[New technics for producing inhalation aerosols--initial experiences and results with the piezoelectric inhalation...

In the treatment of chronic obstructive airway diseases, the inhalative application of medicaments with a bronchodilatory effect is given preference throughout the world. In addition to inhalation solutions and powder capsules, so-called metered-dose aerosols have formed an established part of the treatment plan for approximately 30 years now. With the piezoelectric inhalation device, a fully portable ultrasonic atomiser that is small enough to fit within the pocket, has been developed for the first time. In this device, the piezoelectric effect is utilised to produced, pressure-free, microfine aerosols. Within it, an accurately metered volume containing the therapeutic dose is applied to an atomising element oscillating in the ultrasonic range. The particle spectrum generated with the piezo-system corresponds, in terms of size, to that of metered aerosol devices, and the mean particle diameter is approximately 2.1 microns. The atomisation process takes approximately one second.