Abstract: An aqueous aerosol generation and delivery system for high dose aerosol delivery, having a multistage pod having an inner cavity comprising in series a plurality of sequentially arranged multi-stage conical cavities having the shape of truncated cones narrowing in a direction of flow of the aerosol. The rounded annulus cavity directs dilution gas towards the nozzle tip. The plurality of sequentially arranged multi-stage conical cavities are disposed between the nozzle tip and the output end within the multistage pod. The multi-stage conical cavities are configured to decrease the velocity of the aerosol plume by having said shape of truncated cones narrowing in a direction of flow of the aerosol, such that the system expels a dense column of soft-flowing aerosol suitable for inhalation by a patient, as well as for animal respiratory healthcare.

Abstract: An aerosol concentrator dividing an input aerosol into a respirable aerosol of an increased particle concentration and an exhaust aerosol of a lower particle concentration. The concentrator comprises a cross-slit of an input tube and output tube with a gap between the cross-slits of input tube and the output tube. A housing encompasses a plenum which encompasses the gap and is connected to an exhaust port through which an exhaust aerosol exits the plenum. A radial size of the plenum is can be significantly larger than the length of the slits in the cross-slit.

Abstract: An aerosol generating system for generating a respirable dry powder aerosol from a liquid solution or liquid suspension, having: a liquid aerosol generating nozzle having a nozzle input end designed to receive the liquid solution or liquid suspension, and having a nozzle heliox supply designed to receive nozzle heliox, the liquid aerosol generating nozzle further having a nozzle output end for outputting a liquid aerosol suspended in the nozzle heliox; and a cylindrical evaporation chamber having a cylindrical evaporation chamber input end that is connected to the nozzle output end and connected to a dilution heliox supply for receiving both the liquid aerosol suspended in the nozzle heliox and for receiving the dilution heliox, and the cylindrical evaporation chamber having a cylindrical evaporation chamber output end outputting a first intermediate dry powder aerosol at a first intermediate dry powder aerosol volume flow of a specific concentration.

Abstract: A system and a method for generating a respirable dry powder aerosol (15) from a liquid solution or liquid suspension at a respirable dry powder aerosol volume flow (91). A liquid aerosol generating nozzle (3) generates from the liquid solution or liquid suspension a liquid aerosol (13) that is diluted by dilution gas (4) and dried in a cylindrical evaporation chamber (6) to generate a dry powder aerosol (14) that is subsequently concentrated. The system and method may include heliox as a gas, specifically dilution gas (4), for enhancing both the drying process in the cylindrical evaporation chamber (6) and for enhancing the concentration efficiency, but also as a nozzle gas (2) for enhancing generating the liquid aerosol (13) from the liquid solution or liquid suspension.

Abstract: A system and a method for generating a respirable dry powder aerosol (15) from a liquid solution or liquid suspension at a respirable dry powder aerosol volume flow (91). A liquid aerosol generating nozzle (3) generates from the liquid solution or liquid suspension a liquid aerosol (13) that is diluted by dilution gas (4) and dried in a cylindrical evaporation chamber (6) to generate a dry powder aerosol (14) that is subsequently concentrated by a cylindrical single linear slit aerosol concentrator (9). The system and method may include heliox as a gas, specifically dilution gas (4), for enhancing both the drying process in the cylindrical evaporation chamber (6) and for enhancing the concentration efficiency, but also as a nozzle gas (2) for enhancing generating the liquid aerosol (13) from the liquid solution or liquid suspension.

Abstract: A nozzle and a method of generating an inhalable aerosol from a liquid solution or liquid suspension and a gas by operating the nozzle. A column-like aerosol plume is generated having fluid particles within a particle free sheath of gas, the aerosol plume being generated from a compressed gas interacting within the aerosolizing space with a fluid ejected along the central axis, and generates a Venturi effect entraining gas that flows over the convex outer nozzle surface that together with the particle free sheath keeps the circumferential edge and the outer nozzle surface free of particle deposition. An aerosol exit orifice diameter is at least 1.3 times larger than the fluid exit orifice diameter; and a converging annular pressurized gas channel extending at an acute gas flow angle of 10-30° with respect to a central axis.

