Technical Specifications

The Alberta Idealised Throat (AIT) is a realistic mouth-throat model from Copley Scientific, developed at the University of Alberta to improve the in vivo relevance of in vitro inhaled product testing. It provides a standardised, highly reproducible human-like geometry that sits between a human throat cast and the pharmacopoeial induction port. The AIT has four-region resolution, allowing location-specific drug recovery and assay from the oral cavity, pharynx, epiglottis, and larynx. Adult and Child (6–14 years) versions are available. The specifications below cover the standard unit; adapters and leak test kits are selected separately.

Model/Part Number: AIT Adult (Catalogue No. 8511); AIT Child (Catalogue No. 8530)

Regions Represented

• Oral cavity

• Pharynx

• Epiglottis

• Larynx

Construction and Handling

• Material: Aluminium, for durability and dimensional reproducibility

• Internal geometry: Smooth and uniform, facilitating coating and ensuring inter-throat uniformity

• Assembly: Quick-release clips for fast internal coating and drug recovery

• Chemical compatibility: Compatible with a wide range of drug recovery solvents

• Certificates: Supplied complete with mensuration and leak test certificates

Geometry Development

• Based on CT and MRI scans of typical patient populations

• Supplemented by direct observation of living subjects and archival literature data

• Adult geometry represents a range of patient groups; Child version based on CT upper airway data from children aged 6–14 years

Versions Available

• Adult AIT (Catalogue No. 8511)

• Child AIT, 6–14 years (Catalogue No. 8530)

Standard Accessories Included:

• AIT nasal cast with four separable regions

• Mensuration and leak test certificates

• Operating manual

Items Excluded:

• Flow Meter to AIT Adapter (Adult Cat. No. 8514; Child Cat. No. 8531)

• Mouthpiece Adapter for AIT (Adult Cat. No. 8515; Child Cat. No. 5003)

• Tooling charge for mouthpiece adapter (Cat. No. 5004)

• Leak Test Inlet Cap and Outlet Adapter (Adult Cat. No. 8518; Child Cat. No. 8533)

• AIT to ACI/ESA Adapter (Cat. No. 8512)

• AIT to NGI/FSI Adapter (Cat. No. 8513)

• Spare Silicone Seal (Adult Cat. No. 8516; Child Cat. No. 8532)

Pre-installation Requirement:
No installation is required. Before first use, confirm the four regions assemble securely with the quick-release clips and that the seals are intact. Perform a leak test using the appropriate leak test cap and adapter if required by your method. Coat the internal surfaces with the appropriate coating solution (such as silicone oil in n-hexane) before testing to reduce particle bounce, following the method specified for your product. Connect to the external filter or cascade impactor inlet using the appropriate adapter.

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Why This Throat Model Belongs in an Orally Inhaled Product Lab

The standard pharmacopoeial induction port is a right-angled tube. It is specified for compendial testing because it is simple, reproducible, and standardised, but it has a known limitation: it significantly underestimates the amount of drug that deposits in the human throat in vivo . For quality control, that limitation is acceptable. For product development, bioequivalence demonstration, and understanding where a dose actually goes, it is not.

The AIT realistic mouth-throat model was developed to close that gap. Its geometry is derived from CT and MRI scans of real patient populations, producing an idealised anatomy that represents a range of adults rather than a single subject . Studies comparing the AIT to the USP induction port show that the AIT captures a greater proportion of larger particles, producing data that better reflect in vivo behaviour . The impactor sized mass then corresponds more closely to the portion of the aerosol that would actually enter the lungs.

The four-region resolution is what makes the AIT useful beyond a single "throat" value. The oral cavity, pharynx, epiglottis, and larynx can each be separated and assayed individually. For understanding where an orally inhaled product deposits, and for demonstrating bioequivalence with clinically relevant data, that regional information is the difference between a representative test and an average .

The Child version extends the same approach to paediatric testing. Its geometry is based on CT upper airway data from nine children aged six to fourteen years, enabling more representative testing of products intended for paediatric use .

For buyers sourcing through OS4U, the configuration questions are whether the Adult or Child version (or both) is needed, which adapters are required for your specific impactor and flow meter setup, and whether the leak test kit should be included. The Copley Scientific AIT product page lists the current accessory options.

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Key Benefits

Four-region resolution for location-specific data

The AIT realistic mouth-throat model separates into oral cavity, pharynx, epiglottis, and larynx. Each region can be individually assayed, so you know where the drug deposited, not just how much stayed in the throat.

Clinically validated geometry

The idealised geometry was developed from CT and MRI scans of multiple patient populations and validated against clinical data across a broad range of flow rates . The deposition behaviour it produces is representative of real mouth-throat anatomy.

Flow-rate independent performance

The AIT offers robust performance independent of flow rate . When a method specifies a flow rate, the throat model produces consistent deposition behaviour across the range used in inhaler testing.

Aluminium construction for dimensional stability

Machined from aluminium, the AIT holds its dimensions across repeated coating, assembly, testing, and cleaning cycles. Dimensional reproducibility is what makes results comparable between runs and between labs.

Quick-release clips for efficient workflow

The four regions separate quickly for coating and drug recovery. The workflow of coat, assemble, test, disassemble, recover, and clean does not become a bottleneck in a busy testing schedule .

Adult and Child versions available

The Adult AIT represents a range of adult patient groups. The Child AIT (6–14 years) is based on paediatric upper airway data, enabling more representative testing of products for children .

Interfaces with filters or cascade impactors

The AIT can be interfaced with an NGI, ACI, or FSI using the appropriate adapter, or with a flow meter for direct deposition measurement. One model supports both aerodynamic particle size distribution measurement and regional deposition characterisation.

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Solving the Problems That Slow Inhaler Testing Down

Struggling to get in vivo-relevant throat deposition data? The AIT's human-like geometry captures more of the larger particles than the USP induction port, producing data that better reflect in vivo behaviour .

Worried about particle bounce biasing results? The smooth internal geometry facilitates uniform coating with silicone oil solutions, and the aluminium surface accepts the coating consistently. Coating reduces particle bounce and improves deposition realism.

Needing to assess where drug deposits in the throat? The four-region resolution (oral cavity, pharynx, epiglottis, larynx) allows location-specific recovery and assay. You get a regional deposition profile, not a single "throat" value.

Concerned about model-to-model variability? Aluminium construction with mensuration certificates ensures dimensional reproducibility. The idealised geometry is defined and consistent, unlike anatomical casts that vary between subjects.

Testing paediatric products? The Child AIT (6–14 years) is based on CT data from children, providing a geometry more representative of paediatric airways than the adult version or the USP port .

Needing to interface with different impactors? Adapters are available for NGI/FSI (Cat. No. 8513) and ACI/ESA (Cat. No. 8512), as well as flow meter adapters for direct deposition measurement .

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Warranty & Support

We provide a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty covering parts and labor. Technical support, installation assistance, and operational training are also available. Replacement parts and consumables are available throughout the product’s service life.

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