NEBULIZER KIT AND NEBULIZER

A nebulizer kit includes: a housing body that houses an atomization portion configured to atomize a liquid and includes a first opening portion and a second opening portion; and a mouthpiece in which a first attachment portion including a first check valve and configured to be attachable to and detachable from the first opening portion and a tubular second attachment portion including a second check valve and configured to be attachable to and detachable from the second opening portion are integrally configured. An inhalation attachment different from the mouthpiece is attachable to the second opening portion in a state in which the mouthpiece is removed from the housing body.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a nebulizer kit and a nebulizer.

A general nebulizer includes a nebulizer kit capable of generating aerosol. For example, JP2013-132473A is known as a document disclosing a nebulizer using a nebulizer kit. In addition, a nebulizer is known which is configured to inhale a drug solution by attaching different attachments (mouthpieces and inhalation masks), respectively (for example, a compressor type nebulizer NE-C28 manufactured by Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.).

It is assumed that the inhalation mask is used by a child or an elderly person having a weak suction force. On the other hand, it is assumed that a mouthpiece is used by people having a strong suction force. A suction force is required when using the mouthpiece, and it is desired that the drug solution can be inhaled more efficiently. On the other hand, when the inhalation mask is used, it is desired that a user having a weak suction force can easily inhale the drug solution.

An object of the present invention is to provide a nebulizer kit and a nebulizer that enable a user having a weak suction force to easily inhale a drug solution and enable a user having a strong suction force to efficiently inhale the drug solution.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nebulizer kit including:

a housing body that houses an atomization portion configured to atomize a liquid and includes a first opening portion and a second opening portion; and

a mouthpiece in which a first attachment portion including a first check valve and configured to be attachable to and detachable from the first opening portion and a tubular second attachment portion including a second check valve and configured to be attachable to and detachable from the second opening portion are integrally configured,

in which an inhalation attachment different from the mouthpiece is attachable to the second opening portion in a state in which the mouthpiece is removed from the housing body.

In a state in which the mouthpiece is attached to the housing body, the first check valve may take outside air into the housing body in accordance with an inhalation operation using the mouthpiece, and the second check valve may deliver exhaled air to outside of the second attachment portion in accordance with an exhalation operation using the mouthpiece.

The first opening portion and the first attachment portion may be provided with a positioning mechanism for positioning the first attachment portion with respect to the first opening portion.

The mouthpiece may include a connecting portion that connects the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion, and the connecting portion may be elastically deformable

The mouthpiece may be configured such that the inhalation attachment is not attachable to the second attachment portion.

An outer diameter of at least a part of a suction port end portion of the mouthpiece may be larger than an inner diameter of an attachment portion of the inhalation attachment to the housing body.

The first opening portion may be open in a longitudinal direction of the housing body, and the second opening portion may be open in a transverse direction of the housing body.

The first opening portion may be larger than the second opening portion.

The fulcrum of a movable portion of the second check valve may be provided eccentrically to a suction port end portion side of the mouthpiece.

According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided a nebulizer including:

the nebulizer kit;

a main body portion configured to control the atomization portion; and

the inhalation attachment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(Overview of Nebulizer Kit of Embodiment)

First, an outline of an embodiment of a nebulizer kit according to the present invention will be described.

A nebulizer kit according to the embodiment is configured such that a first check valve that takes into outside air into a housing body of an atomization portion during an inhalation operation and a second check valve that delivers breath to the outside during an exhalation operation are integrated with a mouthpiece, and the mouthpiece is attachable to and detachable from the housing body. In a state in which the mouthpiece is removed from the housing body, an inhalation attachment different from the mouthpiece is attachable to the housing body.

With such a configuration, when another inhalation attachment is used, one of the two opening portions of the housing body to which the mouthpiece is to be attached is always in a state of being largely opened, so that the outside air can easily flow into the housing body during the inhalation operation. As a result, when the other inhalation attachment is used, a user having a weak suction force may easily inhale the drug solution. In addition, when a user having a strong suction force uses the mouthpiece, the first check valve is attached to the one opening portion of the housing body. Accordingly, a state in which the drug solution may be efficiently inhaled is always realized.

EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, a specific configuration example of a nebulizer kit according to the embodiment will be described.

FIG.1is a perspective view showing a nebulizer including the nebulizer kit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A nebulizer1shown inFIG.1includes a main body portion2, a nebulizer kit8attachable to the main body portion2, and an inhalation attachment30described later.

