Spray optical patternator

Abstract

Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods of measuring one or more parameters of a spray and / or a flow of particles.

Description

SPRAY OPTICAL PATTERNATOR CROSS REFERENCE

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2024900067 filed January 10, 2024, and Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2024901548 filed May 24, 2024, which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND

[0002] The interest in monitoring spray characteristics e.g., droplet size, finds wide applications across mechanical / automotive, agricultural, and medical industrial. Current methods (e.g., laser Doppler velocimetry (LDA) and phase Doppler anemometry (PDFA)) are capable of measuring droplet size a distribution but are limited in measuring the spatial distribution of droplets or particles of a spray. Thus, there exists an unmet need of devices, systems, and methods that are able to measure spatial distribution of droplets and / or particles of a spray. SUMMARY

[0003] Traditional devices and systems are capable of measuring particle size but are limited since they are unable to measure particle spatial distribution in a flow or a spray. Moreover, traditional devices and / or systems are well suited to measure steady state flows but are not practical to measure transient flows that change rapidly across a particular cross section. Modern day improvements to devices and systems to measure flows by e.g., incorporating lasers and linear detector arrays with extinction tomography data processing has enabled the characterization of not only the particle size but partial distribution for transient flows. However, the modern-day devices and systems are bulky, expensive, and limited to acquiring in a single dimension. The devices, systems, and methods described herein address the limitations by utilizing cost effective, compact, high power light sources e.g., light emitting diodes and area base complemental medical oxide sensor (CMOS) to instantaneously measure to measuring one or more parameters of a spray (e.g., spatial distribution of spray cross-sectional surface area, particle velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, and / or the number particle agglomerates). Such parameters may be analyzed to characterize a spray and / or a flow of particles to further develop and adjust the spray and / or flow of particles to achieve to optimize the parameters for a particular application.

[0004] In some embodiments, the devices, systems, and / or methods described herein are used to measure highly transient flows of particles and / or sprays e.g., flows through human airway and medical inhaler devices.

[0005] Aspects of the disclosure provide a device configured to determine a pattern of a spray, comprising: a first light source configured to transmit light through a first optical path to a first area sensor, and a second light source configured to transmit light through a second optical path to a second area sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the first optical path and the second optical path, and wherein a first detected signal from the first area sensor and a second detected signal from the second area sensor are used to determine a parameter of the spray. In some embodiments, the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS). In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light emitting diode light source. In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, are configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light. In some embodiments, the parameter comprises a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parameter of the spray. In some embodiments, the spray comprises a spray of an inhaler. In some embodiments, the parameter comprises a bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler. In some embodiments, the light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, emit a wavelength of at least about 462nm. In some embodiments, the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels. In some embodiments, the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels. In some embodiments, the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm). In some embodiments, the device further comprises a first set of one or more optical elements optically coupled to the first light source and the first area sensor, a second set of one or more optical elements coupled to the second light source and the second area sensor, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof. In someembodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile. In some embodiments, the parameter of the spray is detected in real-time from the first signal and the second signal. In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a pulsed light source. In some embodiments, the spray is provided within an anatomical model. In some embodiments, the anatomical model comprises a human airway. In some embodiments, the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway.

[0006] Aspects of the disclosure provide a method of determining a parameter of a spray, comprising: providing a spray within a first optical path and a second optical path; illuminating the first optical path with a first light source and the second optical path with a second light source; and determining a parameter of the spray from a first signal generated by a first area sensor optically coupled to the first optical path when the first area sensor senses light transmitted by the first light source through the spray, and a second signal generated by a second area sensor optically coupled to the second optical path when the second area sensor senses light transmitted by the second light source through the spray. In some embodiments, the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS). In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light emitting diode light source. In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, are configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light. In some embodiments, the parameter comprises a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parameters of the spray. In some embodiments, the spray comprises a spray of an inhaler. In some embodiments, the parameter comprises a bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler. In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, emit a wavelength of at least about 462nm.

[0007] In some embodiments, the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels. In some embodiments, the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels. In some embodiments, the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm). In some embodiments, the method further comprises a first set of one or more optical elements optically coupled to the first light source and the first area sensor, a second set of one or more opticaloptically coupled to the second light source and the second area sensor, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile. In some embodiments, the parameter of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal of the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a pulsed light source. In some embodiments, the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof, comprise a time integrated signal. In some embodiments, the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof, comprise an optically transmitted signal from one or more vertical cross- sectional planes of the spray. In some embodiments, the spray is provided in an anatomical geometry. In some embodiments, the anatomical geometry comprises a human airway. In some embodiments, the biologic anatomical geometry comprises a model of a human airway.

[0008] Aspects of the disclosure provide a method of determining a parameter of a spray, comprising: providing a spray within a biologic anatomical geometry, wherein the biologic anatomical geometry comprises an optical path; illuminating the optical path with a light source; and determining a parameter of the spray from a signal generated by a sensor optically coupled to the optical path when the sensor senses light transmitted by the light source through the spray. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises an area-based sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS). In some embodiments, the light source comprises a light emitting diode. In some embodiments, the light source is configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light. In some embodiments, the parameter comprises a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parameters of the spray. In some embodiments, the spray comprises a spray of an inhaler. In some embodiments, the parameter comprises a bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler. In some embodiments, the light source emits a wavelength of at least about 462nm. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels. In some embodiments, thesensor comprises a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm). In some embodiments, the one or more optical elements are optically coupled to the light source. In some embodiments, the one or more optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the light source comprises a light source with a non- gaussian emission profile. In some embodiments, the parameter of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal of the sensor. In some embodiments, the light source comprises a pulsed light source. In some embodiments, the signal comprises a time integrated signal. In some embodiments, the signal comprises an optically transmitted signal from one or more vertical cross- sectional planes of the spray.

[0009] Aspects of the disclosure provide a system configured to determine a parameter of a spray, comprising: a first light source configured to transmit light through a first optical path to a first area sensor, and a second light source configured to transmit light through a second optical path to a second area sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the first optical path and the second optical path; and a processor in electrical communication with the first area sensor and the second area sensor configured to determine a parameter of the spray from a first signal of the first area sensor when the first area sensor senses light of the first light source transmitted through the spray, and a second signal of the second area sensor when the second area sensor senses light of the second light source transmitted through the spray. In some embodiments, the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS). In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light emitting diode light source. In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, are configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light. In some embodiments, the parameter comprises a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parameters of the spray. In some embodiments, the spray comprises a spray of an inhaler. In some embodiments, the parameter comprises a bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler. In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, emit a wavelength of at least about 462 nanometers (nm). In some embodiments, the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels. In someembodiments, the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels. In some embodiments, the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm). In some embodiments, the system further comprises a first set of one or more optical elements optically coupled to the first light source and the first area sensor, a second set of one or more optical optically coupled to the second light source and the second area sensor, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first set of one or more optical elements, the second set of one or more optical elements, or a combination thereof, comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile. In some embodiments, the parameter of the spray is detected in real-time from the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof comprise a pulsed light source. In some embodiments, the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof, comprise a time integrated signal. In some embodiments, the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof, comprise an optically transmitted signal from one or more vertical cross-sectional planes of the spray. In some embodiments, the spray is provided within an anatomical model. In some embodiments, the anatomical model comprises a human airway. In some embodiments, the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway.

[0010] Aspects of the disclosure provide a device configured to determine a pattern of a spray, comprising: a light source configured to transmit light through an optical path to a sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the optical path, and wherein a detected signal from the sensor is used to determine a surface area per unit volume of the spray. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises an area-based sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS). In some embodiments, the light source comprises a light emitting diode. In some embodiments, the light source is configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light. In some embodiments, the light source emits a wavelength of at least about 462nm. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels. In some embodiments, the sensorcomprises a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm). In some embodiments, the device further comprises one or more optical elements optically coupled to the light source. In some embodiments, the one or more optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the light source comprises a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile. In some embodiments, the surface area per unit volume of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal. In some embodiments, the light source comprises a pulsed light source. In some embodiments, the spray is provided within an anatomical model. In some embodiments, the anatomical model comprises a human airway. In some embodiments, the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway.

[0011] Aspects of the disclosure provide a device configured to determine a pattern of a spray, comprising: a light source configured to transmit light through an optical path to a sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the optical path, and wherein a detected signal from the sensor is used to determine a surface area flux of the spray. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises an area- based sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS). In some embodiments, the light source comprises a light emitting diode. In some embodiments, the light source is configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light. In some embodiments, the light source emits a wavelength of at least about 462nm. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm). In some embodiments, the device further comprises one or more optical elements optically coupled to the light source. In some embodiments, the one or more optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the light source comprises a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile. In some embodiments, the surface area flux of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal. In some embodiments, the light sourcecomprises a pulsed light source. In some embodiments, the spray is provided within an anatomical model. In some embodiments, the anatomical model comprises a human airway. In some embodiments, the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway.

[0012] Aspects of the disclosure provide a device configured to determine a pattern of a spray, comprising: a light source configured to transmit light through an optical path to a sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the optical path, and wherein a detected signal from the sensor is used to determine a number of agglomerates the spray. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises an area-based sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS). In some embodiments, the light source comprises a light emitting diode. In some embodiments, the light source is configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light. In some embodiments, the light source emits a wavelength of at least about 462nm. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm). In some embodiments, the device further comprises one or more optical elements optically coupled to the light source. In some embodiments, the one or more optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the light source comprises a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile. In some embodiments, the surface area flux of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal. In some embodiments, the light source comprises a pulsed light source. In some embodiments, the spray is provided within an anatomical model. In some embodiments, the anatomical model comprises a human airway. In some embodiments, the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0013] All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

[0015] FIG.1 shows an exemplary diagram of an optical device and / or system of the disclosure configured to measure one or more parameters of a spray, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0016] FIG.2 shows an exemplary diagram of using an optical device and / or system of the disclosure to measure a spray or flow pattern of an anatomical geometry, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0017] FIGS.3A-3C shows waveform diagrams of a method to decrease the effective sensor integration period by timing a sensor trigger (FIG.3A and FIG.3C) with a delay with respect to an output illumination output (FIG.3B) of a sensor of the device and / or systems of the disclosure, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0018] FIGS.4A-4F show a diagram of optical components (FIG.4A) of an axis of the optical device and / or system of the disclosure and resulting beam profile intensity at various positions along the axis (FIGS.4B-4F), as described in some embodiments herein.

[0019] FIG.4G shows a beam profile intensity along an axis of an optical device and / or system of the disclosure where the light source is an idealized collimated Gaussian source, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0020] FIG.5 shows a diagram of the one or more extinction coefficients spatially designated across the region of interest of a spray that are determined using optical devices and / or systems of the disclosure, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0021] FIGS.6A-6B show instantaneous transmittance profiles corresponding to a first axis (FIG. 6A) and a second axis (FIG.6B) for gravity dropped monodispersed particles measured by optical devices and systems of the disclosure, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0022] FIG.7 shows an instantaneous surface plot of the local extinction coefficient obtained after deconvolution of data obtained by the optical devices and / or systems of the disclosure, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0023] FIGS.8A-8B show image data acquired by the devices and / or systems of the disclosure at various time points e.g., at time of 0.011 seconds after initiating flow (FIG.8A) and at time of 0.133 seconds after initiating flow (FIG.8B).

[0024] FIG.9 shows a temporal evolution of total particle surface area of a spray as measured by the optical devices and / or systems of the disclosure, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0025] FIGS.10 shows a raw image obtained by the optical devices and systems of the disclosure, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0026] FIGS.11A-11B show instantaneous transmittance profiles for a spray using 1024 light paths (FIG.11A) and 64 light paths (FIG.11B), as described in some embodiments herein.

[0027] FIGS.12A-12B show instantaneous surface plots of local extinction coefficients obtain after deconvolution with 1024 light paths (FIG.12A) and 64 light paths (FIG.12B).

[0028] FIG.13 shows data of temporally recorded total particle surface area of a spray as measured by the devices and / or systems of the disclosure for 1024 and 64 light paths, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0029] FIG.14 shows a flow diagram of a method of determining a parameter of a spray, as described in some embodiments here.

[0030] FIG.15 shows a flow diagram of a method of determining a parameter of a spray within an anatomical geometry, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0031] FIG.16 shows a computer system capable of implementing the methods of the disclosure, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0032] FIG.17 shows a plot of a transient development of total particle surface area in an ROI of copper particles in a gravity driven flow exiting a pipe obtained from deconvoluted K data and direct sizing method, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0033] FIGS.18A-18B show a plot of transmittance (FIG.18A) and extinction coefficient (FIG. 18B) from a Mannitol powder Aerolizer inhaler obtained with the systems and / or devices, described elsewhere herein, and a commercial system, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0034] FIG.19A-19B show three-dimensional surface plots of local extinction coefficients, K, at vertical locations z = 0.2mm (FIG.19A), and z = 2.4mm (FIG.19B) of a mannitol spray exiting an inhaler, as described in some embodiments herein.

