Researchers at Trudell Medical International, of London, Ontario in Canada, are using the new Malvern Spraytec particle size analyser in the study of nebuliser performance.
The Spraytec, equipped with an inhalation cell, allows the characterisation of nebuliser sprays under conditions representative of their use. At TMI, a developer and manufacturer of aerosol delivery devices, the system is being used in the development of new products such as the AeroEclipse II breath-actuated nebuliser (BAN).
This second generation AeroEclipse II BAN now actuates at flow rates as low as 15 L/min, making it potentially more suitable for younger patients. The Malvern Spraytec uses laser diffraction technology to deliver automated, in situ analysis of high concentration aerosols and sprays. Its 10kHz data acquisition rate, coupled with a 0.1 to 2000µm dynamic range, enables accurate analysis of the dynamics of spray atomisation.
According to Dr Jolyon Mitchell, Scientific Director, the team had clear reasons for selecting the new Spraytec system. "Based on initial testing with a widely used formulation, it may indeed be suitable for a wide range of pharmaceutical applications," he said. "Equally important for nebuliser studies is the inhalation cell which draws sample through the measurement zone at a rate designed to simulate the inhalation process. The cell on the Spraytec has proved to be especially easy to set up, use and clean."
The Spraytec's flexible design, completely sealed against moisture ingress, and a patented multiple scattering analysis yield robust, accurate measurements even when characterising wide, high-volume spray plumes. Measurement synchronisation is achieved using a series of triggering options ensuring that pulsed spray systems can be characterised effectively. The system's powerful software provides a frame-by-frame analysis of each spray event and offers advanced data processing capabilities.