Ultrasonic fog maker and methods of drug delivery and air freshening

Abstract

An ultrasonic fog generator creates a fog of a liquid such as water. The visual appearance of the fog may be altered such as by being illuminated by one or more lights having one or more colors. Further, the fog may be used to deliver pharmaceuticals to one or both of the lungs of a patient.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Design Patent Application Ser. Nos.
where R_T is the resistance at temperature “T”, R_O is the resistance at a reference temperature “T_O”, and α is a coefficient of resistivity for a given material. By way of another example, the resistance of the material 27 could vary with the pressure applied thereto by the liquid 50, the pressure being greater in a bottom portion of the container 100 than in an upper portion thereof. Such a change in resistance could be affected by a pressure sensitive resistor. However, the invention is not limited to any particular property which may alter the resistance of the material 27.

As the sensor 73 is lowered in a liquid 50 (i.e., as the depth of submersion increases), the resistance of the material 27 correspondingly increases. As a result, as the depth of the sensor 73 increases, the voltage across the sensor 73 will increase, provided current remains substantially constant. In addition, the portion of the wrapper 25 on the exterior of the sensor 73 which passes through the upper side 22 of the housing 10 may be sealed with laminate plastic and/or rosin glue.

On an opposite end of the sensor 73 there is provided a second conductor 79. When housing 10 is immersed in a liquid 50 and the resistance of the material 27 increases, the voltage at the second conductor 79 increases. As the second conductor 79 is insulated by the wrapping 25, the wrapping 25 acts as a dielectric between the second conductor 79 and the liquid 50, i.e., the second conductor 79 and the liquid 50 form a capacitor. As the voltage experienced by the second conductor 79 increases, the capacitance between the second conductor 79 and the liquid 50 (represented by C_x in FIG. 7) will also increase.

As a result of the capacitance between the second conductor 79 and the liquid 50, current will flow in the liquid 50 (i.e., the other “plate” of the capacitor) and will pass through the conductive outer casing 74 (e.g., which may be formed from a metallic material such as, for example, chrome or copper) and back into the circuit board 72 via a third conductor 75, with a variable voltage. When the voltage at the third conductor reaches a predetermined level, a comparator (represented by U2 in FIG. 7) will act to direct the current to the transducer 40 thereby enabling it to oscillate, preferably ultrasonically.

It should be noted that as the power through housing is DC current/voltage, there is no substantial risk of electrical shock from the current in the liquid 50. In light of the aforementioned, the depth of the water affects the sensor 73 and the voltage thereacross such that it acts as a switch. It should also be noted that as the sensor 73 is insulted (by the insulation wrapping 25) from the liquid 50, oxidation of the sensor 73 will be substantially inhibited.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the housing 10 of FIG. 1 in a container 100 of liquid 50. As previously mentioned, the liquid 50 may be water, a pharmaceutical, a fragrance, a combination of any of these, or other liquid. Preferably, the liquid 50 is water. The housing 10 is placed in the container 100 such that it is submersed in the liquid 50 (other than the power cord 32 which may not be submersed). The housing 10 is submersed to a depth such that the transducer 40 will cause the liquid near the surface of the liquid 50 to oscillate. As the liquid 50 near the surface oscillates, it will evaporate in the form of a visual fog or mist. The density of the fog or mist will depend on the depth at which this housing 10 is submersed in the liquid 50.

In conjunction with the container 100, the housing 10 (and the lights 14, 16, 18, 20) can be incorporated into a visually appealing display. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 a light diffuser 110 (such as a pile of faux ice) may be added to the container 100 to cover the housing 10 substantially. The light diffuser 110 may be formed to plastic, quartz, a clear polymer, or other clear generally solid material which will not dissolved in the liquid 50. Further, preferably, the light diffuser 110 will not chemically react or internet with the liquid 50. In this embodiment, the light emitted by the lights 14, 16, 18, 20 will radiate through the light diffuser 110, thereby illuminating the light diffuser 110.

