Aerosol Delivery Devices
Early aerosol generators including atomizers, bulb nebulizers, small volume and large volume nebulizers are featured.
Early Devices
1858 First Portable Nebulizer
In 1858, Dr. Jean Sales-Girons introduced the portable nebulizer: the pulverisateur.
Image from Mark Sanders
1864 Siegle Steam Inhaler
The Siegle Steam Spray Inhaler incorporated steam from a small boiler to power the atomizer.
Image from Mark Sanders
1880s Vaporizer
Image from Felix Khusid
1883 Vaporizer
A Cresoline Lamp Vaporizer from the collection of Felix Khusid is pictured
Image from Felix Khusid
1888 Smith's Atomizer
On December 18, 1888, Howard Smith was awarded a patent for his atomizer.
1889 Asthma Specific Inhaler
In 1889, Dr. Nathan Tucker reported that he provided "perfect relief and a cure" for asthma through his nasal inhaler.
Image from Gene Gantt
1908 Ombredanne Inhaler
The Obredanne Inhaler (circa 1908) from Paris, France is shown.
Image from Felix Khusid
1910 Bennett Inhaler
The cotton was saturated with analgesic or anesthetic agents. The patient inserted the device into the nares and inhaled the medication.
Image from Gene Gantt
1920s Steam Inhaler
The Italian brass steam inhaler is from the collection of Felix Khusid.
Image from Felix Khusid
1920's Steam Inhaler
This is the packaging for the 1920s brass steam inhaler from Italy. It was identified as the all brass Verona 30 F model.
Image from Felix Khusid
1935 Pneumostat Ad
In the 1930s, an electric compressor nebulizer, the Pneumostat was introduced by Francis Riddell, Ltd. This ad is from 1935. The portable device weighed 9 pounds.
Image from Mark Sanders
1940s Nebulizer
Can you imagine trying to clean and sterilize this unit?
Image from Steve and Mary DeGenaro
1948 Aerohalor DPI
In 1948, Abbott Laboratories introduced a dry powder delivery system for the administration of penicillin G powder.
Image from Mark Sanders
Atomizers
Circa 1900 DeVilbiss Atomizer
Image from Dennis Glover
1909 Meinecke's Atomizer
On June 19, 1906, Christian W. Meinecke applied for a patent for an "Atomizer and Nebulizer". The patent was granted on April 20, 1909.
1910 Atomizer
This vintage atomizer is from circa 1910.
Terry DesJardins
DeVilbiss #12
This DeVilbiss #12 atomizer from the 1940s is from the collection of Felix Khusid.
Image from Felix Khusid
1940s Atomizer
Image from Dennis Glover
DeVilbiss Atomizer
Image from Angela Eaton
Hand Bulb
Wiesbadener Inspirol
The Wiesbadener Inspirol squeeze bulb nebulizer rested in a wooden base and included an attachment that insert into the nostrils.
Image from Felix Khusid
Glaseptic Nebulizer
The Glaseptic Nebulizer was produced from the early 1900s through the 1940s. The reservoir and mouthpiece were made of glass.
Image from Robert B. Johnson
1930s Glaseptic Nebulizer
Image from Dennis Glover
1940s Glass Nebulizer
Image from Dennis Glover
1944 Penicillin Nasal Nebulizer
This combination device allowed the delivery of aersolized medication directly into the nasal cavity or could apply a slight negative pressure to drain the nasal cavities.
1948 Nasal Nebulizer Patent
In May 1948, Seymour N. Blackman et al filed a patent application for a nasal nebulizer. The patent was granted on October 18, 1949 and assigned to Premo Phamaceutical.
Image from United States Patent Office
1940s Glass Nebulizer Instructions
Image from Steve and Mary DeGenaro
Devilbiss ad
This ad for Devilbiss nebulizers appeared in the September 1959 issue of Inhalation Therapy journal (Vol.4 No.3, p.4)
Glass Nebulizer 40
Image from Dennis Glover
Pocket Nebulizer
Although the materials have changed over the years, the design of the hand bulb has remained fairly constant. The pocket nebulizer does not require a compressor, electricity, or batteries---just manual compression of the bulb.
Image from Illinois Central College Archives, 1999
Assorted Atomizers and Nebulizers
An assortment of early atomizers and hand bulb nebulizers are shown.
Image fom Gregory Rittenhouse
Small Volume
Wright Nebulizer
The Wright jet-venturi nebulizer was introduced in the 1950s. It was engineered from perspex and ebonite.
1950s DeVilbiss ad
Emerson MiniNeb
The Emerson Mini-Neb was used in the 1950s-1960s.
Image from Felix Khusid
Bennett Twin Jet
Image from Felix Khushid
1965 Bird Nebulizer Patent
In 1965, Dr. Forrest M. Bird and H.L. Pohndorf were awarded a patent for their small volume nebulizer.