[0035] FIG.20 shows a plot of average surface area unit volume, K, across a region of interest thickness for three different instances in time from the beginning of actuation of a spray of mannitol existing an inhaler, as described in some embodiments herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The devices, systems, and methods described herein may measure one or more parameters of a spray and / or a flow of particles. The one or more parameters of the spray may comprisemeasuring particle and / or droplet: surface area per unit volume, size, spatial distribution, velocity, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof. Compared to modern one- dimensional laser spray and / or flow imaging approaches, the current devices, systems, and / or methods may detect light transmitted through a spray and / or flow of particles using inexpensive a non-gaussian light source(s) (e.g., LED) with a two-dimensional sensor (e.g., a CMOS sensor) to determine the one or more parameters of the spray and / or flow that would otherwise not be realized by the modern one-dimensional devices and systems. In some cases, correlating measurements between different pixels (e.g., different rows of pixels) in an area-based sensor, as described elsewhere herein, may allow for further determination of parameters (e.g., surface area flux and total surface area) of a spray and / or a flow of particles that are not readily determined by single dimension imaging systems. Such single dimension spray and / or flow of particle imaging systems require additional equipment to measure velocity to determine such parameters of e.g., surface area flux and total surface area. Devices

[0037] In some embodiments, the disclosure describes device and / or system 100, as shown in FIG. 1, that may measure one or more parameters of a spray and / or flow of particles, as described elsewhere herein. In some cases, the device and / or system 100 may comprise: a first light source 110 configured to transmit light through a first optical path 118 to a first sensor 114 (e.g., an area based sensor), and a second light source 112 configured to transmit light through a second optical path 116 to a second sensor 120, where a spray and / or flow of particles is provided within the first optical path 118 and the second optical path 116, and where a first detected signal from the first sensor 114 and a second detected signal from the second sensor 120 are used to determine a parameter of the spray and / or flow of particles. In some cases, the parameter of the spray and / or flow of particles may comprise a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parameters of the spray. In some instances, the spray and / or flow of particles may be provided by an inhaler. In some cases, the parameter may comprise a bioavailability of a medicament of an inhaler. Bioavailability relates to ability of the inhaler medicament to be absorbed by the human body. Determination of the bioavailability of the spray can be determined using the determined surface area of the spray and in conjunction with known techniques. For example, a ratio comparison of the surface area of the spray under a drug concentration curve to an area under a curve for another method of applying the inhaler medicament. In some instances, the spray and / or flow of particles may be provided by any of acomponent of a fuel injection system, a component of a fire suppression or other emergency system, a component of a manufacturing system such as an application of a powder, paint or coating to a device under manufacture, a component of an agricultural system for applying a substance such as fertilizer or pesticide to a plant, or other such systems in which a spray or flow of particles may be used. In some cases, the parameter of the spray and / or flow of particles may be detected in real time and / or after the acquisition of data from at least the first signal and the second signal. In some cases, the device and / or system 100 may detect the parameter of the spray and / or flow of particles in real-time by deconvolving acquisition data of the spray and / or flow of particles as data is transferred to one or more processors of the device and / or system. For example, the one or more processors, described elsewhere herein, may deconvolve a portion of the acquisition data received from the detector of at least the first signal and the second signal of while the acquisition data is simultaneously transferred to computer memory (e.g., RAM, PCI-e / SATA solid-state hard drivers, and / or GPU memory). In some cases, the spray and / or flow of particles may be provided within a biological anatomical model 200, as shown in FIG.2. In some cases, the biological anatomical model may comprise a human airway. For example, the devices, systems, and / or methods of the disclosure may be used in-situ, in-vitro and / or in-vivo. In some cases, the biologic anatomical model may comprise a model of a human airway.

[0038] In some cases, the device 100 may comprise a device with at least two optical paths (118, 116). In some instances, a first optical path 118 and a second optical path 116 of the at least two optical paths may be positioned such that the first optical path is orthogonal to the second optical path. In some cases, the first optical path 118 may be positioned at a fixed angle with respect to the second optical path 116. In some cases, the device 100 may comprise a plurality of optical paths. In some cases, the plurality of optical paths of the device may be positioned at an equal angular spacing from one another. In some cases, the first optical path 118 and the second optical path 116 may intersect at a region 110, where e.g., a spray or a flow of particles may be analyzed.

[0039] In some cases, the first optical path 118 may comprise a first light source 110, one or more first optical elements (102, 106), a first sensor 114, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the one or more first optical elements may comprise a first set of emission optical elements 102 (e.g., beam expanding optics) and / or a first set of collection optical elements (e.g., beam reducing optics) 106. In some instances, the second optical path 116 may comprise a second light source 112, one or more second optical elements (104, 108), a second sensor 120, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the one or more second optical elements may comprise a second set of emission optical elements 104 (e.g., beam expanding optics) and / or a second set of collection optical elements 108(e.g., beam reducing optics). In some cases, the one or more first optical elements (102, 106) and / or the one or more second optical elements (104, 108) may comprise a cylindrical lens 312, plano- concave lens 310, spherical lens (308, 314, 316), pinhole 306, aspheric lens 304, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof, as shown in FIG.4A.

[0040] In some cases, the one or more first optical elements (102, 106) may be optically coupled to the first light source 110 and / or a first sensor 114. In some cases, the one or more second optical elements (104, 108) may be optically coupled to the second light source 112 and / or a second sensor 120. In some cases, the first set of emission optical elements 102 and the second set of emission optical elements 104 may generate a collimated light sheet from the first light source 110 and a second light source 112, respectively. In some cases, the first set of emission optical elements 102 and the second set of emission optical elements 104 may convert a non-gaussian emission of the first light source 110 and second light source 112 (e.g., emitted by an LED) to a collimated horizontal sheet. The first set of emission optical elements 102 and the second set of emission optical elements 104 may enable the use of an affordable compact light source such as an LED (a non-gaussian beam light source) that would otherwise be challenging to maintain a beam profile of as the beam travels through one or more optical components (e.g., the first set of emission optical elements 102, the second set of emission optical elements 104, the first set of collection optical elements 106, and / or the second set of collection optical elements 108). The one or more first and / or second optical elements (102, 104, 106, 108) in their arrangement(s) and in combination with other aspects of the disclosure, described elsewhere herein, maximize the transmitted and / or coupled power from a non-gaussian light source (e.g., LED) that would otherwise be lost when shaping the non-gaussian beam output of the non-gaussian source to a gaussian shape by e.g., the use of a filter. The increased optical power in the optical path(s) of the devices and / or systems, described elsewhere herein, may increase a signal to noise detection, accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, or any combination thereof performance metric of the devices and / or systems in determining one or more parameters of a flow of particles and / or spray, described elsewhere herein.

[0041] In some cases, the first light source 110 and / or the second light source 112 may comprise a pulsed light source e.g., a pulsed light emitting diode. In some instances, the first light source 110 and / or the second light source 112 may comprise a continuous wave laser and / or a pulsed laser. In some cases, light sources 110 and / or 112 may comprise a collimated laser. In some instances, when light source 110 and / or 112 comprise a collimated laser source, the one or more first opticalelements (102, 106) may comprise a plano-concave lens 310 and / or a cylindrical lens 312. In some cases, when light source 110 and / or 112 comprise a collimated light source, optical components 304, 306 and 308 may be removed and the intensity profiles in FIGs.4B to 4F will differ from what is shown in FIGs.4B-4F. The intensity profiles in FIGs.4B to 4F correspond to locations along the optical path from a non-Gaussian LED source. FIG.4G shows an intensity profile corresponding to the light source 110 and / or 112 comprising an idealized collimated Gaussian source (e.g., from a laser) that maintains its profile shape along the path (the path in such an arrangement being for example 310, 314 and 316). In some cases, the first light source 110 and / or the second light source 112 may comprise a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile (e.g., an LED). In some cases, the first light source 110, the second light source 112, or a combination thereof, may emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

[0042] In some cases, the one or more wavelengths may comprise a wavelength of about 300 nanometers (nm) to about 800 nm. In some cases, the one or more wavelength bands may comprise a wavelength band of about 300 nm to about 320 nm, about 300 nm to about 340 nm, about 300 nm to about 360 nm, about 300 nm to about 380 nm, about 300 nm to about 400 nm, about 300 nm to about 420 nm, about 300 nm to about 440 nm, about 300 nm to about 462 nm, about 300 nm to about 480 nm, about 300 nm to about 500 nm, about 300 nm to about 800 nm, about 320 nm to about 340 nm, about 320 nm to about 360 nm, about 320 nm to about 380 nm, about 320 nm to about 400 nm, about 320 nm to about 420 nm, about 320 nm to about 440 nm, about 320 nm to about 462 nm, about 320 nm to about 480 nm, about 320 nm to about 500 nm, about 320 nm to about 800 nm, about 340 nm to about 360 nm, about 340 nm to about 380 nm, about 340 nm to about 400 nm, about 340 nm to about 420 nm, about 340 nm to about 440 nm, about 340 nm to about 462 nm, about 340 nm to about 480 nm, about 340 nm to about 500 nm, about 340 nm to about 800 nm, about 360 nm to about 380 nm, about 360 nm to about 400 nm, about 360 nm to about 420 nm, about 360 nm to about 440 nm, about 360 nm to about 462 nm, about 360 nm to about 480 nm, about 360 nm to about 500 nm, about 360 nm to about 800 nm, about 380 nm to about 400 nm, about 380 nm to about 420 nm, about 380 nm to about 440 nm, about 380 nm to about 462 nm, about 380 nm to about 480 nm, about 380 nm to about 500 nm, about 380 nm to about 800 nm, about 400 nm to about 420 nm, about 400 nm to about 440 nm, about 400 nm to about 462 nm, about 400 nm to about 480 nm, about 400 nm to about 500 nm, about 400 nm to about 800 nm, about 420 nm to about 440 nm, about 420 nm to about 462 nm, about 420 nm to about 480 nm, about 420 nm to about 500 nm, about 420 nm to about 800 nm, about 440 nm to about 462 nm, about 440 nm to about 480 nm, about 440 nm to about 500 nm, about 440 nm toabout 800 nm, about 462 nm to about 480 nm, about 462 nm to about 500 nm, about 462 nm to about 800 nm, about 480 nm to about 500 nm, about 480 nm to about 800 nm, or about 500 nm to about 800 nm. In some cases, the one or more wavelengths may comprise a wavelength of about 300 nm, about 320 nm, about 340 nm, about 360 nm, about 380 nm, about 400 nm, about 420 nm, about 440 nm, about 462 nm, about 480 nm, about 500 nm, or about 800 nm. In some cases, the one or more wavelengths may comprise a wavelength of at least about 300 nm, about 320 nm, about 340 nm, about 360 nm, about 380 nm, about 400 nm, about 420 nm, about 440 nm, about 462 nm, about 480 nm, or about 500 nm. In some cases, the one or more wavelengths may comprise a wavelength of at most about 320 nm, about 340 nm, about 360 nm, about 380 nm, about 400 nm, about 420 nm, about 440 nm, about 462 nm, about 480 nm, about 500 nm, or about 800 nm.

[0043] In some cases, the first light source 110 and / or the second light source 112 may comprise an emission angle of about 10 degrees to about 180 degrees. In some cases, the first light source 110 and / or the second light source 112 may comprise an emission angle of about 10 degrees to about 20 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 30 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 50 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 70 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 120 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 140 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 160 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 180 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 30 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 40 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 50 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 80 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 90 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 120 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 140 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 160 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 180 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 40 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 70 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 80 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 90 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 120 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 140 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 160 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 180 degrees, about 40 degrees to about 50 degrees, about 40 degrees to about 70 degrees, about 40 degrees to about 80 degrees, about 40 degrees to about 90 degrees, about 40 degrees to about 120 degrees, about 40 degrees to about 140 degrees, about 40 degrees to about 160 degrees, about 40 degrees to about 180 degrees, about 50 degrees to about 70 degrees, about 50 degrees to about 80 degrees, about 50 degrees to about 90 degrees, about 50 degrees to about 120 degrees, about 50 degrees to about 140 degrees, about 50 degrees to about 160 degrees, about 50 degrees to about 180 degrees, about 70 degrees to about 80 degrees, about 70 degrees to about 90 degrees, about 70 degrees to about 120 degrees, about 70degrees to about 140 degrees, about 70 degrees to about 160 degrees, about 70 degrees to about 180 degrees, about 80 degrees to about 90 degrees, about 80 degrees to about 120 degrees, about 80 degrees to about 140 degrees, about 80 degrees to about 160 degrees, about 80 degrees to about 180 degrees, about 90 degrees to about 120 degrees, about 90 degrees to about 140 degrees, about 90 degrees to about 160 degrees, about 90 degrees to about 180 degrees, about 120 degrees to about 140 degrees, about 120 degrees to about 160 degrees, about 120 degrees to about 180 degrees, about 140 degrees to about 160 degrees, about 140 degrees to about 180 degrees, or about 160 degrees to about 180 degrees. In some cases, the first light source 110 and / or the second light source 112 may comprise an emission angle of about 10 degrees, about 20 degrees, about 30 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 50 degrees, about 70 degrees, about 80 degrees, about 90 degrees, about 120 degrees, about 140 degrees, about 160 degrees, or about 180 degrees. In some cases, the first light source 110 and / or the second light source 112 may comprise an emission angle of at least about 10 degrees, about 20 degrees, about 30 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 50 degrees, about 70 degrees, about 80 degrees, about 90 degrees, about 120 degrees, about 140 degrees, or about 160 degrees. In some cases, the first light source 110 and / or the second light source 112 may comprise an emission angle of at most about 20 degrees, about 30 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 50 degrees, about 70 degrees, about 80 degrees, about 90 degrees, about 120 degrees, about 140 degrees, about 160 degrees, or about 180 degrees.

