NEBULIZER APPARATUS

A breath actuated nebulizer (10) automatically cycling generation of an aerosol in time with the breathing cycle of a patient comprising: a housing (12) having a chamber (14) for holding the aerosol (see p. 17, 1 st paragraph); an air outlet communicating with the chamber for permitting the aerosol to be withdrawn from the chamber; a reservoir (23) for holding a liquid to be aerosolized; a liquid orifice (46) located in the chamber; one or more liquid channels (42) defined between the reservoir and the liquid orifice, the one or more liquid channels having a liquid volume; a pressurized gas outlet (38) located in the chamber adjacent to the liquid orifice and positioned to deliver a flow of pressurized gas into the chamber; and a baffle (60) located in the chamber and positioned relative to the pressurized gas outlet and the liquid outlet so as to divert pressurized gas from the pressurized gas outlet and over the liquid orifice, the baffle having a diverter surface area wherein the liquid volume is at least 80 mm 3 , and wherein the diverter surface area is less than 5.0 mm 2