United States Patent
`Nakai et a1.
`[45]
`Mar. 9, 1982
`
`111]
`
`4,319,155
`
`119]
`
`[54] NEBULIZA’I‘ION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A
`PZEZOELECTRIC ULTRASONIC
`NEBULIZER
`
`[751
`
`-
`
`_
`t
`Inventors= Edam Nam. Nagaokakm; Isao
`Kai. Kameoka; Hirohito Yammoto.
`Kyoto. all of Japan
`
`[73] Assign“ Omh Tateisi Emmi“ Co"
`Kyoto, Japan
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1. 310/317X
`2,453,595 11/1948 Rosentha] ...............
`
`3.381.607 6/ 1963 Gauthier et al.
`310/334 X
`
`3,490,597
`1/1910 Best, Jr.
`.....
`239/192
`
`3,323,359
`3/1974 Koeblitz .
`310x317
`3,866,831
`2/1975 Denton ..
`239/102 X
`
`4,001,650
`1/ 1977 Romain ......
`128/200.16 X
`9/1917 Williams ......................... 310/317 x
`4.1141992
`Primary Examiner—Mark 0. Budd
`Attorney. Agent, or Firm—Wegner & Bretschneider
`
`[21} Appl. No.: 102.534
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Dec. 11, 1979
`
`[30]
`
`Foreign Application priority Data
`
`Jan. 9. 1979 [JP]
`
`Japan .................................... 54-1836
`
`Int. CI.3 ............................................. H01L 41/08
`[51]
`[52] U.S. C1.
`................................ 310/316; 310/317;
`Ills/21111.16; 239/102
`[53] Field of Search ................ 310/316, 317; 318/ 116,
`313/113; 128/200.16; 239/102; 261/DIG. 48.
`81
`
`' A nebulization control system for an ultrasonic nebu-
`lizer comprising a variable pulse oscillating circuit, an
`ultrasonic vibrating circuit and an ultrasonic vibrator is
`described. The ultrasonic vibrator is caused to vibrate
`alternatingl}.«r between a high level which is sufficient to
`nebulize a fluid and a low level which is insufficient to
`nebulize the same. The ratio of duration of the high
`level to the low level and/or the amplitude of vibration
`at the high level is variable. This arrangement permits a‘
`precise control of nebulization quantity and assists in'
`the production of a fine, uniform mist of fluid.
`
`5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures
`
`OPERATION
`
`
`33
`INDICATI e
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`'C
`
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`
`
`CIRCUIT [a
`TING
`GEBERA
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`
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`C1R
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`32 34
`CONSTANT
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`- r: 1: FCWER
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`
`CIRCUIT
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`
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`ULTRSONIC
`VIBRATING
`
`CIRCUIT
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`35
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`U.S. Patent Mar. 9, 1982
`
`Sheet 1 of2
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`4,319,155
`
`OPERATION
`cm: T
`
`INDICATI C
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`33
`
`I: I G '
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`I
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`1}
`
`
`
` ULTRSONIC '
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`
`
`LUID LEVEL
`DETECTING
`CIRCUIT
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`
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`VI BRATI NG
`CIRCUIT
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`US. Patent Mar. 9, 1982
`
`Sheet 2 of2
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`4,319,155
`
`FIGB
`
`NEBULI ZATION LEVEL
`
`HIGH
`
`Low
`
`OFF
`
`{
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`NEBULIZATION LEVEL
`
`OF F
`
`MODE-1
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`MODE-2
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`MODE—3
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`NEBULIZATION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A
`PIEZOELECI‘RIC ULTRASONIC NEBULIZER
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`5
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`10
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`IS
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`This invention relates to a nebulization control sys~
`tent for an ultrasonic nebulizer and, more particularly,
`to a new control system, which can be applied to a
`device for nebulizing fluids with an ultrasonic energy,
`for precisely controlling the quantity of nebulization
`when a relatively small quantity of nebulization is re-
`quired.
`Recently, ultrasonic nebulizers for vaporizing fluids
`have been applied to humidifiers for increasing humid-
`ity in rooms. inhalation apparatuses For the treatment of
`respiratory diseases, beauty aids, etc.
`In such ultrasonic nebulizers, especially those for
`inhalation therapy, narcotherapy, and humidity control
`in hospitals, it is required to precisely control the quarr-
`tity of vaporization.
