Journal of aerosol medicine and pulmonary drug delivery
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J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv · Oct 2011
An in vitro assessment of aerosol delivery through patient breathing circuits used with medical air or a helium-oxygen mixture.
The bench experiments presented herein were conducted in order to investigate the influence of carrier gas, either medical air or a helium-oxygen mixture (78% He, 22% O2), on the droplet size distribution and aerosol mass delivered from a vibrating mesh nebulizer through a patient breathing circuit. ⋯ Ventilation with helium-oxygen in place of air-oxygen mixtures can influence both the droplet size distribution and mass of nebulized aerosol delivered through patient breathing circuits. Assessment of these effects on aerosol delivery is important when incorporating helium-oxygen into patient ventilation strategies.