Vibrating membrane nebulizer

The vibrating membrane nebulizer is currently under development by Pari GmbH, (Germany), which is based upon the TouchSpray technology developed by The Technology Partnership pic (United Kingdom). The main aerosol generation principle is similar to that... 

Fig. 41.4 Droplet production from one hole of many hundreds in a vibrating membrane nebulizer is shown schematically...

Because of the active state of patents arising from vibrating membrane nebulizers, fundamental studies examining their spray production process have not been well represented in the published archival literature. 

Membrane nebulizer Vibrating orifice, continuous mode NA 50-80% of emitted dose NA... 

Keller M, Lintz FC, Walther E. Novel liquid formulation technologies as a tool to design the aerosol performance of nebulizers using air jet (LC plus) or a vibrating membrane principle (E-Flow). In Drug Delivery to the Lungs. London, Dec 13 and 14, 2001. 

The power consumption of the vibrating membrane is low allowing small batteries to power the device. Because the additional components (fluid reservoir, electronics, mouthpiece, and valves) do not require large volumes, it should be feasible to develop a small, portable nebulizer with a self-contained battery... 

Zhang, G., Anand, D., and Wiedmann, T. S. 2007. Performance of the vibrating membrane aerosol generation device aeroneb micropump nebulizer, J. Aerosol Med. 20 408-416. 

TouchSpray can best be described as a vibrating-orifice ultrasonic nebulizer and was developed by the Technology Partnership (TTP), U.K. This technology has only recently been announced and little is as yet published (26). This new method for aerosol generation is compact (Fig. 11) and based on sound pressure, which forces fluids through small holes in a membrane. Unlike traditional... 

As with other types of nebulizers, some liposomal formulations may suffer degradation with vibrating mesh/plate nebulizers [30] but this is formulation dependent. Similarly, spray production may not be possible for highly viscous liquids [25], while clogging of the mesh/membrane openings after extended use may occur [31]. 

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