Patent ID: 8656908
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: A61M,B05B

Abstract:
1. An aerosolizing device, comprising: a housing sized and shaped to be held in a hand of a user; a disposable aerosolizing element coupled to the housing and capable of expelling aerosolized agent, the aerosolizing element comprising a body defining a chamber, agent releasing orifices defined in the body and in communication with the chamber, a movable portion positioned opposite the agent releasing orifices, and a fluid inlet for connection to a source of agent, the inlet being in fluidic communication with the chamber; and an actuator disposed in the housing and positioned to exert vibratory oscillations on the movable portion of the disposable aerosolizing element to aerosolize agent from the chamber of the aerosolizing element, the actuator comprising a piezoelectric element and a motion transmitting member that is operable to transmit vibratory motion of the piezoelectric element to the movable portion such that the moveable portion moves toward and away from the orifices such that agent in the chamber is expelled through the orifices when the movable portion moves toward the orifices, and such that agent from the source flows through the inlet and into the chamber when the movable portion moves away from the orifices; wherein the aerosolizing element is configured to prevent agent from contacting the motion transmitting member and the piezoelectric element and to prevent expired particles or contaminants from a patient from contacting the motion transmitting member and the piezoelectric element; wherein the disposable aerosolizing element is removable from the housing for installation and disposal.