The nebulizer kit8includes a housing body20to which air is supplied from the main body portion2, a mouthpiece10, and a tube18that connects the housing body20and the main body portion2. The housing body20is connected to the main body portion2by attaching a connection end18eat one end portion of the tube18to a connection portion3of the main body portion2. One configuration of the nebulizer1is thus configured. For example, as shown in the drawing, one end of a body portion20gof the housing body20may be attachably and detachably held on a side surface of the main body portion2.

The main body portion2includes a power cord5and the like, and includes a drive source (not shown) which is driven by external electric power supplied thereto. The main body portion2may supply compressed air from one end side (lower side inFIG.1) of the housing body20through the tube18connected to the connection portion3. In addition, the main body portion2may control the compressed air to be supplied, and may control an atomization amount of a liquid in an atomization portion25in the housing body20which is described later.

FIG.2is an enlarged perspective view of the housing body20shown inFIG.1.

As shown inFIG.2, at the housing body20, the tube18is connected to one end side (lower side inFIG.2) in a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body portion20g, and a first opening portion21constituting a circular opening is provided on the other end side thereof (upper side inFIG.2). In addition, a cylindrical side surface protruding wall portion22wcommunicating with the inside of the body portion20gis formed to protrude from a side surface (end surface in a transverse direction) of the body portion20g, and an inner peripheral portion of the side surface protruding wall portion22wconstitutes a second opening portion22. An inner diameter D21of the first opening portion21is larger than an inner diameter D22of the second opening portion22.

FIG.3is a cross-sectional view of a portion taken along a line A-A ofFIG.2.

As shown inFIG.3, the atomization portion25that atomizes the liquid is provided inside the body portion20g. The atomization portion25includes a nozzle25nprovided at a tip end of a compressed air introduction pipe25p, and a baffle portion25bincluding a protrusion25dprotruding toward the nozzle25n. The tube18is connected to the compressed air introduction pipe25p. Inside the body portion20g, a liquid storage portion26that stores a liquid such as a drug solution is provided around the compressed air introduction pipe25p. A tubular outside air introduction pipe24extending from the first opening portion21toward the compressed air introduction pipe25pand the liquid storage portion26is provided inside the body portion20g. The atomization portion25is disposed at an end portion of the outside air introduction pipe24on a side opposite to the first opening portion21side. The side surface protruding wall portion22wdescribed above is formed on a side wall of the body portion20gsurrounding the outside air introduction pipe24.

The compressed air introduced from the main body portion2into the compressed air introduction pipe25pthrough the tube18is jetted through the nozzle25nat the tip end of the compressed air introduction pipe25p. The compressed air is jetted from the nozzle25ntoward the protrusion25d, then collides with the protrusion25dand the baffle portion25b, and radially spreads in a direction changed from a direction in which the compressed air is discharged from the nozzle25n. Accordingly, a negative pressure, which is lower than a surrounding pressure, is generated in the atomization portion25and a vicinity thereof.

Due to the action of the negative pressure in the atomization portion25and the vicinity thereof, the liquid (not shown) stored in the liquid storage portion26is sucked up to the vicinity of the atomization portion25from a slit-shaped introduction path provided in the compressed air introduction pipe25p. The sucked liquid collides with the protrusion25dand the baffle portion25btogether with the compressed air, is smashed, and is atomized into atomized particles (fine liquid droplets).

The atomized particles are added to the outside air introduced from the first opening portion21through the outside air introduction pipe24, thereby generating aerosol in the atomization portion25. The aerosol moves toward the second opening portion22through the outside of the outside air introduction pipe24in a swirling manner.

FIG.4is an enlarged perspective view of the mouthpiece10shown inFIG.1as viewed from the housing body20side.FIG.5is a cross-sectional view of a portion taken along a line B-B inFIG.4.

As shown inFIGS.4and5, the mouthpiece10includes a substantially disk-shaped first attachment portion11, a tubular second attachment portion12, and a connecting portion13that connects the first attachment portion11and the second attachment portion12to each other, and these three members are integrally configured. Specifically, the first attachment portion11and the connecting portion13are fixed to each other, and the second attachment portion12and the connecting portion13are fixed to each other, whereby these three members are integrated. The term “fixed” refers to a state in which these members are firmly connected by adhesion, screwing, press-fitting, or the like so as not to be easily separated.

