Design of a turbulence-enhanced deaggregation system for dry powder formulations

This paper reports on the engineering design, manufacture and experimental analysis of a combined impaction and deaggregation delivery system for patient inspiration-driven pulmonary dry powder formulations. A modular technology platform has been designed and analysed with computational fluid dynamics analysis to investigate and optimise configurations of the device. The device was then manufactured in a modular form using rapid prototyping techniques to allow a range of impaction and deaggregation options to be investigated by experimental verification. Experimental investigation included twin stage impinger trials to assess fine particle fraction and fine particle dose capabilities and instrumentation of the device to determine fluid flow and flow resistance at a specified pressure drop of 4 kPa, allowing further optimisation of the device to patient inspiration capabilities.