Abstract: A method of aerosolizing a liquid by generating an aerosol from a liquid fluid and a gas with a nozzle having a cone-shaped gas exit channel, the method including the method steps of: ejecting a nozzle gas jet through an orifice at the cone apex; generating a zone of low pressure by the ejected nozzle gas jet, the zone of low pressure augmenting a flow of liquid fluid in a direction from a nozzle cone base towards the orifice at the cone apex; and aerosolizing the liquid fluid at the aerosolizing perimeter where the liquid fluid that flows towards the orifice is sheared by the nozzle gas jet.

Abstract: A nozzle for generating an aerosol from a fluid and a gas is described. The nozzle comprises at least one wettable cone-shaped gas exit channel that widens in a direction of gas flow from a cone apex to a cone base of the wettable cone-shaped gas exit channel and is connected at the cone apex to a nozzle gas supply channel. The nozzle further comprises at least one annular fluid exit port at the circumference of the cone base that is connected to a nozzle fluid supply channel. Further, a nozzle holder is described. The nozzle holder comprises a cylindrical crown comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves that are connected to the ring-shaped fluid exit port.

Abstract: A flow conditioner for generating and diluting an aerosol with a first inlet adapted to receive a first volume flow of pressurized gas. A second inlet is adapted to receive a second dilution gas volume flow and a third inlet adapted to receive a fluid to be converted into an aerosol. A nozzle is connected to the first and third inlet and has a nozzle orifice for outputting a first aerosol. A first dilution gas flow partitioner has a first set of openings penetrating the first dilution gas flow partitioner and a second dilution gas flow partitioner that is spaced apart from the first dilution gas partitioner and has a second set of openings penetrating the second dilution gas flow partitioner. The nozzle orifice is positioned in the proximity of the second dilution gas flow partitioner.

Abstract: A method is described comprising: providing a first heated volume flow of pressurized gas, a second volume flow of pre-heated dilution gas, and a third volume flow of fluid. A concentrated first aerosol is generated by exhausting at least a part of the first volume flow of pressurized gas and the third volume flow of fluid through a nozzle. A fourth volume flow of gas of opposite direction to the concentrated first aerosol is generated such that the concentrated first aerosol is arrested. Evaporation of the aerosol solvent is augmented with infrared radiation. The arrested first aerosol is then mixed with the second volume flow of dilution gas for generating a second aerosol that has been diluted. This aerosol is then concentrated with a virtual impactor.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for generating a concentrated aerosol. A first heated volume flow of pressurized gas, a second volume flow of preheated dilution gas, and a third volume flow of fluid are provided. After creating a droplet aerosol from a solution, the aerosol solvent is quickly evaporated for creating a powder aerosol that then concentrated with a virtual impactor. The apparatus comprises a low flow resistance and achieves a high evaporation rate. The apparatus comprises a flow conditioner, nozzle, nozzle holder, and a concentrator.

Abstract: A concentrator for increasing the particle concentration in an aerosol flow is described. The concentrator comprises a sculptured acceleration plate with a number of slit-shaped and radially extending acceleration channels and a sculptured deceleration plate with a number of slit-shaped and radially extending deceleration plate channels. Acceleration channel exit openings are spaced from a base surface on an exit side of the acceleration plate and sculptured deceleration channel entry openings are spaced from a base surface on an entry side of the deceleration plate so that a relatively large gap is provided between the acceleration plate base surface and the deceleration plate base surface allowing a waste volume flow to be exhausted through this relatively large gap at low flow resistance. The plurality of openings comprises openings of at least two different lengths.

Abstract: A flow conditioner for generating and diluting an aerosol comprising a first inlet adapted to receive a first volume flow of pressurized gas is described. A second inlet is adapted to receive a second volume flow of dilution gas and a third inlet adapted to receive a fluid to be converted into an aerosol. A nozzle is connected to the first and third inlet and has a nozzle orifice for outputting a first aerosol. A first dilution gas flow partitioner comprises a first set of openings penetrating the first flow partitioner and a second dilution gas flow partitioner that is spaced apart from the first dilution gas partitioner and comprises a second set of openings penetrating the second flow partitioner. The nozzle orifice is positioned in the proximity of the second dilution gas flow partitioner.

