A modern jet<unk>  A vial of 0.5% albuterol sulfate inhalation solution for<unk> ulizing Pneumatic Jet<unk>  The most commonly used<unk> s are jet<unk> s, which are also called "atomizers". Jet<unk> s are connected by tubing to a supply of compressed gas, usually compressed air or oxygen to flow at high velocity through a liquid medicine to turn it into an aerosol that is inhaled by the patient. Currently there seems to be a tendency among physicians to prefer prescription of a pressurized Metered Dose Inhaler (pMDI) for their patients, instead of a jet<unk>  that generates a lot more noise (often 60 dB during use) and is less portable due to a greater weight. However, jet<unk> s are commonly used in hospitals for patients who have difficulty using inhalers, such as in serious cases of respiratory disease, or severe asthma attacks. The main advantage of the jet<unk>  is related to its low operational cost. If the patient needs to inhale medicine on a daily basis the use of a pMDI can be rather expensive. Today several manufacturers have also managed to lower the weight of the jet<unk>  to , and thereby started to label it as a portable device. Compared to all the competing inhalers and<unk> s, the noise and heavy weight is still the biggest draw back of the jet<unk> . Mechanical Soft mist inhaler The medical company Boehringer Ingelheim also invented a device named Respimat Soft Mist Inhaler in 1997. This new technology provides a metered dose to the user, as the liquid bottom of the inhaler is rotated clockwise 180 degrees by hand, adding a build up tension into a spring around the flexible liquid container. When the user activates the bottom of the inhaler, the energy from the spring is released and imposes pressure on the flexible liquid container, causing liquid to spray out of 2 nozzles, thus forming a soft mist to be inhaled. The device features no gas propellant and no need for battery/power to operate. The average droplet size in the mist was measured to 5.8 micrometers, which could indicate some potential efficiency problems for the inhaled medicine to reach the lungs. Subsequent trials have proven this was not the case. Due to the very low velocity of the mist, the Soft Mist Inhaler in fact has a higher efficiency compared to a conventional pMDI. In 2000, arguments were launched towards the European Respiratory Society (ERS) to clarify/expand their definition of a<unk> , as the new Soft Mist Inhaler in technical terms both could be classified as a "hand driven<unk> " and a "hand driven pMDI". Electrical Ultrasonic wave<unk>  Ultrasonic wave<unk> s were invented in 1965 as a new type of portable<unk> . The technology inside an ultrasonic wave<unk>  is to have an electronic oscillator generate a high frequency ultrasonic wave, which causes the mechanical vibration of a piezoelectric element. This vibrating element is in contact with a liquid reservoir and its high frequency vibration is sufficient to produce a vapor mist. As they create aerosols from ultrasonic vibration instead of using a heavy air compressor, they only have a weight around . Another advantage is that the ultrasonic vibration is almost silent. Examples of these more modern type of<unk> s are: Omron NE-U17 and Beurer<unk>  IH30. Vibrating mesh technology A new significant innovation was made in the<unk>  market around 2005, with creation of the ultrasonic Vibrating Mesh Technology (VMT). With this technology a mesh/membrane with 1000–7000 laser drilled holes vibrates at the top of the liquid reservoir, and thereby pressures out a mist of very fine droplets through the holes. This technology is more efficient than having a vibrating piezoelectric element at the bottom of the liquid reservoir, and thereby shorter treatment times are also achieved. The old problems found with the ultrasonic wave<unk> , having too much liquid waste and undesired heating of the medical liquid, have also been solved by the new vibrating mesh<unk> s. Available VMT<unk> s include: Pari eFlow, Respironics i-Neb, Beurer<unk>  IH50, and Aerogen Aeroneb. As the price of the ultrasonic VMT<unk> s is higher than models using previous technologies, most manufacturers continue to also sell the classic jet<unk> s.
Nebulizer
Air purifier
Inhaler
Caphosol
Metered-dose inhaler
Asthma spacer
Deodorant
Mouthwash