A new apparatus for generating hygroscopic radioactive aerosols for inhalation studies

Radioaerosols are being used increasingly to assess pulmonary ventilation in patients, and to study patterns distribution and rates of clearance in experimental studies. No completely satisfactory means have been developed to permit the safe and effective administration of suitable aerosols. In this report, a new system is described for producing and delivering monodisperse radioactive aerosol particles. The major advantages of the system are: (1) the monodispersion (sigma g=1.23) of the particles from modifier A; (2) 95% of the particles are less than 2 micrometer in diameter from modifier B, and (3) the method is simple and compact.