Controlled deliveries and depositions of pharmaceutical and other aerosolized masses

An aerosol generator for producing an aerosolized powder, said aerosol generator comprising:

• a metering pocket having a volume of the order of one cubic millimeter, with powder loaded into said metering pocket;
• a powder chamber containing powder to be aerosolized a mixing chamber;
• a sealing gland separating said powder chamber and said mixing chamber;
• said micropocket metering pocket comprising a microscoop in the form of a plunger rod having a tip with said micropocket metering pocket formed within said tip, said plunger rod passing through powder in said powder chamber so as to load powder within said micropocket metering pocket and then engaging and penetrating said sealing gland;
• a jet for directing high velocity gas into said metering pocket, soas to fluidize the powder and produce an expansive which is directed into said mixing chamber.

A deposition zone for collecting aerosolized masses, comprising:

• a porous media collection element;
• an aerosol delivery tube positioned generally against an upstream side of said porous media collection element for delivering aerosols transported by a fluid, said aerosol delivery tube having a tapered end;
• a perforated support element positioned generally against a downstream side of said porous media collection element, said perforated support element being cup-like in configuration with a tapered interior surface;
• and
• said porous media collection element being cup-like in configuration having a tapered interior surface matching the tapered end of said aerosol delivery tube as the upstream side, and a tapered exterior surface matching the taper of said perforated support element as the downstream side.

A system for delivery and deposition of aerosolized masses, comprising:

• an aerosol generator;
• an upstream electro-optical mass concentration sensor, and a source of gas flow for transporting aerosols past said upstream electro-optical mass concentration sensor at a known upstream volumetric flow rate;
• a deposition zone for collecting aerosols on or within a media;
• a controller connected to said upstream mass concentration sensor and determining the mass of aerosols delivered to said deposition zone by integrating over time the product of mass concentration measured by said upstream electro-optical sensor and the known upstream volumetric flow rate.

A system for delivery and deposition of aerosolized masses, comprising:

• an aerosol generator;
• a source of gas flow for transporting aerosols;
• a deposition zone for collecting aerosols on or within a media;
• a downstream electro-optical mass concentration sensor for measuring the mass concentration of aerosols uncollected in said deposition zone, and a conduit for transporting uncollected aerosols past said downstream electro-optical mass concentration sensor at a known downstream volumetric flow rate;
• and
• a controller connected to said downstream mass concentration sensor and determining the mass of aerosols not collected within said deposition zone by integrating over time the product of mass concentration measured by said downstream electro-optical sensor and the known downstream volumetric flow rate.