BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a gas filed atomiser.

In particular the present invention relates to a gas fed atomiser capable of producing and dispensing, by way of a funnel, a liquid mist ideally containing small droplets of therapeutic liquids.

Atomised liquids produced by such a device may be used for many purposes. One such use is for therapy, for example, by application to the skin or by inhalation. One example is the atomisation of sodium chloride for inhalation to assist with the removal of mucus and debris from the lungs. Another example is atomisation of hyaluronic acid for skin beauty purposes.

A device for atomising liquids to form a mist is

disclosed in EP 2626052. It consists of a gas cylinder attached at its top end via a manifold to a separate

cartridge containing a liquid to which gas is supplied in order to generate a mist. A face mask is attached at an outlet port on the top of the cartridge by which a user inhales the vapour.

In order to gain wide acceptance, such atomisers have to be easy to use both in terms of their set up and subsequent operation during the inhalation process. The use of a mouth piece is an efficient way of

delivering the vaporised liquid orally. However, it will not generate a pleasant experience for the user as it has the feel of a medical product when in use. It is therefore not acceptable as a lifestyle product.

A product which was easier to use and did not have such a medical feel would gain wider acceptance from users and therefore product a more widespread therapeutic benefit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a gas fed atomiser comprising a housing for receiving a pressurised gas cylinder and a cartridge of liquid, the pressurised gas being configured to atomise the liquid and dispense this liquid as a mist via an outlet in top of the housing, and a funnel rigidly fixed to the top of the housing with a narrow end and a flared end, the narrow end being in direct communication with the outlet in the top of the housing such that the atomised liquid travels up along the funnel to the flared end where it leaves the funnel in a region where a user can place their face for inhaling or applying the dispensed atomised liquid.

The present invention replaces the face mask of EP 2626052 with a funnel up through which the atomised liquid is dispensed and through a flared end on top of the device. Thus, rather than being a device which is strapped or held in close proximity to the user's face, the device adopts a different approach in that it is a a device which gently dispenses a mist in an upward direction to a region over which a user can lean in order to inhale or apply the atomised liquid. Although this is not such an efficient delivery mechanism as the face mask, for an inhaled

composition, it is far more pleasant for the user, and also offers the possibility of being able to apply the atomised liquid to a wider region, namely across the users face, rather than simply into their mouth.

Preferably, an orifice at the narrow end is in a first plane and an orifice at the flared end is in a second plane, the planes being inclined with respect to one another by between 1° and 45°, preferably 20° to 40°. Such an

arrangement inclines the outlet of the valve towards the user such that, when the atomiser is used on a table top, it is comfortable for a person sat at the table to bend over it to inhale or apply the atomised liquid. The flared end, in particular, may have an undulating profile. If so, the second plane should be considered as a medium plane which can be drawn through the undulating end.

Preferably, when viewed from above in normal use, the flared end of the funnel is substantially within the

envelope of the housing. With such an arrangment, the flared end is effectively above the housing again providing an atomiser which is comfortable for the user to bend over.

Preferably, the atomiser is a free standing unit and the housing is arranged to provide a stable support for the inhaler on a flat surface improving the convenience of the operation of the atomiser. Preferably, the flared end is substantially circular. This provides an attractive appearance to the device.

Alternatively, it may have a shape which is more profiled to fit a user's face.

The funnel is preferably detachable from the rest of the device. By being detachable, the funnel can be more easily cleaned between uses of the device. It may also be

removable to allow access to the gas cylinder and cartridge in the housing.

Preferably the funnel is made of glass or plastic to make it easy to clean between uses. Preferably an annular skirt depends downwardly from the flared end of the funnel to the housing with which it is continuous. This gives the device a pleasing look which will again enhance its acceptability to the user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: Figure 1A shows a plan view of the device including part of the lid with the lid open; and

Figure IB shows a perspective view of the device without the lid. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a gas cylinder and a cartridge useable in the device. The Figure also shows the remaining components from the device, including the principal manifold component, that are responsible for delivering the gas from this cylinder to the cartridge.

Figure 3A shows in greater detail a perspective view of the manifold from the device which is used to deliver the gas from this cylinder to the cartridge; and

Figure 3B shows a corresponding view to Figure 3A wherein the manifold is shown transparent. Figures 4.1-4.6 show cross section views of the manifold from the device during various stages of its operation with Figs. 4.1 to 4.3 being shown in a first plane and Figs. 4.4 to 4.6 being shown in a second plane. Figure 5A shows a plan view of the mechanism used to actuate the second valve from the device; and

Figure 5B shows a perspective view of the mechanism used to actuate the second valve from the device. Figures 6A and 6B are perspective views of the whole device showing two different funnels.

Figure 7 shows a plinth for use with the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures 1A and IB show a device 10 suitable for

delivering a gas from a pressurised gas cylinder into a cartridge containing an atomisable liquid.

