Patent ID: 7784459

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 for nebulizing said medication; a horizontally oriented breather above said nebulizer housing joined to said housing through a connecting tube extending vertically up from said housing for receiving nebulized medication; said breather having a mouthpiece for use by a patient to receive said nebulized medication; apparatus for refilling said nebulizing chamber with medication mounted on and above said breather; said apparatus comprising a refilling tube containing a liquid medication dosage capsule storage chamber aligned with said connecting tube for receiving a vertically oriented liquid medication dosage capsule containing a liquid medication; means for severing said vertically oriented medication dosage capsule by slicing through a side of said vertically oriented liquid medication dosage capsule while in said storage chamber for releasing liquid medication flowing by gravity into said nebulizing chamber; and said severing means comprising a horizontally extending cutting blade mounted on a distal end of a holder, said horizontally extending cutting blade completely severing said vertically oriented liquid medication dosage capsule by slicing through a side of said vertically oriented liquid medication dosage capsule, causing removal and relocation of a lower portion of said vertically oriented liquid medication dosage capsule; said blade having, a follower paddle mounted behind said horizontally oriented blade to push a severed portion of said vertically oriented liquid medication dosage capsule out of the line of flow of said liquid medication, allowing said liquid medication to flow downwards when released from said vertically oriented liquid medication dosage capsule under the influence of gravity into said nebulizing chamber, said holder driven by an electric motor, and a switch for initiating operation of said electric motor to advance said holder from an initial position until said cutting blade severs said vertically oriented liquid medication dosage capsule, allowing said liquid medication to flow by gravity into said nebulizing chamber.