[0044] In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise an area based (e.g., two dimensional) sensor. In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a complementary metal oxide sensor (CMOS). In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor.

[0045] In some cases, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a horizontal pixel length of about 500 pixels to about 2,048 pixels. In some cases, In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a horizontal pixel length of about 500 pixels to about 512 pixels, about 500 pixels to about 600 pixels, about 500 pixels to about 700 pixels, about 500 pixels to about 800 pixels, about 500 pixels to about 900 pixels, about 500 pixels to about 1,000 pixels, about 500 pixels to about 1,200 pixels, about 500 pixels to about 1,400 pixels, about 500 pixels to about 1,500 pixels, about 500 pixels to about 1,936 pixels, about 500 pixels to about 2,048 pixels, about 512 pixels to about 600 pixels, about 512 pixels to about 700 pixels, about 512 pixels to about 800 pixels, about 512 pixels to about 900 pixels, about 512 pixels to about 1,000 pixels, about 512 pixels to about 1,200 pixels, about 512 pixels to about 1,400 pixels, about 512 pixels to about 1,500 pixels, about 512 pixels to about 1,936 pixels, about 512pixels to about 2,048 pixels, about 600 pixels to about 700 pixels, about 600 pixels to about 800 pixels, about 600 pixels to about 900 pixels, about 600 pixels to about 1,000 pixels, about 600 pixels to about 1,200 pixels, about 600 pixels to about 1,400 pixels, about 600 pixels to about 1,500 pixels, about 600 pixels to about 1,936 pixels, about 600 pixels to about 2,048 pixels, about 700 pixels to about 800 pixels, about 700 pixels to about 900 pixels, about 700 pixels to about 1,000 pixels, about 700 pixels to about 1,200 pixels, about 700 pixels to about 1,400 pixels, about 700 pixels to about 1,500 pixels, about 700 pixels to about 1,936 pixels, about 700 pixels to about 2,048 pixels, about 800 pixels to about 900 pixels, about 800 pixels to about 1,000 pixels, about 800 pixels to about 1,200 pixels, about 800 pixels to about 1,400 pixels, about 800 pixels to about 1,500 pixels, about 800 pixels to about 1,936 pixels, about 800 pixels to about 2,048 pixels, about 900 pixels to about 1,000 pixels, about 900 pixels to about 1,200 pixels, about 900 pixels to about 1,400 pixels, about 900 pixels to about 1,500 pixels, about 900 pixels to about 1,936 pixels, about 900 pixels to about 2,048 pixels, about 1,000 pixels to about 1,200 pixels, about 1,000 pixels to about 1,400 pixels, about 1,000 pixels to about 1,500 pixels, about 1,000 pixels to about 1,936 pixels, about 1,000 pixels to about 2,048 pixels, about 1,200 pixels to about 1,400 pixels, about 1,200 pixels to about 1,500 pixels, about 1,200 pixels to about 1,936 pixels, about 1,200 pixels to about 2,048 pixels, about 1,400 pixels to about 1,500 pixels, about 1,400 pixels to about 1,936 pixels, about 1,400 pixels to about 2,048 pixels, about 1,500 pixels to about 1,936 pixels, about 1,500 pixels to about 2,048 pixels, or about 1,936 pixels to about 2,048 pixels. In some cases, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a horizontal pixel length of about 500 pixels, about 512 pixels, about 600 pixels, about 700 pixels, about 800 pixels, about 900 pixels, about 1,000 pixels, about 1,200 pixels, about 1,400 pixels, about 1,500 pixels, about 1,936 pixels, or about 2,048 pixels. In some cases, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a horizontal pixel length of at least about 500 pixels, about 512 pixels, about 600 pixels, about 700 pixels, about 800 pixels, about 900 pixels, about 1,000 pixels, about 1,200 pixels, about 1,400 pixels, about 1,500 pixels, or about 1,936 pixels. In some cases, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a horizontal pixel length of at most about 512 pixels, about 600 pixels, about 700 pixels, about 800 pixels, about 900 pixels, about 1,000 pixels, about 1,200 pixels, about 1,400 pixels, about 1,500 pixels, about 1,936 pixels, or about 2,048 pixels.

[0046] In some cases, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a vertical pixel length of about 2 pixels to about 200 pixels. In some cases, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a vertical pixel length of about 2 pixels to about 4 pixels, about 2 pixels to about 10 pixels, about 2 pixels to about 20 pixels, about 2 pixels to about 30 pixels, about2 pixels to about 40 pixels, about 2 pixels to about 50 pixels, about 2 pixels to about 70 pixels, about 2 pixels to about 100 pixels, about 2 pixels to about 120 pixels, about 2 pixels to about 140 pixels, about 2 pixels to about 200 pixels, about 4 pixels to about 10 pixels, about 4 pixels to about 20 pixels, about 4 pixels to about 30 pixels, about 4 pixels to about 40 pixels, about 4 pixels to about 50 pixels, about 4 pixels to about 70 pixels, about 4 pixels to about 100 pixels, about 4 pixels to about 120 pixels, about 4 pixels to about 140 pixels, about 4 pixels to about 200 pixels, about 10 pixels to about 20 pixels, about 10 pixels to about 30 pixels, about 10 pixels to about 40 pixels, about 10 pixels to about 50 pixels, about 10 pixels to about 70 pixels, about 10 pixels to about 100 pixels, about 10 pixels to about 120 pixels, about 10 pixels to about 140 pixels, about 10 pixels to about 200 pixels, about 20 pixels to about 30 pixels, about 20 pixels to about 40 pixels, about 20 pixels to about 50 pixels, about 20 pixels to about 70 pixels, about 20 pixels to about 100 pixels, about 20 pixels to about 120 pixels, about 20 pixels to about 140 pixels, about 20 pixels to about 200 pixels, about 30 pixels to about 40 pixels, about 30 pixels to about 50 pixels, about 30 pixels to about 70 pixels, about 30 pixels to about 100 pixels, about 30 pixels to about 120 pixels, about 30 pixels to about 140 pixels, about 30 pixels to about 200 pixels, about 40 pixels to about 50 pixels, about 40 pixels to about 70 pixels, about 40 pixels to about 100 pixels, about 40 pixels to about 120 pixels, about 40 pixels to about 140 pixels, about 40 pixels to about 200 pixels, about 50 pixels to about 70 pixels, about 50 pixels to about 100 pixels, about 50 pixels to about 120 pixels, about 50 pixels to about 140 pixels, about 50 pixels to about 200 pixels, about 70 pixels to about 100 pixels, about 70 pixels to about 120 pixels, about 70 pixels to about 140 pixels, about 70 pixels to about 200 pixels, about 100 pixels to about 120 pixels, about 100 pixels to about 140 pixels, about 100 pixels to about 200 pixels, about 120 pixels to about 140 pixels, about 120 pixels to about 200 pixels, or about 140 pixels to about 200 pixels. In some cases, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a vertical pixel length of about 2 pixels, about 4 pixels, about 10 pixels, about 20 pixels, about 30 pixels, about 40 pixels, about 50 pixels, about 70 pixels, about 100 pixels, about 120 pixels, about 140 pixels, or about 200 pixels. In some cases, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a vertical pixel length of at least about 2 pixels, about 4 pixels, about 10 pixels, about 20 pixels, about 30 pixels, about 40 pixels, about 50 pixels, about 70 pixels, about 100 pixels, about 120 pixels, or about 140 pixels. In some cases, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a vertical pixel length of at most about 4 pixels, about 10 pixels, about 20 pixels, about 30 pixels, about 40 pixels, about 50 pixels, about 70 pixels, about 100 pixels, about 120 pixels, about 140 pixels, or about 200 pixels.

[0047] In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a vertical length of about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm. In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a vertical length of about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm, about 0.1 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.1 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.1 mm to about 2 mm, about 0.1 mm to about 2.5 mm, about 0.1 mm to about 3 mm, about 0.1 mm to about 3.5 mm, about 0.1 mm to about 4 mm, about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 2.5 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 3.5 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 4 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm, about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 1 mm to about 2 mm, about 1 mm to about 2.5 mm, about 1 mm to about 3 mm, about 1 mm to about 3.5 mm, about 1 mm to about 4 mm, about 1 mm to about 5 mm, about 1.5 mm to about 2 mm, about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm, about 1.5 mm to about 3 mm, about 1.5 mm to about 3.5 mm, about 1.5 mm to about 4 mm, about 1.5 mm to about 5 mm, about 2 mm to about 2.5 mm, about 2 mm to about 3 mm, about 2 mm to about 3.5 mm, about 2 mm to about 4 mm, about 2 mm to about 5 mm, about 2.5 mm to about 3 mm, about 2.5 mm to about 3.5 mm, about 2.5 mm to about 4 mm, about 2.5 mm to about 5 mm, about 3 mm to about 3.5 mm, about 3 mm to about 4 mm, about 3 mm to about 5 mm, about 3.5 mm to about 4 mm, about 3.5 mm to about 5 mm, or about 4 mm to about 5 mm. In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a vertical length of about 0.1 mm, about 0.5 mm, about 1 mm, about 1.5 mm, about 2 mm, about 2.5 mm, about 3 mm, about 3.5 mm, about 4 mm, or about 5 mm. In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a vertical length of at least about 0.1 mm, about 0.5 mm, about 1 mm, about 1.5 mm, about 2 mm, about 2.5 mm, about 3 mm, about 3.5 mm, or about 4 mm. In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a vertical length of at most about 0.5 mm, about 1 mm, about 1.5 mm, about 2 mm, about 2.5 mm, about 3 mm, about 3.5 mm, about 4 mm, or about 5 mm.

[0048] In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a horizontal length of about 2 mm to about 40 mm. In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a horizontal length of about 2 mm to about 4 mm, about 2 mm to about 6 mm, about 2 mm to about 10 mm, about 2 mm to about 12 mm, about 2 mm to about 14 mm, about 2 mm to about 16 mm, about 2 mm to about 18 mm, about 2 mm to about 20 mm, about 2 mm to about 25 mm, about 2 mm to about 30 mm, about 2 mm to about 40 mm, about 4 mm to about 6 mm, about 4 mm to about 10 mm, about 4 mm to about 12 mm, about 4 mm to about 14 mm, about 4 mm to about 16 mm, about 4 mm to about 18 mm, about 4 mm to about 20 mm, about 4 mm to about 25 mm, about 4 mm to about 30 mm, about 4 mm to about 40 mm, about 6 mm toabout 10 mm, about 6 mm to about 12 mm, about 6 mm to about 14 mm, about 6 mm to about 16 mm, about 6 mm to about 18 mm, about 6 mm to about 20 mm, about 6 mm to about 25 mm, about 6 mm to about 30 mm, about 6 mm to about 40 mm, about 10 mm to about 12 mm, about 10 mm to about 14 mm, about 10 mm to about 16 mm, about 10 mm to about 18 mm, about 10 mm to about 20 mm, about 10 mm to about 25 mm, about 10 mm to about 30 mm, about 10 mm to about 40 mm, about 12 mm to about 14 mm, about 12 mm to about 16 mm, about 12 mm to about 18 mm, about 12 mm to about 20 mm, about 12 mm to about 25 mm, about 12 mm to about 30 mm, about 12 mm to about 40 mm, about 14 mm to about 16 mm, about 14 mm to about 18 mm, about 14 mm to about 20 mm, about 14 mm to about 25 mm, about 14 mm to about 30 mm, about 14 mm to about 40 mm, about 16 mm to about 18 mm, about 16 mm to about 20 mm, about 16 mm to about 25 mm, about 16 mm to about 30 mm, about 16 mm to about 40 mm, about 18 mm to about 20 mm, about 18 mm to about 25 mm, about 18 mm to about 30 mm, about 18 mm to about 40 mm, about 20 mm to about 25 mm, about 20 mm to about 30 mm, about 20 mm to about 40 mm, about 25 mm to about 30 mm, about 25 mm to about 40 mm, or about 30 mm to about 40 mm. In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a horizontal length of about 2 mm, about 4 mm, about 6 mm, about 10 mm, about 12 mm, about 14 mm, about 16 mm, about 18 mm, about 20 mm, about 25 mm, about 30 mm, or about 40 mm. In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a horizontal length of at least about 2 mm, about 4 mm, about 6 mm, about 10 mm, about 12 mm, about 14 mm, about 16 mm, about 18 mm, about 20 mm, about 25 mm, or about 30 mm. In some instances, the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may comprise a horizontal length of at most about 4 mm, about 6 mm, about 10 mm, about 12 mm, about 14 mm, about 16 mm, about 18 mm, about 20 mm, about 25 mm, about 30 mm, or about 40 mm.