The device 10 is formed of a main housing 12 which is free standing (as best shown in Figs. 6A and 6B) defining a central cavity 14. The cavity 14 defines space for receiving a removable pressurised gas cylinder 16 and a removable cartridge 18 (see Figs. 4.4 - 4.6) containing an atomisable liquid. The cartridge 18 is a known component and is described, for example, in US 2013/0067656. The manner in which it operates to generate a mist is as described in that document and will not be described in detail here.

The cavity also contains the components from the device which are used to deliver the gas from the pressurised cylinder to the cartridge (as described below) .

The cavity is accessible via a lid 20 (partially shown open in Fig. 1A and best shown closed in Fig. 6A) located on the top of cavity 14, which is movable by a hinge mechanism 22 between an open position allowing access to the cavity, and a closed position where the cavity is closed. During use of the device, the lid is closed. As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the lid 20 comprises an opening 22 to allow atomised liquid from the cartridge to escape from the cavity when the device is in use. The opening is preferably aligned above the location of the cartridge 18 within the cavity.

The pressurised gas cylinder 16 used in the device is generally cylindrical and contains a pressurised gas suitable for being inhaled by a user of the device.

Exemplary gases which are useable inside the cylinder include air, oxygen enriched air and heliox (a mixture of helium and oxygen) .

The cylinder is fluidly connected to a pressure

regulating element 24 which functions to reduce the pressure of the gas leaving the cylinder from the cylinder pressure of up to 300 Bar to a lower pressure of around 6-20 Bar. The pressure regulating element may be integral with the

cylinder or may be connected instead to the device itself.

The cylinder 16 is locatable within the cavity 14 of the device and is connectable to a primary safety valve 26 on the device which is biased into an ordinarily closed

position by a biasing element 28. On closure of the lid 20, a force is applied to the biasing element 28 to open the valve to allow gas to pass out of the cylinder.

The device also includes a manifold 30. The manifold comprises an inlet port 32 fluidly connected to the outlet of the primary safety valve 26. The manifold also comprises a second-stage pressure regulating element 34; a first 36 and second 38 spool valve; and a gas regulating cylinder 40.

The cartridge 18 containing the liquid to be atomised sits on top of the gas regulating cylinder from the manifold as will be described. A cross section view of such a

cartridge is shown in Figures 4.4-4.6.

Returning to the manifold, as shown in Figures 4.1-4.6, the manifold 30 defines a flow path for the gas from the pressurised cylinder which extends from the inlet port 32, past the first 36 and second 38 spool valves, through the second-stage pressure regulating element 34, through the gas regulating cylinder 40, and out from the gas regulating cylinder 40 into the cartridge 18. When the device is not in use, the first 36 and second 38 spool valves from the manifold are each biased into a closed position by a respective biasing member 42 on each of the valves in order to block the flow path as shown in Fig. 4.1.

As with the primary safety valve, the first spool valve 36 is actuatable on closure of the lid 20. When the lid is closed, a downward force is applied to the head of the first spool valve 36 which displaces the valve 36 from the

position shown in Figure 4.1 to a displaced position as shown in Figure 4.2 whereby the valve 36 no longer blocks the flow path inside the manifold. If the lid 20 is

subsequently opened, the downward force on the valve 36 is removed, allowing the biasing member 42 to restore the spool valve to its initial position shown in Figure 4.1 whereby the flow path in the manifold is blocked.

If the lid 20 is not closed, the first spool valve 36 is not actuated. Thus the first spool valve 36 provides a safety mechanism to prevent the escape of pressurised gas from the device when the lid is open.

After the pressurised gas has passed the first spool valve 36 in the manifold, a portion of this gas is bled off from the flow path via an outlet port 48 in the manifold which is located downstream of the first spool valve. The outlet port 48 is fluidly connected to pneumatic cylinders 46 to apply a twisting force to each collar 44 via a piston in each cylinder. Once the force is applied by the bled gas, the collar 44 is rotated which causes an actuator connected to the collar (not shown in the Figures) to depress the second spool valve 38, allowing the unbled gas from the flow path in the manifold to pass beyond the second spool valve 38. As with the first spool valve, the second spool valve comprises a biasing member 42 to restore the spool valve to its initial position shown in Figure 4.1 whereby the flow path in the manifold is blocked.

If no cartridge 18 is connected when the lid is closed, the second spool valve 38 is not actuated. Thus the second spool valve 38 provides a safety mechanism to prevent the escape of pressurised gas from the device when no cartridge is connected.

Downstream of the second spool valve 38, the flow path in the manifold passes into the second-stage pressure regulating element 34, which operates to reduce the pressure of the gas flowing through the manifold (around 6-20 Bar) to a lower pressure suitable for use in the cartridge. The gas passing through the outlet of the second-stage pressure regulating element 34 passes through the manifold along a further flow path 50 to the gas regulating cylinder 40. The purpose of the gas regulating cylinder is to

introduce a delay between the time when the device is operated (i.e. when the lid 20 is closed), and the time when the gas is dispensed out from the device. The delay

introduced by the gas regulating cylinder 40 gives the user time to locate themselves in the correct position for inhaling the liquid from the cartridge after the device is operated. To achieve this delay, the gas regulating element includes a piston 52 which is moveable within a bore 54. The bore includes two inlets; a first inlet 56 located on an axial wall of the bore; and a second inlet 58 located on an end wall of the cylinder. A gas outlet 60 of the cylinder is reached by an L-shaped channel 62 which extends radially from an edge of the piston, through to the centre of the piston, and then up through the top face of the piston. Initially, due to the position of the piston inside the bore of the gas regulating element, the L-shaped channel from the piston is not in fluid communication with the first inlet 56, and the first inlet is blocked by the piston.

