How to Turn a Nebulizer Into a Vaporizer
With all of the "vape hype" and targeted terms being tossed around the media, there are many new areas of confusion about aerosols and vapor delivery methods or devices. Due to the lung logo on my badge, I am approached almost daily with concerns about the mechanical process of vaping or e-cigarette device functions compared to a nebulizer.
The two questions I am asked most often are the following:
- Are a nebulizer and vaporizer the same thing?
- Does vaping use the same process as nebulizing?
Let's go through both questions, and break down the both components and the process to become more familiar with the language.
A nebulizer is defined as: "a device that produces an aerosol suspension of liquid particles in a gaseous medium, using baffing to control particle size." (Kacmarek, Stoller, Heuer; Egans Fundamentals of Respiratory Care; edition 11. Copyright 2017, St. Louis, Missouri)
An aerosol is a mixture of a gas, with liquid and solid particles.
The components consist of a mouthpiece or mask, medication cup (where liquid medication is placed), atomizer, baffle, oxygen tubing, and a compressed tank or 50 psi gas or ultrasonic source of room air or oxygen; converted by a flow meter. As the gas flows at a high velocity through the nebulizer, the atomizer and baffle convert the liquid medication into aerosol with suspended droplets (breathable mist) that can be inhaled through a mask or mouthpiece.
The nebulizer does not use a heating element to produce this aerosol, but one can be added.
For the majority, nebulizers are used to deliver respiratory medications directly to the airways. Nebulizers are used in the clinical or home setting to treat respiratory issues like asthma, COPD, allergies, airway inflammation, respiratory infections like pneumonia, and many others. Hospitals often use continuous nebulizers like the Aerogen for patients on mechanical ventilation or others in need of a constant delivery or medicine. There are many varieties of nebulizers including small volume, large volume, breath actuated, vibrating mesh, jet, and others
Below is a list of common respiratory medications categories given by nebulizer category, and an example of the brand name.
- bronchodilators/ Albuterol (Ventolin)
- antibiotics/ (Tobramycin, Vancomycin )
- saline (isotonic, hypotonic, & hypertonic)
- racemic epinephrine/adrenaline (Nephron)
- mucolytics (Acetlcysteine, Pulmozyme)
- Corticosteriods (Pulmocort, Flolan)
A vaporizer (vape pen or e-cigarette) works by providing a heating element to a chamber, which heats vape fluid to produce a breathable vapor for the user. Another name for it is a nicotine vaporizer.
Components include a mouthpiece, lithium battery and charger, chamber or tank, circuit board and wires, and heating element (coil) or atomizer.
Vape fluid or e-liquids that are composed of base of propylene glycol (oil that contains 2 alcohol variations); and may have additional added flavorings selected by the user. These include numerous fruit and dessert flavors, THC, wax, tobacco or smoke flavors, and nicotine added for preference.
This fluid is heated inside the "tank" by the coil (controlled by the lithium battery) to a temp between 200 to 250 degrees Celsius. The user then inhales the vapor through the mouth piece at the set interval and level, by using the button. Many have an auto-draw function for accessibility.
Back to the original question:
Are a nebulizer and vaporizer the same thing?
Yes. Both nebulizers and vaporizers produce aerosols for the purpose of inhalation, but a vaporizer utilizes a healing element.
Both allow aerosols to be directly inhaled to the airways .
Then the second question:
Does vaping use the same process as nebulizing?
Yes. The process is very similar for both devices, but the nebulizer is more utilized in the healthcare setting for respiratory treatments.
One important difference to note:
When nebulizing most medications for patients, a pre-treatment of a bronchodilator like Albuterol must be given to avoid triggering the cough reflex or a bronchospasm from irritants in the medication.
Vaping and e-cigarettes have no such restriction.
How to Turn a Nebulizer Into a Vaporizer
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/nebulizer-vs-vaporizer-ask-respiratory-rachel-rrt-rachel-clevenger