What is the working principle of a compressed nebulizer? How to atomize the drug into the respiratory tract?

A compressed nebulizer is a medical device widely used to treat respiratory diseases, suitable for asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other diseases. It can convert drugs into tiny aerosol particles, allowing patients to directly deliver drugs to the respiratory tract by inhalation, achieving efficient treatment effects. This article will analyze in detail the working principle of the compressed nebulizer and the specific process of drug atomization delivery.

1. Core components of a compressed nebulizer
The compressed nebulizer is mainly composed of the following parts:

Air compressor: core component, used to generate high-pressure airflow.
Nebulizer cup: cavity for holding liquid drugs.
Air pipe: connects the air compressor and the nebulizer cup to deliver airflow.
Mask or mouthpiece: The patient inhales the atomized drug through a mask or mouthpiece.
The coordinated work of these components ensures that the drug is converted from a liquid state into an aerosol and delivered to the patient's respiratory tract.

2. Working principle
The compressed nebulizer atomizes the drug through the principle of airflow jet. The specific process is as follows:

High-pressure airflow generation
After the compressor is started, the air is compressed into a high-pressure airflow through a piston or diaphragm. The compressor usually works at a fixed frequency to ensure a stable airflow.

Airflow enters the nebulizer cup
The high-pressure airflow enters the nebulizer cup through the air supply pipe. In the nebulizer cup, the airflow passes through a small hole to form a high-speed jet.

Atomization of liquid medicine
When the high-speed jet comes into contact with the liquid medicine in the nebulizer cup, the liquid medicine is sheared into tiny droplets by the airflow. These droplets are further broken down into smaller particles by the action of the airflow to form a fine aerosol mist.

Transport of aerosol particles
The atomized aerosol is transported to the mouthpiece or mask through the air supply pipe, and the patient delivers the medicine into the respiratory tract and lungs by inhalation. This method ensures that the medicine reaches the lesion directly and improves the treatment efficiency.

3. Advantages of atomization delivery
Compressed nebulizers have the following advantages in atomizing and delivering drugs to the respiratory tract:

Directly reach the lesion
The atomized drug particles can directly enter the deep respiratory tract, allowing the drug to act on the lesion site and reduce the side effects of systemic medication.

Uniform distribution
The diameter of the aerosol particles generated by the compressed nebulizer is usually between 1-5 microns. This particle size range is conducive to the uniform deposition of drugs in the bronchi and alveoli.

Applicable to a wide range of drugs
Compressed nebulizers can be used for a variety of types of drugs, including bronchodilators, hormones, antibiotics, etc., and even for some drugs that require special treatment, such as viscous liquid or suspension.

Easy to operate
The patient only needs to breathe normally to complete the inhalation of the drug, which is especially suitable for children, the elderly or patients who cannot breathe deeply.

4. Precautions during use
In order to ensure the efficient operation of the compressed nebulizer, users need to pay attention to the following matters:

Drug selection: The appropriate drug should be selected according to the doctor's prescription to ensure that the physical properties of the drug match the nebulizer.
Cleaning and disinfection: The nebulizer cup, air tube and mask should be cleaned regularly to avoid drug residue or bacterial growth.
Correct posture: When using the nebulizer, the patient should sit or lie down and maintain normal breathing for the best therapeutic effect.