`The ultrasonic nebulizer diselosed in U.S. Pat. No.
`3,387,607 comprises essentially a pulse oseillating cir-
`cuit and an electro-aeoustic transducer or ultrasonic
`vibrator which is energized by the output of the circuit.
`In such a nebulizer, nebulization quantity control is
`effected by changing the so-called duty factor, in other
`words. changing the cycle of oscillating time period of
`a pulse oscillating circuit or by changing the ratio of
`oscillating time period to non-oscillating time period of 39
`the pulse oscillating circuit so that the ultrasonic vibra-
`tor synchronized with the oscillation generates inter-
`mittantly ultrasonic waves of constant amplitude.
`Since the time delay of nebulization after the begin-
`ning of ultrasonic vibration is approaimately 0.4 second,
`the time period of ultrasonic vibration or pulse oscilla-
`tion should be more than 0.4 second.
`The nebulizer of U.S. Pat. No. 3,387,607, which
`changes the cycle of ultrasonic vibrating time period or
`the ratio of ultrasonic vibrating time period to ultra—
`sonic non-vibrating time period with the amplitude of
`vibration being kept constant, has the disadvantage that
`a large rush current is unavoidable because the rapid
`increase and decrease of amplitude are involved be-
`tween zero-level and nebulizationdevel of vibration
`amplitude.
`Another disadvantage emanating from the rapid
`change of oscillation or vibration is that large sized fluid
`particles are produced and, especially when a small
`volume of fluid must be nebulized, scattering of fluid
`droplets is unavoidable and, hence, nebulization of uni—
`form size fluid particles is difficult.
`More particularly,
`in- an inhalation apparatus for an
`inhalation therapy of respiratory tract diseases wherein
`the nebulized fluid medicament is inhaled, it is required
`to precisely control the nebulization quantity over the
`vast range from a very little quantity to a relatively
`great quantity depending on the condition of the pa-
`tient.
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`35
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`A further disadvantage is that when the fluid medica-
`ment is of high viscosity, it is not only difficult to obtain
`a fine mist but also impossible to-precisely control the
`nebulization quantity.
`Therefore, a primary object ofthe present invention
`is to provide a nebulization control system for an ultra-
`sonic nebulizer, which provides a constant and accurate
`particle size control over the nebulized fluid even when
`
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`4,319,155
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`the quantity to be nebulized is small. thereby to produce
`a fine mist of medicament or the like.
`It is a further object of the present invention to pro—
`vide a nebulization control system which requires only
`a small rash current and entails a relatively small power
`consumption for nebulization.
`Essentially speaking, the nebulization control system
`of this invention is such that an ultrasonic vibrator is
`held in partially excited, state and the oscillation circuit
`output is increased from a non-nebulization level to a
`nebulization level and decreased from the latter level to
`the former in repetatiort so as to control the quantity
`and degree of nebulization.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the nebulizing control
`system for an ultrasonic nebulizer according to the
`present invention;
`FIG. 2 shows a specific circuitry including the ultra-
`sonic vibrating circuit and driving circuit shown in
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 shows an output wave form of the ultrasonic
`vibrator according to the present invention; and
`FIG. 4 shows another output wave form of the ultra-
`sonic vibrator.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, an ultrasonic vibrating circuit 32 _
`comprises a rectifying circuit 321 which converts an
`a.c. voltage from a power source 34 to a dc. voltage
`and supplies the latter to a constant voltage circuit 35,
`and a driving circuit 40 which supplies a high frequency
`oscillating voltage to an ultrasonic vibrator 11.
`The constant voltage circuit 35 supplies the constant
`d.c. voltage to a fluid level detection circuit 36, a vari-
`able pulse generating circuit 33. and the driving circuit
`40.
`
`The fluid level detection circuit 36 feeds an operatitm
`stop signal to the driving circuit 40 or variable pulse
`generating circuit 33 for stopping ultrasonic vibration
`upon detection of the level of the fluid by a detection
`means 37 when the level has dropped below a predeter-
`mined levei.
`'
`
`The variable pulse generating circuit 33 continually
`generates pulses. the interval or amplitude of which is
`variable as described later, and supplied said pulses to
`the driving circuit 40 and an operation indicating circuit
`30 for indicating the nebulization condition.