[0049] The vertical and horizontal heights of the first sensor 114 and / or the second sensor 120 may be further varied based on at least factors such as an expected distribution area of the spray, a vertical or horizontal height of the corresponding path of optical paths 118 and 116, or a combination thereof.

[0050] In some instances, the first sensor 114 and the second sensor 120 may collect, obtain, and / or detect optical signals during an exposure time from the first optical path 118 and the second optical path 116, respectively. In some cases, the exposure time may comprise about 2 µs to about 500 µs. In some cases, the exposure time may comprise about 2 µs to about 5 µs, about 2 µs to about 10 µs, about 2 µs to about 15 µs, about 2 µs to about 20 µs, about 2 µs to about 40 µs, about 2 µs to about 50 µs, about 2 µs to about 100 µs, about 2 µs to about 150 µs, about 2 µs to about300 µs, about 2 µs to about 400 µs, about 2 µs to about 500 µs, about 5 µs to about 10 µs, about 5 µs to about 15 µs, about 5 µs to about 20 µs, about 5 µs to about 40 µs, about 5 µs to about 50 µs, about 5 µs to about 100 µs, about 5 µs to about 150 µs, about 5 µs to about 300 µs, about 5 µs to about 400 µs, about 5 µs to about 500 µs, about 10 µs to about 15 µs, about 10 µs to about 20 µs, about 10 µs to about 40 µs, about 10 µs to about 50 µs, about 10 µs to about 100 µs, about 10 µs to about 150 µs, about 10 µs to about 300 µs, about 10 µs to about 400 µs, about 10 µs to about 500 µs, about 15 µs to about 20 µs, about 15 µs to about 40 µs, about 15 µs to about 50 µs, about 15 µs to about 100 µs, about 15 µs to about 150 µs, about 15 µs to about 300 µs, about 15 µs to about 400 µs, about 15 µs to about 500 µs, about 20 µs to about 40 µs, about 20 µs to about 50 µs, about 20 µs to about 100 µs, about 20 µs to about 150 µs, about 20 µs to about 300 µs, about 20 µs to about 400 µs, about 20 µs to about 500 µs, about 40 µs to about 50 µs, about 40 µs to about 100 µs, about 40 µs to about 150 µs, about 40 µs to about 300 µs, about 40 µs to about 400 µs, about 40 µs to about 500 µs, about 50 µs to about 100 µs, about 50 µs to about 150 µs, about 50 µs to about 300 µs, about 50 µs to about 400 µs, about 50 µs to about 500 µs, about 100 µs to about 150 µs, about 100 µs to about 300 µs, about 100 µs to about 400 µs, about 100 µs to about 500 µs, about 150 µs to about 300 µs, about 150 µs to about 400 µs, about 150 µs to about 500 µs, about 300 µs to about 400 µs, about 300 µs to about 500 µs, or about 400 µs to about 500 µs. In some cases, the exposure time may comprise about 2 µs, about 5 µs, about 10 µs, about 15 µs, about 20 µs, about 40 µs, about 50 µs, about 100 µs, about 150 µs, about 300 µs, about 400 µs, or about 500 µs. In some cases, the exposure time may comprise at least about 2 µs, about 5 µs, about 10 µs, about 15 µs, about 20 µs, about 40 µs, about 50 µs, about 100 µs, about 150 µs, about 300 µs, or about 400 µs. In some cases, the exposure time may comprise at most about 5 µs, about 10 µs, about 15 µs, about 20 µs, about 40 µs, about 50 µs, about 100 µs, about 150 µs, about 300 µs, about 400 µs, or about 500 µs. In some cases, a range of exposure times e.g., about 40 µs to about 400 µs, may be used to generate a first signal and / or a second signal that comprises a signal of a flow and / or velocity of a particle and / or spray determined from a streaking effect the flow and / or velocity of the particle and / or spray using techniques such as Particle Streak Velocimetry. For example, if a particle in a flow or of a spray translates across the detector during the period of when the detector is exposing, a signal may be recorded across one or more detection elements and / or units of the detector. The streak length may be used to determine velocity of the flow of particles and / or particles of the spray, described elsewhere herein. In some cases, the velocity of the particles and / or spray may be determined using Particle Image Velocimetry. For example, Particle Image Velocimetry may be used when the same particles are visible in sequential images.Systems

[0051] In some cases, the disclosure provides a system configured to determine a parameter of a spray and / or flow of particles. In some cases, the system configured to determine a parameter of a spray and / or flow of particles may comprise: a first light source configured to transmit light through a first optical path to a first sensor, and a second light source configured to transmit light through a second optical path to a second sensor, where a spray and / or flow of particles is provided within the first optical path and the second optical path; and one or more processors in electrical communication with the first sensor and the second sensor configured to determine one or more parameters of the spray and / or flow of particles from a first signal of the first sensor when the first sensor senses light of the first light source transmitted through the spray, and a second signal of the second sensor when the second sensor senses light of the second light source transmitted through the spray and / or flow with particles.

[0052] In some instances, the devices, e.g., the device 100 to determine a pattern of a spray may be used in a system 208 to determine one or more parameters of a spray or flow of particles through a constrained geometry 200, as shown in FIG.2. In some cases, the constrained geometry 200 may comprise a biological anatomical geometry e.g., a human airway or a model of human airway. In some cases, the model may be generated using one or more computed tomography, visible light images, magnetic resonance imaging, or any combination thereof images to construct a three- dimensional model in a rapid prototyping material (e.g., PLA, ABS, flex jet, etc.). In some cases, the device 100 may be used in a system 208 to determine a bioavailability and / or related characteristic or parameter of a spray and / or flow of particles introduced through the constrained geometry 200. In some cases, a spray and / or flow of particles may be provided at an inlet of the constrained geometry 200 and suctioned through a region of the device 100 with a vacuum source and / or a negative pressure source in fluid communication with one or more suction ports of the system 206, as shown in FIG.2.

[0053] In other cases, the constrained geometry 200 may comprise a geometry of a fuel injection system, for example a volume or geometry of an engine receiving fuel from an injector. In some cases, the constrained geometry 200 may comprise a geometry of a safety system, for example a geometry of a pipe receiving a spray of a fire suppression substance. In other cases, the constrained geometry 200 may comprise a geometry of a manufacturing system for example a geometry into which paint is sprayed on an article of manufacture. In some other cases, the constrained geometry200 may comprise a geometry of an agricultural system, for example a geometry in which a fertilizer or pesticide is applied to an individual plant or seed.

[0054] In some cases, one or more processors may be in electrical communication with the first light source 110, second light source 112, first sensor 114, second sensor 120, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the system may comprise software that may cause the one or more processes to e.g., trigger emission of the first light source 110 and / or second light source 112. In some instances, the software may cause the one or more processors to trigger the first sensor 114 and / or second sensor 120 to collect, obtain, and / or acquire optical signals from the first optical path and second optical path, respectively.

[0055] FIG.16 shows a computer system 401 suitable for implementing the methods and / or processing algorithms of one or more images and / or video acquired by the sensor(s), as described elsewhere herein. The computer system 401 may process various aspects of information of the present disclosure, such as, for example, the extinction coefficient at various spatial positions across a region (e.g., a region of interest of a spray and / or a flow of particles) to determine one or more parameters (described elsewhere herein) of the spray and / or flow of particles. In some cases, the region of interest may comprise one or more vertical locations of the spray and / or flow of particles. The computer system 401 may be an electronic device. The electronic device may be a mobile electronic device.

[0056] The computer system 401 may comprise one or more central processing unit(s) (CPU, also “processor” and “computer processor” herein) 405, which may be a single core or multi core processor, or a plurality of processor for parallel processing. The computer system 401 may further comprise memory or memory locations 404 (e.g., random-access memory, read-only memory, flash memory), electronic storage unit 406 (e.g., hard disk), communications interface 408 (e.g., network adapter) for communicating with one or more other devices, and peripheral devices 407, such as cache, other memory, data storage and / or electronic display adapters. The memory 404, storage unit 406, interface 408, and peripheral devices 407 are in communication with the CPU 405 through a communication bus (solid lines), such as a motherboard. The storage unit 406 may be a data storage unit (or a data repository) for storing data (e.g., images and / or videos) and / or for storing the one or more parameters of a spray and / or flow of particles. The computer system 401 may be operatively coupled to a computer network (“network”) 400 with the aid of the communication interface 408. The network 400 may be the Internet, an internet and / or extranet, or an intranet and / or extranet that is in communication with the Internet. The network 400 may, in some case, be a telecommunication and / or data network. The network 400 may include one ormore computer servers, which may enable distributed computing, such as cloud computing. The network 400, in some cases with the aid of the computer system 401, may implement a peer-to- peer network, which may enable devices coupled to the computer system 401 to behave as a client or a server.

[0057] The CPU 405 may execute a sequence of machine-readable instructions, which may be embodied in a program or software. The instructions may be directed to the CPU 405, which may subsequently program or otherwise configured the CPU 405 to implement methods of the present disclosure. Examples of operations performed by the CPU 405 may include fetch, decode, execute, and writeback.

[0058] The CPU 405 may be part of a circuit, such as an integrated circuit. One or more other components of the system 401 may be included in the circuit. In some cases, the circuit is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0059] The storage unit 406 may store files, such as drivers, libraries, and saved programs. The storage unit 406 may store one or more images and / or videos of data collected from a spray and / or a flow of particles. The storage unit 406 may also store one or more parameters of the spray and / or flow of particles e.g., velocity, surface area flux, surface area per unit volume, number of agglomerates (e.g., number of large agglomerates), or any combination thereof parameters. The computer system 401, in some cases may include one or more additional data storage units that are external to the computer system 401, such as located on a remote server that is in communication with the computer system 401 through an intranet or the internet 400.

[0060] Methods as described herein may be implemented by way of machine (e.g., computer processor) executable code stored on an electronic storage location of the computer device 401, such as, for example, on the memory 404 or electronic storage unit 406. The machine executable or machine-readable code may be provided in the form of software. During use, the code may be executed by the one or more processor(s) 405. In some instances, the code may be retrieved from the storage unit 406 and stored on the memory 404 for ready access by the one or more processor(s) 405. In some instances, the electronic storage unit 406 may be precluded, and machine-executable instructions are stored on memory 404.

[0061] The code may be pre-compiled and configured for use with a machine having a processor adapted to execute the code or may be compiled during runtime. The code may be supplied in a programming language that may be selected to enable the code to be executed in a pre-complied or as-compiled fashion.

[0062] Aspects of the systems and methods provided herein, such as the computer system 401, may be embodied in programming. Various aspects of the technology may be thought of a “product” or “articles of manufacture” typically in the form of a machine (or processor) executable code and / or associated data that is carried on or embodied in a type of machine readable medium. Machine-executable code may be stored on an electronic storage unit, such memory (e.g., read- only memory, random-access memory, flash memory) or a hard disk. “Storage” type media may include any or all of the tangible memory of a computer, processor the like, or associated modules thereof, such as various semiconductor memories, tape drives, disk drives and the like, which may provide non-transitory storage at any time for the software programming. All or portions of the software may at times be communicated through the Internet or various other telecommunication networks. Such communications, for example, may enable loading of the software from one computer or processor into another, for example, from a management server or host computer into the computer platform of an application server. Thus, another type of media that may bear the software elements includes optical, electrical, and electromagnetic waves, such as used across physical interfaces between local devices, through wired and optical landline networks and over various air-links. The physical elements that carry such waves, such as wired or wireless links, optical links, or the like, also may be considered as media bearing the software. As used herein, unless restricted to non-transitory, tangible “storage’ media, term such as computer or machine “readable medium” refer to any medium that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution.

[0063] Hence, a machine-readable medium, such as computer-executable code, may take many forms, including but not limited to, a tangible storage medium, a carrier wave medium or physical transmission medium. Non-volatile storage media may include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as any of the storage devices in any computer(s) or the like, such as may be used to implement the databases, etc. Volatile storage media include dynamic memory, such as main memory of such a computer platform. Tangible transmission media includes coaxial cables; copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a bus within a computer device. Carrier- wave transmission media may take the form of electric or electromagnetic signals, or acoustic or light waves such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media therefor include for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD or DVD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards paper tape, any other physical storage medium with pattern of holes, a RAM, a ROM, a PROM and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, anyother memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave transporting data or instructions, cables or links transporting such a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer may read programming code and / or data. Many of these forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one more instruction to a processor for execution.

[0064] The computer system may include or be in communication with an electronic display 402 that comprises a user interface (UI) 403 for acquired images, video, and / or parameters of the spray and / or flow of particles. Examples of UI's include, without limitation, a graphical user interface (GUI) and web-based user interface.

