Glossary [ Return towards Aerosol Therapy ]

Key-words in aerosoltherapy

Here you are some frequent definitions in aerosol therapy.

Aerosol

Suspension of (liquid or solid) particles in a gas

Nebuliser

A device that converts a liquid into an aerosol

Aerosol device

A device comprised of a nebuliser and an electromechanical part that converts a liquid into an aerosol and makes it available for inhalation.

Airways

The body's natural ducts through which inhaled particles are conveyed to the pulmonary alveaoli

Atomisation

The reduction of a substance into particles around thousandths of a millimetre in size, expressed in microns (μm).

Atomisation efficacy

The ability of the aerosol device to convert a given volume of liquid into micronised particles

Dynamic pressure

The output pressure generated by the nebuliser, generally expressed in bars. This parameter is influenced by the power source and dimensional factors.

Dynamic flow or dynamic capacity

The rate of air flow generated by the nebuliser, in litres per minute (l/min). This parameter is influenced by the power source and dimensional factors.

Output or rate of flow

The quantity of aerosol delivered by the system in a unit of time

Maximun filling volume

The maximum volume of liquid that the base of the nebuliser can hold, expressed in millilitres (ml) or cubic centimetres (cc).

Residue

The amount of un-atomised drug remaining in the nebuliser at the end of treatment

Mean Mass Aerodynamic Diameter (MMAD)

This parameter indicates the ability of the nebuliser to produce small size particles, which are necessary for the treatment to be effective.
The diameter of 50% by volume of the particles atomised by the nebuliser is less than the MMAD, the remaining 50% is more than the MMAD.