EQUIPMENT EVALUATION REPORT Nurul Hajar Syafiqah Technical Services Division Polytronix Sdn. Bhd.

INTRODUCTION

Purpose The purpose of this report is to explain about the benefit of new nebulizers which the company is planning to change it with the past nebulizer. Summary Nebulizer are inhaler devices used to treat asthma and allergies. The inhaler aerosolizes medication prescribed by a doctor to help reduce inflammation and dilate air passages. The treatments are used as a preventative measure against acute allergic reactions or as a treatment during asthma attacks. Some nebulizers are available over the counter, but most require a prescription from a doctor. Nebulizer are benefical for virtually anyone with a chronic respiratory affliction, such as the following: Asthma Chronic bronchitis Chronic lung disease Cold and flu treatment

Medication nebulizers are commonly used to delivery aerosolized medications to patients with respiratory disease. A nebulizer has a liquid medicine in a machine or hand-held bottle with an attached pump. Using the machine or compressing the hand-held pump converts the liquid medication into a mist. The mist is inhaled into the trachea of the patient. The inhalant medication travels to the lungs and reverses the symptoms of asthma and allergies. Wheezing, coughing, or difficulties in breathing are alleviated almost immediately when the medication is delivered.

BODY

Detailed description. 1) The two main types of nebulizers are jet and ultrasonic: The jet nebulizer uses a compressor to push a stream of air down a tube, making the medicine solution into a mist. The ultrasonic kind uses sound waves from a special crystal that turns the liquid medicine into an aerosol.

2) Several types of nebulizer medications are available, each with advantages and side effects: Acetylcysteine is used to reduce respiratory tract secretions. Albuterol is a common nebulizer medication that attaches to adrenergic bronchodilator, which means the medication opens airway passages to alleviate breathing difficulties.

Tobramycin is an antibiotic used to treat patients with breathing difficulties from bacterial infections such as pseudomonas.

Detailed Product Description o Single Head Ultrasonic Nebulizer 1) Single stretchable tube can offer dense and tiny particles 2) Silicon clip and circuit board are slot in and slot out for easy maintenance and replacement. It uses water and electricity separation, overflow protection, flowback prevention, closed water chamber to guarantee safety. 3) Accessories: - Mask for adult(1pc); - Air delivery tube(3pcs) - Fuse(RFI 520 0.5A/250V 2pcs; RFI 520 1.5A/250V 2pcs )

Assessment Method The delivery of nebulized drugs is poorly controlled and the choice of the most appropriate delivery device is poorly understood, particularly because of off-license prescriptions and a lack of evidence-based medicine. Standardized in vitro methods for measuring nebulizer performance have been adopted in Europe, by the 2001 publication of a European Standard, prEN13544-1. These standardized methods were subsequently incorporated within the European Respiratory Society nebulizer guidelines, which will provide clinicians with useful information to improve nebulizer therapies. Standards for measuring nebulizer performance should be considered in North America and elsewhere. Careful consideration should be given to either adopting the methods embodied in the European Standard or developing the basis for developing that standard further through the International Standards Organization. Either way, confusion among clinicians would be reduced and nebulizer safety and aerosol delivery efficiency increased by standardizing in vitro methods of nebulizer performance assessment.

