 , wherein the air pump ( 30 ), in particular the sealing device ( 57 ) or pump piston ( 31 ), comprises a groove ( 58 ) for the seal ( 54 ), wherein the groove ( 58 ) is tapered and/or comprises a variable depth, such that the sealing effect varies depending on the position of the seal ( 54 ) within the groove ( 58 ). 
     
     
         12 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein during use of the nebulizer ( 1 ), the air pump ( 30 ) and the fluid pump ( 5 ) pressurize alternately. 
     
     
         13 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer ( 1 ), in particular air pump ( 30 ), comprises pressure relief means ( 60 ) to decrease the air pressure in the air pump ( 30 ) or its pump chamber ( 39 ), wherein the pressure relief means ( 60 ) is adapted to open automatically dependent on the position of the pump piston ( 31 ) within the cylinder ( 32 ) of the air pump ( 30 ). 
     
     
         14 . The nebulizer according to  claim 13 , wherein pressure relief means ( 60 ) is embodied as a bypass channel integrated into the air pump ( 30 ), in particular its pump piston ( 31 ) or cylinder ( 32 ). 
     
     
         15 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer ( 1 ) or air pump ( 30 ) comprises a control valve ( 40 ) limiting or controlling the maximum air pressure and/or preventing any underpressure in the air pump ( 30 ) or its pump chamber ( 39 ), preferably wherein opening of the control valve ( 40 ) is pressure-dependent. 
     
     
         16 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the container ( 3 ), in particular its outer casing ( 20 ), acts on and/or drives the pump piston ( 31 ). 
     
     
         17 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein during use of the nebulizer ( 1 ), the air pump ( 30 ) is only temporarily—in particular pneumatically and/or mechanically—connected to the container ( 3 ), in particular only during withdrawal of a dose of liquid ( 2 ) from the container ( 3 ). 
     
     
         18 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein a movement of the container ( 3 ) controls a temporary pneumatic connection of the container ( 3 ) with the air pump ( 30 ). 
     
     
         19 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the air pump ( 30 ), in particular its pump piston ( 31 ), comprises a seal ( 35 ) for temporarily connecting to the container ( 3 ) or a casing ( 20 ) or base ( 22 ) thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the air pump ( 30 ) or a port ( 34 ) or a seal ( 35 ) thereof is preferably axially spaced from the container ( 3 ) when the nebulizer ( 1 ) is non-tensioned or after dispensing a dose of liquid ( 2 ). 
     
     
         21 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the container ( 3 ), in particular its axial end, comprises or forms the pump piston ( 31 ) of the air pump ( 30 ). 
     
     
         22 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the container ( 3 ) comprises a collapsible bag ( 4 ) containing the liquid ( 2 ). 
     
     
         23 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the container ( 3 ) comprises a rigid casing ( 20 ) and a fluid piston ( 28 ) moveable within the casing ( 20 ). 
     
     
         24 . The nebulizer according to  claim 23 , wherein the fluid piston ( 28 ) and the casing ( 20 ) form a volume ( 4 ) containing the liquid ( 2 ), wherein the volume ( 4 ) is reduced or reducible by an axial movement of the fluid piston ( 28 ) within the casing ( 20 ). 
     
     
         25 . The nebulizer according to  claim 23 , wherein the container ( 3 ) comprises a seal ( 29 ) acting between the fluid piston ( 28 ) and the casing ( 20 ), wherein the fluid piston ( 28 ) and the seal ( 29 ) are formed integrally. 
     
     
         26 . The nebulizer according to  claim 23 , wherein the fluid piston ( 28 ) comprises a (first) central recess ( 28 A) on a side turned away from the volume ( 4 ) and/or a (second) central recess ( 28 B) on a side facing the volume ( 4 ). 
     
     
         27 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer ( 1 ) comprises an indicator device ( 61 ) for counting or indicating a number of uses performed or still possible with the container ( 3 ), wherein the indicator device ( 61 ) comprises a—preferably ring-shaped—indicator element ( 62 ) and an actuator ( 63 ) for actuating the indicator element ( 62 ). 
     
     
         28 . The nebulizer according to  claim 27 , wherein the indicator device ( 61 ) is integrated into and/or actuated together with the air pump ( 30 ). 
     
     
         29 . The nebulizer according to  claim 27 , wherein the indicator element ( 62 ) is rotatably connected to the container ( 3 ), in particular its casing ( 20 ). 
     
     
         30 . The nebulizer according to  claim 27 , wherein the indicator element ( 62 ) comprises or forms the pump piston ( 31 ). 
     
     
         31 . The nebulizer according to  claim 27 , wherein the actuator ( 63 ) is adapted to incrementally rotate the indicator element ( 62 ), when the container ( 3 ) or the pump piston ( 31 ) reaches a first axial (end) position and when the container ( 3 ) or the pump piston ( 31 ) reaches a second axial (end) position. 
     
     
         32 . The nebulizer according to  claim 27 , wherein the indicator element ( 62 ) comprises two gear rings ( 62 A,  62 B) oriented in opposite axial directions and/or that the actuator ( 63 ) comprises two actuation elements ( 63 A,  63 B) oriented in opposite axial directions, preferably wherein each actuating element ( 63 A,  63 B) interacts with a different gear ring ( 62 A,  62 B). 
     
     
         33 . The nebulizer according to  claim 27 , wherein the nebulizer ( 1 ) comprises a blocking device ( 65 ) adapted to block further use of the nebulizer ( 1 ) or container ( 3 ) in a locked state when a predetermined number has been reached or exceeded with the current container ( 3 ). 
     
     
         34 . The nebulizer according to  claim 33 , wherein the blocking device ( 65 ) is adapted to block a movement of the indicator element ( 62 ) relative to the container ( 3 ) or a casing ( 20 ) thereof and/or relative to the housing part ( 18 ) of the nebulizer ( 1 ). 
     
     
         35 . The nebulizer according to  claim 33 , wherein the blocking device ( 65 ) is adapted to connect the container ( 3 ), in particular its casing ( 20 ), and the housing part ( 18 ) in a form-fit manner with each other, preferably by a blocking element ( 65 A,  65 B) extending radially through the indicator element ( 62 ). 
     
     
         36 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer ( 1 ), in particular the air pump ( 30 ) or the housing part ( 18 ), comprises or forms an opening device ( 55 ) adapted to open a seal ( 26 ) that seals the axial end of the container ( 3 ). 
     
     
         37 . The nebulizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder ( 32 ), the control valve ( 40 ), the sealing device ( 57 ) and/or the opening device ( 55 ) are formed integrally.