Aerosol Delivery Devices

Various early aerosol delivery devices from the 1850s through the 1940s are featured in this gallery.

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 brass vaporizer from the 1880s is shown.

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.

This 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.

A glass nebulizer from the 1940s. 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.

A variety of atomizers are featured in the next section of this gallery.

An early DeVilbiss atomizer produced around 1900 is shown.

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.

A Holmspray brand atomizer from circa 1940s is shown.

A DeVilbiss atomizer from circa 1960s is shown.

Aerosol devices that incorporated hand bulbs are featured in this section of the gallery.

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.

A Parke-Davis Glaseptic nebulizer from the 1930s was used to deliver an adrenalin solution.

A glass nebulizer attached to a large reservoir bag is shown.

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.

The instruction sheet for use of the DeVilbiss #40 glass nebulizer is shown.

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

A DeVilbiss #40 glass, hand bulb nebulizer is shown.

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.

This section of gallery features devices with small capacity reservoirs or small volume nebulizers (SVNs).

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

This DeVilbiss ad appeared in the INHALATION THERAPY journal in the 1950s and featured several of their aerosol-generating products.

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

An early Bennett Twin jet nebulizer is shown.

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

A Bird Nebulizer is shown.

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 small volume nebulizers (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.

A PARI Sprint reusable small volume nebulizer is shown.

Large volume nebulizers are featured in this section of the gallery.

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

The DeVilbiss No. 841 Continuous Flow Nebulizer is shown.

The label of the DeVilbiss No.841 nebulizer is shown.

The top of the Puritan's All-Purpose Nebulizer is shown with an optional immersion heater in place.

This ad from the INHALATION THERAPY journal from the mid-1960s showed some of the options for use.

The 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 Bird Large Volume Nebulizer is shown.

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 (USN) is connected to a Bennett PR-2 in this 1970s photo.

A DeVilbiss UltraNeb 99 (ultrasonic nebulizer) is pictured.

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 ultrasonic nebulizer is shown.

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.

A SPAG (Small Particle Aerosol Generator)-2 6000 series for ribavirin administration is shown,

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

A variety of patient interfaces for aerosol therapy are shown.

The face tent worked well for individuals who considered aerosol face masks too be too confining. The nose and mouth were behind the shield of the face tent but the open top resulted in less claustrophobia sometimes associated with traditional aerosol masks. These also were tolerated well by patients with nasal or oral injuries.

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 from the INHALATION THERAPY journal, trach and laryngectomy masks were featured.

A 1950s trach mask is shown.

A PARI Sprint nebulizer with a mouthpiece attached is shown.

An aerosol T-piece is shown.

A pediatric aerosol face mask with dragon features, circa late 1990s, is shown.

An adult aersol face mask is shown attached to a PARI nebulizer.

A variety of air compressors used to power nebulizers are featured in this section.

This ad for an aerosol compressor manufactured by the Emerson Company appeared in the late 1950s in the INHALATION THERAPY journal.

This ad for an aerosol pump appeared in a late 1950s ad in the INHALATION THERAPY journal.

The MediMist by Mountain Medical was a popular portable compressor used for nebulizer treatments in the hospital, clinic, and home.

A heavy duty, compressor #8650D by DeVilbiss is shown.

A DeVilbiss Pulmo-Aide compressor is shown with the lid raised. The compartment could hold the nebulizer and tubing for storage and transport.

A DeVilbiss PulmoMate portable compressor is shown.

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

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