EFFECTS OF VISCOSITY AND ION CONCENTRATION ON PERFORMANCE OF NEBULIZATION WITH VIBRATING MESH

摘要

This study evaluates effects of fluid physicochemical properties on the aerosols generated from vibrating-mesh nebulizers using fluids having a range of viscosity and ion concentration. Performances including volume median diameter (VDM), fine particle fraction (FPF), and output rate are evaluated. Three actively vibrating-mesh nebulizers, including Aerogen Aeroneb GO, Beurer IH50, Health&Life HL100 and one passively vibrating-mesh nebulizer, Omron MicroAir NE-U22, are used in this study. Results illustrate that Aeroneb Go performs better VDM than other nebulizers in different fluid physicochemical properties, while NE-U22 performs larger output rate. HL100 is only suitable for the nebulizing of ion fluid. Moreover, with the increase of viscosity, the VDM decreases for the Omron NE-U22 nebulizer, while increases for the Beurer IH50 and Aeroneb Go nebulizers; however, the output rate decreases for the Omron NE-U22 and Beurer IH50 nebulizers, while no effect on the Aeroneb Go nebulizer. It implies that performance of vibrating-mesh nebulization is highly dependent on fluid characteristic, especially for the Omron NE-U22 nebulizer; however, it seems independent on actively or passively operating mechanisms. The surface effect from the vibrating-mesh strongly influence the performance of a nebulizer.