RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Efficient drug delivery to the lungs from a continuously operated open-vent nebulizer and low pressure compressor system
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 1177
OP 1181
DO 10.1183/09031936.94.07061177
VO 7
IS 6
A1 SP Newman
A1 GR Pitcairn
A1 G Hooper
A1 M Knoch
YR 1994
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/7/6/1177.abstract
AB A comparison of aerosol delivery has been made between two open-vent Pari jet nebulizers. Intermittent and continuous delivery were compared for one of the nebulizers. Ten healthy volunteers inhaled 99mTc-labelled diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA) aerosols on three occasions. The Pari LC device was operated both intermittently (by a manual interrupter that generated aerosol only in synchrony with inhalation) and continuously. The Pari LL nebulizer was operated only in the intermittent mode. A system of inspiratory and expiratory valves was fitted to each nebulizer in order to direct airflow. Both nebulizers were powered by Pari Boy compressors. The mean (SD) whole lung deposition for the LL nebulizer was 11.1 (4.0)% of the nominal dose, compared to 15.3 (12.8)% and 12.8 (7.9)% for the LC used with intermittent and continuous operation, respectively. These differences were not statistically significant. Regional deposition patterns within the lungs were similar for the three nebulizer systems. These data show that efficient nebulizer systems using relatively low power compressors are possible, and suggest that continuously operated open-vent nebulizers may be designed to give lung deposition comparable to that achieved by nebulizers fitted with manual interrupters.