Performance of a New Polymer-Based Vibrating Mesh Nebulizer: A Comparison to Metal-Based Mesh Nebulizer
Chen-Hsiang Sang, Shih-Cherng Lin, Huang-Fei Chen, Hsin-Hua Tseng & Hsiao-Hui Lo
Department of R&D, Medical Division, MicroBase Technology Corp., No.756, Jiadong Rd., Bade Dist., Taoyuan City, 33464, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Summary
It is important to understand the performance of vibrating mesh nebulizers, since it is related to the efficacy of inhalative drug delivery. The present study compared the distribution of droplet size, nebulization output rate, and vibration modal pattern during nebulization among the polymer-based mesh nebulizer from MicroBase Technology (MBTC), and metal-based mesh nebulizer from Aerogen® Solo, and PARI VELOX®. The results revealed that these nebulizers generated particle diameter distribution similarly. The volumetric-median-diameter of MBTC nebulizer, Aerogen® Solo, and PARI VELOX® were 5.11±0.44 μm, 5.02±0.67 μm, and 4.11±0.30 μm, respectively. The averaged output rate of the nebulizers from MBTC was 0.73±0.15 ml/min for normal saline (0.9%), which was at around 1.4 times greater than Aerogen® Solo (0.53±0.12 ml/min), and was similar to that of PARI VELOX® (0.76±0.18 ml/min). Moreover, these three nebulizers showed similar modal pattern during operations, and the resonant frequency was similar between MBTC and, Aerogen® Solo (125.9 kHz vs. 128.2 kHz, respectively) yet lower than the PARI VELOX® (160.0 kHz). Accordingly, further development and application of polymer-based mesh nebulizer could be implemented in different designs. Further studies will also be carried out to assess the delivery of other liquid medications from the MBTC nebulizer.
10.Sang_.Poster