Patent ID: 6539937
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: A61M,B05B,B06B

Abstract:
A method for operating a nebulizer apparatus near one of several maximum mechanical displacement levels to atomize a liquid into an aerosol of fine droplets, the method comprising the steps of:providing an vibrating element to form the droplets; supplying the liquid to the vibrating element, the vibrating element being movable between a first state and a second state upon application of voltage to the vibrating element; connecting a voltage source to the vibrating element to cause the vibrating element to oscillate between the first state and the second state, the voltage source having an adjustable frequency; measuring an electric characteristic of the nebulizer apparatus, the electric characteristic having a known relationship to one of several series resonant frequencies at which the vibrating element reaches one of the maximum mechanical displacement levels; and adjusting the frequency at which the voltage source is supplied to the vibrating element until the measured electric characteristic is within âˆ’2 dB of the electric characteristic corresponding to one of the series resonant frequencies.