[An inhalation apparatus for respiratory infections in small laboratory animals (author's transl)]

A dynamic inhalation apparatus with following characteristics was deviced for experimental infections in small laboratory animals. Nebulized bacterial aerosols were blown against a stainless steel ball of 15 mm diameter which was located at 31 mm distance from the nebulizer and smaller-particle aerosols were wafted up via air stream of 60 liter per minute introducing into an inhalation chamber. Thus 5.7 to 6.7 micrometers particles in average were homogeneously distributed in the chamber and inhaled by animals to their lungs with little individual variations in number of bacteria. The exhausted air was sterilized through HEPA filter after heated at 300 degrees C for 10 seconds, and negative inside pressure of the apparatus produced by the suction system served as a safeguard against aerosol leak.