Patent Publication Number: US-2019192791-A1

Title: Mesh nebulizer

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-175729 filed on Sep. 8, 2016 and is a Continuation Application of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2017/027291 filed on Jul. 27, 2017. The entire contents of each application are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a mesh nebulizer, and more particularly to a mesh nebulizer that atomizes and ejects liquid supplied between a vibration surface and a mesh portion, through the mesh portion. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, this kind of mesh nebulizer as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-4208 including a horn vibrator provided in a main body, and a mesh cap detachably and openably (rotatably) attached to the main body has been known. In the state in which the mesh cap is attached to the main body and the main body is closed, the vibration surface (the surface of a tip) of the horn vibrator faces the thin plate-shaped mesh portion of the mesh cap. In this state, medical liquid is supplied between the vibration surface and the mesh portion, and a drive voltage is applied to the horn vibrator to vibrate the vibration surface. As a result, the medical liquid is atomized and ejected through the mesh portion. 
     In the mesh nebulizer, by inclining the vibration surface of the horn vibrator with respect to an entrance surface (a surface facing the vibration surface) of the mesh portion, it is configured such that a gap between the entrance surface and the vibration surface is optimized at any location of the mesh portion. 
     However, in the mesh nebulizer, the mesh portion is supported by a reinforcing part having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the vibration surface, and is in contact with the vibration surface only at one position of the peripheral edge of the vibration surface. The reinforcing part is separated from the vibration surface. For this reason, if the mesh portion is made of, for example, a sheet made of a synthetic resin, there is a problem that the sheet is deflected and the inclination accuracy between the vibration surface and the mesh portion (entrance surface) becomes insufficient. Further, in order to incline the vibration surface of the horn vibrator with respect to the entrance surface of the mesh portion by a predetermined angle, a plurality of members are required. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide mesh nebulizers that improve accuracy of inclination of a sheet including a mesh portion with respect to a vibration surface of a horn vibrator without increasing a number of elements or members, and stably atomizes liquid. 
     A mesh nebulizer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a mesh nebulizer that atomizes and ejects liquid through a mesh portion includes a vibration portion having a vibration surface facing upward, a liquid supply portion that supplies liquid toward the vibration surface of the vibration portion; a sheet including the mesh portion; and a support frame that supports a peripheral edge of the sheet, wherein the support frame includes a bottom plate that supports a lower surface of the peripheral edge of the sheet, the bottom plate having a flat annular shape, and a larger inner diameter than a diameter of the vibration surface, and a protrusion radially protruding inward from the bottom plate, the sheet including the mesh portion faces the vibration surface with an inclination angle and is in contact with a first portion of a peripheral edge of the vibration surface, and the protrusion of the support frame is in contact with a second portion of the peripheral edge of the vibration surface, the second portion opposing the first portion, and maintains the sheet with respect to the vibration surface at the inclination angle. 
     In the present specification, the “mesh portion” means a component that includes a plurality of through-holes penetrating the sheet and allows liquid to pass through the through-holes and atomizes the liquid. 
     The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view illustrating a mesh nebulizer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the mesh nebulizer in the exploded state when viewed from a right side. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a state where an exchangeable member including a mesh portion is attached to the mesh nebulizer (attached state). 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating the mesh nebulizer in the attached state in  FIG. 3  when viewed from a right side. 
         FIG. 5A  is a view illustrating a state where the mesh nebulizer is assembled (assembled state) when viewed from a right side.  FIGS. 5B and 5C  are views illustrating the mesh nebulizer of  FIG. 5A  when viewed from the front and above, respectively. 
         FIG. 6  is a longitudinal cross section illustrating the mesh nebulizer in the assembled state when viewed from a right side. 