The first attachment portion11is provided with an inhalation opening11hpenetrating therethrough in a thickness direction thereof. The first attachment portion11includes an outer surface portion flu having a large diameter and an attachment fitting portion11ehaving a smaller diameter than the outer surface portion11u. The attachment fitting portion11ehas a diameter adjusted to the inner diameter D21(seeFIG.2) of the first opening portion21so as to be fitted into the inside of the first opening portion21.

The first opening portion21and the first attachment portion11are provided with a positioning mechanism capable of positioning the first attachment portion11with respect to the first opening portion21. The positioning mechanism includes cutout recesses11c(seeFIG.4) provided in the attachment fitting portion11efrom a lower end side to an outer side surface, and positioning protrusions21d(seeFIG.2) provided in an inner peripheral wall portion of the first opening portion21so as to be fitted into the cutout recesses11c.

The inhalation opening11hof the first attachment portion11is provided with a first check valve11vin a manner to close the inhalation opening11h. The first check valve11vis a flat plate-shaped sheet member, and is provided with an attachment protrusion11pat the center thereof. The attachment protrusion11pis fitted into a valve attachment portion11gprovided at a center of the inhalation opening11h.

One end side (the first attachment portion11side) of a body portion of the second attachment portion12is configured as a cylindrical attachment end portion12e. The attachment end portion12eis configured to be fitted to the side surface protruding wall portion22wof the housing body20. In other words, an inner diameter D13of the attachment end portion12eis formed to be slightly larger than an outer diameter D23of the side surface protruding wall portion22wso as to be fitted to the side surface protruding wall portion22w. In addition, the other end side (a side opposite to the first attachment portion11side) of the body portion of the second attachment portion12is configured as a suction port end portion12thaving a flat cylindrical portion. On a side surface (middle upper side inFIGS.4and5) of the body portion of the second attachment portion12, an exhalation opening12his provided by a protruding wall portion12wslightly protruding from the side surface thereof. A second check valve12vis attached to the exhalation opening12hfrom the outside in a manner to close the exhalation opening12h.

The second check valve12vis a flat plate-shaped sheet member similarly to the first check valve11v, and is formed in, for example, an elliptical shape having a long axis along a longitudinal direction (axial direction, left-right direction inFIG.5) of the second attachment portion12. An attachment portion12pof the second check valve12vis provided at a position closer to the suction port end portion12tthan a center of the exhalation opening12h. That is, the second check valve12vis configured such that a fulcrum (the attachment portion12p) of a movable portion when the second check valve12vmoves as a valve is eccentrically provided on the suction port end portion12tside with respect to the exhalation opening12h, and a free end portion12ve, which is an end portion on a side opposite to the suction port end portion12tside opens and closes.

As shown inFIG.5, the connecting portion13is formed, for example, in a strip shape and in a relatively thin elongated shape, and insertion pin portions13iand13pwhose distal ends are tapered are provided at both end portions thereof. The first attachment portion11is provided with an attachment piece11khaving a hole into which the insertion pin portion13iis inserted and engaged. The second attachment portion12is provided with an attachment piece12khaving a hole into which the insertion pin portion13pis inserted and engaged. The connecting portion13is preferably made of rubber or resin that is relatively flexible and elastically deformable.

Hereinafter, a use state of the mouthpiece10will be described.

FIG.6is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a state in which the mouthpiece10shown inFIG.4is attached to the housing body20.

As shown inFIG.6, the mouthpiece10is attached to the housing body20by fitting the first attachment portion11into the first opening portion21and fitting the attachment end portion12eof the second attachment portion12into the side surface protruding wall portion22wof the second opening portion22. In this state, the user holds the body portion20gof the housing body20with his/her hand, and performs the inhalation operation and the exhalation operation in a state in which the user holds the suction port end portion12tin his/her mouth.

During the inhalation operation, as shown inFIG.6, the first check valve11vis deformed to the inside of the housing body20due to the negative pressure, and the inhalation opening11hof the first attachment portion11is connected to the outside air introduction pipe24. Accordingly, the outside air is taken into the housing body20from the inhalation opening11h. At this time, the second check valve12vcloses the exhalation opening12hdue to the negative pressure. The outside air taken into the housing body20passes through the outside air introduction pipe24and is added to the drug solution atomized into the atomized particles in the atomization portion25, thereby generating the aerosol. As indicated by solid arrows inFIG.6, the generated aerosol passes through the outside of the outside air introduction pipe24to reach the second opening portion22, and is sucked into a human body from the second opening portion22through the second attachment portion12of the mouthpiece10.

