3a. Aerosol Flashcards
What is an aerosol?
Suspension of solid of liquid particles in gas
What is Aerosol Therapy?
Delivery of aerosol particles to the respiratory tract
What are the 3 main uses for aerosol therapy?
- Humidification of Dry inspired gases by using bland aerosols
- Airway Clearance and mobilization of respiratory secretions using bland aerosols
- Delivery of aerosolized drugs to respiratory tract
What’s a Bland Aerosol? and give 3 examples
Liquid particles suspended in an inspired gas
Ex) Sterile Water, Hypotonic/Isotonic/Hypertonic Saline
What are the 3 factors particle size depend on?
- Substance being nebulized
- Method of Use
- Environmental Conditions
What does GSD stand for and what does it mean?
Geometric Standard Deviation
Describes the variability of particle sizes in an aerosol distribution
What’s the difference between Heterodisperse and Monodispersed aerosols?
Heterodispersed : Particles with different sizes
Monodispersed: Particles with similar sizes
What is the relationship between GSD and the range of particle sizes?
The greater the GSD is, the more wider range of particles sizes ➔ heterodispersed
What is used to measure particle size distributions?
Cascade impaction (more common) and Laser Scattering
How does Cascade Impaction work?
Cascade Impactor collects aerosols of different size ranges on a series of stages or plates.
Collects large particles and whatever that’s not impacted move to next stage with smaller orifices until it is collected on a final filter with vacuum pump on the end.
How does Laser Scattering/Diffraction work?
Determines the relationship between the intensity & angle of light scattered from a particle, then calculates the particle size based on the Mie-scattering theory
What is particle aging?
When aerosol suspension is changing over time
What are the 4 factors that depend on particle aging?
Composition, Initial Size, Time in suspension, Ambient Condition
How can Aerosol Particles change?
Particle can change as a result of either evaporation or hygroscopic water absorption
What is the relationship with the rate of particle size change and the size of particle?
They are inversely proportional
Small particles grow/shrink faster than large particles
Large particles grow/shrink slower than small particles
What is Deposition?
A process where aerosol particles leave suspension in gas, they deposit on (attach to) a surface
What’s the major factor that influences Deposition?
Particle Size