         FIG. 7A  is an enlarged view illustrating the vicinity of the exchangeable member in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view illustrating a longitudinal sectional cut surface of the mesh nebulizer in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8A  is a plan view illustrating the exchangeable member.  FIGS. 8B, 8C and 8D  are views illustrating the exchangeable members when viewed from left, right, and below in  FIG. 8A , respectively.  FIG. 8E  is a sectional view taken along a line VIIIE-VIIIE in  FIG. 8A .  FIG. 8F  is a perspective view illustrating the cut surface when the exchangeable member is cut along the line VIIIE-VIIIE in  FIG. 8A .  FIG. 8G  is an enlarged view illustrating the vicinity of the mesh portion in  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating a control system mounted on a main body of the mesh nebulizer. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a mode in which the user uses the mesh nebulizer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view illustrating a mesh nebulizer (indicated by a reference numeral  1 ) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention when diagonally viewed.  FIG. 2  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the mesh nebulizer  1  in the exploded state in  FIG. 1  when viewed from right (direction indicated by arrow A in  FIG. 1 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the mesh nebulizer  1  includes a main body lower portion  11  having a quadrangular prism or substantially quadrangular prism outer shape, and a main body upper portion  12  having an elliptic columnar outer shape, which is detachably fitted to the main body lower portion  11  from above. The main body lower portion  11  and the main body upper portion  12  define a main body  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a power switch  50  to turn on and off the power of the nebulizer  1  is provided on a front surface of the main body lower portion  11 . LED lamps  51  and  52  to notify the operation state of the nebulizer  1  are provided in the upper left corner and the upper right corner on the front side, respectively, on the upper surface of the main body lower portion  11 . A control system described later is mainly mounted inside the main body lower portion  11 . 
     A concave portion  16  having a circular or substantially circular planar shape opened upward is provided in a front half region of the upper surface of the main body upper portion  12  so as to receive an exchangeable member  20  described later. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the concave portion  16  includes a bottom surface  16   b  inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis direction (vertical direction) of the main body  10 , and a side surface  16   c  that is continuous to the bottom surface  16   b  and gradually becomes larger toward the upper side. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a groove  16   e  radially extending outward from the concave portion  16  in a particular direction (in this example, toward the front surface) is provided around an upper edge of the concave portion  16  so as to receive a grip portion  25  of the exchangeable member  20  described later. Further, a groove  16   f  radially extending outward from the concave portion  16  toward the rear surface in this example is provided around the upper edge of the concave portion  16  so as to receive a tip protrusion  27  of the exchangeable member  20  described later. Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a packing  29  is provided on the side surface  16   c  of the concave portion  16  of the main body  10  so as to circumferentially surround and contact a side wall portion  23  of the exchangeable member  20  described later. 
     In the main body upper portion  12 , a vibration portion  40  is provided at a position corresponding to the concave portion  16 . The vibration portion  40  includes an ultrasonic vibrator  41  at a position spaced apart downward from the concave portion  16 , a vibration surface  43  that is horizontally arranged at a position corresponding to the bottom surface  16   b  of the concave portion  16  and faces the upper side, and a horn  42  located between the ultrasonic vibrator  41  and the vibration surface  43  to amplify the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator  41  and transmit the vibration to the vibration surface  43 . The drive voltage for the ultrasonic vibrator  41  is supplied from the main body lower portion  11  via a contact electrode provided between the main body upper portion  12  and the main body lower portion  11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a liquid storage  17  having a semicircular or substantially semicircular planar shape is provided in a rear half region of the upper surface of the main body upper portion  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the liquid storage  17  includes a bottom surface  17   b  that gradually becomes shallower toward the side of the front surface. Further, a liquid supply path  18  to supply liquid (medical liquid) from the liquid storage  17  toward the vibration surface  43  of the vibration portion  40  is connected to a front surface of the liquid storage  17 . The liquid storage  17  and the liquid supply path  18  define a liquid supply portion. In the exploded state in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the liquid storage  17  is open upward. Therefore, the user may insert the medical liquid into the liquid storage  17  from above. 
     A cover  31  having an elliptical or substantially elliptical plate shape is connected to the rear edge of the upper surface of the main body upper portion  12  so as to be rotatable with respect to the main body upper portion  12  as indicated by an arrow B via a hinge  38 . The cover  31  includes a protrusion  33  having a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape and a mesa portion  34  having a semicircular or substantially semicircular planar shape corresponding to the planar shape of the liquid storage  17 , on the side facing the upper surface of the main body upper portion  12 . As will be described later, in the state where the cover  31  closes the main body upper portion  12  and the nebulizer  1  is assembled, the protrusion  33  functions to position the exchangeable member  20 . Further, the mesa portion  34  closes the upper portion of the liquid storage  17 , thus preventing the medical liquid from overflowing from the liquid storage  17 . 