[0065] Methods and systems of the present disclosure can be implemented by way of one or more algorithms and with instructions provided with one or more processors as disclosed herein. An algorithm can be implemented by way of software upon execution by the central processing unit 405. Methods

[0066] Aspects of the disclosure comprise a method of determining a parameter of a spray and / or a flow of particles 300, as seen in FIG.14. In some cases, the method of determining a parameter of a spray 300, may comprise: providing a spray and / or a flow of particles within a first optical path and a second optical path 302; illuminating the first optical path with a first light source and the second optical path with a second light source 305; and determining a parameter of the spray and / or flow of particles from a first signal generated by a first sensor optically coupled to the first optical path when the first sensor senses light transmitted by the first light source through the spray and / or flow of particles, and a second signal generated by a second sensor optically coupled to the second optical path when the second sensor senses light transmitted by the second light source through the spray and / or flow of particles 307. In some instances, the spray and / or flow of particles may be provided in a biologic anatomical geometry. The biological anatomical geometry may comprise a human airway and / or a model of a human airway. In other implementations the spray and / or flow of particles may be provided in a geometry associated with another field in which spray and / or a flow of particles may be applied, for example a geometry associated with applications such as fuel injection, manufacturing, agriculture, fire suppression, safety systems, or any combination thereof.

[0067] In some cases, the first sensor and / or second sensor may comprise an area sensor. In some cases, the first signal and / or the second signal may comprise a time integrated signal. In somecases, the first signal and / or the second signal may comprise an optically transmitted signal from one or more vertical cross-sectional planes of the spray.

[0068] In one example, step 302 may relate to providing a spray and / or a flow of particles 110 within optical paths 116 and 118. The step 305 may correspondingly relate to optical path 118 illuminated by light source 110 and optical path 116 illuminated by light source 112. Step 307 may correspondingly relate to determining a parameter of the spray from a first signal generated by sensor 114 optically coupled to the path 118 and a second signal generated by sensor 120 optically coupled to the path 116.

[0069] In some cases, the first area sensor and / or the second area sensor may comprise a CCD or CMOS sensor. In some cases, the first area sensor and / or the second area sensor may comprise a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels. In some cases, the first area sensor and / or the second area sensor may comprise a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels. In some cases, the first area sensor and / or the second area sensor may comprise a vertical length of at least about 3 mm.

[0070] In some cases, the first light source and / or the second light source may comprise a light emitting diode light source. In some cases, the first light source and / or the second light source may comprise a pulsed light source. In some instances, the first light source and / or the second light source may be configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light. In some cases, the first light source and / or the second light source may comprise a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile. In some cases, the first light source and / or the second light source emit a wavelength of at least about 462nm. The first light source and the second light source may be optically coupled to one or more first optical elements and one or more second optical elements, respectively, where the one or more first optical elements may be optically coupled to the first light source and the first area sensor, and the one or more second optical elements may be optically coupled to the second light source and the second area sensor. In some cases, the one or more first optical elements or the one or more second optical elements may comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the one or more first optical elements or the one or more second optical elements may comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

[0071] In some cases, the parameter determined at step 307 may comprise a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parametersof the spray and / or flow of particles. In some cases, the parameter of the spray and / or flow of particles may be detected in real-time (e.g., at least about 30 frames per second) from the detected first signal of the first area sensor and / or the second signal of the second area sensor. In some cases, the spray and / or flow of particles may be generated by an inhaler. In some cases, the parameter may comprise bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler.

[0072] Aspects of the disclosure comprise a method of determining a parameter of a spray and / or flow of particles provided within a biological anatomical geometry, 400, as seen in FIG.15. In some cases, the method of determining a parameter of a spray and / or flow of particles provided within a biological anatomical geometry may comprise: providing a spray and / or a flow of particles within a biological anatomical geometry, where the biological anatomical geometry comprises an optical path 402; illuminating the optical path with a light source 412; and determining a parameter of the spray and / or flow of particles from a signal generated by a sensor optically coupled to the optical path when the sensor senses light transmitted by the light source through the spray and / or flow of particles 422. In some cases, the signal may comprise a time integrated signal. In some cases, the signal may comprise an optically transmitted signal from one or more vertical cross- section planes of the spray and / or flow of particles. In some cases, the constrained geometry at step 402 may correspond to the constrained geometry 200 of FIG.2. In some cases, the constrained geometry at step 402 may correspond to a different biological anatomical geometry.

[0073] In some cases, the flow of particles is provided within a biological geometry as described and shown in FIG.15. In other cases, the flow of particles may be applied associated with another field in which spray and / or a flow of particles may be applied, for example, a geometry associated with applications such as fuel injection, manufacturing, agriculture, fire suppression, safety systems, or any combination thereof.

[0074] In some cases, the sensor may comprise an area-based sensor. In some cases, the sensor may comprise a CCD or CMOS sensor. In some cases, the sensor may comprise a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels. In some cases, the sensor may comprise a vertical length of at least about 3 mm. In some cases, the light source may comprise a light emitting diode. In some instances, the sensor may comprise a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

[0075] In some cases, the light source may emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light. In some cases, the light source may comprise a light source with a non- gaussian emission profile. In some cases, the light source may emit a wavelength of at least about 462nm. The light source may be coupled to one or more optical elements. The one or more optical elements may comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens,aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the one or more optical elements may comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

[0076] In some cases, the parameter determined at step 422 may comprise a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, local extinction coefficient K, or any combination thereof parameters of the spray and / or flow of particles. In some cases, the parameter of the spray and / or flow of particles may be detected in real-time (e.g., at least about 30 frames per second) from the detected first signal of the first area sensor and / or the second signal of the second area sensor. In some cases, the spray and / or flow of particles may be generated by an inhaler. In some cases, the parameter may comprise bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler.

[0077] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

[0078] In some cases, the parameter may comprise total surface area of a spray cross section. In some cases, the total surface area may be determined by adding together all surface areas of one or more particles identified in an image of the spray. In some instances, the surface area of the one or more particles may be determined by fitting a curve (e.g., a Gaussian curve) to each individual particle of the one or more particles in the image of the spray. A corresponding width of the Gaussian curve fit may comprise the width of the Gaussian fit curve at 1 / e of the intensity of a center (i.e., centroid) of the Gaussian fit curve. The widths of the one or more identified particles may then be used to calculate one or more surface areas corresponding to the one or more particles. The one or more surface areas may then be added together to obtain the total surface area of the image of the spray. One or more overlapping particles of the one or more particles in the image may be removed for purposes of determining the total surface area of the image of the spray when a determined surface area of the one or more particles exceeds a threshold surface area indicating overlapping particles. In some cases, one or more overlapping particles may be removed for purposes of determining a total surface area of an image of the spray when the one or moreparticles’ r-squared value(s) determined from the gaussian fit falls below a threshold indicating overlapping particles.

[0079] In some cases, the local extinction coefficient K, described elsewhere herein, may be determined and / or calculated for one or more vertical regions and / or locations of a spray. In some cases, an averaged local extinction coefficient K of a spray may be determined by averaging down a vertical column of data acquired by the sensor, described elsewhere herein. In some instances, a local extinction coefficient K may be determined for one or more vertical locations, regions, and / or positions of a spray by determining extinction coefficients for the data points detected across a row of the sensor at a given vertical position. Industrial Application Examples

[0080] The example devices, systems, and methods, described elsewhere herein, may be applicable to industries where spatial distribution of droplets and / or particles of a spray provides useful information. In one case, as described in relation to Example 7, the arrangements may be used to analyze flow of SV010 powder exiting an Osmohaler inhaler device.

[0081] In other cases, the example devices, systems, and methods described herein can be applicable in other aspects of administration of pharmaceutical substances involving a spray. In some cases, the example devices, systems, and methods described herein can be used to analyze flow of droplets of a spray in automotive applications, for example fuel being released from an injector into an engine. In other cases, the example devices, systems, and methods, described elsewhere herein, can be used to analyze flow of droplets or particles of a spray in manufacturing applications, for example, paint, coatings, and / or other substances being applied to a product under manufacture. In some cases, the example devices, systems, and methods, described elsewhere herein, can be used to analyze flow of droplets and / or particles of a spray in agricultural applications, for example pesticide or fertilizer being applied to a plant, plant seed and / or area. In some cases, the example devices, systems, and methods described herein can be used to analyze flow of droplets and / or particles of a spray in suppression systems, for example flame retardant being released from a sprinkler.

[0082] The example devices, systems, and methods, described elsewhere herein, are in some cases able to measure spatial distribution of droplets and / or particles. In some embodiments, the example devices, systems, and methods, described elsewhere herein, measure spatial distribution of droplets and / or particles of a spray using data acquired from multiple dimensions, for example via a first optical path and a second optical path. In some embodiments, cost effective, compact, high powerlight sources e.g., light emitting diodes and area base complemental medical oxide sensor (CMOS) can be used measure one or more parameters of a spray.

[0083] Although the above steps show each of the methods or sets of operations in accordance with embodiments described elsewhere herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize many variations based on the teaching described herein. The steps may be completed in a different order. Steps may be added or omitted. Some of the steps may comprise sub-steps. Many of the steps may be repeated as often as beneficial. One or more of the steps of each of the methods or sets of operations may be performed with circuitry as described herein, for example, one or more of the processor or logic circuitry such as programmable array logic for a field programmable gate array. The circuitry may be programmed to provide one or more of the steps of each of the methods or sets of operations, and the program may comprise program instructions stored on a computer readable memory or programmed steps of the logic circuitry such as the programmable array logic or the field programmable gate array, for example. NUMBERED EMBODIMENTS

[0084] The following embodiments recite nonlimiting permutations of combinations of features disclosed herein. Other permutations of combinations of features are also contemplated. In particular, each of these numbered embodiments is contemplated as depending from or related to every previous or subsequent numbered embodiments, independent of their order as listed.

[0085] Embodiment 1: A device configured to determine a pattern of a spray, comprising: a first light source configured to transmit light through a first optical path to a first area sensor, and a second light source configured to transmit light through a second optical path to a second area sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the first optical path and the second optical path, and wherein a first detected signal from the first area sensor and a second detected signal from the second area sensor are used to determine a parameter of the spray.

[0086] Embodiment 2: The device of embodiment 1, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

[0087] Embodiment 3: The device of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light emitting diode light source.

[0088] Embodiment 4: The device of any one of embodiments 1-3, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, are configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

[0089] Embodiment 5: The device of any one of embodiments 1-4, wherein the parameter comprises a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parameter of the spray.

[0090] Embodiment 6: The device of any one of embodiments 1-5, wherein the spray comprises a spray of an inhaler.

[0091] Embodiment 7: The device of embodiment 6, wherein the parameter comprises a bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler.

[0092] Embodiment 8: The device of any one of embodiments 1-7, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, emit a wavelength of at least about 462nm.

[0093] Embodiment 9: The device of any one of embodiments 1-8, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

[0094] Embodiment 10: The device of any one of embodiments 1-9, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

[0095] Embodiment 11: The device of any one of embodiments 1-10, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

[0096] Embodiment 12: The device of any one of embodiments 1-11, further comprising a first set of one or more optical elements optically coupled to the first light source and the first area sensor, a second set of one or more optical elements coupled to the second light source and the second area sensor, or any combination thereof.

[0097] Embodiment 13: The device of embodiment 12, wherein the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

[0098] Embodiment 14: The device of embodiment 12, wherein the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

[0099] Embodiment 15: The device of any one of embodiments 1-14, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile.

[0100] Embodiment 16: The device of any one of embodiments 1-15, wherein the parameter of the spray is detected in real-time from the first signal and the second signal.

[0101] Embodiment 17: The device of any one of embodiments 1-16, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a pulsed light source.

[0102] Embodiment 18: The device of any one of embodiments 1-17, wherein the spray is provided within an anatomical model.

[0103] Embodiment 19: The device of embodiment 18, wherein the anatomical model comprises a human airway.

[0104] Embodiment 20: The device of embodiment 18, wherein the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway.

[0105] Embodiment 21: A method of determining a parameter of a spray, comprising: providing a spray within a first optical path and a second optical path illuminating the first optical path with a first light source and the second optical path with a second light source; and determining a parameter of the spray from a first signal generated by a first area sensor optically coupled to the first optical path when the first area sensor senses light transmitted by the first light source through the spray, and a second signal generated by a second area sensor optically coupled to the second optical path when the second area sensor senses light transmitted by the second light source through the spray.

[0106] Embodiment 22: The method of embodiment 21, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

[0107] Embodiment 23: The method of embodiment 21 or 22, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light emitting diode light source.

[0108] Embodiment 24: The method of any one of embodiments 21-23, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, are configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

[0109] Embodiment 25: The method of any one of embodiments 21-24, wherein the parameter comprises a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parameters of the spray.

[0110] Embodiment 26: The method of any one of embodiments 21-25, wherein the spray comprises a spray of an inhaler.

[0111] Embodiment 27: The method of embodiment 26, wherein the parameter comprises a bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler.

[0112] Embodiment 28: The method of any one of embodiments 21-27, wherein the first light source, second light source, or a combination thereof, emit a wavelength of at least about 462nm.

[0113] Embodiment 29: The method of any one of embodiments 21-28, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

[0114] Embodiment 30: The method of any one of embodiments 21-29, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

[0115] Embodiment 31: The method of any one of embodiments 21-30, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

[0116] Embodiment 32: The method of any one of embodiments 21-31, further comprising a first set of one or more optical elements optically coupled to the first light source and the first area sensor, a second set of one or more optical optically coupled to the second light source and the second area sensor, or any combination thereof.

