Output of histamine chloride from 7 nebulizers

The aim of the study was to assess the amount of aerosol delivered by seven different nebulizers. Six of the nebulizers were supplied by an airstream of 7.5 l/min and the seventh (Pari Inhalierboy) connected to a compressor supplying an airstream of 15 l/min. The nebulizer plus solution was weighed before and after one min of nebulization. In this way the amount of aerosol delivered was measured ten times for each nebulizer. Results are given as mean values +/- SD (gram/min): Hudson nebulizer model no. 2720: 0.2950 +/- 0.0154, Mefar Respi-Neb: 0.3574 +/- 0.0100, Sandoz: 0.4399 +/- 0.0201, VIx: 0.2824 +/- 0.0121, Acorn: 0.3619 +/- 0.0088, Pari Inhalierboy: 0.4865 +/- 0.0105, Raindrop: 0.2668 +/- 0.0082. Standard deviation calculated as per cent of the average were: Hudson nebulizer model no. 1720: 5.22%, Mefar Respi-Neb: 2.80%, Sandoz: 4.57% Vix: 4.28%, Acorn 2.43%, Pari Inhalierboy: 2.16%, Raindrop: 3.00%. Per cent variation between the products giving Hudson 100%: Mefar Respi-Neb: +18.77, Sandoz +46.19, Vix: -6.14, Acorn: +20.27, Pari Inhalierboy: +61.68, Raindrop: -9.56. The Hudson nebulizer was also tested with three different volumes of histamine chloride: 2 ml, 3 ml, and 4 ml. The mean values +/- SD (gram/min) for the aerosols were: 2 ml: 0.2986 +/- 0.0071, 3 ml: 0.2981 +/- 0.0080 and 4 ml: 0.2976 +/- 0.0056. The mean value of output from ten different Hudson nebulizers +/- SD was: 0.2767 +/- 0.0105 gram/min.