Abstract: A system and method that can simultaneously acquire electrocardiogram or pulse rate data (42, 44, 46), dynamically perform time-frequency (70) and chaotic analysis (60) in real-time, visually display the results in a convenient graphical format (50) and store the results in a computer file format (50).

Abstract: A concentrator for increasing the particle concentration in an aerosol flow is described. The concentrator comprises a sculptured acceleration plate with a number of slit-shaped and radially extending acceleration channels and a sculptured deceleration plate with a number of slit-shaped and radially extending deceleration plate channels. Acceleration channel exit openings are spaced from a base surface on an exit side of the acceleration plate and sculptured deceleration channel entry openings are spaced from a base surface on an entry side of the deceleration plate so that a relatively large gap is provided between the acceleration plate base surface and the deceleration plate base surface allowing a waste volume flow to be exhausted through this relatively large gap at low flow resistance. The plurality of openings comprises openings of at least two different lengths.

Abstract: A nozzle for generating an aerosol from a fluid and a gas is described. The nozzle comprises at least one wettable cone-shaped gas exit channel that widens in a direction of gas flow from a cone apex to a cone base of the wettable cone-shaped gas exit channel and is connected at the cone apex to a nozzle gas supply channel. The nozzle further comprises at least one annular fluid exit port at the circumference of the cone base that is connected to a nozzle fluid supply channel. Further, a nozzle holder is described. The nozzle holder comprises a cylindrical crown comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves that are connected to the ring-shaped fluid exit port.

Abstract: A method is described comprising: providing a first heated volume flow of pressurized gas, a second volume flow of pre-heated dilution gas, and a third volume flow of fluid. A concentrated first aerosol is generated by exhausting at least a part of the first volume flow of pressurized gas and the third volume flow of fluid through a nozzle. A fourth volume flow of gas of opposite direction to the concentrated first aerosol is generated such that the concentrated first aerosol is arrested. Evaporation of the aerosol solvent is augmented with infrared radiation. The arrested first aerosol is then mixed with the second volume flow of dilution gas for generating a second aerosol that has been diluted. This aerosol is then concentrated with a virtual impactor.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed which is capable of delivering at a high dose rate, respirable solid aerosols derived from aqueous- or nonaqueous-based solutions containing the desired therapeutic agent(s). The method and system comprises the integration of an aerosol generator, an aerosol evaporator, an aerosol concentrator, and an aerosol flow regulator. The aerosol generator generates 10-30 ?m droplets, with a narrow size distribution. The aerosol jet is arrested by a coaxial counter-flow heated air jet, and evaporated rapidly by annular swirling heated air. Most of the air, together with the unwanted solvent vapor, is removed from the aerosol stream during the process of aerosol concentration. The output aerosol carries the dry particles to be inhaled by the patient. The respiratory-governed control of aerosol fluid generation system delivers fluid containing the test agent of interest (drug or toxin) to the aerosol generator throughout inhalation.

Abstract: A system for monitoring low dynamic pressures in confined spaces, such system comprising a catheter, a multilayered corrugated membrane of diameter less than 2 mm with a reflective inner layer mounted within said catheter; a set of optical fibers comprising one or more illuminating fibers and two or more detecting fibers which are contained within said catheter and whose ends are set at differing distances from the membrane; an illuminating system coupled to said illuminating fibers; and a detection system coupled to said illuminating fibers.

Abstract: A method of measuring nonstationary oscillatory motion of a sample is disclosed. The method comprisesing the steps of illuminating a sample with an illuminating optical fiber; detecting reflectedbackscattered light from the sample with a plurality of detecting optical fibers; coupling each optical fiber of the plurality of detecting optical fibers with a modulating optical fiber; and generating measurements of the nonstationary oscillatory motion of the sample. An apparatus for measuring nonstationary oscillatory motion of a sample is also disclosed. The apparatus comprises a light source; an illuminating optical fiber coupled to the light source; and a plurality of optical fibers positioned around the illuminating optical fiber and coupled to receive reflectedbackscattered light from the sample.