[0117] Embodiment 33: The method of embodiment 32, wherein the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

[0118] Embodiment 34: The method of embodiment 32, wherein the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

[0119] Embodiment 35: The method of any one of embodiments 21-34, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light source with a non- gaussian emission profile.

[0120] Embodiment 36: The method of any one of embodiments 21-35, wherein the parameter of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal of the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof.

[0121] Embodiment 37: The method of any one of embodiments 21-36, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a pulsed light source.

[0122] Embodiment 38: The method of any one of embodiments 21-37, wherein the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof, comprise a time integrated signal.

[0123] Embodiment 39: The method of any one of embodiments 21-38, wherein the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof, comprise an optically transmitted signal from one or more vertical cross-sectional planes of the spray.

[0124] Embodiment 40: The method of any one of embodiments 21-39, wherein the spray is provided in an anatomical geometry.

[0125] Embodiment 41: The method of embodiment 40, wherein the anatomical geometry comprises a human airway.

[0126] Embodiment 42: The method of embodiment 40, wherein the biologic anatomical geometry comprises a model of a human airway.

[0127] Embodiment 43: A method of determining a parameter of a spray, comprising: providing a spray within a biologic anatomical geometry, wherein the biologic anatomical geometry comprises an optical path; illuminating the optical path with a light source; and determining a parameter of the spray from a signal generated by a sensor optically coupled to the optical path when the sensor senses light transmitted by the light source through the spray.

[0128] Embodiment 44: The method of embodiment 43, wherein the sensor comprises an area- based sensor.

[0129] Embodiment 45: The method of embodiment 43 or 44, wherein the sensor comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

[0130] Embodiment 46: The method of any one of embodiments 43-45, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

[0131] Embodiment 47: The method of any one of embodiments 43-46, wherein the light source is configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

[0132] Embodiment 48: The method of any one of embodiments 43-47, wherein the parameter comprises a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parameters of the spray.

[0133] Embodiment 49: The method of any one of embodiments 43-48, wherein the spray comprises a spray of an inhaler.

[0134] Embodiment 50: The method of embodiment 49, wherein the parameter comprises a bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler.

[0135] Embodiment 51: The method of any one of embodiments 43-50, wherein the light source emits a wavelength of at least about 462nm.

[0136] Embodiment 52: The method of any one of embodiments 43-51, wherein the sensor comprises a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

[0137] Embodiment 53: The method of any one of embodiments 43-52, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

[0138] Embodiment 54: The method of any one of embodiments 43-53, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

[0139] Embodiment 55: The method of any one of embodiments 43-54, wherein one or more optical elements are optically coupled to the light source.

[0140] Embodiment 56: The method of embodiment 55, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

[0141] Embodiment 57: The method of embodiment 55, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

[0142] Embodiment 58: The method of any one of embodiments 43-57, wherein the light source comprises a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile.

[0143] Embodiment 59: The method of any one of embodiments 43-58, wherein the parameter of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal of the sensor.

[0144] Embodiment 60: The method of any one of embodiments 43-59, wherein the light source comprises a pulsed light source.

[0145] Embodiment 61: The method of any one of embodiments 43-60, wherein the signal comprises a time integrated signal.

[0146] Embodiment 62: The method of any one of embodiments 43-61, wherein the signal comprises an optically transmitted signal from one or more vertical cross-sectional planes of the spray.

[0147] Embodiment 63: A system configured to determine a parameter of a spray, comprising: a first light source configured to transmit light through a first optical path to a first area sensor, and a second light source configured to transmit light through a second optical path to a second area sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the first optical path and the second optical path; and a processor in electrical communication with the first area sensor and the second area sensor configured to determine a parameter of the spray from a first signal of the first area sensor when the first area sensor senses light of the first light source transmitted through the spray, and a secondsignal of the second area sensor when the second area sensor senses light of the second light source transmitted through the spray.

[0148] Embodiment 64: The system of embodiment 63, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

[0149] Embodiment 65: The system of embodiment 63 or 64, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light emitting diode light source.

[0150] Embodiment 66: The system of any one of embodiments 63-65, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, are configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

[0151] Embodiment 67: The system of any one of embodiments 63-66, wherein the parameter comprises a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parameters of the spray.

[0152] Embodiment 68: The system of any one of embodiments 63-67, wherein the spray comprises a spray of an inhaler.

[0153] Embodiment 69: The system of embodiment 68, wherein the parameter comprises a bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler.

[0154] Embodiment 70: The system of any one of embodiments 63-69, wherein the first light source, second light source, or a combination thereof, emit a wavelength of at least about 462 nanometers (nm).

[0155] Embodiment 71: The system of any one of embodiments 63-70, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

[0156] Embodiment 72: The system of any one of embodiments 63-71, wherein first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

[0157] Embodiment 73: The system of any one of embodiments 63-72, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

[0158] Embodiment 74: The system of any one of embodiments 63-73, further comprising a first set of one or more optical elements optically coupled to the first light source and the first area sensor, a second set of one or more optical optically coupled to the second light source and the second area sensor, or any combination thereof.

[0159] Embodiment 75: The system of embodiment 74, wherein the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

[0160] Embodiment 76: The system of embodiment 74, wherein the first set of one or more optical elements, the second set of one or more optical elements, or a combination thereof, comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

[0161] Embodiment 77: The system of any one of embodiments 63-76, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light source with a non- gaussian emission profile.

[0162] Embodiment 78: The system of any one of embodiments 63-77, wherein the parameter of the spray is detected in real-time from the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof.

[0163] Embodiment 79: The system of any one of embodiments 63-78, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof comprise a pulsed light source.

[0164] Embodiment 80: The system of any one of embodiments 63-79, wherein the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof, comprise a time integrated signal.

[0165] Embodiment 81: The system of any one of embodiments 63-80, wherein the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof, comprise an optically transmitted signal from one or more vertical cross-sectional planes of the spray.

[0166] Embodiment 82: The system of any one of embodiments 63-81, wherein the spray is provided within an anatomical model.

[0167] Embodiment 83: The system of embodiment 82, wherein the anatomical model comprises a human airway.

[0168] Embodiment 84: The system of embodiment 82, wherein the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway.

[0169] Embodiment 85: A device configured to determine a pattern of a spray, comprising: a light source configured to transmit light through an optical path to a sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the optical path, and wherein a detected signal from the sensor is used to determine a surface area per unit volume of the spray.

[0170] Embodiment 86: The device of embodiment 85, wherein the sensor comprises an area- based sensor.

[0171] Embodiment 87: The device of embodiment 85 or 86, wherein the sensor comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

[0172] Embodiment 88: The device of any one of embodiments 85-87, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

[0173] Embodiment 89: The device of any one of embodiments 85-88, wherein the light source is configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

[0174] Embodiment 90: The device of any one of embodiments 85-89, wherein the light source emits a wavelength of at least about 462nm.

[0175] Embodiment 91: The device of any one of embodiments 85-90, wherein the sensor comprises a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

[0176] Embodiment 92: The device of any one of embodiments 85-91, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

[0177] Embodiment 93: The device of any one of embodiments 85-92, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

[0178] Embodiment 94: The device of any one of embodiments 85-93, further comprising one or more optical elements optically coupled to the light source.

[0179] Embodiment 95: The device of embodiment 94, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

[0180] Embodiment 96: The device of embodiment 94, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

[0181] Embodiment 97: The device of any one of embodiments 85-96, wherein the light source comprises a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile.

[0182] Embodiment 98: The device of any one of embodiments 85-97, wherein the surface area per unit volume of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal.

[0183] Embodiment 99: The device of any one of embodiments 85-98, wherein the light source comprises a pulsed light source.

[0184] Embodiment 100: The device of embodiment any one of embodiments 85-99, wherein the spray is provided within an anatomical model.

[0185] Embodiment 101: The device of embodiment 100, wherein the anatomical model comprises a human airway.

[0186] Embodiment 102: The device of embodiment 100, wherein the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway.

[0187] Embodiment 103: A device configured to determine a pattern of a spray, comprising: a light source configured to transmit light through an optical path to a sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the optical path, and wherein a detected signal from the sensor is used to determine a surface area flux of the spray.

[0188] Embodiment 104: The device of embodiment 103, wherein the sensor comprises an area- based sensor.

[0189] Embodiment 105: The device of embodiment 103 or 104, wherein the sensor comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

[0190] Embodiment 106: The device of any one of embodiments 103-105, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

[0191] Embodiment 107: The device of any one of embodiments 103-106, wherein the light source is configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

[0192] Embodiment 108: The device of any one of embodiments 103-107, wherein the light source emits a wavelength of at least about 462nm.

[0193] Embodiment 109: The device of any one of embodiments 103-108, wherein the sensor comprises a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

[0194] Embodiment 110: The device of any one of embodiments 103-109, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

[0195] Embodiment 111: The device of any one of embodiments 103-110, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

[0196] Embodiment 112: The device of any one of embodiments 103-111, further comprising one or more optical elements optically coupled to the light source.

[0197] Embodiment 113: The device of embodiment 112, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

[0198] Embodiment 114: The device of embodiment 112, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

[0199] Embodiment 115: The device of any one of embodiments 103-114, wherein the light source comprises a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile.

[0200] Embodiment 116: The device of any one of embodiments 103-115, wherein the surface area flux of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal.

[0201] Embodiment 117: The device of any one of embodiments 103-116, wherein the light source comprises a pulsed light source.

[0202] Embodiment 118: The device of any one of embodiments 103-117, wherein the spray is provided within an anatomical model.

[0203] Embodiment 119: The device of embodiment 118, wherein the anatomical model comprises a human airway.

[0204] Embodiment 120: The device of embodiment 118, wherein the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway.

[0205] Embodiment 121: A device configured to determine a pattern of a spray, comprising: a light source configured to transmit light through an optical path to a sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the optical path, and wherein a detected signal from the sensor is used to determine a number of agglomerates the spray.

[0206] Embodiment 122: The device of embodiment 121, wherein the sensor comprises an area- based sensor.

[0207] Embodiment 123: The device of embodiment 121 or 122, wherein the sensor comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

[0208] Embodiment 124: The device of any one of embodiments 121-123, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

[0209] Embodiment 125: The device of any one of embodiments 121-124, wherein the light source is configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

[0210] Embodiment 126: The device of any one of embodiments 121-125, wherein the light source emits a wavelength of at least about 462nm.

[0211] Embodiment 127: The device of any one of embodiments 121-126, wherein the sensor comprises a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

[0212] Embodiment 128: The device of any one of embodiments 121-127, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

[0213] Embodiment 129: The device of any one of embodiments 121-128, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

[0214] Embodiment 130: The device of any one of embodiments 121-129, further comprising one or more optical elements optically coupled to the light source.

[0215] Embodiment 131: The device of embodiment 130, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

[0216] Embodiment 132: The device of embodiment 130, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

[0217] Embodiment 133: The device of any one of embodiments 121-132, wherein the light source comprises a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile.

[0218] Embodiment 134: The device of any one of embodiments 121-133, wherein the surface area flux of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal.

[0219] Embodiment 135: The device of any one of embodiments 121-134, wherein the light source comprises a pulsed light source.

[0220] Embodiment 136: The device of any one of embodiments 121-135, wherein the spray is provided within an anatomical model.

[0221] Embodiment 137: The device of embodiment 136, wherein the anatomical model comprises a human airway.

