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 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 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: The present invention relates to a method and system that enables continuous real-time analysis of both ciliary beat frequency and metachronal wave frequency from a single spot in excised native ciliated epithelial tissues as well as in primary and subsequent epithelial cultures. Such method and system utilizes the concept of time-scale wavelet analysis and Hilbert Transformation for backscattered light derived from a confocal (conjugate) spot on the moving cilia. This light contains inherent high and low frequency components corresponding to CBF and MWF.

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.