Discover Aerogen Pro

General

I have a medical/clinical query, or my query is not addressed below. Who can I contact for medical or clinical information related to the use of Aerogen products?

Please contact Aerogen Medical Affairs directly for medical information/published clinical research regarding the use of Aerogen products. Email: MedicalScience@aerogen.com (US/Canada/LATAM) or msl@aerogen.com (all other countries).

What medications can be used with the Aerogen Solo, Aerogen Pro?

The Aerogen Solo & Aerogen Pro should be used with physician prescribed medications for inhalation which are approved for use with a general purpose nebuliser.¹ Should you require information on a whether a medication is approved for inhalation please contact the medication manufacturer directly.

Should I adjust the drug dosage when I’m using the Aerogen Solo, Aerogen Pro?

Information on drug dosing must be sourced from the manufacturer’s approved prescribing information for the inhaled formulation. Aerogen Ltd cannot provide specific advice on medication dose.

Is the drug affected if it causes discoloration of the water in a humidifier?

Occasionally, a change in the colour of the water in a heated humidifier has been noted with certain medications if aerosolized proximal to the humidifier. Should you have concerns related to a specific medication please do not hesitate to contact the Medical Affairs team at the email addresses listed above for assistance. The treating clinician should always consider a medications SPC and/or consult with a pharmacist/hospital pharmacy to determine whether placement proximal to the humidifier is suitable for a given therapeutic. Aerogen devices are approved for use in a number of positions offering the treating health care professional a range of placement options if discoloration is a concern. These positions are detailed in the directions for use documents which are accessible on the website.¹

What do I do if crystals form in the nebuliser chamber?

Any medication that has a high ionic concentration, for instance hypertonic saline solutions, if permitted to dry on the Aerogen Vibronic aerosol generator in the nebuliser chamber, may form visible crystals. In the event where crystallisation is observed in the Aerogen Solo, Aerogen recommend to aerosolise a few drops of normal saline solution to clear any residual crystallisation.

How do you remove residue in the chamber after nebulisation of viscous drugs?

Should you wish to remove any viscous drug residues from the Aerogen Solo medication reservoir you may nebulise a few drops of normal saline.

What effect does bias ventilator flow have on aerosol output and deposition?

The impact of bias ventilator flow on aerosol deposition depends on the location of the aerosol generator in the circuit. An in vitro study by Ari et al., (2010) assessing aerosol delivery during mechanical ventilation in the presence of bias flow determined that optimal aerosol deposition may be achieved by nebuliser placement on the dry side of humidifier. Similarly, Berlinski & Willis (2013) demonstrated in a paediatric model, that in the presence of bias flow, nebulisers were more effective when placed back at the humidifier as compared to closer to the wye.²⁻³ In the absence of bias flow optimal deposition was observed when the nebuliser was placed at or close to the wye in this adult model.⁴

Can you use a Heat and Moisture Exchange Device (with filter) (HME/HMEF) while delivering aerosol with the Aerogen Solo?

Yes, the Aerogen Solo is approved for use with a HME.¹ The Aerogen Solo should be placed between the patient and HME as detailed in the Aerogen Solo directions for use.¹ Note: Only a HME/HMEf approved for use with a nebuliser should be used. Follow the HME/HMEf manufacturer instructions regarding use with a nebuliser. Ensure the combination of nebuliser, T-piece and HME/HMEf volumes are suitable for the tidal volume being delivered, according to the patient size.

What are the advantages of Aerogen vibrating mesh nebulisers (VMN) compared with other nebulisers, or inhalers for adult and pediatric patients?

Aerogen vibrating mesh nebulisers are electrically powered, quiet and require no additional flow or pressure to operate, ensure a minimal residual volume and are suitable for use with physician prescribed solutions that are approved for use with a general-purpose nebulisers.¹ A narrative review by Lin et al. compared VMN with other, similar, during invasive mechanical ventilation.⁵

Can you deliver an effective dose with the Aerogen Solo to an adult patient during High flow therapy?

Both in vitro and in vivo studies have examined aerosol delivery efficiency via Aerogen devices concurrent with High Flow Nasal Oxygen therapy with adult models/patients⁶⁻¹⁰ These studies suggest that an effective dose may be delivered during concurrent High Flow Nasal Oxygen therapy and medication aerosolisation via the Aerogen Solo.⁶⁻¹⁰

Do different ventilator parameters affect aerosol delivery?

