Being prescribed the correct medicine is only half the battle, it is equally important to use the correct method to administer the medicine. Respiratory diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are best treated by using a nebuliser. A nebuliser is a devise used to administer a fine mist in to the lungs through using a combination of oxygen, compressed air and ultrasonic power in order to break medicine down in to small aerosol droplets that can be easily inhaled in to the lungs through a mouthpiece. In order for the medicine administered by a nebuliser to have its desired effect it is essential that the droplets are no larger than 1-5 micrometres otherwise they dissolve in the mouth and fail to penetrate in to the narrow branches of the lower airways.
The most commonly used form of nebuliser used today is the jet or compressor nebuliser. These are also known as 'atomizers' and are generally used to treat patients in hospital who are suffering from serious cases of respiratory disease, or severe asthma attacks. One of the major advantages to using a Jet nebuliser is its low operational cost, which is particularly appealing when treating patients who need to inhale medicine on a daily basis. One of the major drawbacks however, is the noise that it creates and that it can be rather heavy. Several of today's leading manufactures have managed to lower the weight and design portable jet nebuliser
Ultrasonic nebulisers offer a convenient, functional and portable alternative to the jet nebuliser. Ideal for home use, these nebulisers work by generating a high frequency ultrasonic wave which causes the mechanical vibration of a piezoelectric element. This vibrating element is in contact with a liquid reservoir and its high frequency vibration is sufficient to produce a vapour. Given these nebulisers work by creating an ultrasonic wave they operate virtually silently and weigh a good deal less than nebulisers that rely on a heavy air compression unit. The development of ultrasonic Vibrating Mesh Technology (VMT) in 2005 was a significant innovation in the nebuliser industry as it successfully reduced the amount of liquid waste and undesired heating of the liquid medicine which prior to this was a common concern.
Unfortunately, not all nebulisers currently available today are capable of delivering the level of performance required to achieve their desired outcome. It is therefore, vital that you find a manufacture who can guarantee the level of quality that your health demands.
DeVilbiss Healthcare is a market leading manufacturer of nebulisers
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