Nebulization of pharmacological solutions with an innovative medical device based on microvaporization

Abstract

The currently available nebulization devices have a slow aerosol flow and produce vapor with large microdrops. Improved devices that achieve higher airflow and produce smaller microdrops are needed to improve the clinical care of patients. To address this critical need, we developed a novel system for the molecular vaporization of liquids. This device vaporizes an active pharma-cological substance dissolved in water, alcohol, or a mixture of water and alcohol using two energy sources at the same time: high-frequency ultrasound and thermal induction. Application of energy to a solution contained in the device's tank allows, within tens of seconds, for the vaporization of the solution itself, with the generation of a vapor consisting of microdrops of very small diameter (0.2-0.3 mu m). In this article, we illustrate the technology used, the main verifi-cation tests performed, and the primary fields of application for this device. In particular, the advantages of both the aerosol delivery system and the administration system are highlighted.