| abstract |
A micro-structured filter having an inlet for unfiltered fluid and an outlet for filtered fluid, the filter comprising: i) a filter chamber provided between the inlet and the outlet, the chamber being partly defined by a substantially flat base plate and a cover plate that is securable thereto; and ii) a filter body provided within the filter chamber, the filter body being formed by a plurality of projections that each comprise an integral component of the base plate and which project from this base plate, the projections being spaced from one another by passages that form a fluid path through the filter chamber from the inlet to the outlet, the cover plate when secured to the base plate covering the projections and the passages; The plurality of projections are arranged in at least two rows to extend in a zig-zag configuration and in a mutually juxtaposed relationship across the filter chamber. The inlet and the outlet each comprise an elongate slot for unfiltered and filtered fluid respectively, each of the slots being substantially as wide as the filter chamber and substantially as high as the projections on the inlet and outlet sides of the filter body respectively. Also disclosed is a nebuliser for inhalation therapy, the nebuliser comprising the micro-structured filter defined above. |