During the exhalation operation, the inside of the mouthpiece10and the housing body20is pressurized. At this time, the first check valve11vcloses the inhalation opening11hby being pressurized. On the other hand, the second check valve12vis deformed by pressurization so that the free end portion12veis warped outward, and the exhaled air is discharged to the outside of the mouthpiece10as indicated by a long dashed short dashed line arrow inFIG.6.

FIG.7is a perspective view showing a state in which the inhalation attachment is attached to the housing body20of the nebulizer kit8shown inFIG.1.

In the nebulizer1shown inFIG.7, the inhalation attachment30is attached to the housing body20instead of the mouthpiece10. In this way, the nebulizer kit8is configured such that the inhalation attachment30different from the mouthpiece10is attachable to the side surface protruding wall portion22w(second opening portion22) in a state in which the mouthpiece10is removed from the housing body20.

FIG.8is an enlarged perspective view of the inhalation attachment30.

As shown inFIG.8, in the inhalation attachment30, an attachment hole30tis provided on a tip end side (left side inFIG.8) of a funnel body portion30bhaving a substantially funnel shape. The attachment hole30thas the same inner diameter (inner diameter D13) as the attachment end portion12eof the mouthpiece10, and is configured to be fitted to the side surface protruding wall portion22w. Therefore, as shown inFIG.7, in a state in which the mouthpiece10is removed from the housing body20, the inhalation attachment30may be attached to the side surface protruding wall portion22wof the housing body20. The inhalation attachment30further includes, on a side opposite to the attachment hole30t, a corresponding edge portion30ehaving a shape that fits the face to cover a region including the mouth and the nose. Two side openings are formed in the funnel body portion30b.

FIG.9is an enlarged perspective view of the mouthpiece10shown inFIG.4as viewed from the suction port end portion12tside.

As shown inFIG.9, the suction port end portion12tof the second attachment portion12of the mouthpiece10has a horizontally long flat shape so as to be easily caught by the mouth. A lateral width D12of the suction port end portion12tof the mouthpiece10is larger than the inner diameter D13of the attachment end portion12eof the mouthpiece10. That is, the lateral width D12of the suction port end portion12tof the mouthpiece10is larger than the inner diameter D13of the attachment hole30tof the inhalation attachment30. Thus, in a state in which the second attachment portion12of the mouthpiece10is fitted to the side surface protruding wall portion22w, the inhalation attachment30cannot be attached to the second attachment portion12.

Hereinafter, the use state of the inhalation attachment30will be described.

As shown inFIG.7, the inhalation attachment30is used by being attached to the side surface protruding wall portion22wof the housing body20from which the mouthpiece10is removed. In the state shown inFIG.7, the user holds the body portion20gof the housing body20with his/her hand, and performs the inhalation operation and the exhalation operation with the corresponding edge portion30efitted to the face.

During the inhalation operation, the outside air is taken into the housing body20from the first opening portion21. The outside air passes through the outside air introduction pipe24and is added to the drug solution that has been atomized into atomized particles in the atomization portion25, thereby generating aerosol. The generated aerosol reaches the second opening portion22through the outside of the outside air introduction pipe24, and is sucked into the human body from the second opening portion22through the inhalation attachment30.

During the exhalation operation, a part of the exhaled air is discharged from the side openings30hof the inhalation attachment30, and a part of the exhaled air flowing into the housing body20is discharged from the first opening portion21to the outside.

According to the nebulizer kit8, in a state in which the mouthpiece10in which the first attachment portion11including the first check valve11vcapable of closing the first opening portion21and the second attachment portion12including the second check valve12vare integrally configured is removed from the housing body20, the first opening portion21is always in an open state, and the inhalation attachment30different from the mouthpiece10becomes able to be attached to the second opening portion22. Therefore, when the inhalation attachment30is used, the first opening portion21is in the open state, and even a person having a weak suction force may take the outside air into the housing body20in a prepared manner, and may sufficiently inhale the drug solution during the inhalation operation. When a person having a strong suction force uses the mouthpiece10, the first check valve11vis always attached to the first opening portion21. Therefore, the drug solution may be efficiently inhaled.

