Improvement of the drug delivery in vibrating mesh inhalers using piezoelectric micro pumps

Zimmermann A, Podlech J, Wald C, Fischer G (2025)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Conference contribution, Original article

Publication year: 2025

Book Volume: 36

Pages Range: 1-4

Conference Proceedings Title: Drug Delivery to the Lungs conference proceedings

Event location: Edinburgh International Conference Centre GB

DOI: 10.60565/CARR-RF93

Abstract

Vibrating Mesh Nebulizers or inhalers are widely applied in the therapy of respiratory diseases like bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Moreover, most nebulizers are handheld, comprehensible for patients, and approved for use in a home environment. Nevertheless, the precision of home use inhalers is too low because their reservoir must be completely nebulized often in a continuous mode without any additional dose control. Therefore, improving their dosing precision and dosing time can enable the application of a variety of highly potent therapeutics, such as mRNA or lung cancer medication.

Micro diaphragm pumps offer controllable and precise dosing in microliter range. First investigations show that they are also capable of delivering a drug bolus in a free jet without any contact with the target medium or area. This enables their application in vibrating mesh inhalers. By accurately delivering adjustable boluses, the micro pumps may pioneer the inhalation of medical ingredients with higher potency. Additionally, by free jetting on the vibrating mesh any cross-contamination is avoided, thus delivering and inhaling two different inhalatives at a time becomes a viable option.

The aim of this article is to tailor metal micro diaphragm pumps in a free jetting setup to precisely dose inhalatives onto the mesh of a vibrating mesh nebulizer. Furthermore, an inhaler demonstrator incorporating this setup is built and its feasibility is tested.

Authors with CRIS profile

Anne Zimmermann Professur für Technische Elektronik Georg Fischer Professur für Technische Elektronik

Involved external institutions

Fraunhofer-Einrichtung für Mikrosysteme und Festkörper-Technologien (EMFT) / Fraunhofer Research Institution for Microsystems and Solid State Technologies DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Zimmermann, A., Podlech, J., Wald, C., & Fischer, G. (2025). Improvement of the drug delivery in vibrating mesh inhalers using piezoelectric micro pumps. In Drug Delivery to the Lungs conference proceedings (pp. 1-4). Edinburgh International Conference Centre, GB.

MLA:

Zimmermann, Anne, et al. "Improvement of the drug delivery in vibrating mesh inhalers using piezoelectric micro pumps." Proceedings of the Drug Delivery to the Lungs Conference 2025, Edinburgh International Conference Centre 2025. 1-4.

BibTeX: Download