Chest
In vitro Comparison of DeVilbiss Jet and Ultrasonic Nebulizers
Section snippets
METHODS AND MATERIALS
Eight individual DeVilbiss Pulmosonic (ultrasonic) nebulizers and eight individual DeVilbiss 646 (jet) nebulizers supplied by the manufacturers during 1985 and 1986 were tested. In order to vent aerosol from the ultrasonic nebulizer, the medication chamber was flushed with air at 25 L/min. The jet nebulizers were driven by compressed air from a cylinder at 6 L/min and 12 L/min; these flows correspond approximately to those generated by the weakest and most powerful compressors currently
RESULTS
The initial solution masses averaged 4.33 g (283 mg NaCl), 4.34 g (284 mg NaCl), and 4.24 g (277 mg NaCl) for the ultrasonic and for the jet nebulizer operated at 6 and 12 L/min, respectively.
DISCUSSION
Bronchodilators, sodium cromoglycate, corticosteroids, and many other drug solutions may be aerosolized by jet or ultrasonic nebulizers. The hypertonic saline solution used in this study is sometimes used as a placebo, but may itself have expectorant properties.13 Previous observations from our laboratory5, 6, 7 suggest that the changes in droplet size brought about by alterations in air flow rate through jet nebulizers and the increase in drug concentration with time are similar both for
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This work was supported by a grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust of the United Kingdom.
Manuscript received December 30; revision accepted April 6.