MULTILIQUID-NOZZLE

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of nozzles for inhalation devices for liquids. In particular, the invention relates to a nebulizing nozzle for an inhalation device, suitable for the generation of an aerosol of a medically active liquid, and to inhalation devices comprising such nozzle.

Such nozzle (1) for an inhalation device for medically active liquids (F, F1, F2) for generation of an aerosol has a main axis (Z) and at least three ejection channels (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) adapted to eject liquid (F, F1, F2) along respective ejection trajectories, wherein at least two collision points (X1, X2) are provided at which at least two of said ejection trajectories intersect with one another, and/or wherein further, all ejection angles (A, A1, A2) at which the individual trajectories leave the nozzle (1) are identical, or at least one of said ejection angles (A, A1, A2) differs from the other ejection angles (A, A1, A2).

Claims

1. An aerosol generator for medically active liquids configured and adapted for the generation of an inhalable mist, vapor, or spray, comprising a) a housing; b) a reservoir within the housing for holding a medically active liquid; c) a pumping unit; d) a nozzle; characterized in that the nozzle has a main axis and at least three ejection channels adapted to eject liquid along respective ejection trajectories, wherein at least two collision points are provided at which at least two of said ejection trajectories intersect with one another, and wherein further, all ejection angles at which the individual trajectories leave the nozzle are identical, or at least one of said ejection angles differs from the other ejection angles.

2. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein (a) at least two, or all collision points are located within the same plane perpendicular to the main axis, or on different planes, and wherein (b), with respect to the nozzle's main axis, all collision points are located on the main axis, or at least one collision point is offset from the main axis.

3. An aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein all of the nozzle's ejection channels have the same cross section, or at least one of the nozzle's ejection channels has a different cross section from that of another ejection channel.

4. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein all of the nozzle's ejection channels are connected to the same liquid reservoir, such that all collision points can be fed with the same liquid, or at least two of the nozzle's ejection channels are connected to individual liquid reservoirs, such that at least one collision point which can be fed with a different liquid is provided.

5. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the nozzle's ejection channels are connected to an upstream arranged common mixing chamber, and/or wherein further, at least two ejection channels of the nozzle share a common inlet and have intersecting trajectories such as to form a pair or group of ejection channels, or all ejection channels of the nozzle have distinct inlets.

6. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein two ejection channels form a pair, the nozzle further comprising a main feed channel arranged to connect to an upstream end of the first ejection channel, and a cross channel that connects said main feed channel with the upstream end of the second ejection channel, and wherein optionally, the nozzle having a plurality of pairs, the exit openings of the ejection channels of one of the pairs, with respect to the main axis which forms a symmetry axis, are in rotated positions relative to the exit openings of the ejection channels of another one of the pairs, and wherein the respective cross channels are, along said symmetry axis, spaced apart from one another.

7. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is constructed as a stack of two-dimensional plates, or wherein the nozzle is constructed from a three-dimensional rotation symmetric basic shape, and optionally, at least two collision points are provided at which at least two of said ejection trajectories intersect with one another, and/or at least one of said ejection angles differs from the other ejection angles, and/or least two, or all collision points are located on different planes, and/or, with respect to the nozzle's main axis, at least one collision point is offset from the main axis, and/or at least one of the nozzle's ejection channels has a different cross section from that of another ejection channel, and/or at least two of the nozzle's ejection channels are connected to individual liquid reservoirs, such that at least one collision point which can be fed with a different liquid is provided, and/or at least two of the nozzle's ejection channels are connected to an upstream arranged common mixing chamber.

8. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle has at least two collision points, and wherein further, at least one of said ejection angles differs from the other ejection angles, and/or at least two, or all collision points are located on different planes, and/or at least two of the nozzle's ejection channels are connected to an upstream arranged common mixing chamber, and/or the nozzle is constructed as a stack of two-dimensional plates.

9. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said ejection angles of the nozzle differs from the other ejection angles, and wherein further, at least one collision point is offset from the main axis, and/or at least two, or all collision points are located on different planes, and/or, with respect to the nozzle's main axis, at least one collision point is offset from the main axis, and/or at least one of the nozzle's ejection channels has a different cross section from that of another ejection channel, and/or at least two of the nozzle's ejection channels are connected to individual liquid reservoirs, such that at least one collision point which can be fed with a different liquid is provided, and/or at least two of the nozzle's ejection channels are connected to an upstream arranged common mixing chamber, and/or the nozzle is constructed as a stack of two-dimensional plates.

10. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein at least two, or all collision points are located on different planes.

11. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein, with respect to the nozzle's main axis, at least one collision point is offset from the main axis, and wherein further, at least two collision points are provided at which at least two of said ejection trajectories intersect with one another, and/or at least one of said ejection angles differs from the other ejection angles, and/or least two, or all collision points are located on different planes, and/or at least one of the nozzle's ejection channels has a different cross section from that of another ejection channel, and/or the nozzle is constructed from a three-dimensional rotation symmetric basic shape.

12. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the nozzle's ejection channels has a different cross section from that of another ejection channel, and wherein further, at least one of said ejection angles differs from the other ejection angles, and/or least two, or all collision points are located on different planes, and/or at least two of the nozzle's ejection channels are connected to an upstream arranged common mixing chamber, and/or the nozzle is constructed as a stack of two-dimensional plates.

13. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the nozzle's ejection channels are connected to individual liquid reservoirs, such that at least one collision point which can be fed with a different liquid is provided, and wherein further, at least two collision points are provided at which at least two of said ejection trajectories intersect with one another, and/or at least one of said ejection angles differs from the other ejection angles, and/or least two, or all collision points are located on different planes, and/or at least one of the nozzle's ejection channels has a different cross section from that of another ejection channel, and/or at least two of the nozzle's ejection channels are connected to an upstream arranged common mixing chamber, and/or the nozzle is constructed as a stack of two-dimensional plates, and/or the nozzle is constructed from a three-dimensional rotation symmetric basic shape.

14. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the nozzle's ejection channels are connected to an upstream arranged common mixing chamber, and wherein further, at least two collision points are provided at which at least two of said ejection trajectories intersect with one another, and/or at least one of said ejection angles differs from the other ejection angles, and/or at least two, or all collision points are located on different planes, and/or at least one of the nozzle's ejection channels has a different cross section from that of another ejection channel, and/or the nozzle is constructed from a three-dimensional rotation symmetric basic shape.

15. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is constructed as a stack of two-dimensional plates, and wherein further, at least two collision points are provided at which at least two of said ejection trajectories intersect with one another, and/or at least one of said ejection angles differs from the other ejection angles, and/or least two, or all collision points are located on different planes, and/or at least one of the nozzle's ejection channels has a different cross section from that of another ejection channel.

16. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generator is a handheld device.

17. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, additionally comprising an applicator piece for oral application.

18. The aerosol generator according to claim 17, wherein the applicator piece is a mouthpiece.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0091] FIG. 1 shows a nozzle according to the prior art.

[0092] FIG. 2 shows a detail thereof.

[0093] FIG. 3 shows a nozzle according to a first embodiment.

[0094] FIG. 4 shows a nozzle according to a second embodiment.

[0095] FIG. 5 shows a detail thereof.

[0096] FIG. 6 shows a nozzle according to the prior art.

[0097] FIG. 7 shows a nozzle according to a third embodiment.

[0098] FIGS. 8-10 shows cross sections of a nozzle according to the third embodiment.

[0099] FIG. 11 shows a three-dimensional view of this embodiment.

[0100] In FIG. 1, representing the prior art, a nozzle comprising three ejection channels 1A, 1B, 1C is depicted. The ejection trajectories (dotted lines) intersect in one common collision point X. This collision point is located in plane P having a perpendicular orientation with respect to the main axis Z (this is the common orientation of the plane in which the collision point lies throughout this document, if not stated otherwise). All channels 1A, 1B, 1C are arranged symmetrically and three-dimensionally around main axis Z. The ejection angles (also plotted in FIG. 2 which is a detailed view of the nozzle tip; only angles A1, A2 are shown) as defined herein are identical. The line from which the intemediate angle I is measured is the main axis; thus, the intermediate angle is the collision angle. In this example, all individual trajectories are positioned on the surface of a truncated cone. Since the surface 1′ of the truncated cone is parallel to the base circle (no reference numeral), in this example, the angles A1, A2 measured at both locations are identical. Preferably, the channels 1A, 1B, 1C are (laterally) closed with a closure such as a lid (not shown) or the like in a way that liquid (not shown) can pass through the channels, but cannot leave them in undesired (lateral) directions. This can e.g. be achieved in placing the truncated cone inside a cone shaped cap (not shown), the wall(s) of which form(s) a lid for the channels. The channels can be fabricated on the surface of the truncated cone as shown, but also as trenches in the surface of the cap.

[0101] Both types may be combined with each other, in that channels are provided alternating in cone and opening, or in that associated half-channels are provided in cone and opening.

[0102] In FIG. 3, a cross sectional view of a nozzle 1 is shown wherein, with respect to the nozzle's 1 main axis Z, again, all ejection angles A are identical (only one reference numeral A plotted); thus, all intermediate angles are the same as well, and they are all measured against the main axis Z. However, the ejection channels 1A-1D lie in a common cross sectional plane (hatching omitted), such that different collision points X1, X2 are provided. These are located in different planes P1, P2 perpendicular to the main axis Z, i.e. collision point X1 and X2 have different distances to the front surface 1′ of nozzle 1. At the same time, all collision points X1, X2 are located on main axis Z. Ejection channels 1A and 1B form a first pair, and ejection channels 1C and 1D form a second pair. In this example, nozzle 1 is constructed as/from a “two-dimensional” block.

[0103] The present example can be used to produce a central stream (not shown) of an aerosol of a first liquid, and a surrounding sheath stream of an aerosol of a second liquid.

