What it is
An ordinary nebuliser puffs out mist constantly, including while you breathe out, so a good share of the dose ends up in the air rather than your lungs. The AeroEclipse is breath actuated: in that mode it makes mist only as you breathe in.
The green button on top tells you what’s happening. It drops down as you breathe in, which means mist is being made, and pops back up as you breathe out. If the green button is moving, you’re breathing through it correctly.
Because more of the dose reaches your lungs, Monaghan notes this can effectively increase the amount delivered compared with a standard nebuliser, which is something your doctor takes into account when prescribing.
Who it's for
- Anyone prescribed nebulised medication by their doctor, at home or in hospital.
- People who find a lot of mist escapes around a standard nebuliser.
- Adults and children. Children and anyone needing help should be supervised throughout.
How to use it
Before you start, breathe in and out through the mouthpiece to check the green button moves freely up and down, and check the exhalation valve on the mouthpiece is facing down.
- Wash your hands, then unscrew the top of the nebuliser cup.
- Add your prescribed medication. The cup takes a minimum of 1 mL and a maximum of 6 mL. Screw the top back on hand-tight and keep the cup upright.
- Connect the tubing to the base of the nebuliser and to your compressor.
- Sit comfortably upright and turn the compressor on.
- Put the mouthpiece in your mouth and seal your lips around it, keeping your fingers clear of the exhalation valve.
- Breathe in slowly and deeply, and watch the green button drop. Breathe out normally through the device and it will pop back up.
- Keep breathing steadily through it until the nebuliser starts to make a sputtering noise, which means the cup has run dry, or until your doctor or physiotherapist says to stop. Then turn the compressor off.
Cleaning & care
After each use
- Straight after the treatment, disconnect the tubing and take the nebuliser apart into its three pieces (don’t break it down any further).
- Wash the three parts, but not the tubing, in warm water with dishwashing liquid for 5 to 15 minutes, then rinse in clean warm water.
- Shake off the water, briefly reconnect the tubing and run air through to clear the air pathway, then air dry completely before reassembling.
- Never wash the tubing. Run air through it to clear any condensation and wipe the outside with a damp cloth.
Weekly deep clean
- Disinfect as well as clean: Monaghan says to disinfect at least every other treatment day.
- Accepted methods include a 1:50 bleach soak for 3 minutes, boiling for 5 to 15 minutes, a microwave steam bag, an electric steam steriliser, or a 1:3 vinegar soak for an hour. Rinse and dry fully afterwards.
- People with cystic fibrosis are advised to boil for a full 10 minutes.
- These methods apply to the reusable XL R BAN, which is the model we stock. The disposable AeroEclipse II sold elsewhere must never be boiled, so check your box if you bought it somewhere else.
Avoid: washing the tubing, and sharing the nebuliser with anyone else.
When to replace it
Monaghan recommends replacing the XL R BAN after about 6 months of use by one person. Replace it sooner if it’s cracked, if the green button stops moving freely, or if treatments start taking noticeably longer. If you rely on daily nebulised medication, it’s worth keeping a spare.
Things to be careful about
- Not tested with the medication pentamidine, so don’t use it for that.
- Small parts are a choking hazard. Keep it away from young children and never leave a child unattended during a treatment.
- Because breath actuated mode delivers more of the dose to your lungs, don’t change your medication or dose yourself. Talk to your doctor.
- Poor cleaning can affect how well it works and risks a chest infection, so don’t skip the drying step.
Sources: AeroEclipse II BAN product insert (PDF) · AeroEclipse XL R BAN instructions for use (PDF) · Monaghan Medical AeroEclipse. Instructions are summarised from the manufacturer and may change; always keep the leaflet that comes with your device.