CONCLUSION

Major Finding Nebulizer's Effect. After a patient takes a dose from a nebulizer, the effects are almost immediate. The patient will feel less tightening in the chest and any wheezing should end. Patients should continue to inhale for several breaths or as instructed by a physician. Some asthma patients are instructed to carry the hand-held nebulizer with them at all times to help alleviate symptoms in emergency situations. Although delivering nebulized drugs to the lungs has been used for centuries in medical research, and nebulizers and nebulizer drugs have been commercially available throughout the past century, the delivery of nebulized drugs is still poorly controlled and poorly understood by the clinical community. Prescription drugs delivered orally, intravenously, and via aerosol inhalation from metereddose inhalers and dry powder inhalers undergo clinical trials to prove the drug's safety and efficacy. This is not the case with the many drugs used for nebulization, which are prescribed off-license and bypass regulatory requirements. Nebulizers are regarded as cheap and convenient plastic devices that readily generate an aerosol that will contain whatever drug solutions or suspensions are placed in them for delivery to the respiratory tract. Rarely is the nebulizer delivery device specified on the prescription. Rather, only the drug solution volume and concentration are specified. This leaves open the choice of nebulizer by which to deliver the off-license drug aerosol. The decision of what device to use is often left up to the local doctor or nurse, and sometimes even a hospital clerk, to choose whatever device is either conveniently to hand or has become the hospital's standard nebulizer for that period. The nebulizer is often chosen with little or no objective justification other than the manufacturer's performance claims or, more often, simply the lower cost of a particular nebulizer. The reader should recognize that there is a wide range of performance among nebulizers. If, say, 2 mL of a given drug solution was placed into all available nebulizers, the dose delivered could vary greatly. The lack of regulation and understanding in matching the prescribed drug with the nebulizer implies that the quality, consistency, and control of the delivered dose are poor. The present review summarizes standardization issues inherent in the in vitro measurement of nebulizer performance, describes the scientific and clinical principles underlying the European Standard, introduces the principles underlying the clinical nebulizer guidelines recently published by the European Respiratory Society, and describes how the European Respiratory Society adopted the standard testing methods of the European Standard.

How To Use To use a nebulizer, you will need the following supplies:

Air compressor Nebulizer cup Mask or mouthpiece Medication (either unit dose vials or bottles with measuring devices) Compressor tubing Once you have the necessary supplies:
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Place the air compressor on a sturdy surface that will support its weight. Plug the cord from the compressor into a properly grounded (three-prong) electrical outlet. Before asthma treatment, wash your hands with soap and water and dry completely. Carefully measure medications exactly as you have been instructed and put them into the nebulizer cup. Most medications today come in premeasured unit dose vials so measuring is not necessary. If you do measure, use a separate, clean measuring device for each medication. Assemble the nebulizer cup and mask or mouthpiece. Connect the tubing to both the aerosol compressor and nebulizer cup. Turn on the compressor to make sure it is working correctly. You should see a light mist coming from the back of the tube opposite the mouthpiece. Sit up straight on a comfortable chair. If the treatment is for your child, he or she may sit on your lap. If you are using a mask, position it comfortably and securely on your or your child's face. If you are using a mouthpiece, place it between your or your child's teeth and seal the lips around it. Take slow, deep breaths. If possible, hold each breath for 2-3 seconds before breathing out. This allows the medication to settle into the airways. Continue the treatment until the medication is gone (an average of 10 minutes). The nebulizer will make a sputtering noise, and the cup will have just a little medication remaining. If dizziness occurs, stop the treatment and rest for about 5 minutes. Continue the treatment, and try to breathe more slowly. If dizziness or jitteriness continues to be a problem with future treatments, inform your doctor.

During the treatment, if the medication sticks to the sides of the nebulizer cup, you may shake the cup to loosen the droplets. Using a portable nebulizer is similar to using a home nebulizer, except that you don't need to plug it in. Most models are small enough to hold in your hand during use.

Conclusion Nebulizer is an alternative method of treatment for patients with pulmonary problems or infections, or for those undergoing bronchoscopy. More research is needed to develop guidelines for their use since nebulization may provide benefits to many patients who otherwise cannot be treated or would be at a risk of systemic adverse effects of the drugs. A nebulizer provides the same basic function as an asthma inhaler, though many find it easier to use and more relaxing. A nebulizer is easier to use for children,elderly, the sick and those in the midst of an asthma attack as they d not require hand-breath coordination. A nebulizer, because it gets the medication into your lungs quickly, is considered much faster acting that taking oral medication. Also, a nebulizer is incredibly efficient in getting the medication to you. In this way, it is considered by some a better alternative to inhalers and oral medication. Recommendation: Hoping to reduce the amount of medications i hane to take as well as the number of dose a day.