for Medical Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: for Medical Purposes.
We, ADÓNIRAM JUDSON PALMER and GEORGE HOWARD PALMER, Physicians, both
of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and State of New York, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
We will describe our apparatus as applied for atomizing liquid by compressed air
received from a reservoir. We have discovered that the effect is improved by
surrounding a nozzle from which the compressed air is discharged upward with a
small open-topped casing or chamber which is perforated to admit the liquid slowly.
The success of the atomizing operation is effected by variations in the level of the
liquid. When the surface of the liquid is too high, and the nozzle is too deeply immersed,
the escape of air is retarded, and the efficiency of the atomizing is reduced. When,
on the other hand, the level of the liquid sinks too low so that the nozzle is completely
uncovered, the atomizing stops. Our invention avoids the necessity of adjustment.
The level of the liquid takes care of itself. So long as there is sufficient liquid in the
vessel it will flow through the limited aperture into our open-topped chamber and
become atomized by the smartly ascending jet of air discharged from the nozzle.
An excess in quantity of the liquid will induce only a slight increase in the rapidity
with which the liquid will flow inward and be presented to the nozzle. The chamber
will restrain the excess with such approximate uniformity that the atomizing will
proceed successfully with a wide range in the height of the liquid.
Our apparatus will serve for atomizing the various liquids required in this condition
for medicinal uses. It will also serve under proper conditions to promote vaporization
We provide for
of liquids in distilling, and in analogous operations in the arts.
conveniently removing the chamber at will to better adapt it for emulsifying and
mixing.
We have devised a new construction and arrangement of the trap which reduces
the cost, and promotes convenience in use and cleaning.
The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what
we consider the best means of carrying out the invention.
Figure 1 is a general side elevation.

page_text: Fig. 4 is a view of the plug and its connections detached.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line y, y, in Fig. 4, and
Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the trap.
The remaining figures are vertical sections showing modifications.
Fig. 7 shows the removable parts arranged to fit cap-wise upon the nozzle formed
on the main body.
Fig. 8 shows the main body with the single orifice and nozzle presented downward.
A base of hard rubber or other suitable material forms a bottom and support, and
contains in itself. the parts requisite in connection with the body, and suitable hose and
a support.
Fig. 9 shows a similar body, with a support adapted to contain in itself the liquid
to be vaporized.
Referring to figures 1 to 6 inclusive, A is a foundation of wood, B a globe or vessel
of glass fixed thereon, and B' a nozzle which receives a plug C of soft vulcanized
rubber or other suitable material, perforated to receive the pipes.
D is an air induction pipe of glass receiving the air through a flexible hose E, and
discharging it at a high pressure through a fine perforation in the up-turned nozzle D¹.
The conditions are favorable for atomizing the liquid, provided the liquid be prevented
from flowing too deeply over the orifice.
The exterior of the nozzle D₁ is formed with scrow-threads d'. G is an open-
topped casing or chamber which performs important functions. Its lower end has a
hole which is tapped or otherwise treated to produce screw-threads g¹ matching on the
screw-threads. This chamber yg is of glass. In the process of forming it, two or
more thin projections are forced outward near the bottom, and by removing the
material at the apex of one or more of these projections, orifices are provided which
admit the water or other liquid nearly or quite as fast as the jet of air issuing from D
can atomize it. These orifices g can be conveniently enlarged at any time by delicately
filing the apexes of the projections.
His a pipe inserted through the plug C, and having a turned-up outer end secured
by a cord. The liquid to be atomized is supplied from time to time through this
pipe.
I is a pipe of glass or other material inserted through the plug C, and connecting
by the flexible hose, made in two lengths, J1, J2, with a tip K, which when the
apparatus is used for medical purposes is held in the mouth of the patient who
inhales through this pipe I, and exhales through the nostrils; or, if preferred, the
exhalation may be through this same mouth-piece K provided with a branch-valve
attachment, not shown.
M is an annular trap, having on its upper edge a capacious nozzle, which, on
removing the cork m, gives facilities for thoroughly washing the interior. M³, M², are
nozzles at the center, by which the two lengths of rubber hose J are conveniently
attached.
In the use of our apparatus the liquid, which may be supposed to be water or
oil, either pure or variously medicated, may be introduced through the pipe H
without much nicety in regard to quantity. It is sufficient that it fill the base of
the globe B above the orifice g, and not above the top of the chamber G. Then
inserting the tip K in the mouth of the patient, the cock L is opened cautiously,
and a sufficient blast is allowed to flow from the reservoir L of compressed air
through the hose E and pipe D issuing upward through the nozzle D¹, and rapidly
throwing out any excess of liquid which had previously been received in the
chamber G. Now the blast of air continuing, atomizing will commence, and the liquid
slowly entering through the limited apertures 9 will be atomized and mingled with
the air, filling the upper portion of the globe B.
g
The patient inhaling from the mid-height in the globe B finds the air well filled
with the liquid in the familiar atomized condition.

