A mechanical micro spray pump: an alternative to propellant driven devices?
An account is given on the development of a purely mechanical Micro Spray Pump (MSP) which is capable of delivering aqueous drug solutions to the respiratory tract.  In-vitro, deposition characteristics of two solutions, food dye and salbutamol sulphate, at different dosage levels and various flow rates were determined.  A theoretical flow model was employed to understand deposition pattern in the Twin Impinger.  In-vivo experiments where a  99mTc marked isotonic saline solution which nebulized by the MSP showed bronchial deposits on average of 8% and in a single experiment with spacer even up to 25%.  The MSP prototype proves to be a feasible alternative non-propellant driven device to deliver drugs to the respiratory tract.
Jäger-Waldau
R
R
Ing. E. Pfeiffer GmbH & Co. KG, Radolfzell, Germany.
Mehring
H
H
Wiggins
J D
JD
D000336:Aerosols; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D010316:Particle Size