Regardless of whether a light diffuser 110 is provided, the container 100 may be supported by a stand 120 (as shown in FIG. 5) thereby maintaining the container 100 above a surface 122. In this embodiment, when the fog is emitted by the liquid 50 in the container 100, it may fall to the surface 122, provided the fog is more dense than the ambient air surrounding the container 100.

FIG. 8 is a depiction of an alternate embodiment fog generator 210 in a housing 10 (as previously described) and liquid 50 are contained within a dispenser 200. The dispenser 200 has an outlet 200 for directing fog to a patient 204 through a conduit 206 preferably being formed of a flexible hose made of, for example, plastic or rubber. Essentially, this embodiment of the fog generator 210 works in the same manner as the previously described embodiment. However, the fog produced thereby is channeled through the outlet 202 and into a proximal end of the conduit 206. To prevent condensation of the fog in the conduit 206, the length of the conduit 206 is preferably less than about 6″. In addition, to prevent a vacuum from being creating in the dispenser 200, an air inlet 203 may be provided. Further, to prevent fog from inadvertently leaving the dispenser 200 through the inlet 203, an air filter 207 may be provided which substantially covers the inlet 203.

If the patient 204 maintains a distal end of the conduit 206 in his mouth 205, the fog may be inhaled into one or both of the patient's lungs. If the liquid 50 is a pharmaceutical, the fog thereof which is inhaled can be quickly transported to the blood of the patient via the capillaries in the lungs. In addition, if the patient suffers from asthma or other lung condition, the delivery to the lungs of the pharmaceutical in the form of the fog can provide quick treatment for such condition.

Although the aforementioned describes embodiments of the invention, the invention is not so restricted. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed preferred embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that the apparatus and method described herein are illustrative only and are not limiting upon the scope of the invention, which is indicated by the following claims.

Claims

1. A housing for an ultrasonic fog generator, the housing comprising:

a transducer adapted to vibrate ultrasonically, wherein when the housing is positioned in a source comprising a liquid and when the transducer vibrates ultrasonically, the housing is adapted to create a fog from the liquid in the source, the fog emanating from the liquid source; and

a visually appealing display adapted to alter an appearance of the fog, the visually appealing display comprising:

a stand adapted to support the housing; and

at least two lights adapted to radiate light of at least two different colors,

2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to be hand-held.

3. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is water.

4. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the fog is in the form of a mist.

5. The housing according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor.

6. The housing according to claim 5, wherein the sensor is adapted to monitor a property of the liquid contacting the housing, and wherein a current control system is adapted to stop vibration of the transducer in response to the monitored property.

7. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the colors which the lights are adapted to radiate are variable.

8. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the visual display further comprises a light diffuser through which the at least two colors of light pass.

9. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the transducer is adapted to vibrate to vibrate at between about 1.6 MHz and about 1.8 MHz.

10. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the transducer is adapted to vibrate at about 1.7 MHz.

11. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises a fragrance that is dispersed in the fog.

12. A method for adding at least one fragrance to ambient air in a room, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing according to claim 1, the housing further comprising the at least one fragrance, wherein each of the at least one fragrance is in a substantially liquid form;

vibrating ultrasonically the at least one fragrance with the transducer, to create a fog of the at least one fragrance; and

emanating the fog formed of the at least one fragrance into the ambient air.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the fragrance is dissolved in a liquid solvent.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of:

monitoring a property of the at least one fragrance and the liquid solvent in the housing with a sensor.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

stopping the vibrating of the transducer if property of the at least one fragrance and the liquid solvent in the housing, as measured by the sensor, is outside a predetermined range for the property.

16. The method according to claim 22, wherein the step of vibrating ultrasonically the at least one fragrance with the transducer comprises:

vibrating the transducer at between about 1.6 MHz and about 1.8 MHz.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of vibrating ultrasonically the at least one fragrance with the transducer comprises:

vibrating the transducer at about 1.7 MHz.