IL35399A - Inhalation therapy apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Inhalation therapy apparatus RISFIRATORT CARE, INC BA CKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates to inhalation therapy. Particularly it relates to humidifiers and nebulizers of the type used in inhalation therapy.

Inhalation therapy is an art of treating with oxygen having a high moisture content. The moisture may be provided by humidification of oxygen or atomization of water. Apparatus known as humidifiers are adapted for effecting the former by discharging into the atmosphere oxygen which has been broken into bubbles and has been forced under pressure through a volume of water . Apparatus known as nebulizers are adapted for effecting the latter by discharging into the atmosphere water which has been broken into a mist of fine drops .

A conventional humidifier comprises a water container of glass fabrication with an upper closure. A metal oxygen supply tube extends through the closure. It carries a radial perforated plate as its lower end for breaking up oxygen, introduced under pressure through the tube, into bubbles . As the bubbles rise through the water, they become moisture coated for discharge into the atmosphere .

While there are several heretofore known types of nebulizers, a conventional nebulizer of the type with which this disclosure is concerned comprises a water container of glass fabrication with an upper closure. A Venturi tube which may be of rigid plastic fabrication is associated with the closure . It utilizes oxygen under pressure to atomize water in the container and force the atomized water through a tube opening into the atmosphere.

Disposable humidifiers and nebulizers, according to some conventional practice, are provided by manufacturers in completed condition with to have an inventory of humidifiers and nebulizers, each with its water container, if it is to satisfy all requirements. Because of the high cost attendant using conventional inhalation therapy apparatus, many institutions use reusable humidifiers and nebulizers. But this practice creates a burden on trained personnel, already in short supply. Moreover, whether it produces the Paired economy is highly disputable.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce the cost of inhalation therapy.

It is another object of the invention to minimize inventory required for inhalation therapy.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a prefilled container selectively adapted as a reservoir for a humidifier and a nebulizer.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide fittings for selective conversion of a prefilled container into a humidifier or a nebulizer.

SUMMRY OF TEB IHVMTIQN ΐο effect the foregoing and other objects of the invention a liquid container is provided for inhalation therapy apparatus which comprises a body having a chambe and defining a reservoir for a liquid a first duct having a passage with an upper end portion disposed above the normal level of said liquid and a lower end portion fluidally connected with said chamber below the normal level of said liquid and a major longitudinal portion of said duct being integral externally with respect to a wall of said body? a second duct integrally connected to said body above the normal level for isolating a liquid in said chamber said breachable seal^ being a membrane; each duct having a terminus which is displaced one from the other; the said breachable seal being positioned at the end of each duct; and the first duct terminating in an external threaded portion whereby a breaching element mounted with a cup-shaped female may be screwed thereon and said seal is thereby breached. operation of said container as a humidifier reservoir and a nebulizer reservoir . To that end a pair of fittings are adapted for mounting o said first duct to selectively provide a humidifier and a nebulizer .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the ensuing description reference is made to accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a view of a container embodying the invention and being partially elevational and partially sectional; Fig. 2 is a view according to the section line 2 --2 on Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is a view of an upper portion of said container in section and adapted as a humidifier; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, however, showing said container adapted as a nebulizer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a container generally designated 10 is shown vertically oriented. It is comprised of a body 1 2 having therein a chamber 14 which defines a reservoir for water 16. Body 12 has a bottom 18, and at its upper end a restricted neck 20 forms a transition component atop of which there is a small head 22 from which a nose -like duct 24 extends. An external thread 26 is fashioned on the wall of duct 24, and its passage 28 has an axis which is disposed normally to the vertical axis of body 12.

Another duct 30 has a passage 32 which is vertically disposed on and extends along the outside of body 12. A vertical section 34 of the wall defining said body is integral with or common to the wall defining duct 30 and said section separates the upper portion of passage 32 from chamber 1 . However, the bottom of section 34 is spaced upwardly from bottom 18 and thereby generates a channel 36 through which the lower end portion 38 of passage 32 is fluidally connected to chamber 14. Accordingly, water 16 will have a common level in chamber 14 as well as duct 30. The last duct has an upper end portion 40 which extends outwardly from body 1 2 and is spaced apart from head 22 and duct 24 to which said upper end portion is normally disposed. A thread 42 fashioned externally of said upper end portion comprises means enabling operation of container 10 selectively as a reservoir for a humidifier and a reservoir for a nebulizer, as will become more fully apparent from ensuing description.

