BEing thorough (and too tired to think of a witty post title)

At our third meeting during recitation, we discussed the pros and cons of various possible inhaler designs to ensure that the MDI-based "mistifyer" design we settled on is the best decision. We focused specifically on the administration of the different types of medication by each device and the mechanics behind the drug delivery.

Designs administering powdered medication:

Pros:

• can be used for medication available in solid/powdered form
• larger variety of medications available in this form/to be administered by these devices

Cons:

• hard to have a reasonably compact drug reservoir with at least 200 doses
• difficult to measure doses as accurately
• more expensive
• has never been used as an analgesic in the past

Devices administering compressed liquid/gas aerosol

Pros:

• has been used as an analgesic in the past (newer technology)
• no moving parts; utilizes pressurized gas

Cons:

• unsure if pain medication we wish to use can be kept in aerosol form
• environmentally hazardous
• harder to store a pressurized gas

Devices administering unpressurized liquid ("mistifyer")

Pros:

• more environmentally friendly
• powered mechanically (such as external force provided by twisting canister, rather than pressurized liquid/gas)
• mechanical power allows for greater control
• can be used for normal liquid medications
• safer
• easier to store (not pressurized)

Cons:

• requires mechanical power for drug delivery (possibly not as easy to use by children/elderly)

By next week, we hope to have the estimated weight, size, and cost of our final product. The components of our design so far are similar to the total combination of the following items:

• mouthpiece (inhaler)
• reservoir (like a bottle)
  
• computer/user interface (like a graphing calculator)
• battery (rechargeable)
  
• circuitry (solenoid)
• drug bag (like an IV bag)