Patent ID: 7814902

Claim:
A semi-automatic emergency medication dose nebulizer comprising: a vertically extending housing having a nebulizer chamber containing medication; an opening in a bottom of said housing to receive compressed air from a compressor for nebulizing said medication; a breather above said nebulizer housing joined to said housing through a connecting tube extending up from said housing for receiving nebulized medication; said breather having a mouthpiece for use by a patient to receive said nebulized medication; an apparatus for recharging said nebulizing chamber with medication mounted on said breather; said apparatus comprising a recharging tube containing a capsule storage chamber aligned with said connecting tube for receiving a medication dosage capsule; and means for severing said medication dosage capsule by slicing through a side of said capsule causing removal and relocation of a lower portion of said capsule while in said capsule storage chamber for releasing medication by gravity into said nebulizing chamber; said severing means comprises a cutting assembly mounted to said recharging tube, said cutting assembly including a cutting blade with an angled leading edge for severing and opening said capsule; a plunger guide, a plunger slidable in said plunger guide, and said blade mounted on a leading edge of said plunger to sever said capsule when said plunger is advanced into said recharging tube; said plunger having a plunger flow aperture behind said blade to allow flow of medication behind said blade after said capsule is severed by said blade; said plunger having a follower paddle mounted behind said blade to push a severed portion of said capsule out of a line of flow of said medication; and, said follower paddle being a U-shaped forwardly extending loop providing a fluid flow aperture region located between a pair of prongs connected by a curved distal end.