There is provided a method of operating a nebulizer, the method comprising controlling an actuator in the nebulizer to operate in a pulsed operation mode; measuring the sound produced by the nebulizer during operation; and using the measurement of the sound as an indication of the performance of the nebulizer. A control unit for a nebulizer that is configured to perform this method is also described.

The present invention provides a device for delivering a predetermined volume of a substance, within at least one body cavity of a subject, comprising: a. a predefined volume for containing said predetermined volume of said at least one substance; b. a delivery end for placement in proximity to said body cavity; said delivery end comprises at least one orifice of diameter D [mm]; c. a valve mechanically connectable to said container, characterized by at least two configurations: (i) an active configuration in which said valve enables delivery of predetermined volume V.sub.sub [ml] of said substance; and, (ii) an inactive configuration, in which said valve prevents delivery of said predetermined volume V.sub.sub [ml] of said substance from said container to said body cavity; d. a fluid tight chamber configured to contain predetermined volume V.sub.gas [ml] of pressurized gas at a predetermined pressure, P.sub.gas [barg].

A method and a circuit system for driving a nebulizer are provided. When the nebulizer receives acoustic waves, a control circuit extracts audio signals from the acoustic waves. Afterwards, the control circuit determines if the audio signals are within a predetermined frequency range, and can determine whether or not to drive a circuit to produce an aerosol based on the audio signals. Further, a volume of the acoustic waves can also be used to determine whether or not to produce the aerosol, and also determine an output rate of the aerosol. The circuit system of the nebulizer includes an audio receiver for receiving the acoustic waves, an aerosol generator for producing the aerosol, and the control circuit used to control a driving circuit of the aerosol generator to drive a vibrational element to produce the aerosol through vibration in response to the audio signals and the volume.

A fluid dispenser, comprising: an actuator with a rotatable dial; a valve assembly connected to the actuator, the valve assembly being configured so as to cause fluid to be drawn from a reservoir and released from the dispenser during at least part of the time when the dial is rotated from a start position to one of a plurality of dosage positions and back to the start position, the plurality of dosage positions being at different respective angular positions of the dial; the actuator being configured to provide perceptible feedback at each of the plurality of dosage positions.

A device for delivering a predetermined amount of a substance within at least one body cavity of a subject, where the predetermined amount is at an effective amount for treatment of obesity or binge eating disorder. The device comprises: (a) A volume to contain the predetermined amount of the substance. (b) A delivery end placeable in proximity to the body cavity. The delivery end is in fluid communication with the volume and comprises at least one orifice. (c) A valve mechanically connected to the volume, with at least two configurations: (i) an active configuration configured to deliver the predetermined amount of the substance; and, (ii) an inactive configuration, in which the valve prevents delivery of the predetermined amount of the substance. (d) A fluid tight chamber configured to contain a predetermined volume of pressurized gas at a predetermined pressure.

A drive rod in a solid material dispenser is linearly movable along, and rotationally movable around, an axis direction. A central rod is attached to the drive rod and drivable by the drive rod to rotate around the axis direction with the drive rod. A solid material container has one or more compartments to store solid materials to be dispensed. A switch valve is rigidly attached to the central rod and drivable by the central rod to rotate around the axis direction with the central rod. A container bottom of the solid material container comprises one or more first component shapes that form one or more first interstitial void spaces. The switch valve comprises one or more second component shapes that form one or more second interstitial void spaces.

A fluid dispersion assembly comprises a diffusion unit disposed in fluid communication with a fluid container, the assembly being powered by a compressed air source. The diffusion unit at least partially defines a diffusion chamber, and includes a diffusion assembly containing an atomizer assembly which, in combination with the diffusion chamber, generates a fluid dispersion from a mixture of compressed air and an operative fluid, for example, fragrant oils, essential oils, odor neutralizers, disinfectants such as triethylene glycol, air sanitizers, etc.

A fluid tip for use with a spray gun. The fluid tip comprises an air cap and a paint nozzle. The air cap comprises an inner surface 206 and the paint nozzle comprises an outer surface 208. The inner and outer surfaces define sides of an air channel 203. The inner and outer surfaces are defined by contours, each contour terminating to form an air channel outlet 207 for discharging an air jet proximal a paint nozzle outlet of the paint nozzle. The contours are configured to provide a velocity profile 400 across the air channel outlet 207 of an air flow 401 through the air channel 203 in which velocities of air radially closer to the paint nozzle outlet are substantially higher than velocities radially further from the paint nozzle outlet.

A clampless synthetic jet actuator includes a cavity layer having an internal cavity for reception of a fluid volume and an orifice providing a fluid communication between the cavity and an external atmosphere; and an oscillatory membrane having a piezoelectric material adapted to deflect the oscillatory membrane in response to an electrical signal. The cavity has an opening in at least one planar surface of the cavity layer, and the cavity layer and the oscillatory membrane are joined by a high strength, low shear modulus adhesive material with the oscillatory membrane positioned adjacent to the planar surface having the cavity opening and adapted as an enclosing surface to said cavity opening. The oscillatory membrane is adapted to compress and expand a volume within the cavity, based on a deflection generated by the piezoelectric material, for generating a fluid flow between the cavity and the external atmosphere through the orifice.

A nozzle apparatus includes a manifold defining a nozzle cavity within an interior, a fluid inlet passage, a fluid outlet passage, an air outlet passage, and an air inlet passage. A nozzle holder and a nozzle element are selectively pivotable within the nozzle cavity. In the nominal position, the nozzle element inlet is oriented toward the fluid passage inlet and the nozzle element outlet is oriented toward the fluid passage outlet such that the primary fluid flows through the fluid inlet passage and out of the nozzle outlet through the fluid outlet passage. In the cleaning position, the nozzle element inlet is oriented toward the air outlet passage and the nozzle element outlet is oriented toward the air inlet passage such that the flow of air is directed through the air inlet passage, and out of the air outlet passage to direct debris out through the air outlet passage.