Nebulizers Respimat

New nebulizer delivery devices designed to deliver specific drug formulations that have undergone clinical trials to establish safety and efficacy as part of the regulatory process—e.g., Respimat and AERx. 

C. New Nebulizer Technology Developed for Specific Drug Applications Respimat and AERx... 

The characteristics of both Respimat and AERx clearly differentiate them from traditional nebulizers and those traditional nebulizer systems that have been modified to increase output (Circulaire) or deliver discrete doses (Halolite). Both are being developed and marketed in conjunction with specific drugs that subsequently undergo clinical trials. Both are dosimetric in operation, are reported to have very low residual volumes, have low or no electrical power requirements, and both Respimat and AERx are thought to have good dose reproducibility. 

Delivery volumes with jet nebulizers are larger than with the other devices considered earlier, typically being several milliliters. Delivering such large volumes naturally requires more time. Unlike pMDIs or the Respimat, jet nebulizers are thus not single breath devices but require patients to breathe tidally for at least several minutes to complete a single treatment. 

The need for a compressed air source with jet nebulizers makes them less transportable. An alternative approach to creating aqueous sprays, without resorting to high pressures as in the Respimat, is to use high frequency vibration, to which we now turn. 

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