Size analysis of suspension inhalation aerosols by inertial separation methods.

The particle size distribution of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) aerosols delivered from pressurized metered dose suspension inhalers has been measured with three cascaded inertial separation instruments, the Casella Cascade Impactor, Multistage Liquid Impinger and Cascade Centripeter. Various methods for collecting the emitted aerosol before measurement have been examined. A bent glass tubular 'throat', used as a simulated oro-pharynx, collects 35-60% of the emitted dose by impingement of the wet spray cone in the throat. The aerosol passing through the throat has a similar but somewhat finer size distribution to that collected by firing directly into a large flask. The three cascaded instruments give similar results which in the Multistage Liquid Impinger also resemble those given by a salbutamol inhaler. The mass fraction (35-60%) emitted from the oral adaptor which is of a size capable of deep lung penetration ( less than 4 mum) is much higher than the fraction (10-16%) found in the lungs of dogs after inhalation of aerosol. The size distributions resemble those determined by microscopy and are expressed as aerodynamic sizes, thus showing that the particles approximate to unit density spheres. The performance of two simpler devices, Kirk's apparatus and the Harwell size selective air sampler are also assessed, the latter shows some promise for the simple evaluation of the respirable fraction of inhalation aerosols.