`Driving circuit 40 causes the ultrasomo vibrating
`circuit 32 to generate a high frequency vibrating output
`of relatively large amplitude during the low level inter-
`val of the variable pulse. while it generates an output of
`relatively small amplitude during the high level interval
`of variable pulse.
`The high frequency vibrating output is applied to the
`ultrasonic vibrator-11 whereupon the latter generates an
`ultrasonic wave which is available for the nebulization
`of fluid during the low level interval of variable pulse
`but not available for nebulization during high level
`interval of variable pulse, although it keeps the vibrator
`constantly energized.
`FIG. 2 is an electric circuitry showing a specific
`connection between the ultrasonic vibrating circuit 32
`and driving circuit 40.
`The ultrasonic vibrating circuit 32 comprises a full-
`wave rectifying circuit 321 for rectifying the ac. sup-
`plied from the a.c. power source 34.
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`3
`Connected to output terminals ofthe full—wave recti-
`fying circuit 321 are a high frequency bypassing capaci-
`tor 322 and a series connection of a coil 323, a power
`transistor 324, and another coil 325. A capacitor 326 is
`connected between the collector ofa power transistor
`324 and a ground line. Ultrasonic vibrator 11 and capac—
`itor 32':" connected in series are connected between the
`base and collector of the transistor 324, and a capacitor
`328 is connected between the base and the ground line.
`A constant voltage circuit 35 is connected to the
`Output terminals of the rectifying circuit 321 through a
`resistor 329, which comprises a Zener diode 351 and a
`smoothing capacitor 352 connected in parallel.
`The driving circuit 40 comprises a resistor 41, a tran-
`sistor 421, and 422 connected in series, which is con-
`nected between the positive line ofthe constant voltage
`circuit 35 and the base of transistor 324.
`A resistor 43 is connected in parallel with the transis—
`tor 422. Transistor 421 becomes OFF on reception of a
`detection signal representing a shortage of fluid from
`the fluid level detecting circuit 36 to thereby stop the
`vibration of ultrasonic vibrating circuit 32.
`It is preferable, for enabling a free choice ofdifferent
`ultrasonic vibration output levels within the-nebuliaa—
`tion range, to connect one end each of resistors 41], 412,
`and 413 of different resistance values to the positive line
`of the constant voltage circuit 35 and connect the other
`ends to a selecting switch 44 (see FIGS. 2 and 4).
`i.e.
`FIG. 3 shows the wave-form of output pulses,
`intervals of ultrasonic vibration, from the driving cir—
`cuit 4ft, wherein a resistor 41 is inserted so as to provide
`a uniform ultrasonic vibration level within the range of
`nebulization.
`
`The operation of the nebulization control system
`aCcording to the present
`invention will now be de-
`scribed in detail with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG.
`4.
`
`Fluid level detecting circuit 36 holds the transistor
`42] in “ON“ condition unless an abnormality is de-
`tected.
`
`Variable pulse generating circuit 33, which consists
`of a known variable means for changing the duty factor
`of pulses,
`in other words, duration and frequency of
`pulses, feeds pulses of predetermined frequency to the
`base of transistor 422. which is turned on when the level
`of input pulse is low, so that a relatively large input
`current is supplied to the power transistor 324.
`Ultrasonic vibrating circuit 32 functions as a Colpitts
`oscillating circuit and supplies to the ultrasonic vibrator
`11 an oscillating output of relatively large amplitude,
`during the variable pulse is of low level, so that the
`ultrasonic vibrator l generates an ultrasonic vibrating
`output which is sufficient to nebulize the fluid.
`When the variable pulse from the variable pulse oscil~
`lating circuit 33 attains a high level, the transistor 422 is
`turned off.
`
`If resistor 43 has not been inserted, no current is sup—
`plied to the base of transistor 324 and the ultrasonic
`vibrating circuit 32 is not actuated.
`Since resistor 43 is connected to the transistor 422 in
`parallel, a small current is supplied to the base of power
`transistor 324- through resistors 329 and 41, the collector
`and emitter of transistor 421, and resistor 43, so that
`ultrasonic vibrator 11 generates an ultrasonic wave of
`relatively small amplitude which is in the range of non
`nebulization, for example, one third 0fthe full nebuliza—
`tion amplitude.
