Importance

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Abstract

An aerosol inhalation apparatus includes a disposable aerosol inhalation device for use in producing properly sized particles as a mist. The disposable device includes a nebulizer, a first conduit, a second conduit, a third conduit and a fourth conduit. Exhalation to an entrapping filter is effected via the third conduit which has a one-way valve therein. The first and second conduits respectively communicate with a baffled nebulizer and the ambient, a one-way valve being provided within the second conduit. A further one-way valve may be provided in the first conduit to prevent a subject from exhaling therethrough, while allowing the aerosol to pass out of the nebulizer. A further one-way valve may be provided in the fourth conduit to allow fluid communication from the second conduit and the first conduit into fourth conduit in one embodiment, while preventing fluid communication from the fourth conduit to the first and second conduits an to the nebulizer. The optimum range of particle sizes is generated by producing an aerosol in the nebulizer which has an internal baffle, the sizes being in the range of from substantially 1.0 micron to substantially 3.0 microns. An air compressor is provided to supply compressed air to the nebulizer, which contains a solution of the medication sought to be supplied to a patient. The flow of compressed air is thruput to the patient at a rate of about ten liters per minute and can be interrupted.

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First Claim