Abstract
Recent developments in the miniature chip-based microfludic nebulization platform utilizing surface acoustic wave (SAW) atomizer for inhalation therapy offers distinct advantages over other conventional nebulizers. Such efficient hand-held nebulizer system also requires the optimization of the usage of available power systems in the simplest manner. Here, amplitude modulation (AM) is presented as a simple yet effective means of optimizing the power requirement. SAWs are nano meter order amplitude acoustic waves that originate as a result of the application of an alternating current onto a pair of single-phase unidirectional transducers patterned on a piezoelectric substrate. The effect of the AM at modulation frequencies of 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 5 kHz, 10 kHz, 20kHz and 40 kHz sinusoidal signals, on shear-sensitive biomolecules such as plasmid DNA and antibody molecules are shown to be minimal. Energy savings of around 40% can be obtained with more efficient atomization achieved with AM less than 10 kHz. Together with these advantages, AM having little effect of the mean aerosol diameter; particularly important when therapies are to be targeted for the deep lung regions, holds great promise for its use in the SAW nebulizers for non-invasive inhalation therapy. Acknowledgements are dedicated to Asthma Foundation Victoria (Australia).
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