Patent ID: 8276587

Claim:
A qualitative fit tester comprising: a nebulizer base operatively coupled with a removable cartridge, said removable cartridge including an upper portion, a side portion and a lower portion that defines an interior chamber for containment of a solution, said upper portion forming a closure over said side and lower portions, said removable cartridge having structure that defines at least one vent hole in fluid communication with said interior chamber; an aspirator nozzle for production of an aspirator jet that defines a jet axis, said aspirator nozzle being coupled to or integral with said nebulizer base; said upper portion including a structure that at least partially defines a flow passage, said flow passage establishing fluid communication between said interior chamber of said removable cartridge and a zone proximate said jet axis; an upper housing extending from one of said nebulizer base and said removable cartridge, said upper housing including an exhaust port; and a tripping structure located downstream of said aspirator nozzle for intersection of at least a portion of said aspirator jet, such that when a gas flow is introduced through said aspirator nozzle, said solution is drawn from said removable cartridge through said flow passage and entrained in said aspirator jet, said aspirator jet impacting said tripping structure to atomize and convey at least a portion of said solution entrained therein to exit said exhaust port, said portion of said solution that exits said exhaust port being suitable for qualitative fit testing; wherein said removable cartridge includes a catch basin for collection of a remaining portion of said solution, said catch basin being in fluid communication with at least one of said at least one vent hole for return of said remaining portion of said solution to said interior chamber of said removable cartridge.