Accordingly, pressurised gas entering the gas regulating cylinder is initially forced through the only available inlet, i.e. the second inlet 58 (see Fig. 4.4), of the regulating cylinder. As the gas enters this inlet, a force is applied onto the piston 52 by the gas, forcing the piston to move up. Eventually the first inlet 56 is no longer blocked by the piston 52, and the L-shaped channel from the piston is in fluid communication with the first inlet, allowing the pressurised gas to pass through the first inlet, through the L-shaped channel in the piston, and out through the outlet of the cylinder. A biasing element in the form of a compression spring 64 biases the piston 52 to its first position when no force is applied onto the piston by the pressurised gas from the pressure regulating element.

The cartridge 18 containing atomisable liquid is located on top of the gas regulating element as shown in Figure 4.4- 4.6. The cartridge is formed of a main housing which defines an interior reservoir containing atomisable liquid, such as sodium chloride containing water or hyaluronic acid. The base of the cartridge, which sits on the gas regulating cylinder 52, comprises a perforatable film. The cartridge contains an atomiser for atomising the liquid contained in the reservoir, and an outlet located above both the

reservoir and the atomiser for allowing the atomised liquid to escape from the reservoir. Also located on the cartridge are a plurality of frangible tabs 66 which, until they are broken, cover the outlet of the cartridge.

Connected to the outlet of the cylinder is a perforating means in the form of a needle 68. The needle comprises a fluid channel 70 which is fluidly connectable to the gas outlet 60 of the piston.

As the piston 52 moves up the needle 52 is moved towards the base of the cartridge perforating the film of the cartridge. Accordingly, when the pressurised gas passes through the L-shaped channel 62, and out through the outlet 60 of the cylinder, the gas passes through the needle and enters the cartridge. Via the atomiser located in the cartridge, the pressurised gas atomises the liquid inside the cartridge, which generates a mist which passes towards the outlet of the cartridge towards the user of the device.

The frangible tabs 66 which block the outlet of the cartridge are designed to be broken when the cartridge 18 is twisted as described above. This is achieved by

complementary features in the lid, such that when the lid is closed, the lid breaks each of the tabs. This ensures that the outlet from the cartridge must be opened before the gas is introduced into the cartridge providing a fail safe mechanism to avoid over pressurising the cartridge.

The mechanism to open the outlet of the cartridge 18, to pierce its lower surface and supply it with gas are largely dictated by the requirement of the cartridge. Different mechanisms to achieve these aims may be provided

particularly if a different cartridge is used. For example, these operations could be carried out by the user pushing a cartridge into the end of a cylinder such that the axial movement of these components triggers the various

procedures .

With reference to Figures 6A and 6B, a detachable funnel 72 is supplied with the device to direct the mist exiting the device towards the user. The funnel is preferably made of glass or plastic to make it easy to clean and sterilise between uses. The funnel comprises a curved conical wall 74 defining a flow path for the dispensed atomised liquid from the opening 22 located on the lid to a flared upper end where the user can place their face to inhale or apply the mist. The funnel has an outer skirt 76 shaped to sit on the lid flush with the base 12.

Figure 7 shows a plinth 80 for use with the device. The plinth is formed as a floor standing cabinet which contains a gas cylinder 82. The gas cylinder is removable from the plinth by an access door 84. The top surface 86 of the plinth supports the device and also contains an access port 88 for receiving a gas coupling which is fluidly connected to the cylinder 82 located inside the plinth. In use, the gas coupling fluidly connects the cylinder located in the plinth with the manifold, and ultimately the cartridge, located in the device.

The cylinder 82 contained within the plinth 80 has a capacity which is larger than the cylinder in the device. Accordingly, the plinth and its respective high capacity cylinder gives the user the option of a high capacity device that they can operate without needing to replace the gas cylinder 16 in the device as frequently.

Although not shown in the Figures, the underside of the device includes a connection port for receiving the gas coupling of the plinth when the device is located on the plinth. The connection port provides a fluid path inside the device which connects up with the inlet port of the

manifold. In this way, the manifold is able to receive gas from either the cylinder located in the device itself, or from the gas cylinder located in the plinth. A suitable control system and set of non-return valves is provided in the device to ensure that the gas from the one of the two cylinders used is fed only into the manifold, and not into the other of the two cylinders. The control system also ensures that when the device is fluidly connected to the cylinder located in the plinth, the gas from this cylinder is used in preference to any gas contained in a smaller cylinder located in the device.