Apparatus and method for delivery of an aerosol
An apparatus for measuring lung ventilation, comprising: a pressure device to measure volume of air flow; an aerosol-generating device that provides aerosol particles to be released at a determined point in a breathing cycle; a mouthpiece with a detector that measures the concentration of aerosol particles for a given volume during the breathing cycle; and a computing device configured to provide lung ventilation data as a function of time constants.
1. A method for treating an obstruction in the upper region of the lungs, the method comprising:
a. measuring pressure data and calculating volume of airflow of a breathing cycle;
b. providing a volume of penetration;
c. providing an aerosol bolus at a determined point of the breathing cycle;
d. measuring a concentration values of aerosol particles and calculating time constants from the measured aerosol concentration values;
e. repeating steps b to d using a different volume of penetration;
f. comparing the calculated time constants, in a processing device, from at least two provided volumes of penetration to determine the position of an obstruction; and
g. releasing a treatment bolus at a select point of the breathing cycle which is chosen based upon the determined position of the obstruction.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the select point is chosen to concentrate the treatment bolus in a selected volume of air flow determined to contact the position of the obstruction during the breathing cycle.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment bolus comprises an active pharmaceutical.
4. A method for treating inflammation in the upper region of the lungs, the method comprising:
a. measuring pressure data and calculating volume of airflow of a breathing cycle;
b. providing a volume of penetration;
c. providing an aerosol bolus at a determined point of the breathing cycle;
d. measuring a concentration values of aerosol particles and calculating time constants from the measured aerosol concentration values;
e. repeating steps b to d using a different volume of penetration;
f. comparing the calculated time constants, in a processing device, from at least two provided volumes of penetration to determine the position of inflammation; and
g. releasing a treatment bolus at a select point of the breathing cycle which is chosen based upon the determined position of the inflammation.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the select point is chosen to concentrate the treatment bolus in a selected volume of air flow determined to contact the position of the inflammation during the breathing cycle.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the treatment bolus comprises a bronchial dilating agent.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the treatment bolus comprises an active pharmaceutical.