Abstract
RATIONALE: Treatments by portable compressor/nebulizer systems can offer very different delivery characteristics. We evaluated a new, reusable BAN (AeroEclipse-XL®, Trudell Medical International) optimized with its table-top (Ombra®) compressor.
METHODS: Each nebulizer (n=5/group) was filled with 2.5-mL, 1.0-mg/mL albuterol (Ventolin®, GSK Canada Inc.), and connected to a breathing simulator (ASL5000, IngMar Medical, Pittsburgh, PA) mimicking adult tidal breathing (Vt= 600-mL; duty cycle = 33%; rate = 10 cycles/min). Emitted aerosol was captured on a filter at the mouthpiece, replaced every minute until onset of sputtering, defining run time. Recovery/assay of salbutamol was undertaken by HPLC-UV spectrophotometry. Fine droplet fraction (FDF<4.7µm) and mass median droplet diameter (MMD) were determined by laser diffractometry. Total fine droplet mass (FDM<4.7µm) was the product of total mass and FDF<4.7µm. Comparative measurements were made with the Sprint® (PARI, Germany) and reusable Sidestream® (Philips-Respironics, Germany) air entrainment nebulizers using PARI BOY®SX® and Inspiration Elite® table-top compressors respectively.
RESULTS: See Table.
CONCLUSIONS: The BAN/Ombra system provided highly respirable aerosol with FDM<4.7µm greater than the benchmark systems. Its run time reflects the fact that aerosol is only delivered during inhalation and not wasted to the environment.
- © 2012 ERS