Bird Nebulizer
Image from Illinois Central College Archives, 1999
Bird Nebulizer
A Bird nebulizer with a flow control adapter is shown.
Image from Gregory Rittenhouse
1971 SVN Patent
In May 1971, a patent was awarded to Kentaro Takaoka for "Aerosol Nebulizer", a small volume nebulizer.
1970s SVNs
Several examples of SVNs from the 1970s are shown.
Image from Dennis Glover
Assorted Small Volume Nebulizers
A variety of small volume nebulizers from multiple decades in the 20th century are pictured.
Image from Gregory Rittenhouse
1990s Jet Nebulizer
A disassembled small volume jet nebulizer is shown.
Image from Trudy Watson
1990s PARI Nebulizer
Image from Dianne Lewis
Large Volume
Mistogen Tepid Mist
This ad for Mistogen's Tepid Mist nebulizer appeared in the September 1958 issue of the Inhalation Therapy journal.
Puritan's All Purpose Nebulizer
Image from Kerry George
1966 - Puritan's All Purpose Nebulizer
Puritan's All-Purpose
Puritan's All-Purpose Nebulizer offered three FIO2 settings (FIO2 0.40. 0.70, and 1.0) and an optional immersion heating element.
Image from Kerry George
Dual Operation Units
A variety of devices which could operate as either humidifiers or nebulizers are shown.
Image from William LeTourneau
1967 Bird Nebulizer
The patent application was filed on April 13, 1965 by for Dr. Forrest Bird et al for "Nebulizer. Tha patent was granted on November 21, 1967.
Bird Large Volume Nebulizer
Illinois Central College Archives. 1999
DeVilbiss 65 USN
The control panel of the DeVilbiss Model 65 Ultrasonic Nebulizer is shown.
Devilbiss USN with Bird
A Bird ventilator is shown connected to a Devilbiss ultrasonic nebulizer.
Image from the Respiratory Care Department. OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, IL
Devilbiss USN with PR-2
A Devilbiss ultrasonic nebulizer is connected to a Bennett PR-2 in this 1970s photo.
DeVilbiss Ultra-Neb 99
Image from Marby McKinney
1970 Mistogen CS/143
This ad for the Mistogen CS/143 ultrasonic nebulizer appeared in the December 1970 issue of the INHALATION THERAPY journal.
1970 Mistogen USN
The ultrasonic nebulizers were used for intermittent and continuous aerosol therapy.
Image from Tony Ruppert
1970s Monaghan 670
The Monaghan 670 was an ultrasonic nebulizer.
Image from Jim Ciolek
1970s Babington Nebulizers
Examples of Babington nebulizers are shown.
Image from Tony Ruppert
1973 Solosphere
The internal components of a Solosphere nebulizer is shown. The Solosphere operated on the Babington principle.
Image from Kerry George
1980 Babington Patent
The Babington principle was first described in the early 1970s. In 1977, Robert Babington applied for a patent for his "Apparatus for Producing a Finely Divided Liquid Spray." The patent was awarded in October 1980. The Babington principle was utilized in nebulizers for medical and industrial applications.
1987 SPAG-2
The SPAG (Small Particle Aerosol Generator) was a pneumatic nebulizer used for the administration of aerosolized ribavirin.
Image from Brian Eggemeyer, Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, St. Louis, MO
SPAG-2 6000
Small Particle Aerosol Generator -2 6000 series
Image from Illinois Central College Archives, 1999
1990s Hudson RCI Nebulizer
The Hudson RCI disposable, large volume nebulizer has variable FIO2 settings and a 500mL capacity reservoir.
Image from Illinois Central College Archives, 1999
Patient Interfaces
Face Tent
Face Tents
This ad from a 1962 issue of the INHALATION THERAPY journal shows staff from Oxyequip modeling their company's face tents.
Trach & Laryngectomy Masks
In this 1958 ad, trach and laryngectomy masks are featured.
1950s Trach Mask
Image from Felix Khusid
Mouthpiece
A PARI Sprint nebulizer with mouthpiece is shown.
Image from Dianne Lewis
T-piece
Dragon Face Mask
Dragon pediatric face mask circa late 1990s
Image from Trudy Watson
PARI "Bubbles" Face Mask
Fun character masks enhance compliance of aerosol treatments in pediatric patients..
A PARI "Bubbles the Fish" mask and elbow adapter is shown.
Image from Dianne Lewis
Aerosol Mask and PARI Nebulizer
Image from Dianne Lewis
Compressors
1950s Emerson Aerosol Compressor
1950s Aerosol Pump
MediMist Compressor
DeVilbiss Compressor
Devilbiss Pulmo-Aide
DeVilbiss PulmoMate
Pediatric Compressor
To appeal to the pediatric patient with asthma, compressors were designed in a variety of animal and toy shapes.