     An engagement frame  32  having a letter U shape or substantially a letter U shape is attached to a tip (the end on the side opposite to the hinge  38 ) of the cover  31  so as to be rotatable with respect to the cover  31  via a hinge  39  as indicated by an arrow C. In the state where the cover  31  closes the main body upper portion  12 , when the engagement frame  32  is rotated toward the front surface of the main body upper portion  12 , the engagement frame  32  engages with an engagement protrusion  19  provided on the upper portion of the front surface of the main body upper portion  12 . As a result, the cover  31  is fixed in a closed state with respect to the main body upper portion  12 . The cover  31  and the engagement frame  32  define a cap  30 . With this configuration, the user can easily open and close the cap  30  with respect to the main body  10  (the main body upper portion  12 ), and prevent the cap  30  from being lost. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the exchangeable member  20  separated from the main body  10  and the cap  30 . When the nebulizer  1  is used, the exchangeable member  20  is detachably attached to the concave portion  16  of the main body upper portion  12  in advance. 
       FIGS. 8A to 8G  illustrate the structure of the exchangeable member  20  in detail. As illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8E , the exchangeable member  20  includes a flat sheet  21  to be faced to the vibration surface  43  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), a flat annular bottom plate  22  that supports a lower surface of a peripheral edge of the sheet  21  and has an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the vibration surface  43 , a side wall portion  23  that is continuous to an outer edge of the bottom plate  22  and is to be faced to the side surface  16   c  of the concave portion  16  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), and a flange  24  that is continuous to an upper edge of the side wall portion  23  and radially extends outward from the upper edge. The sheet  21  is attached to an upper surface of the bottom plate  22  by adhesion or welding. That is, the bottom plate  22  is present only on a side of the lower surface of the sheet  21 . A mesh portion  21   a  is provided in a central region or in a substantially central region of the sheet  21 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8E and 8F , the mesh portion  21   a  and the bottom plate  22  of the exchangeable member  20  has a substantially flat inclined surface inclined with respect to a plane (horizontal plane) orthogonal to a center  23   c  of the side wall portion  23  so as to correspond to the bottom surface  16   b  of the concave portion  16  of the main body  10  (see  FIG. 2 ). Further, the side wall portion  23  of the exchangeable member  20  gradually opens toward the upper side so as to correspond to the side surface  16   c  of the concave portion  16  of the main body  10  (see  FIG. 2 ). Further, a protrusion  22   p  radially protrudes (projects) inward from the bottom plate  22  and reaches just below a ring  26  described later. The bottom plate  22  and the protrusion  22   p  define a support frame  100 . With this configuration, the sheet  21  is able to be maintained as flat as possible. Further, as will be described later, the protrusion  22   p  defines and functions as a portion of the support frame  100  to maintain the sheet  21  with respect to the vibration surface  43  at an inclination angle. 
     Further, the protrusion  22   p  and the bottom plate  22  are made of the same material, continuously and uniformly integrated. Thus, the vibration surface  43  and the mesh portion  21   a  are able to be accurately inclined in the attached state without increasing the number of members for inclining. Therefore, the configuration becomes simpler. 
