An apparatus for metering the delivery of an aerosol. The apparatus has a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus may also include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region. An atomizer, coupled to the fluid region, is configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the fluid.

An apparatus for metering the delivery of an aerosol. The apparatus has a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus may also include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region. An atomizer, coupled to the fluid region, is configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the fluid.

A method to deliver medication. The apparatus has an acoustic volume sensor that acoustically excites a reference volume and variable-volume chamber with an acoustic source and measures the acoustic response with microphones acoustically coupled to the reference and the variable-volume chamber. A disposable drug cassette is coupled to the acoustic volume sensor and includes a drug reservoir and valve. The method includes receiving a volume signal and inputs from a user input or a second sensor and controlling the valve based on these inputs.

A method to deliver medication. The apparatus has an acoustic volume sensor that acoustically excites a reference volume and variable-volume chamber with an acoustic source and measures the acoustic response with microphones acoustically coupled to the reference and the variable-volume chamber. A disposable drug cassette is coupled to the acoustic volume sensor and includes a drug reservoir and valve. The method includes receiving a volume signal and inputs from a user input or a second sensor and controlling the valve based on these inputs.

A method for metering the delivery of a fluid. The apparatus has a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus may also include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region.

A method for metering the delivery of a fluid. The apparatus has a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus may also include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region.

Air horns and methods for their operation. Such an air horn includes a main body having a cavity, a base, an actuator housing, and a diaphragm housing and bell fluidically connected to the cavity and to a channel within the main body. The actuator housing has a wall, a cavity surrounded by the wall, and standoffs within the cavity that define first and second sets of gaps between pairs of the standoffs. An actuator is coupled to the actuator housing so as to have first and second rotational positions. The actuator includes a shaft received in the cavity and standoff guides that individually receive pairs of the standoffs. The standoffs and the standoff guides interact to only permit axial movement of the actuator relative to the actuator housing when the actuator is in the first and second rotational positions and not at any rotational position therebetween.

Air horns and methods for their operation. Such an air horn includes a main body having a cavity, a base, an actuator housing, and a diaphragm housing and bell fluidically connected to the cavity and to a channel within the main body. The actuator housing has a wall, a cavity surrounded by the wall, and standoffs within the cavity that define first and second sets of gaps between pairs of the standoffs. An actuator is coupled to the actuator housing so as to have first and second rotational positions. The actuator includes a shaft received in the cavity and standoff guides that individually receive pairs of the standoffs. The standoffs and the standoff guides interact to only permit axial movement of the actuator relative to the actuator housing when the actuator is in the first and second rotational positions and not at any rotational position therebetween.

The present invention generally concerns an adjustable pneumatic device that creates sound. More specifically, the present invention improves diaphragm-based air horns by having a unique base with an extended pressure chamber, an adjustable volume lever, a tunable shaft that generates specific tonal pitches, and an optional sound amplification plate. The horn includes: an inverted closet flange, an annulus pressure plate, a pressure relief tube, a bushing connector, a collar coupling, an air inlet system, a flexible diaphragm, a resonator, rivets, screws, an optional sound amplification plate, and an air pump. Within the pressure chamber, a tube presses against a diaphragm via tension, causing the diaphragm to stretch beyond the lower portions of the base's bottom most surface. Compressed air traverses chamber spaces around the tube and about the extended pressure chamber to trigger diaphragm vibrations that generate sound at the resonator from 109 decibels to 129 decibels.

The present invention generally concerns an adjustable pneumatic device that creates sound. More specifically, the present invention improves diaphragm-based air horns by having a unique base with an extended pressure chamber, an adjustable volume lever, a tunable shaft that generates specific tonal pitches, and an optional sound amplification plate. The horn includes: an inverted closet flange, an annulus pressure plate, a pressure relief tube, a bushing connector, a collar coupling, an air inlet system, a flexible diaphragm, a resonator, rivets, screws, an optional sound amplification plate, and an air pump. Within the pressure chamber, a tube presses against a diaphragm via tension, causing the diaphragm to stretch beyond the lower portions of the base's bottom most surface. Compressed air traverses chamber spaces around the tube and about the extended pressure chamber to trigger diaphragm vibrations that generate sound at the resonator from 109 decibels to 129 decibels.