[0222] Embodiment 138: The device of embodiment 136, wherein the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway. EXAMPLES Example 1: Shortening the Effective Exposure Time of a Sensor Beyond Hardware Limitations

[0223] The effective exposure time of a sensor, described elsewhere herein, was reduced from a minimum exposure time of 21 µs to 10 µs, as shown in FIGS.3A-3C. By reducing the effective exposure time of the sensor, the spray and / or flow of particles may be effectively frozen in an instantaneous acquisition of signal effectively reducing motion blur between acquisitions of signal. Such reduction in motion blur allows the analysis of the parameters of transient and / or highly transient spray and / or flow of particles e.g., a spray of an inhaler traveling at velocities through a human airway with improved accuracy, robustness, and / or reliability. This instantaneous acquisition of signal was achieved by triggering the sensor in a way that the light source (e.g., an LED) was only illuminated for a portion of the sensor’s actual exposure. The effective exposure time is then the time that both the light source is on, and the sensor is exposing and does not include the time when the light source is off, but the sensor is still exposing. A schematic showing the timing of the triggering system is shown in FIGS.3A-3C, where a 5 V trigger signal, p = 31µs, that was sent to a light source driver circuit and cameras simultaneously (FIG.3A). The light source turns on within 1 µs of receiving the signal (FIG.3B), while the camera begins exposing after a delay Δt = 21 µs (FIG.3C). The sequence triggering emission and exposure of FIGS.3A- 3C resulted in an effective exposure time of ^^^^^^^^ = 10 µs. While the ^^^^^^^^ could be obtained with ashorter light source pulse that started at the same time as the camera exposure (after Δt), the presentsystem required only a single trigger signal is sent to all simultaneously reducing the need for additional timing equipment and thus reducing the complexity of the system and resulting delay or error caused by increasing the number of components or system components providing trigger signals. Example 2: Conserving Non-Gaussian Light Source Beam Profile

[0224] A non-gaussian LED light source, as described elsewhere herein, was tested as a light source for the devices and / or systems of the disclosure. It was desired to use a high-power LED light source instead of a laser due to the high-power LED’s ability to be pulsed brightly at a low cost and in a compact experimental setup. To achieve a collimated light-sheet from a high divergent, incoherent LED source, a pinhole 306, was placed shortly after the LED (110, 112), as seen in FIG.4A, to approximate a point-source. The full lens arrangement (304, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316) for each optical path is shown in FIG.4A, which shapes the light source after the pinhole into a round beam, and then expands the beam into a horizontal sheet in the region of interest between the cylindrical lens (312) and the second spherical lens (314) before reducing and reaching the sensor (114, 120). Horizontal intensity profiles of the light at five locations along the optical path (FIGS.4B-4F) show the profile shape change slightly between locations 1-3 (FIGS.4B-4D), and significantly changing at location 4 (FIG.4E) before returning to approximately the beam’s former shape at location 5 (FIG.4F). While a clean Gaussian beam will tend to maintain its profile shape during propagation and as the beam passes through aberration-free lenses, a non-Gaussian beam will not. The LED light after passing through the pinhole has a higher transverse mode present and can be considered non-Gaussian. As a consequence, the light’s intensity profile is subject to change as the beam propagates or passes through a lens, which is most notable at location 5 prior to the focal point of the second spheric lens (314). However, over a short region (between 312 and 314), the profile remains reasonably constant and may be reproduced on thesensor (114, 120) by placing the third spherical lens (316) after the focal point of the second spherical lens (314). Example 3: Transmittance and Local Extinction Coefficients

[0225] As a spray and / or flow of particles was provided vertically through a region of intersection between the first optical path and the second optical path of the device, described elsewhere herein, light was scattered off the particles of spray and / or flow of particles, reducing the transmittance of light through the spray and / or flow onto the sensor (e.g., a CMOS sensor). The Transmittance, T, was estimated by dividing the signal from the sensor by a reference image (after a background image is subtracted), providing the fraction of light that passes through the flow and reaches the sensor, ^^ =^^−^^^^^^^^−^^^^. (1) Here I corresponds to an image taken by the sensor during an experiment, ^^^^is a background image, and ^^^^is a reference image taken with no flow present but the light source on. The reference image, ^^^^, accounts for non-uniformity in the light sheet intensity profile. The transmittance is related to the local extinction coefficient by the Beer-Lambert-Bouger Law, ^^ = exp( − ∫^^ 0^^(^^)^^^^), (2) Where S is the distance light travelslocal extinction coefficient at a given position, s, along the light-path. For non-absorbing particles, K is related to the scattering cross section, ^^^^, ^^ = ∫∞ 0^^^^(^^)^^^^(^^)^^^^,(3)Where ^^^^(^^)^^^^ is the number of particles per unit volume in the diameter range D to D + ^^^^. For relatively large spherical particles in the Mie scattering regime (πD / λ > 5, where λ is the wavelength of the light source), the scattering cross section is ^^^^= πD2 / 2 and equal to half the particles surface area. If a single segment of length Δ, isthen equations (1)-(3) imply, ^^ = ^^−∆^^, (4)Where the extinction coefficient, K, is equal to half of the surface area per unit volume of the particles in the segment. The devices, systems, and / or methods described herein applied theserelationships to obtain local instantaneous estimates of K, and thus the surface area per unit volume, in the region of interests during vacuum driven flows through human airway models and an inhaler device. This involved constructing a mathematical grid (as seen in FIG.5) in the region of interest and taking transmittance measurements from a first optical axis and a perpendicular second optical axis, as described elsewhere herein, which allows local K values to be calculated using a deconvolution algorithm. Example 4: Deconvolution of Local Extinction Coefficient Values

[0226] A deconvolution approach to determining spatial extinction coefficients of a spray and / or flow of particles was developed, as shown in FIG.5. FIG.5 shows a grid constructed to represent a horizontal plane in the region where a first optical path and a second optical path of a device intersect, as described elsewhere herein. Each grid segment, shown in FIG.5, corresponds to a local extinction coefficient, denoted on FIG.5 by ^^^^^^, where c is the ‘circle number’ and z is the ‘zone number’. For clarity FIG.5 shows the grid the case where there are 8 light-paths peroptical path and / or optical axis of a device and / or system, whereas while during experiments there were up to 1024 light-paths per optical path and / or optical axis, allowing for higher radial and angular resolution. Each light path is denoted by ^^ ^^ ^^, where p is the path number and a is the axis and / or optical path number and corresponds to a transmittance value that is measured on the sensor (e.g., a CMOS sensor).

[0227] Using equations (1)-(3) as described in Example 3, the measured ^^ ^^ ^^values are related to the local extinction coefficients in the segments along the length of each light-path, shown in FIG. 5. For example, the equations corresponding to light-path’s ^^11and ^^21with respect to those shown in FIG.5 are, −ln(^^11) = ^^111^^3 + ^^12^^21(5) (6) where ^^ ^^ ^^its path. Similar equations may be derived for all paths on both optical paths and / or optical axis of the devices and / or systems, described herein, leading to a linear system containing 2048 equations (for 1024 light-paths per axis) and 2045 unknowns (K values). The set of linear equations of this system were ill-conditions with positive coefficients and were solved using a maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) methods. This was done by implementing an iterative expectation maximization(EM) algorithm, which converges to a non-negative solution for each K value in the grid shown in FIG.5. Example 5: Validation of Deconvolution Transmittance Compared Against Measured Transmittance

[0228] To validate the devices and / or systems and the deconvolution algorithm, an alternative approach to estimating surface area of particles for a simple flow was developed which could then be compared to K extinction coefficients from the deconvolution algorithm (Example 4).

[0229] The alternative approach to estimating surface area of particles involved producing a simple, near-monodispersed flow by dropping 160 µm diameter particles into a funnel and allowing the particles to fall under gravity into the imaging device and / or system region where the first optical path (i.e., first optical axis) and the second optical path (i.e., second optical axis) intersect (i.e., the region of interest). The particles were then imaged near the outlet of the funnel with the devices and / or systems, described elsewhere herein, allowing transmittance (T) measurements to be taken that could then be used to estimate K throughout the deconvolution algorithm (Example 4). FIGS.6A and 6B show an instantaneous transmittance profile measured from each of the first optical path (FIG.6A) and the second optical path (FIG.6B) after performing a spatial average vertically over approximately 50 pixels and binned horizontally onto 1024 bins (each bin corresponding to a light path within the optical path). The corresponding K surface obtained after deconvolution is shown in FIG.7, which shows most of the surface area concentrated in the center region and a small amount of noise near the edges. With K estimated, the T values were recomputed and compared to the measured T values by calculating the right-hand side of equations (5)-(6) solving for T. The resulting transmittance calculated is shown in FIGS.6A and 6B as a dashed line. Although the discontinuous “spikes” visible in the measured profiles are not reproduced by the deconvolution, the overall shape and magnitude is captured well. Example 6: Measuring Total Particle Area

[0230] The devices and systems of the disclosure were used to measure particle surface area and compared the measurement of particle surface area to the K surface area determined by deconvolution (Examples 4 and 5). Two images (FIGS.8A-8B) of a monodispersed flow of 160 µm diameter particles were acquired at t = 0.011 seconds (FIG.8A) and at t = 0.133 seconds (FIG. 8B) after commencing flow of the monodispersed particles through the intersecting regions of the first and second optical paths of the device and / or system, as described elsewhere herein. The totalsurface area of all particles in the intersecting region (i.e., region of interest) was determined first by detecting and / or segmenting the boundary of the particles in the acquired image using particle detection image processing algorithm (e.g., MATLAB function “imfindcircles’) and subsequently adding together the area of each of the identified particles. The identified boundaries of the particles are shown circled in FIGS.8A and 8B. In an image of a spray and / or flow of particles with more overlapping denser grouping of particles, as can be seen in FIG.8B, where the image processing algorithm may not capture all particle boundaries. Despite this shortcoming, a high fraction of particles are detected and the approach still functions as a reasonable way to approximate total surface area in the region of interest. In some cases, the identified boundaries can be used to determine presence or number of agglomerates using standard object detection techniques in image processing.

[0231] For the deconvoluted K surface area of particles, e.g., as shown in FIG.7, corresponding to the raw image data of FIG.8B acquired at time t = 0.133 seconds, total surface area of all particles, As, in a given volume may be computed by, ^^^^ = 2ℎ ∫^^ ^^^^^^ , (7)where As is the total surface area of particles, h is the thickness of the volume (i.e., the light sheet) and A is the cross-section of the volume considered. By integrating over the full region of interest, i.e., A = AROIwhere AROIis the area of the region of interest cross-section, the total surface area of all the particles may be obtained. The surface area for every image / transmittance measurement acquired serially as a function of time was determined using the particle detection method and the method of equation (7) integrating over the K surface determined by deconvolution. The results for the surface area calculation(s) are shown in FIG.9. The total surface area (As) from the particle detection method is slightly lower than as computed from the deconvolution at certain instances (e.g., over t ≈0.13-0.18 seconds) likely due to occasional under-counting when particles overlap. Overall, both methods are in agreement. This supports the validity of the particle detection method and the deconvolution methods in determining surface area of particles traveling through the region of interest of the device. The local surface area can be determined by letting the integral domain in equation (7), A, equal to the smaller sub-areas within the full region of interest, such as each of the grid cells shown in FIG.5. In some cases, the derived total surface area of all particles, or local surface area in each grid cell, can be combined with the previously derived velocity to determine surface area flux using equation (8), ^^ =^^^^^^ ^^ (8)where V is the volume of the region of interest or grid cell, and U is the particle velocity. If the particle size distribution of the powder / spray is known (e.g., using information from the powder / spray supplier), the particle size distribution can be combined with the velocity and surface area measurements to obtain a variety of quantities including volume flux and total number of particles by assuming spherically shaped particles.

[0232] For a polydisperse flow, an alternative method to measure the total surface area is to directly size each particle in the image and add together the corresponding surface area of all particles. The particles may be sized by applying a Gaussian curve fit (e.g., using MATLAB function “fit”) to each individual particle, and use the 1 / e width (distance from the particle centroid to where the intensity is 1 / e ≃ 37% of its center value) to measure the particle’s physical radius. Objects in the image that are too large or have a low coefficient of determination (‘r-squared’ value) with respect to the curve fit typically correspond to overlapping particles and are removed from the images for the purposes of this validation. The total surface area obtained from this direct sizing method may be compared to using equation (7) on the K surfaces obtained using the same images. The results for both these methods are given in FIG.17 for a polydisperse flow of copper particles. The results are in good agreement and support the direct sizing method and deconvolution method for measuring the surface area of polydisperse particles. Example 7: DPI and Human Airway Flows

[0233] Vacuum driven flow of SV010 powder (median D = 112 µm) exiting an Osmohaler inhaler device at 70 SLPM was analyzed by the devices, systems, and methods, as described elsewhere herein, with 1024 and 64 light paths (as described in Example 4). A raw image acquired from the vacuum driven flow is shown in FIG.10 indicating a polydisperse flow of particles compared to the densely packed particles of the monodispersed flow shown in FIG.8B. The transmittance profile of the flow of SV010 powder exiting the inhaler was acquired with 1024 and 64 light paths and is shown accordingly in FIG.11A and FIG.11B, respectively. The profiles are notably different with the N = 1024 case (FIG.11A) showing significantly more ‘spikes’ than for N = 64 (FIG.11B), due to less spatial averaging during the horizontal binning of the raw image down to N bins. The spikes as shown in FIGS.11A and 11B are not indicating noise in the measurement but are rather reflecting the fact that the flow is ‘discontinuous’ in that there are some regions with discrete particles present (T < 1), while other regions are empty (T =1).

[0234] Next, deconvolution of these T profiles (FIGS.11A-11B) was performed and the resulting K surfaces for the 1024 (FIG.12A) and 64 (FIG.12B) light path acquisitions were generated. Similar to the T profiles, the N = 64 light paths showed a smoother distribution of K (and hence particle surface area) across the plane. Each grid cell is larger in the 64 light path acquisition, which leads to less sensitivity to a small number of large particles dominating the total surface area of the region. For powders such as SV010, with relatively large particles and a wide size distribution, it may therefore be desirable to use a smaller N to easily interpret the data and identify the regions where the surface area is concentrated. With regards to the instant experiment in measuring the K surface area, the surface area appears to be concentrated in the positive and x and y directions (FIGS.12A and 12B). This observed result is visible with respect to the acquisition using 1024 light paths (FIG.12A) but is clearer in the observed result for the acquisition using 64 light paths (FIG.12B). Such an observation of surface area concentration of particles is of key interest to pharmaceutical applications involving DPIs, since the surface area concentration area areas where particles may be more likely to be deposited on the walls of the airway after inhalation.