       FIG. 8G  is an enlarged view illustrating the vicinity of the mesh portion  21   a  in  FIG. 8A . In this example, the mesh portion  21   a  includes a large number of through-holes not illustrated having a diameter of about 3 μm in a square region with a side dimension X=1.5 mm in the sheet  21  having a thickness of about 30 μm. A ring  26  having a flat annular shape and a thickness of about 400 μm is attached to the sheet  21  by adhesion or welding so as to surround the mesh portion  21   a . Here, the ring  26  has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the bottom plate  22 . The ring  26  is attached to maintain the mesh portion  21   a  as flat as possible and to adjust the natural frequency of the sheet  21  including the mesh portion  21   a . In this example, the ring  26  has an inner dimension ID of about 2.2 mm and an outer dimension OD of about 6.0 mm, for example. The mesh portion  21   a  is positioned within the opening  26   o  of the ring  26  so as to eject the atomized medical liquid through the above-described through holes. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8E , in the exchangeable member  20 , the grip portion  25  radially extends beyond the flange  24  outward in a particular direction from the center  23   c  of the side wall portion  23  (in this example, leftward in  FIGS. 8A and 8E ). When the user holds the exchangeable member  20  by hand, the user may conveniently pick the grip portion  25 , for example, with a thumb and an index finger. The grip portion  25  is provided with irregularities  25   p  for anti-skid. Further, in this exchangeable member  20 , the tip protrusion  27  protrudes beyond the flange  24  in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the grip portion  25 , in this example, rightward in  FIGS. 8A and 8E . When the user attaches the exchangeable member  20  to the concave portion  16  of the main body upper portion  12 , the grip portion  25  and the tip protrusion  27  enable circumferential positioning of the exchangeable member  20  with respect to the concave portion  16 . 
     In this example, all elements defining the exchangeable member  20  are made of a synthetic resin. Therefore, the exchangeable member  20  is able to be manufactured at low cost. Examples of the synthetic resin forming the exchangeable member  20  include polyamide resin, polyester, syndio polystyrene, polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyether ether ketone, polyether imide, polyamide imide, PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), epoxy, phenol, and polyimide. 
     In the state where the cap  30  is opened with respect to the main body  10  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the user who wishes to use the mesh nebulizer  1  attaches the exchangeable member  20  having the mesh portion  21   a  to the concave portion  16  opened upward of the main body  10  as illustrated by an arrow D in  FIG. 2 . 
     Upon attachment of the exchangeable member  20 , the user holds the grip portion  25  by hand (for example, vertically picks the grip portion  25  with the thumb and the index finger), thus easily attaching the exchangeable member  20  to the concave portion  16  of the main body  10  without touching the mesh portion  21   a  of the exchangeable member  20  with any finger. 
     Further, at attachment of the exchangeable member  20 , the user adjusts the tip protrusion  27  and the grip portion  25  of the exchangeable member  20  to the groove  16   f  and the groove  16   e  around the upper edge of the concave portion  16 , respectively, thus enabling circumferential positioning of the exchangeable member  20  with respect to the concave portion  16 . 
     As described above, the side surface of the concave portion  16  of the main body  10  gradually opens as toward the upper side. Further, the side wall portion  23  of the exchangeable member  20  gradually opens toward the upper side so as to correspond to the side surface  16   c  of the concave portion  16  of the main body  10  (see  FIG. 2 ). Therefore, upon attachment of the exchangeable member  20 , when the user places the exchangeable member  20  near the concave portion  16 , the side wall portion  23  of the exchangeable member  20  is guided downward by the side surface  16   c  of the concave portion  16 . 
     Further, the bottom surface  16   b  of the concave portion  16  of the main body  10  is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis direction (vertical direction) of the main body  10 , and the mesh portion  21   a  and the bottom plate  22  of the exchangeable member  20  are inclined with respect to the center  23   c  of the side wall portion  23  so as to correspond to the bottom surface  16   b  of the concave portion  16  of the main body  10 . Therefore, at attachment of the exchangeable member  20 , when the user places the exchangeable member  20  near the concave portion  16 , the mesh portion  21   a  and the bottom plate  22  of the exchangeable member  20  are guided so as to correspond to the bottom surface  16   b  of the concave portion  16  of the main body  10 . This aids positioning of the exchangeable member  20  with respect to the concave portion  16  in the circumferential direction and the longitudinal axis direction. 
     As a result, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the bottom plate  22  (supporting the peripheral edge of the mesh portion  21   a ) of the exchangeable member  20  faces the bottom surface  16   b  of the concave portion  16 , and the side wall portion  23  of the exchangeable member  20  faces the side surface  16   c  of the concave portion  16 . Therefore, the user can easily attach the exchangeable member  20  to the concave portion  16  of the main body  10 . This state is called an attached state. 