Yes, a range of ventilator parameters; including flow, inspiratory time (duty cycle), ventilatory mode, timing of nebulisation and circuit features; tube sizes, heat, and humidification, can affect aerosol delivery in mechanically ventilated patients.2,11-13 Reviews by Dr. Dhanani and others summarise the impact of these features on aerosol delivery.11,13

Aerogen Pro

I have a medical/clinical query or my query is not addressed below. Who can I contact for medical or clinical information related to the use of Aerogen products? 

Please contact Aerogen Medical Affairs directly for medical information/published clinical research regarding the use of Aerogen products please email: MedicalScience@aerogen.com (US/Canada/LATAM ) or msl@aerogen.com (all other countries). 

How do I clean the Aerogen Pro?  

The Aerogen Pro can be cleaned, disinfected, and sterilized. Always clean, disinfect or sterilize in accordance with the current protocols in your hospital. Please see the Aerogen Pro Instruction manual for more information.29

How long can I use the Aerogen Pro?  

The Aerogen Pro system is designed to be reusable. The life of the Aerogen Pro nebuliser and components have been validated for use for 730 doses and 26 autoclave treatments based on a typical one-year usage profile. A typical one-year product usage profile is defined as four treatments per day and one sterilization per week, where the device is assumed to be in service for 50% of the time.29 

How do you remove residue in the chamber after nebulisation of viscous drugs?  

In order to remove any medication residues of viscous drugs you can nebulise a few drops of saline.  

What brands or models of ventilators can use the Aerogen Pro?  

The Aerogen Pro can be used with any brand or model of ventilator.  

How much medication is left at the end of a treatment?  

Medication left in the nebuliser at the end of the treatment is minimal: < 0.1mL for 3mL dose.29  

How much medication can be given at one time?  

The Aerogen Pro medication reservoir can hold up to 10mL of medication.29  

How long does it take to deliver a unit dose?  

The flow rate of the Aerogen Pro is > 0. 2 mL/min with an average of 0.4 mL/min.29 For a standard 3 mL dose this would therefore take approximately 7 minutes to deliver. 

What medications can the Aerogen Pro deliver? 

The Aerogen Pro is a general-purpose mesh nebuliser suitable for use with a range of medications. It is approved for use with physician prescribed medications for inhalation which are approved for use with a general-purpose mesh nebuliser. Please contact Aerogen Medical Affairs directly for medical information/published clinical research regarding the use of Aerogen products please email: MedicalScience@aerogen.com (US/Canada ) or msl@aerogen.com (all other countries).

Can I use the same Aerogen Pro device to deliver different medications?  

In principle, yes, the same Aerogen Pro device may be used to deliver different drug types to the same patient (Note the DFU states: The Aerogen Pro System is a portable medical device for multiple patient use). Please consult your pharmacist, the therapeutic agents summary of product characteristics and/or your hospital’s policy before combining any medications. 

Should I adjust the drug dosage when using the Aerogen Pro?  

Information on drug dosing must be sourced from the manufacturer’s approved prescribing information for the inhaled formulation. Aerogen Ltd cannot provide specific advice on medication dose. Please contact Aerogen Medical Affairs directly for medical information/published clinical research regarding the use of Aerogen products. Email: MedicalScience@aerogen.com (US/Canada) or msl@aerogen.com (all other countries). 

Can the Aerogen Pro be used with a mouthpiece or aerosol mask?  

Yes, the Aerogen Pro can be connected to a mouthpiece using the adult T-piece. An aerosol mask can be connected by using the vented elbow and face mask elbow which are provided in the Aerogen Pro mask kit. Masks and mouthpieces are not included.29  

How much noise is generated when the Aerogen Pro? 

The Aerogen Pro operates with a noise level of less than 35dB measured at 0.3m distance29. This is close to the average sound level of a soft whisper.14​  

Is the Aerogen Pro more efficient at nebulising medication in comparison to standard nebulisers? 

The available in-vitro research undertaken by independent researchers indicates that the Aerogen Pro provides a greater emitted drug dose compared to comparator devices during mechanical ventilation and NIV.4,30,31

How do I get replacement parts for Aerogen?  

Contact your local Aerogen Pro Distributor.