Patent ID: 8544462
Filing Date: 2013-10-01
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A system for administering an agent, comprising: a housing; an air source operable to provide positive pressure air; a nebulizer operable for receiving an agent from a vial coupled to the housing and converting the agent into an aerosolized agent; a mixing chamber to receive the aerosolized agent from the nebulizer and air from the air source; a release mechanism operable for releasing a quantity of the agent from the vial to the nebulizer, wherein the agent is converted into an aerosolized agent that is mixed with air from the air source in the mixing chamber; and a prong with an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is operable to receive the aerosolized agent and air mixture from the mixing chamber, and the outlet is operable to deliver the aerosolized agent and air mixture to a patient when the prong is inserted into a patient's orifice; wherein said nebulizer comprises a pair of spaced apart plate members defining a liquid-receiving chamber therebetween adapted to receive the quantity of agent from the vial, one of said plate members having a plurality of orifices extending therethrough through which liquid may be forced from the chamber to produce droplets of agent, and the nebulizer further comprises an actuating mechanism operable to reciprocate at least one of said plate members toward the other in a compression actuation to force liquid from said chamber through said orifices; wherein the release mechanism is electrically coupled to the nebulizer such that upon activation of the release mechanism, the release mechanism sends a signal to the nebulizer to cause the nebulizer to move the at least one of said plate members repeatedly toward and away from the other plate member to expel agent from the chamber until another signal is sent to the nebulizer to cease movement of the at least one of said plate members.