[0104] In FIG. 4, an embodiment is shown wherein the ejection channels 1A-1D are once again located on the surface of a truncated cone. In this setup, the ejection angles A1, A1′ of a first pair of ejection channels 1A, 1B correspond to the ejection angles A2, A2′ of a second pair of ejection channels 1C, 1D. However, due to ejection offsets the setup results in two different collision points X1 and X2. FIG. 5 is a detail of the tip of the nozzle. Note that angles A1, A2 in FIG. 4 are the same as in FIG. 5 since the base circle of the cone is parallel to the surface 1′ of the truncated cone.

[0105] As can be seen in FIG. 4, for example, trajectory of channel 1B is slightly tilted away from the main axis Z in one direction, namely in direction of angle A1″, whereas trajectory of channel 1D is tilted in the opposite direction, namely in direction of angle A2″. Also, (pesently similar) angles A1 and A2 are slightly smaller than angles A1* and A2* which start at the thin dashed lines. These represent lines that start at the base circle of the cone and end at its imaginay tip; channels along the thin dashed lines would have identical angles A1, A2 (and A1′, A2′, as well as A1″, A2″) as well, but also result in one common collision point. Therefore, in this example, two pairs of ejection channels 1A, 1B and 1C, 1D are provided, all having identical ejection angles A1, A2, A1′ A2′ (see FIG. 5), and thus, two collision points X1, X2 are provided, as in the previous example. A lateral ejection offset D exists which is the result of the aforesaid placement of angles. In this embodiment, along the nozzle's main axis Z, all collision points X1, X2 are located within the same plane (not shown) with respect to the nozzle's 1 front surface 1′. At the same time, all collision points X1, X2 a located laterally offset from main axis Z (lateral ejection offset D).

[0106] FIG. 6 depicts a prior art nozzle 1 with four ejection channels 1A-1D whose ejection trajectories have pairwise different ejection angles (A1 and A1′ are similar, as well as A2 and A2′), wherein the ejection channels (and the trajectories) lie in a common plane (hatched cross sectional plane). Nozzle 1 is of the “two-dimensional” block-type. The angles A1, A1′, A2, A2′ are arranged in such a way that all ejection trajectories (dotted lines) intersect in one common collision point X.

[0107] In FIG. 7, a transparent top view on another embodiment of a nozzle 1 is shown. For further details, reference is made to the description of FIGS. 8-11 below which relate to the same embodiment.

[0108] In FIGS. 8 and 9, two cross sections A-A and B-B of nozzle 1 from FIG. 7 are shown (hatching omitted) wherein the ejection channels 1A, 1B and 1C, 1D are connected to an upstream arranged common splitting chamber 2A, 2B. Thus, a separate chamber, or volume, is provided that is arranged between pumping chamber (not shown) and ejection channels 1A, 1B/1C, 1D, which has the purpose of splitting the liquid fed to the nozzle (optionally from several sources) before feeding it to the ejection channels 1A, 1B/1C, 1D.

[0109] In the depicted embodiment, two of the nozzle's 1 ejection channels 1A and 1B as well as 1C and 1D form a respective pair, and one main feed channel 3A, 3B is arranged to connect with the beginning of the first ejection channel 1A, 1C and a cross channel 4A, 4B exists that connects said main feed channel 3A, 3B with the end of the respective second ejection channel 1A, 1C. The cross channel 4A, 4B which serves as splitting chamber 2A, 2B runs perpendicular to main feed channel 3A, 3B. Only one respective inlet opening 5A, 5B exists which must be coupled to a pumping chamber or pumping unit (not shown).

[0110] In the depicted embodiment, the initially overlapping pairs of ejection channels, with respect to the main axis Z (not shown) which then also forms a symmetry axis, are in rotated positions relative to one another, e.g. by 60° (or another integer factor of 360°), and the respective cross channels 4A, 4B are, along said symmetry axis, spaced apart from one another, in order not to intersect with each other.

[0111] In FIG. 10 which is a transparent side view, a cross section containing hidden lines is depicted, such that all main axially spaced apart cross channels (third cross channel with reference numeral omitted) are well visible. Only two pairs of ejection channels can be seen because of the view direction.

[0112] The aforementioned design can also be seen in FIG. 11 which is a three-dimensional transparent view of nozzle 1 containing the cross sections of FIGS. 8 and 9. By virtually rotating the cross sections, a compact and simple nozzle is obtained whose inlet openings (reference numerals omitted) are located on a circular path (dash-dotted circle). Thus, the respective interface to an upstream arranged component (i.e. pumping chamber, valve section, not depicted) can be designed to be relatively simple.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0113] 1 nozzle [0114] 1′ front surface [0115] 1A-1D ejection channels [0116] 2A,2B splitting chamber [0117] 3,3A,3B main feed channel [0118] 4,4A,4B cross channel [0119] 5,5A,5B inlet opening [0120] F,F1,F2 liquid [0121] X,X1,X2 collision point [0122] A,A1,A2 ejection angle [0123] A1*, A2*, A1′, A2′, A1″, A2″ angle [0124] I intermediate angle [0125] Z main axis [0126] D ejection offset [0127] P,P1,P2 plane