Aerosol Delivery Devices

In 1858, Dr. Jean Sales-Girons introduced the portable nebulizer: the pulverisateur.

The Siegle Steam Spray Inhaler incorporated steam from a small boiler to power the atomizer.

A Cresoline Lamp Vaporizer from the collection of Felix Khusid is pictured

On December 18, 1888, Howard Smith was awarded a patent for his atomizer.

In 1889, Dr. Nathan Tucker reported that he provided "perfect relief and a cure" for asthma through his nasal inhaler.

The Obredanne Inhaler (circa 1908) from Paris, France is shown.

The cotton was saturated with analgesic or anesthetic agents. The patient inserted the device into the nares and inhaled the medication.

The Italian brass steam inhaler is from the collection of Felix Khusid.

This is the packaging for the 1920s brass steam inhaler from Italy. It was identified as the all brass Verona 30 F model.

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.

Can you imagine trying to clean and sterilize this unit?

In 1948, Abbott Laboratories introduced a dry powder delivery system for the administration of penicillin G powder.

On June 19, 1906, Christian W. Meinecke applied for a patent for an "Atomizer and Nebulizer". The patent was granted on April 20, 1909.

This vintage atomizer is from circa 1910.

This DeVilbiss #12 atomizer from the 1940s is from the collection of Felix Khusid.

The Wiesbadener Inspirol squeeze bulb nebulizer rested in a wooden base and included an attachment that insert into the nostrils.

The Glaseptic Nebulizer was produced from the early 1900s through the 1940s. The reservoir and mouthpiece were made of glass.

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.

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.

This ad for Devilbiss nebulizers appeared in the September 1959 issue of Inhalation Therapy journal (Vol.4 No.3, p.4)

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.

An assortment of early atomizers and hand bulb nebulizers are shown.

The Wright jet-venturi nebulizer was introduced in the 1950s. It was engineered from perspex and ebonite.

The Emerson Mini-Neb was used in the 1950s-1960s.

In 1965, Dr. Forrest M. Bird and H.L. Pohndorf were awarded a patent for their small volume nebulizer.

A Bird nebulizer with a flow control adapter is shown.

In May 1971, a patent was awarded to Kentaro Takaoka for "Aerosol Nebulizer", a small volume nebulizer.

Several examples of SVNs from the 1970s are shown.

A variety of small volume nebulizers from multiple decades in the 20th century are pictured.

A disassembled small volume jet nebulizer is shown.

This ad for Mistogen's Tepid Mist nebulizer appeared in the September 1958 issue of the Inhalation Therapy journal.

Puritan's All-Purpose Nebulizer offered three FIO2 settings (FIO2 0.40. 0.70, and 1.0) and an optional immersion heating element.

A variety of devices which could operate as either humidifiers or nebulizers are shown.

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.

The control panel of the DeVilbiss Model 65 Ultrasonic Nebulizer is shown.

A Bird ventilator is shown connected to a Devilbiss ultrasonic nebulizer.

A Devilbiss ultrasonic nebulizer is connected to a Bennett PR-2 in this 1970s photo.

This ad for the Mistogen CS/143 ultrasonic nebulizer appeared in the December 1970 issue of the INHALATION THERAPY journal.

The ultrasonic nebulizers were used for intermittent and continuous aerosol therapy.

The Monaghan 670 was an ultrasonic nebulizer.

Examples of Babington nebulizers are shown.

The internal components of a Solosphere nebulizer is shown. The Solosphere operated on the Babington principle.

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.

The SPAG (Small Particle Aerosol Generator) was a pneumatic nebulizer used for the administration of aerosolized ribavirin.

Small Particle Aerosol Generator -2 6000 series

The Hudson RCI disposable, large volume nebulizer has variable FIO2 settings and a 500mL capacity reservoir.

This ad from a 1962 issue of the INHALATION THERAPY journal shows staff from Oxyequip modeling their company's face tents.

In this 1958 ad, trach and laryngectomy masks are featured.

A PARI Sprint nebulizer with mouthpiece is shown.

Dragon pediatric face mask circa late 1990s

To appeal to the pediatric patient with asthma, compressors were designed in a variety of animal and toy shapes.