Abstract: A spray device that includes a swirl atomizer and a source of pressurized liquid. The atomizer includes a housing that defines a tubular chamber having a side wall, a first end wall, and a second end wall that opposes the first end wall. The atomizer further includes a bleed outlet channel in the second end wall that is configured to bleed an excess liquid from the atomizer, and a spray outlet channel in the first end wall. The spray outlet channel is narrower than the bleed outlet channel. The side wall includes a first face and a second face that opposes the first face. A length of the chamber between the first end wall and the second end wall is at least twice a width of the chamber between the first face and the second face of the side wall.

Abstract: An atomising nozzle assembly and a method for generating a respirable spray of droplets of a size suitable for medical inhalation therapy from a liquid medicament. The nozzle assembly comprises a gas nozzle (2) for producing a jet of gas and a liquid nozzle (3) for ejecting the liquid to be atomised into the jet of gas at a position downstream of the gas nozzle (2). The gas nozzle (2) and the liquid nozzle (3) are configured such that the jet of gas impinges on the liquid at an acute angle to atomise the liquid. The nozzle assembly and method can create a respirable spray using a gas/liquid mass ratio of less than 0.5.