Device for the evaluation of drug-induced hypersensibility of respiratory ducts

摘要

In the present device for examining the respiratory tract of a subject (10) for hypersensitivity to certain irritants (allergens), the flow resistance of the respiratory tract is measured while the subject breathes air to which an aerosol generated by a nebulizer (32) is added. In the present device, the aerosol is generated by a nebulizer (32), the aerosol outlet (32a) of which is directly and permanently connected to a breathing tube (12) through which the subject (10) breathes. The aerosol in the present device is generated only during a limited part of the inspiration phase, so that it is completely inhaled and reaches the alveoli, while the pendulum air remains practically free of aerosol. In this way, complete and reproducible application of the aerosol and minimal contamination of the device by non-absorbed aerosol is achieved. The amount of irritant applied is controlled by the ratio of the number of breaths during which irritant aerosol is generated to the number of breaths during which no aerosol containing irritant is generated.