FOR PULMONARY DISEASES

THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH IS TO MAKE AVAILABLEAT MODEST COST A DEVICE TO PROVIDE THE BENEFITS OF PORTABLE METERED-DOSE INHALANTS TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHOSE POOR COORDINATION OR PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS NOW PRECLUDE THEIR USE.THE SPECIFIC AIMS OF THIS PHASE I RESEARCH INCLUDE COMPLE- TION OF THE DESIGN OF THE DEVICE REFERRED TO AS THE BREATH- ACTIVATED MEDICATION SPRAY (BAMS) DISPENSER, FABRICATION OF 40 WORKING PROTOTYPES, AND TESTING THEIR USE IN A FIELD TRIAL INVOLVING 40 ASTHMA PATIENTS. THE USE OF THE BAMS DISPENSER WILL BE COMPARED TO A MOTOR-DRIVEN NEBULIZER AS WELL AS THE METERED-DOSE INHALANT USED IN THE STANDARD FASHION. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE USE OF THE BAMS DISPENSER WILL PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT OVER THE STANDARD USE OF THE METERED-DOSE INHALANTS, LEADING TO LARGE-SCALE RESEARCH IN PHASE II. THIS WOULD INCLUDE FURTHER REFINEMENTOF THE DESIGN TO MAKE THE DEVICE SMALLER, AND WIDE-SCALE TESTING IN BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS FOR ASTHMA AS WELL AS OTHER PULMONARY DISEASES.