According to the nebulizer kit8, the first attachment portion11of the mouthpiece10attached to the first opening portion21of the housing body20and the second attachment portion12of the mouthpiece10attached to the second opening portion22of the housing body20are integrally configured. Therefore, for example, compared to a structure in which the first attachment portion11and the second attachment portion12are separated from each other, loss of components may be prevented. In addition, compared to the structure, when the mouthpiece10is used, it is possible to prevent the first check valve11vfrom being forgotten to be attached, and it is possible to efficiently inhale the drug solution. In addition, compared to this structure, it is possible to prevent the inhalation attachment30from performing the inhalation in a state in which the first opening portion21is closed.

In the nebulizer kit8, the first opening portion21and the first attachment portion11are provided with a positioning mechanism that positions the first attachment portion11with respect to the first opening portion21. Therefore, an attachment position of the first attachment portion11may be accurately set. In addition, the second attachment portion12integrated with the first attachment portion11may be accurately attached, and mountability of the mouthpiece10may be improved.

In the nebulizer kit8, since the connecting portion13of the mouthpiece10is configured to be elastically deformable, the mouthpiece10may be easily attached and detached.

The nebulizer kit8is configured such that the inhalation attachment30cannot be attached to the second attachment portion12of the mouthpiece10. In other words, the outer diameter of the suction port end portion12tof the mouthpiece10is larger than the inner diameter of the attachment hole30tof the inhalation attachment30. Therefore, the inhalation attachment30cannot be fitted into the suction port end portion12tof the mouthpiece10. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the inhalation attachment30from being used while the mouthpiece10is attached to the housing body20.

In the nebulizer kit8, the first attachment portion11of the mouthpiece10is attached to the end surface of the housing body20in the longitudinal direction, and the second attachment portion12of the mouthpiece10is attached to the end surface (side surface) of the housing body20in the transverse direction. For example, it is assumed that the first opening portion21is provided adjacent to the side surface protruding wall portion22won the side surface of the housing body20. In this case, the mouthpiece10has a configuration in which the first attachment portion11is rotated 90 degrees to the right inFIG.5. Compared to the configuration of the mouthpiece assumed as such, according to the configuration of the nebulizer kit8, a thickness (the length in an upper-lower direction inFIG.5) of the mouthpiece10may be reduced, and the mouthpiece10may be formed in an elongated shape as a whole. Therefore, the mouthpiece10may be easily housed when the mouthpiece10is not used, and usability may be improved.

In the nebulizer kit8, the first opening portion21is configured to be larger than the second opening portion22. Therefore, the drug solution is easily sucked in the inhalation operation when the inhalation attachment30is used. Accordingly, even a person having a weak suction force may inhale a sufficient amount of drug solution. The housing body20is formed in an elongated cylindrical shape, and the atomization portion25is disposed on a side opposite to the first opening portion21side. Therefore, even when the inhalation operation is not performed when the inhalation attachment30is used, it is possible to prevent the drug solution atomized in the atomization portion from escaping to the outside from the first opening portion21as much as possible. The inhalation attachment30is provided with the side openings30h. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the amount of fluid flowing from the second opening portion22to the inside of the housing body20in the exhalation operation when using the inhalation attachment30, and it is possible to prevent the drug solution atomized in the atomization portion25from escaping to the outside from the first opening portion21as much as possible.

Also, in the nebulizer kit8, the fulcrum of the movable portion of the second check valve12vis provided eccentrically toward the suction port end portion12t. For this reason, the second check valve12vthat is opened by an air pressure during the exhalation is opened such that the free end portion12veon a downstream side of the air flow is warped. As a result, the air flow due to the exhalation may be made into a smooth streamline, and the exhaled air may be efficiently discharged in the exhalation operation when using the mouthpiece10.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, a shape and structure thereof are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the present invention. For example, in a concave and convex fitting shape of the positioning mechanism in the above embodiment, a convex portion and a concave portion may have a reverse configuration. In addition, in the mouthpiece10, the first attachment portion11, the second attachment portion12, and the connecting portion13are integrally configured by fixing the three members of the first attachment portion11, the second attachment portion12, and the connecting portion13, but the mouthpiece10may be configured by integrally molding the first attachment portion11, the second attachment portion12, and the connecting portion13as a single member. The liquid atomized by the nebulizer1is not limited to the drug solution, and may be tap water or the like. The insulation attachment30has a mask shape, but may have, for example, a substantially cylindrical mouthpiece shape different from the mouthpiece10.

Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope described in claims, and it is understood that the changes or modifications naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, the components described in the above embodiment may be freely combined without departing from the spirit of the invention.