page_text: Any excess of liquid thrown upward from the chamber at the commencement of the
operation, or at any later period, will strike the top of the interior of the globe
and adhere, trickling down the sides to again mingle with the liquid in the bottom.
Any excess of liquid which shall chance to be drawn out through the pipe I and the
first length of hose J' will fall by gravity into the lower portion of the trap M. Any
saliva from the mouth of the patient descending through the second length of hose J²
will be similarly stopped.
.
After each use of the apparatus the plug m is removed and the trap thoroughly
washed by injecting through the orifice, or by other obvious means.
.
An important function in the treatment of some liquids is performed by the
chamber G in arresting the disturbing influence due to foaming and to irregular
motions of the mass of liquid lying in the vessel B. The chamber G not only
prevents the disturbance of the action by variations in the level of the liquid but also
prevents disturbance by agitation and foaming of the liquid. As soon as the
operation has fairly commenced, the strong blast of air rising from the nozzle D'
finds a just sufficient depth of tranquil fluid within the chamber G to allow its
most favorable action.
Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing
the advantages of the invention. We can vary the form of the nozzle D¹ within
wide limits so long as it is adapted to project the air upwards in one or more
small and strong streams. The foundation-piece A may be of glass, cast or other-
wise formed integral with the globe B. The chamber G with its screw-threaded
apertures to match on the nozzle, and with its fine aperture or apertures g, may
be made of other material than glass. We propose to use hard rubber in many
cases.
The supply of liquid may be introduced through a branch of the inhaling pipe I,
having a proper plug, and thus the special filling pipe H and its plug
dispensed with.
may be
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 represent forms which may be preferred for some purposes.
The modification shown in Fig. 7 may be mounted on the same kind of a stand as
figure 1, but we have shown a screw-threaded stem adapted to engage in a corre-
sponding screw-threaded hole in the stand or support. A corresponding screw-
threaded connection may be employed with the same construction in other respects
as above described.
The principal peculiarities to which we attach importance in Fig. 7 are, that
instead of the plug C matching within the nozzle B', we employ a close-fitting
cap which makes an air-tight junction not with the interior but with the exterior of
the nozzle B', the nozzle being ground or otherwise made smooth, and that the
inhaling tube instead of extending through a device equivalent to the plug C in line
with or parallel to the axis of the nozzle is connected above. This construction may
be preferred in some cases as less likely to allow any considerable quantities of the
liquid to be carried away in an unatomized or unvaporized condition through the
inhaling tube.
The modification shown in Fig. 8 allows the least particles of the liquid to be
utilized. This form is preferable with medicines which because of their cost or for
other reasons are to be used in very limited quantities. In this form the blowing
tube corresponding to D in the form first described is connected to a nozzle at the
bottom, and the passages through which the air is admitted at a sufficient pressure to
serve effectually are formed in the base piece. The part corresponding to the cup G
is also formed in one with the base, being simply a rim or upright cylinder formed in
the center of the interior with one or more passages to allow the liquid to flow
inward slowly under such rim.
In all the forms the liquid is blown upward in the finely divided state from an
open-topped chamber into which it is admitted slowly. An annular trap corresponding
to M, m, may be used in any or all of the forms.
Although we have used the term "atomizer," it will be understood that in ordinary
practice, blowing in liberal quantities of warm, dry air ready to absorb the vapor, the

page_text: liquid is in the course of the treatment evaporated, and its vapor mingles with the air
and is conveyed to the lungs through the inhaling tube in the form mainly of vapor.
We use the terms "vaporizer" and "atomizer as equivalents.
The modification shown in Fig. 9 is made in three pieces; the bottom portion may
be of glass, the intermediate portion of hard rubber, and the main body, as in the
other cases, may be a spherical or approximately spherical shell of glass. The
materials for all the parts inay be varied.
In this form the base proper receives the liquid to be atomized and vaporized, the
liquid being admitted to the interior of the open-topped chamber, corresponding to
the chamber G, through one or more small holes in the bottom. The exterior of the
bottom of this chamber may be grooved to insure facility of access of the liquid to
the hole.
The pipe which conveys the air to be projected upward in the bottom of the small
open-topped chamber, and also the connection of the pipe through which the air
loaded with vapor of the liquid is inhaled, are clearly shown.
The spherical shell may be enlarged on the one hand, or it may be contracted to a
simple dome or flat plate, or by deepening the base piece the shell may be dispensed
with altogether.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The open-topped. chamber G, with one or more apertures for the slow admission
of the liquid, in combination with the globe or veseel B, air induction pipe D,
with its contracted aperture D¹, and inhaling pipe I, arranged and adapted to serve
substantially as herein specified.
2. In an atomizer and inhaler, the open-topped chamber G, with one or more
apertures g, the vessel B, plug C, pipe D with its nozzle D' connected by the hose J
to the air reservoir L, and inhaling pipe I with its connected hose J, in combination
with each other, and with provisions as the screw-threads d¹, g¹, for connecting and
disconnecting the chamber G and the nozzle D' at will to adapt the apparatus for
different uses, substantially as herein specified.
3. In an atomizer and inhaler, the annular trap M with its cleansing plug m,
arranged as shown between two lengths of hose J, J2, in combination therewith, and
with the tip K. pipe 1, plug C, and globe or vessel B, and with the air reservoir L,
cock L', bose E, pipe D and nozzle D', for atomizing a liquid within the vessel B,
all adapted to serve substantially as herein specified.
Dated this 8th day of June 1888.