A pair of tearable or rupturable membranes 44 and 46 disposed at the outer ends of ducts 24 and 30 comprise breachable sealing means which completely close ducts 24 and 30 and wholly isolate water 16 from the atmosphere. Other forms of breachable sealing means, such as pop-apart or tear out section, optionally may be provided in lieu of said membranes . Membrane 44 when breached enables passage of: (a) humidified oxygen from chamber 14 to the atmosphere in the direction of arrow 48 (Fig. 3) when container 10 functions as a humidifier reservoir and (b) atmospheric air into chamber 14 in the direction of arrow 50 (Fig. 4) when the container functions as a nebulizer . Membrane 46 when breached enables passage of: (a) oxygen in the direction of arrows 52 and 54 when the container functions as a humidifier reservoir and (b) oxygen and water, respectively, in the direction of arrows 56 and 58, and a combination thereof in the direction of arrow 60, when the container functions as a nebulizer reservoir .

Preferred container 10 is fashioned of a semirigid plastic such as polypropylene. However, the particular material is not limiting on the invention. Preferably the container is blow molded, ducts 24 and 30 and wall section 34 as well as membranes 44 and 46 being integrally fashioned with body 12 as part of the molding process . In consequence, the container will be sterile filled with water to a desired level during the molding process, using known art for plastic container formation and simultaneous filling and modified, of course, to accommodate the present container design. Further description of the molding and filling process is omitted as its details do not form a part of the present invention.

An oxygen coupling means generally designated 62 (Fig. 3) enables use of container 10 as a reservoir for a humidifier . It comprises a fitting or cup-shaped female 64 concentric about a vertical axis and with an internal thread 66 for mating with thread 42. An axially elongated oxygen tube 68 has a preferably fixed lower end portion extending through the top wall 70 of the female. In the illustrated embodiment said lower end portion is fasioned as a piercing, tearing or breaching element 72 disposed within said female. Accordingly, as said female is threaded on the thread 42 of duct 30, membrane 46 will be torn or breached and its passage 32 will become fluidally connected with a vertical passage 74 which extends through said oxygen tube .

Oxygen coupling means 62 comprising a second internally threaded female fitting 76 for fluidally connecting duct 30 to a supply source (not shown) for providing oxygen under pressure . Fitting 76 has a stepped internal axial bore 78 whereby there is generated a medial internal annular shoulder 80 and a lower annular lip 82. A flexible having a snap in groove 86 for engaging the plug about lip 82 forms a bottom element of fitting 76.

The passaged upper end portion 88 of oxygen tube 68 extends through the center of pop out plug 84 in sealed engagement therewith. The association is frictional such that said pop out plug and the oxygen tube may be relatively rotated under manual force . The top of the oxygen tube is sealingly held in frictional engagement in the stepped central hole 90 of a compressible sealing member 92, which is mounted on shoulder 80 in vertically spaced association with the pop out plug . The parts are proportioned such that a male member (not shown) on which fitting 76 is adapted to be mounted will press sealing member 92 against should er 80 upon assembly.

The parts also are proportioned such that oxygen with a meter pressure of 50 lbs . p. s . i. when introduced into passage 32 through passage 74 will force its way to the bottom of chamber 1 4. There it will form a large bubble and pas s upwardly through water 1 6 in said chamber for removal therefrom to the atmosphere in humidified condition through pas sage 28 , provided that membrane 44 has been breached .

To the latter end, in the illustrated embodiment, a hor izontally passaged catheter adapter or fitting 94 having an internal thread 96 C for mating thread 26 is threadedly engaged on duct 24. An inwardly projecting breaching member 98 which may be fashioned integrally with adapter 94, is arranged and proportioned such that, as said adapter is threaded on said last duct, membrane 44 will be torn, ruptured or breached for enabling escape of humidified air from chamber 1 4 in the direction of arrow 48 , as aforesaid .

A Venturi -like structure generally designated 1 00 (Fig . 4) enables use of container 10 as a reservoir for a nebulizer . It comprises a T-shaped body having a section 102, shown vertically oriented, and a fluid outlet section 104, shown horizontally oriented . The latter has a wide horizontal passage 106 opening to atmosphere and may be externally threaded as at 108 to enable connection to a member such as a tube or fitting (not shown) for further directing fluid output. Body section 102 is generally vertically passaged having an upper passage 110 and a lower passage 112 which are disposed in parallel though superposed association. A short horizontal passage 114 of relatively small diameter in axial alignment with and fluidally connected to the inner end of opening 106 fluidally connects passages 110 and 112.

Passage 110 is defined by the tubular upper end portion 116 of body section 102. A fitting 118 which may be of identical construction to fitting 76 is mounted on the outermost end part of said upper end portion for fluidally connecting structure 100 to an oxygen supply source (not shown). Accordingly, further description of fitting 118 is omitted .

Passage 112 is defined by the lower end portion 120 of body section 102. The lowermost part of said body section is fashioned as a female or receptacle 122 with which passage 112 fluidally communicates . A thread 124 fashioned internally of said receptacle is proportioned for mating with thread 42 whereby assembly 100 may be mounted on duct 30.