     In the attached state, the user closes the cap  30  with respect to the main body  10 . Specifically, the user closes the cover  31  with respect to the main body upper portion  12  as indicated by an arrow E in  FIG. 4 . Further, in the state where the cover  31  is closed with respect to the main body upper portion  12 , the user rotates an engagement frame  32  toward the front surface of the main body upper portion  12  as indicated by an arrow F in  FIG. 5A . Then, the engagement frame  32  passes over the grip portion  25  of the exchangeable member  20  and engages with an engagement protrusion  19  provided on the upper portion of the front surface of the main body upper portion  12 . As a result, the cover  31  is fixed in a closed state with respect to the main body upper portion  12 . In this way, the mesh nebulizer  1  is easily assembled. This state is called an assembled state.  FIGS. 5B and 5C  illustrate the mesh nebulizer in  FIG. 5A  when viewed from front and above, respectively. Further,  FIG. 6  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the mesh nebulizer  1  in the assembled state when viewed from right. 
     In this assembled state, the mesa portion  34  of the cover  31  closes the upper portion of the liquid storage  17 , preventing the medical liquid from overflowing from the liquid storage  17 . 
       FIG. 7A  is an enlarged view illustrating the vicinity of the exchangeable member in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 7B  is a perspective view illustrating a longitudinal sectional cut surface of the mesh nebulizer in  FIG. 6 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , a protrusion  33  of the cap  30 , the protrusion  33  protruding toward the main body upper portion  12 , presses the bottom plate  22  of the exchangeable member  20  onto the bottom surface  16   b  of the concave portion  16 , to position the exchangeable member  20  in the longitudinal axis direction of the main body  10 . As a result, the mesh portion  21   a  of the exchangeable member  20  faces the vibration surface  43  of the vibration portion  40  located at a position corresponding to the bottom surface  16   b  of the concave portion  16 . 
     In this assembled state, the sheet  21  including the mesh portion  21   a  faces the vibration surface  43  of the main body  10  at an angle, and is in contact with a first portion m of the peripheral edge of the vibration surface  43 , and the protrusion  22   p  of the support frame  100  is in contact with a second portion n of the peripheral edge of the vibration surface  43 , the second portion n opposing the first portion m, and the protrusion  22   p  maintains the sheet  21  with respect to the vibration surface  43  at the angle. With this configuration, the sheet  21  including the mesh portion  21   a  is directly positioned with respect to the vibration surface  43  by the first portion m, and is indirectly positioned with respect to the vibration surface  43  via the protrusion  22   p  of the support frame  100  by the second portion n. As a result, the inclination accuracy of the sheet  21  including the mesh portion  21   a  with respect to the vibration surface  43  of the ultrasonic vibrator  41  is improved without increasing the number of elements or members. Therefore, at use, the mesh portion  21   a  is accurately inclined with respect to the vibration surface  43 , so that the gap between the mesh portion  21   a  and the vibration surface  43  is able to be improved or optimized at some position of the mesh portion  21   a . Therefore, the liquid is able to be stably atomized at all times. Since the sheet  21  including the mesh portion  21   a  is in direct or indirect contact with the peripheral edge of the vibration surface  43 , the influence of the vibration to the vibration surface  43  is small. 
     Further, the protrusion  22   p  as a portion of the support frame  100  is in contact with the second portion n of the peripheral edge of the vibration surface  43 . As a result, the protrusion  22   p  is reliably in contact with the second portion n of the peripheral edge of the vibration surface  43 , so that the mesh portion  21   a  is able to be reliably inclined with respect to the vibration surface  43 . 
     In addition, as described above, the packing  29  is provided on the side surface  16   c  of the concave portion  16  of the main body  10  so as to circumferentially surround the side wall portion  23  of the exchangeable member  20 . In below-mentioned use, the packing  29  prevents the medical liquid supplied between the vibration surface  43  and the mesh portion  21   a  from overflowing to the outside through a gap between the side surface  16   c  of the concave portion  16  and the side wall portion  23  of the exchangeable member  20 . 