`
`4
`After this. depending on the output level of the vari-
`able pulse oscillating circuit 32. :1 relatively large output
`and a relatively small output of ultrasonic vibration are
`generated alternatingly to nebulize the fluid or to keep
`the fluid not to be nebulired.
`Since the ultrasonic vibrator 11 is thus held in cori-
`stantly energized state and the vibrator output is caused
`to vary from a non—nebulization level, which is higher
`than the prior art
`level corresponding to the non—
`excited state ofthe ultrasonic vibrator. to a nebulization
`level or vice versa in synchronization of the output
`pulse of the pulse generating circuit 33. the amount of
`rush current is so much reduced, with the result that the
`scattering of fluid by a large rush current is prevented
`and a line uniform mist of fluid particles is produced.
`In the above mentioned embodiment,
`the quantity
`can be nebutization variably controlled by changing the
`duty factor of output pulses from variable pulse gener—
`ating circuit 33.
`FIG. 4 shows the wave-forms of ultrasonic vibrating
`output which are obtainable as resistors 411 through
`413, in place of resistor 41, are switched by means ofthe
`selecting switch 44.
`Resistor 411 has a relatively large resistance, resistor
`412 has an intermediate resistance, and resistor 413 has
`. a relatively small resistance.
`When resistor 411 has been selected, that is, in Mode-
`] shown in FIG. 4, a relatively small current is supplied
`to the base of power transistor 324 during the low level
`of variable pulse which turns on the transistor 422, and
`ultrasonic vibrating circuit 32 causes ultrasonic vibrator
`11 to vibrate in a sufficient range to cause nebulization
`ofa small quantity of fluid.
`On the other hand, during the high level of variable
`pulse which turns off the transistor 422, a small current,
`which is defined by the resistance of resistor 43, is sup-
`plied to the base of power transistor 324 and the ultra-
`sonic vibrating circuit 32 causes the ultrasonic vibrator
`11 to vibrate in the range of non—nebulization.
`When resistor 412 has been selected by the selecting
`switch 44, Le. in Mode-2 shown in FIG. 4, during the
`low level of variable pulse, the base current of interme-
`diate value which is sufficient to nebulize the fluid is
`supplied to the power transistor 324, while, during the
`high level of variable pulse, a small base current which
`is insufficient
`to nebulize the fluid is supplied to the
`transistor 324. so that
`the ultrasomc vibration of an
`intermediate level for the nebulization of an intermedi—
`ate quantity is generated.
`When resistor 413 has been selected with the select—
`ing switch 44, i.e. in Mode-3 shown in FIG. 4. during
`the low level of variable pulse, a relatively large base
`current which is sufficient to nebulizc the fluid is sup-
`plied to the power transistor 324. while, during the high
`level of variable pulse, a very small current defined by
`the resistance value of resistor 43 is supplied to the
`transistor 324, so that a large quantity of fluid is nebu-
`lized.
`
`The adoption of such an amplitude variation and a
`60 duty factor changing is desirable for a precise control of
`nebulization.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A nebulization control system for an ultrasonic
`nebulizer, comprising:
`a variable pulse oscillating circuit.
`an ultrasonic vibrating circuit, the vibration ampli-
`tude of which depends upon the output of said
`variable pulse oscillating circuit, and
`
`(:5
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`4,319,155
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`3. A nebulization control system for an ultrasonic
`an ultrasonic vibrator which is energized by the out-
`nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the amplitude
`put of said ultrasonic vibrating circuit,
`of vibration at said high level is variable.
`wherein said ultrasonic vibrator is caused to vibrate
`4. A nebulization control system for an ultrasonic
`in alternation betweenapredetermined high ampli-
`tude level which is sufficient to nebulize fluid and a 5 nebulizer according to claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the
`predetermined low amplitude level, greater than
`difference in amplitude between the high level and the
`zero, which is at or near the maximum amplitude at
`low level is chosen to produce a predetermined nebuli-
`which nebulization will not take place.
`zation quantity.
`2. A nebulization control system for an ultrasonic
`5. A nebulization control system for an ultrasonic
`nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the 10 nebulizer according to claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the low
`duration of vibration of said high level to that of said
`level amplitude is one-third the high level amplitude.
`low level is variable.
`t
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