Patent ID: 8001963

Claim:
A nebulizer suitable for topical drug delivery to, or systemic drug delivery via, a deep nasal cavity or paranasal sinus, comprising: a nasal adapter having nasal proximal and nasal distal ends, and having at least one nasal adapter channel communicating between an aperture in the nasal-proximal end and an aperture in the nasal-distal end; a particle dispersion chamber, integral or in direct communication with the nasal adapter, and comprising: a dispersion chamber wall having an external and an internal surface, the internal surface defining at least one internal dispersion channel communicating between input and output ends of the particle dispersion chamber, and a directed compressed fluid output channel in communication with the internal dispersion channel directing output at an acute forward angle with respect to the output end of the particle dispersion chamber, wherein the fluid output, when fluid flows therefrom, is operative to impart a vortical flow to aerosolized particles exiting the particle dispersion chamber; a nebulizing chamber, integral or in direct communication with the particle dispersion chamber, and comprising a nebulizing chamber wall and nebulizing means with at least one pressure release orifice suitable to produce a nebulized particle stream; a nebulizing pressure feed having a compressor channel in communication with the pressure release orifice of the nebulizing chamber; and a dispersion feed channel communicating between the nebulizing pressure feed and the directed compressed fluid output channel of the particle dispersion chamber, the nebulizer configured to deliver a vortical particle flow of nebulized particles exiting the nasal adaptor.