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating a control system mounted on the main body  10  of the mesh nebulizer  1 . The mesh nebulizer  1  includes an operator  61 , a notifier  62 , a controller  63 , an oscillation frequency generator  64 , an atomizer  65 , and a power supply  66 . In this example, the operator  61  includes a power switch  50  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In this example, the notifier  62  includes LED lamps  51  and  52  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and may further include a buzzer not illustrated. The oscillation frequency generator  64  applies an AC drive voltage to the atomizer  65  based on a control signal from the controller  63 . This drive voltage is output, for example, over a certain output time after the power switch  50  is pressed. The output time can be measured by a timer not illustrated. The atomizer  65  includes the vibration portion  40  and the mesh portion  21   a  of the exchangeable member  20  in  FIG. 1 . The AC drive voltage from the oscillation frequency generator  64  is applied to the ultrasonic vibrator  41  of the vibration portion  40  of the atomizer  65 . The vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator  41  is amplified by the horn  42  and transmitted to the vibration surface  43 . When the vibration surface  43  vibrates, the medical liquid supplied to the gap between the vibration surface  43  and the mesh portion  21   a  is atomized through the mesh portion  21   a  and is ejected. The controller  63  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and sends a signal to the atomizer  65  via the oscillation frequency generator  64  to control the atomization amount, the continuous operation time, and the like. In addition, the controller  63  informs that the power is turned on by lighting of the LED lamp  51 , that the capacity of the battery is insufficient by blinking of the LED lamp  52 , and the like. The power supply  66  includes a battery (for example, a rechargeable battery that can charge and discharge DC 3V), and supplies power to each element or portion of the control system. 
     When using this mesh nebulizer  1 , the user previously fills the medical liquid in the liquid storage  17  of the main body upper portion  12 . Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the user detachably attaches, for example, a mouthpiece  80  to an opening  310  in the protrusion  33  of the cover  31  in the assembled state. As a result, the mesh portion  21   a  of the exchangeable member  20  faces the vibration surface  43  of the main body  10  at an inclination angle with high accuracy. This exchangeable member  20  is typically disposable after use in the mesh nebulizer  1 . In this case, the user does not need to clean, disinfect, and dry the exchangeable member  20  including the mesh portion  21   a . Accordingly, for the user, care is easy. Further, since the exchangeable member  20  is configured to be separated from the main body  10  and the cap  30 , it can be manufactured relatively inexpensively and at a relatively small size. Therefore, for the user, costs for the exchangeable member  20  are reduced. Instead of the mouthpiece  80 , an inhalation mask covering the face of a user  99  may be attached. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , when the user slightly inclines the mesh nebulizer  1  to the near side, the medical liquid is supplied from the liquid storage  17  of the liquid supply portion to the vibration surface  43  of the vibration portion  40  through the liquid supply path  18 . That is, the medical liquid is supplied between the vibration surface  43  and the mesh portion  21   a . Then, when the user turns on the power switch  50 , a drive voltage is applied to the ultrasonic vibrator  41  of the vibration portion  40 , vibrating the vibration surface  43 . As a result, the medical liquid  90  is atomized and ejected through the mesh portion  21   a  (more precisely, a plurality of through holes penetrating the sheet  21 ). 
     In this preferred embodiment, the protrusion  22   p  and the bottom plate  22  preferably are made of the same material, continuously and uniformly integrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the protrusion  22   p  may be a separate body from the bottom plate  22 , and may be attached to the bottom plate  22  by welding or adhesion, for example. In this case, the bottom plate  22  and the protrusion  22   p  may be separately manufactured. Therefore, the support frame  100 , in turn, the exchangeable member  20  may be easily manufactured. 
     As described above, a mesh nebulizer according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is a mesh nebulizer that atomizes and ejects liquid through a mesh portion, the mesh nebulizer including a vibration portion including a vibration surface facing upward, a liquid supply portion that supplies liquid toward the vibration surface of the vibration portion, a sheet including the mesh portion, and a support frame that supports a peripheral edge of the sheet, wherein the support frame includes a bottom plate that supports a lower surface of the peripheral edge of the sheet, the bottom plate having a flat annular shape, and a larger inner diameter than a diameter of the vibration surface, and a protrusion radially protruding inward from the bottom plate, the sheet including the mesh portion faces the vibration surface with an inclination angle and is in contact with a first portion of a peripheral edge of the vibration surface, and the protrusion of the support frame is in contact with a second portion of the peripheral edge of the vibration surface, the second portion opposing the first portion, and maintains the sheet with respect to the vibration surface at the inclination angle. 
