Abstract: Pharmaceutical aerosol formulations of dihydroergotamine, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, to administer dry powders and propellant suspensions via pulmonary aerosol or nasal spray inhalation. Such formulations may be used for the treatment of various disease states and conditions, including, but not limited to, migraine headaches. The dihydroergotamine particles are produced using a supercritical fluid process. The aerosol formulations disclosed have superior stability, purity and comprise particle of respirable size particularly suitable for pulmonary delivery.

Abstract: Airflow in the exhaust piece of a fluid delivery device is forced through a series of gaps to achieve a split airflow. One component has a velocity and direction to impact on the source of the aerosol thus sweeping and entraining the aerosol off the aerosol generator into the directional air. The other airflow is used to protect the internal surfaces from aerosol deposition. The two air flows then recombine and are swept over a three dimensional surface or porous medium, used as an impaction or filtration site for determining the amount and particle size of the entrained aerosol at the exhaust exit.