Inhalation device for use in aerosol therapy of respiratory diseases

An inhalation device for delivering a nebulised aerosol to a patient, the inhalation device comprising:

• (a) an aerosol generator with a vibratable mesh;
• (b) a reservoir for a liquid to be nebulised, said reservoir being in fluid connection with the vibratable mesh;
• (c) a gas inlet opening shaped as a tube fitting;
• (d) a face mask, having:
• a casing,
• an aerosol inlet opening,
• a patient contacting surface, and
• a one-way exhalation valve or a two-way inhalation/exhalation valve in the casing having an exhalation overpressure resistance selected in the range from 0.5 to 5 mbar;
• and
• (e) a flow channel extending from the gas inlet opening to the aerosol inlet opening of the face mask, the flow channel having:
• a lateral opening through which the aerosol generator is at least partially inserted into the flow channel, and
• a constant flow resistance between the gas inlet opening and the aerosol inlet opening of the face mask at a flow rate of 1 to 20 L/min,
• wherein the flow channel upstream of the lateral opening is shaped such as to effect a laminar flow when a gas is conducted through the flow channel at a flow rate from 1 to 20 L/min.