     In the present specification, the “mesh portion” means a component that includes a plurality of through-holes penetrating the sheet and allows liquid to pass through these through-holes and atomizes the liquid. 
     In a mesh nebulizer of a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the sheet including the mesh portion faces the vibration surface at the inclination angle, and is in contact with the first portion of the peripheral edge of the vibration surface. The protrusion of the support frame is in contact with the second portion of the peripheral edge of the vibration surface, the second portion opposing the first portion, and maintains the sheet with respect to the vibration surface at the inclined angle. Therefore, the sheet including the mesh portion is directly positioned with respect to the vibration surface by the first portion, and is indirectly positioned with respect to the vibration surface via the portion of the support frame. As a result, the inclination accuracy of the sheet including the mesh portion with respect to the vibration surface of the horn vibrator is improved without increasing the number of elements or members. 
     At use, the liquid supply portion supplies the liquid toward the vibration surface of the vibration portion. This supplies the liquid between the vibration surface and the mesh portion. Then, a drive voltage is applied to the vibration portion, vibrating the vibration surface. Thus, the liquid is atomized and ejected through the mesh portion (more precisely, a plurality of through holes penetrating the sheet). Here, since the mesh portion is accurately inclined with respect to the vibration surface, the gap between the mesh portion and the vibration surface may be improved or optimized at some position of the mesh portion. Therefore, the liquid may be stably atomized at all times. Since the sheet including the mesh portion is in direct or indirect contact with the peripheral edge of the vibration surface, the influence of the vibration of the vibration surface is small. 
     A mesh nebulizer according to one preferred embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a main body including a concave portion opened upward, wherein the main body includes the vibration portion including the vibration surface arranged at a position corresponding to a bottom surface of the concave portion, a cap that openably covers an upper portion of the main body, and an exchangeable member separated from the main body and the cap, the exchangeable member being detachably attached into the concave portion in advance when the nebulizer is used, and the exchangeable member includes the sheet including the mesh portion and the support frame that supports the peripheral edge of the sheet. 
     A user who wishes to use the mesh nebulizer of this preferred embodiment detachably attaches the exchangeable member including the mesh portion to the concave portion opened upward of the main body in the state where the cap is opened with respect to the main body. Thus, the mesh portion of the exchangeable member faces the vibration surface of the main body at the inclination angle with high accuracy. This exchangeable member is typically disposable after use in the mesh nebulizer. In this case, the user does not need to clean, disinfect, and dry the exchangeable member including the mesh portion. Accordingly, for the user, care is easy. In addition, since the exchangeable member is configured to be separated from the main body and the cap, it may be manufactured relatively inexpensively and with relatively small size. Therefore, for the user, costs for the exchangeable member are reduced. 
     In a mesh nebulizer according to one preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the protrusion and the bottom plate are made of same material, continuously and uniformly integrated. 
     Here, “made of same material, continuously and uniformly integrated” means, for example, the case where a plurality of elements or parts are integrally molded by injection molding. 
     In the mesh nebulizer according to this preferred embodiment, the mesh portion is able to be accurately inclined with respect to the vibration surface without increasing the number of members for inclining. Therefore, the configuration becomes simpler. 
     In a mesh nebulizer according to one preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the protrusion is configured as a separate body from the bottom plate and attached to the bottom plate. 
     Here, “configured as a separate body” and “attached” means, for example, the case where a plurality of elements or parts are integrated by welding or adhesion. 
     In the mesh nebulizer according to this preferred embodiment, the bottom plate and the protrusion may be separately manufactured. Therefore, the support frame, in turn, the exchangeable member may be easily manufactured, and manufacturing costs may be reduced. 
     In a mesh nebulizer according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, a ring having a flat shape and a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the bottom plate is attached to an upper surface of the sheet. 
     In the mesh nebulizer according to this preferred embodiment, the mesh portion is maintained more flatly by the ring. Therefore, the vibration surface may be inclined with respect to the mesh portion more accurately. 
     As is apparent from the above, a mesh nebulizer according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure may improve the inclination accuracy of the sheet including the mesh portion with respect to the vibration surface of the horn vibrator without increasing the number of members, thus stably atomizing liquid. 
     While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.