Improving the efficacy of pressurized metered dose inhaler spacers

加压计量吸入器（pmdi）是一种用于向肺部输送一定量药物的装置，但需要完美的激活和吸入时间才能达到最佳效果。间隔器是一种位于pMDI罐和口腔之间的医疗装置，它可以延长药物悬浮时间，让患者有更多的时间缓慢而深入地吸入药物。这项NSERC CRD提案的目标是设计下一代吸入器间隔物，以提高药物递送的有效性（减少间隔物上的沉积）和患者的便利性（延长吸入时间）。该项目将重点开发两种创新的驱动式pMDI隔离器：振动室和涡轮室。首先，将建立一个精确的药物在间隔器中传递过程的有限元模型并进行实验验证。该模型将用于数值模拟和优化驱动垫片。最后，将在标准实验装置中制造和测试间隔片的原型。**该CRD项目与Pacificure Biomedical Inc.合作，该公司一直积极开发和制造医疗设备，包括pMDI垫片。西蒙弗雷泽大学（SFU）机电系统工程学院（MSE）的Arzanpour博士将领导研究小组。在NSERC参与项目期间，SFU和Pacificure之间建立了强有力的合作方式，并取得了出色的成果。将产生与颗粒流数值模拟有关的新知识。除了给公司和加拿大带来经济效益外，该项目还将帮助患有呼吸系统疾病的加拿大人，包括250万哮喘患者和180万慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）患者。提高间隔剂给药效率，有助于患者更有效地使用药物，防止药物在口腔内沉积引起的副作用。此外，该项目计划培养三名HQP，其中包括一名博士和两名合作学生，他们在各种学科和技能上都非常适合学术职位和广泛的行业。**********************

Pressurized Metered Dose Inhalers (pMDIs) are devices used to deliver a specific amount of medication to the lungs but require perfect timing of activation and inhalation for the best efficacy. A spacer is a medical device which sits between pMDI canister and the oral cavity and allows longer drug suspension and more time for patients to slowly and deeply inhale the medication. The goal of this NSERC CRD proposal is to design the next generation of inhaler spacers to improve efficacy of drug delivery (less deposition on the spacers) and patients' convenience (extended inhalation time). The project will focus on the development of two innovative actuated pMDI spacers, the Vibrochamber and Turbochamber. First, an accurate finite element model of the drug delivery process in spacers will be developed and experimentally verified. This model will then be used for numerical simulations and optimization of the actuated spacers. Finally, prototypes of the spacers will be fabricated and tested in a standard experimental setup.**This CRD project is in partnership with Pacificure Biomedical Inc., which has been active in the development and manufacturing of medical devices including pMDI spacers. Dr. Arzanpour from the School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering (MSE) at Simon Fraser University (SFU) will lead the research team. A strong collaborative approach between SFU and Pacificure was established during an NSERC Engage project with outstanding outcomes. New knowledge relating to numerical simulation of particle flow will be generated. In addition to the economic benefits to the company and Canada, this project will help Canadians who suffer from respiratory diseases, including 2.5 million asthma patients and 1.8 million chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Improving the efficacy of drug delivery in spacers will help patients to use the drug more effectively and prevents side effects cause by deposition of the drug in oral cavity. Moreover, this project is planned to train three HQP including one PhD and two co-op students in a variety of disciplines and skills which are highly marketable for academic positions as well as a wide range of industries.**********************