Patent Publication Number: US-10322255-B2

Title: Nebulize adapter kit

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various types of connectors and adapters used to fluidly connect a nebulizer to another device, such as a fluid collection reservoir, an gas therapy tank, a ventilator, or a respirator, are known in the prior art. However, what is needed is a nebulizer adapter kit including a T-shaped adapter to which a plurality of attachment pieces, including a mouthpiece, a shut-off valve directly adjacent and in fluid communication with the mouthpiece which controls the passage of a mist of liquid therapy medication therethrough into the mouthpiece from a direct flow tube. The direct flow tube is disposed within a channel of a nebulizer medicine reservoir and has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is attached to and in fluid communication direct flow valve on a proximal end of a T-shaped adapter. The lower end of the direct flow tube is attached directly to and is in fluid communication with a nebulizer medicine reservoir, which is separate from the nebulizer machine. A safety cap is disposed on an opposite end of the T-shaped adapter from the direct flow tube. On a lower portion of the T-shaped adapter is a drip-reduction ring which is disposed within an upper outlet of a nebulizer. An amount of liquid therapy medication is disposed within the nebulizer medicine reservoir. A gas source is in fluid communication with the nebulizer machine to transform the liquid therapy medication into a mist within the direct flow tube when the direct flow valve is in an open condition and the safety cap is attached to the T-shaped adapter. When the shut-off valve is open, the mist is directed through the mouthpiece. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to nebulizer connectors and adapters to connect a nebulizer to another device, and more particularly, to a nebulizer adapter kit including a an adapter tee and a plurality of attachment pieces attachable to the adapter tee. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present nebulizer adapter kit, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a nebulizer adapter kit which has many novel features that result in a nebulizer adapter kit which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof. 
     To accomplish this, the present nebulizer adapter kit includes a T-shaped adapter having a cylindrical upper portion and a cylindrical lower portion centrally disposed in a position perpendicular to and in fluid communication with the upper portion. The upper portion has a proximal end and a distal end. The upper portion has a safety cap disposed on the distal end. The lower portion has a bottom end and a top end. 
     A direct flow valve is disposed on and in fluid communication with the proximal end of the T-shaped adapter upper portion. The direct flow valve has an open position and an alternate closed position. 
     A direct flow tube, shown best in  FIG. 2 , is disposed within a channel of and in direct fluid communication with a nebulizer medicine reservoir. The direct flow tube has an upper end and a lower end. The direct flow valve is in operational communication and in fluid communication with the direct flow tube lower end. The nebulizer medicine reservoir is a separate body from and in indirect fluid communication with a nebulizer machine. An amount of liquid therapy medication is disposed within the nebulizer medicine reservoir. 
     A shut-off valve is disposed between and in fluid communication with the upper end of the direct flow tube and a mouthpiece. The shut-off valve has an open position and an alternate closed position. A drip-reduction ring is disposed on the bottom end of the T-shaped adapter lower portion. The drip-reduction ring is insertable within an upper outlet of the nebulizer machine. The drip-reduction ring is provided to prevent backflow into the nebulizer machine. A gas source is attachable to and configured to be in fluid communication with the nebulizer machine. 
     Upon activation of the nebulizer machine, the attachment of the gas source to the nebulizer machine, the positioning of the shut-off valve in the open position, the positioning of the direct flow valve in the open position, the gas source is configured to transform the liquid therapy medication disposed within the nebulizer medicine reservoir into a mist. Upon transformation of the liquid therapy medication into a mist, the mist is directed into the direct flow tube, through the open shut-off valve, and through the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user. 
     Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the present nebulizer adapter kit so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view. 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view. 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, an example of the instant nebulizer adapter kit employing the principles and concepts of the present nebulizer adapter kit and generally designated by the reference number  10  will be described. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the present nebulizer adapter kit  10  is illustrated. The nebulizer adapter kit  10  includes a T-shaped adapter  20  having a cylindrical upper portion  22  and a cylindrical lower portion  24  centrally disposed in a position perpendicular to and in fluid communication with the upper portion  22 . The upper portion  22  has a proximal end  26  and a distal end  28 . The upper portion  22  has a safety cap  30  disposed on the distal end  28 . The lower portion  24  has a bottom end  32  and a top end  34 . 
     A direct flow valve  40  is disposed on and in fluid communication with the proximal end  26  of the T-shaped adapter  29  upper portion  22 . The direct flow valve  40  has an open position and an alternate closed position. 
     A direct flow tube  42 , shown best in  FIG. 2 , is disposed within a channel  45  of and in direct fluid communication with a nebulizer medicine reservoir  47 . The direct flow tube  42  has an upper end  50  and a lower end  52 . The direct flow valve  40  is in operational communication and in fluid communication with the direct flow tube  42  lower end  52 . The nebulizer medicine reservoir  47  is a separate body from and in indirect fluid communication with a nebulizer machine  66 . An amount of liquid therapy medication  54  is disposed within the nebulizer medicine reservoir  47 . 
     A shut-off valve  60  is disposed between and in fluid communication with the upper end of the direct flow tube  42  and a mouthpiece  65 . The shut-off valve  60  has an open position and an alternate closed position. A drip-reduction ring  67  is disposed on the bottom end  32  of the T-shaped adapter  20  lower portion  24 . The drip-reduction ring is insertable within an upper outlet of the nebulizer machine. The drip-reduction ring is provided to prevent backflow into the nebulizer machine  66 . A gas source  68  is attachable to and configured to be in fluid communication with the nebulizer machine  66 . 
     Upon activation of the nebulizer machine  66 , the attachment of the gas source  68  to the nebulizer machine  66 , the positioning of the shut-off valve  60  in the open position, the positioning of the direct flow valve  40  in the open position, the gas source is configured to transform the liquid therapy medication  54  disposed within the nebulizer medicine reservoir  47  into a mist. Upon transformation of the liquid therapy medication into a mist, the mist is directed into the direct flow tube  42 , through the open shut-off valve  60 , and through the mouthpiece  65  for inhalation by the user. The direct flow tube  42 , the direct flow valve  40 , and the drip-reduction ring  67  operate together to prevent the mist from mixing inside the nebulizer machine  66 .