A simple radioaerosol generator and delivery system for pulmonary ventilation studies

Details of a simple radioaerosol generator and delivery system are presented. Aerosol streams of 99mTc-DTPA solution of different distributions were produced. The most useful distribution had an activity median aerodynamic diameter (AMAD) of 0.9 micron with a geometric standard deviation of 1.5. This distribution also had more than 96% of aerosol particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 2 micron. The system has been used for patient lung ventilation studies. The aerosol breathing-in period to achieve a satisfactory count rate was 1.8 +/- 0.38 min. The radioaerosol images were excellent and comparable to those obtained with 81mKr gas.