Abstract
The purpose of this study is to find out how to obtain high deposition rate of aerosol particles at the larynx in nebulization therapy.
We examined deposition rate of RI aerosol particles generated by an ultrasonic nebulizer (OMRON NEU-12) in the respiratory and digestive tracts. The aerosol of99mTc-diethylene triamine penta acetic asid (99mTc DTPA) was inhaled through the mouth in five healthy male volunteers. Each volunteer inhaled the aerosol under two kinds of respirations :
(1) quiet respiration, (2) phonation during inspiration.
Under the quiet respiration, 3.2% of total deposited aerosol in the body was counted in the laryngeal region. The deposition rate of the lungs were 42.9% of total deposition. Under the phonation during inspiration, 8.2% was counted in the laryngeal region, and 15.2% in the lungs.
The mechanism of changing the deposition rate of the larynx and lungs was observed as the path of the vocal cords gets narrower.
These results suggest that respiratory conditions influenced the deposition of aerosol particles to the larynx and lungs.