A breaching tool 126 which projects into receptacle 122 defines the lowermost part of passage 112. The tool is proportioned such that it will breach, tear or rupture membrane 46 when assembly 100 is lui ommunication can f be established between passage 32 and opening 106 through passages 112 and 114.

Body section 102 comprises a Venturi tube in which the lower end portion of passage 110 is fashioned as at 128 such that oxygen introduced therein under pressure in the direction of arrow 56 through fitting 118 will be directed at right angles through passage section 114 and expelled through outlet section 104 in the direction of arrow 60. When structure 110 is operably mounted, such oxygen movement will cause water 16 to be drawn up passage 32 in the direction of arrow 58, through passage 112, into passage 114 downstream of its juncture with section 110 and broken up into a spray of fine droplets which will be expelled with the oxygen, provided membrane 44 is breached.

To the latter end, in the present embodiment, a fitting 130, which may be of identical construction to fitting or adapter 94, is mounted on duct 24. Accordingly, further description of fitting 130 is omitted.

However, in this case, passage of fluid is in the direction of arrow 50 from atmosphere in response to removal of water from container 10.

As many changes can be made in the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of their teachings, it is intended that the detailed description and the accompanying drawings shall be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 35399/2^

Claims (18)

1. A liquid container for inflation therapy apparatus comprising: a body having a chamber and <¾fining a reservoir for a liquid; a first duct having a passage with an upper end portion disposed above the normal level of said liquid and a lower end portion fluidally connected with said chamber below the normal level of said liquid and a major longitudinal portion of said duct being integral externally with respect to a wall of said body; a second duct integrally connected to said body above the normal level of said liquid and having a passage fluidally connected to said chamber; a breachable seal defining a penetrable sterile barrier integrally fashioned with each of said ducts for isolating a liquid in said chamber said breachable seal being a membrane; each duct having a terminus which is displaced one from the other; the said breachable seal being -positioned at the end of each duct; and the first duct terminating in an external threaded portion whereby a breaching element mounted with a cup-shaped female may be screwed thereon and said seal is thereby breached,

2. A container according to Claim 1 further characterized by a volume of water disposed in said chamber*

3. A container according to Claim 2 further characterized by a volume of water in said first duct and having a level substantially the same as the level of the water in said chamber.

4. A container according to Claim 3 wherein a vertical wall defines said first duct and limits said chamber and wherein said wall extends from a top part of said container to a position above the bottom of said container and defines a 35399/2 *t connecting the passage in said irst duct with said chamber*

5. A container according to Claim 4 wherein the upper end portion of said first duct is spaced apart from said body.

6. A container according to Claim 5 whe ein the passage in said second duct extends normally to the passage in said first duct. . ¾

7. A container according to Claim 6 wherein said first and second ducts are spaced apart each from the other thereof.

8. A container according to any one of the preceding Slaims, comprising means on said first duct for selectively connecting said container to an oxygen input source and delivering nebulized liquid to a patient.

9. A container according to any one of the preceding Claims. means comprising/on said second duct defining a two way path for selectively passing humidified oxygen out of said container and atmospheric air into said container.

10. A container according to Claim 1 comprising means on said first duct enabling selective operation of said container in a first mode as a humidifier reservoir and in a second mode as a nebulizer reservoir-

11. A container according to Claim 10 further comprising an oxygen coupling associated with said enabling means for operating said container in said first mode.

12. A container according to Claim 10 comprising a Venturi-like structure associated with said enabling means for operating said container in said second mode.

13. A container according to Claim 11 wherein said oxygen coupling comprises an internally threaded receptaele *?ith an upper opening proportioned for connection to an oxygen supplying 35399/2 receptacle, and passaged vertically oriented tubular means rotatably extending through said plug for introducing oxygen into a breached member spaced apart from said male fitting.

14. A container according to Claia 13 wherein said tubular means comprises: a breaching component on its lower end portion, and a female fitting with an upper wall spaced downwardly from said receptacle and having a downwardly opening well into which said breaching component psfiects downwardly from said upper wall.

15. container according to Claim 13 comprising a shoulder fashioned integrally with said receptacle and disposed medially of said upper opening and said bottom wall? and a passaged sealing member for passing oxygen to said tubular means and fabricated and proportioned for compression by an oxygen delivering male against said shoulder, and wherein said tubular means has an upper end portion disposed in said sealing member.

16. A container according to Claim 14 wherein a Yenturi tube comprises an upper end portion of sai tubular means, said Venturi tube having a medial body part disposed below said bottom wall and having an upper vertically oriented section extending through said plug.

17. A container according to Claim 15 wherein said upper end portion comprises an upper vertically oriented part of a Venturi tube with a lower end part disposed below said plug.

18. A container according to Claim 1 substantially as described with reference to the.accompanying drawings. „ For the Applicants ta.felSOM) CGffii ΔΗΪ) P RSKJSRS