Therapeutic
having a beneficial effect on the body
Therapeutic index
difference between minimum therapeutic & minimum toxic concentration of a drug
oropharynx
between soft palate & hyoid bone
hypopharynx
bottom part of the pharynx
emitted dose
mass of drug leaving the mouthpiece
inhaled
inhaled amount of the emitted dose
Respirable dose
fraction of inhaled dose deposited in lungs
Lung parenchyma
portion of the lungs involved in gas transfer
Actuation
causing a device to operate
CFC
chlorofluorocarbons
HFA
hydrofluoraklane
- all MDI has HFA
Heterodisperse
particles are many different sizes (mixed).
Monodisperse
particles are about the same size.
Geometric Standard Deviation (GSD)
shows how much the particle sizes vary —
ex
Bigger GSD = more uneven (heterodisperse)
→ Smaller GSD = more even (monodisperse)
Cascade Impactor
a test that separates particles by size to measure their mass — tells you the Mass Median Aerodynamic Diameter MMAD), which means the average size by weight
Laser Diffraction:
measures how light bends around droplets to find their average size by volume — called Volume Median Diameter (VMD).
μm
micrometers
Unit: particle size is measured in micrometers (μm)
Inhaled mass
total amount of drug (aerosol particles) that actually gets inhaled into the patient’s lungs during aerosol therapy.
SPAG
small particle aerosol generator
Purpose of piezoelectric crystal in an ultrasonic nebulizer:
It changes electricity into vibrations, which turn liquid medicine into a fine mist for inhalation.
Refractory
not responding to treatment or resistant to control.
Bronchospasm
narrowing of the muscles around the airways (bronchi) in the lungs.