[0235] Transient development of the SV010 vacuum driven flow was also analyzed by applying equation (7) to each instance in time, providing the total surface of all particles in the region of interest, Aswith time, as shown in FIG.13, for both the 1024 and 64 light path acquisitions. Unlike the T and K figures, here both cases are extremely similar indicating that the total surface area estimate is insensitive to the number of light paths. This is expected since the integration procedure is effectively combining all the local K regions into a single bin, which should not depend on the original N. The agreement thus supports the validity of the deconvolution algorithm at 1024 and 64 light paths. From FIG.13, when the vacuum source is switched on, the SV010 particles are initially accelerated by the air from rest, flowing through the inhaler and exiting the outlet forming an aerosol plume. The shape of As(t) shown in FIG.13, shows the rapid increase in Asas the particle-density of the plume reaches its maximum. After this As reduces as the last of the powder exits the inhaler and the signal approaches background level.

[0236] A vacuum driven flow of mannitol powder (median D = 3 µm) exiting an Aerolizer inhaler device at 40 and 70 SLPM was analyzed by the devices, systems, and methods, as described elsewhere. The average T and K values through the center of the spray obtained from the present system were compared to the same quantities obtained using the commercial laser diffraction instrument, the ‘Malvern Spraytec’. The Spraytec returned the transmittance, T, which is then used to calculate the average K through the centerline of the spray using equation (4). These T and K values obtained from both systems at the two flow rates are shown in FIGS.18A-18B, which wereobtained from a separate experiment and the results ensemble averaged over 5-6 runs. These are in agreement and supports the present system for measuring the extinction coefficient through a spray with smaller particles such as mannitol. Example 8: Measuring particle surface area across the sheet thickness

[0237] The device and systems, described elsewhere herein, are also capable of measuring the surface area of a spray / flow of particles vertically across the thickness of the measurement volume. This is achieved by performing the deconvolution on each row of pixels in the original image, rather than first taking an average across the height of the image. FIGS.19A-19B show the deconvoluted K surface for a flow of mannitol particles exiting an Osmohaler inhaler at two different vertical locations, near the top and bottom of the image. Here we see larger K concentrated in centre region near the top of the image in FIG.19A, and a somewhat more uniform distribution near the bottom of the image in FIG.19B. These K-surfaces were computed for every row in the image, and the average K for each of these horizontal planes calculated. This is presented in FIG.20 which shows how the average K varies with vertical distance across the thickness of the ROI for three instances in time and a time-average over t = 0.07-0.09 s. Since this is a turbulent flow, these instantaneous profiles can vary significantly, while the time-average is relatively flat over this thickness. Finally, if equation (7) is applied to each row in the image, except with h replaced with the thickness of a single row of pixels rather than the full sheet thickness, then these may be summed to recover the total surface area in the full ROI.

Claims

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A device configured to determine a pattern of a spray, comprising: a first light source configured to transmit light through a first optical path to a first area sensor, and a second light source configured to transmit light through a second optical path to a second area sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the first optical path and the second optical path, and wherein a first detected signal from the first area sensor and a second detected signal from the second area sensor are used to determine a parameter of the spray.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light emitting diode light source.

4. The device of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, are configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

5. The device of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the parameter comprises a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parameter of the spray.

6. The device of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the spray comprises a spray of an inhaler.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the parameter comprises a bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler.

8. The device of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, emit a wavelength of at least about 462nm.

9. The device of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

10. The device of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

11. The device of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

12. The device of any one of claims 1-11, further comprising a first set of one or more optical elements optically coupled to the first light source and the first area sensor, a second set of one or more optical elements coupled to the second light source and the second area sensor, or any combination thereof.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

15. The device of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile.

16. The device of any one of claims 1-15, wherein the parameter of the spray is detected in real- time from the first signal and the second signal.

17. The device of any one of claims 1-16, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a pulsed light source.

18. The device of any one of claims 1-17, wherein the spray is provided within an anatomical model.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the anatomical model comprises a human airway.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway.

21. A method of determining a parameter of a spray, comprising: providing a spray within a first optical path and a second optical path; illuminating the first optical path with a first light source and the second optical path with a second light source; and determining a parameter of the spray from a first signal generated by a first area sensor optically coupled to the first optical path when the first area sensor senses light transmitted by the first light source through the spray, and a second signal generated by a second area sensor optically coupled to the second optical path when the second area sensor senses light transmitted by the second light source through the spray.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

23. The method of claim 21 or 22, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light emitting diode light source.

24. The method of any one of claims 21-23, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, are configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

25. The method of any one of claims 21-24, wherein the parameter comprises a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parameters of the spray.

26. The method of any one of claims 21-25, wherein the spray comprises a spray of an inhaler.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the parameter comprises a bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler.

28. The method of any one of claims 21-27, wherein the first light source, second light source, or a combination thereof, emit a wavelength of at least about 462nm.

29. The method of any one of claims 21-28, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

30. The method of any one of claims 21-29, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

31. The method of any one of claims 21-30, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

32. The method of any one of claims 21-31, further comprising a first set of one or more optical elements optically coupled to the first light source and the first area sensor, a second set of one or more optical optically coupled to the second light source and the second area sensor, or any combination thereof.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

35. The method of any one of claims 21-34, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile.

36. The method of any one of claims 21-35, wherein the parameter of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal of the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof.

37. The method of any one of claims 21-36, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a pulsed light source.

38. The method of any one of claims 21-37, wherein the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof, comprise a time integrated signal.

39. The method of any one of claims 21-38, wherein the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof, comprise an optically transmitted signal from one or more vertical cross- sectional planes of the spray.

40. The method of any one of claims 21-39, wherein the spray is provided in an anatomical geometry.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the anatomical geometry comprises a human airway.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the biologic anatomical geometry comprises a model of a human airway.

43. A method of determining a parameter of a spray, comprising: providing a spray within a biologic anatomical geometry, wherein the biologic anatomical geometry comprises an optical path; illuminating the optical path with a light source; and determining a parameter of the spray from a signal generated by a sensor optically coupled to the optical path when the sensor senses light transmitted by the light source through the spray.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the sensor comprises an area-based sensor.

45. The method of claim 43 or 44, wherein the sensor comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

46. The method of any one of claims 43-45, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

47. The method of any one of claims 43-46, wherein the light source is configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

48. The method of any one of claims 43-47, wherein the parameter comprises a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parameters of the spray.

49. The method of any one of claims 43-48, wherein the spray comprises a spray of an inhaler.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the parameter comprises a bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler.

51. The method of any one of claims 43-50, wherein the light source emits a wavelength of at least about 462nm.

52. The method of any one of claims 43-51, wherein the sensor comprises a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

53. The method of any one of claims 43-52, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

54. The method of any one of claims 43-53, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

55. The method of any one of claims 43-54, wherein one or more optical elements are optically coupled to the light source.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

58. The method of any one of claims 43-57, wherein the light source comprises a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile.

59. The method of any one of claims 43-58, wherein the parameter of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal of the sensor.

60. The method of any one of claims 43-59, wherein the light source comprises a pulsed light source.

61. The method of any one of claims 43-60, wherein the signal comprises a time integrated signal.

62. The method of any one of claims 43-61, wherein the signal comprises an optically transmitted signal from one or more vertical cross-sectional planes of the spray.

63. A system configured to determine a parameter of a spray, comprising: a first light source configured to transmit light through a first optical path to a first area sensor, and a second light source configured to transmit light through a second optical path to a second area sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the first optical path and the second optical path; and a processor in electrical communication with the first area sensor and the second area sensor configured to determine a parameter of the spray from a first signal of the first area sensor when the first area sensor senses light of the first light source transmitted through the spray, and a second signal of the second area sensor when the second area sensor senses light of the second light source transmitted through the spray.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

65. The system of claim 63 or 64, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light emitting diode light source.

66. The system of any one of claims 63-65, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, are configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

67. The system of any one of claims 63-66, wherein the parameter comprises a velocity, surface area per unit volume, surface area flux, number of agglomerates, or any combination thereof parameters of the spray.

68. The system of any one of claims 63-67, wherein the spray comprises a spray of an inhaler.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the parameter comprises a bioavailability of a medicament of the inhaler.

70. The system of any one of claims 63-69, wherein the first light source, second light source, or a combination thereof, emit a wavelength of at least about 462 nanometers (nm).

71. The system of any one of claims 63-70, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

72. The system of any one of claims 63-71, wherein first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

73. The system of any one of claims 63-72, wherein the first area sensor, the second area sensor, or a combination thereof, comprise a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

74. The system of any one of claims 63-73, further comprising a first set of one or more optical elements optically coupled to the first light source and the first area sensor, a second set of one or more optical optically coupled to the second light source and the second area sensor, or any combination thereof.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein the first set of one or more optical elements or the second set of one or more optical comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

76. The system of claim 74, wherein the first set of one or more optical elements, the second set of one or more optical elements, or a combination thereof, comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

77. The system of any one of claims 63-76, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof, comprise a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile.

78. The system of any one of claims 63-77, wherein the parameter of the spray is detected in real-time from the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof.

79. The system of any one of claims 63-78, wherein the first light source, the second light source, or a combination thereof comprise a pulsed light source.

80. The system of any one of claims 63-79, wherein the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof, comprise a time integrated signal.

81. The system of any one of claims 63-80, wherein the first signal, the second signal, or a combination thereof, comprise an optically transmitted signal from one or more vertical cross- sectional planes of the spray.

82. The system of any one of claims 63-81, wherein the spray is provided within an anatomical model.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein the anatomical model comprises a human airway.

84. The system of claim 82, wherein the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway.

85. A device configured to determine a pattern of a spray, comprising: a light source configured to transmit light through an optical path to a sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the optical path, and wherein a detected signal from the sensor is used to determine a surface area per unit volume of the spray.

86. The device of claim 85, wherein the sensor comprises an area-based sensor.

87. The device of claim 85 or 86, wherein the sensor comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

88. The device of any one of claims 85-87, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

89. The device of any one of claims 85-88, wherein the light source is configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

90. The device of any one of claims 85-89, wherein the light source emits a wavelength of at least about 462nm.

91. The device of any one of claims 85-90, wherein the sensor comprises a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

92. The device of any one of claims 85-91, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

93. The device of any one of claims 85-92, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

94. The device of any one of claims 85-93, further comprising one or more optical elements optically coupled to the light source.

95. The device of claim 94, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

96. The device of claim 94, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

97. The device of any one of claims 85-96, wherein the light source comprises a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile.

98. The device of any one of claims 85-97, wherein the surface area per unit volume of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal.

99. The device of any one of claims 85-98, wherein the light source comprises a pulsed light source.

100. The device of claim any one of claims 85-99, wherein the spray is provided within an anatomical model.

101. The device of claim 100, wherein the anatomical model comprises a human airway.

102. The device of claim 100, wherein the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway.

103. A device configured to determine a pattern of a spray, comprising: a light source configured to transmit light through an optical path to a sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the optical path, and wherein a detected signal from the sensor is used to determine a surface area flux of the spray.

104. The device of claim 103, wherein the sensor comprises an area-based sensor.

105. The device of claim 103 or 104, wherein the sensor comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

106. The device of any one of claims 103-105, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

107. The device of any one of claims 103-106, wherein the light source is configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

108. The device of any one of claims 103-107, wherein the light source emits a wavelength of at least about 462nm.

109. The device of any one of claims 103-108, wherein the sensor comprises a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

110. The device of any one of claims 103-109, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

111. The device of any one of claims 103-110, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

112. The device of any one of claims 103-111, further comprising one or more optical elements optically coupled to the light source.

113. The device of claim 112, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

114. The device of claim 112, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

115. The device of any one of claims 103-114, wherein the light source comprises a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile.

116. The device of any one of claims 103-115, wherein the surface area flux of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal.

117. The device of any one of claims 103-116, wherein the light source comprises a pulsed light source.

118. The device of any one of claims 103-117, wherein the spray is provided within an anatomical model.

119. The device of claim 118, wherein the anatomical model comprises a human airway.

120. The device of claim 118, wherein the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway.

121. A device configured to determine a pattern of a spray, comprising: a light source configured to transmit light through an optical path to a sensor, wherein a spray is provided within the optical path, and wherein a detected signal from the sensor is used to determine a number of agglomerates the spray.

122. The device of claim 121, wherein the sensor comprises an area-based sensor.

123. The device of claim 121 or 122, wherein the sensor comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (CMOS).

124. The device of any one of claims 121-123, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

125. The device of any one of claims 121-124, wherein the light source is configured to emit one or more wavelengths or one or more wavelength bands of light.

126. The device of any one of claims 121-125, wherein the light source emits a wavelength of at least about 462nm.

127. The device of any one of claims 121-126, wherein the sensor comprises a horizontal pixel length of at least about 600 pixels.

128. The device of any one of claims 121-127, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical pixel length of at least about 20 pixels.

129. The device of any one of claims 121-128, wherein the sensor comprises a vertical length of at least about 3 millimeters (mm).

130. The device of any one of claims 121-129, further comprising one or more optical elements optically coupled to the light source.

131. The device of claim 130, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise a cylindrical lens, cylindrical concave lens, cylindrical convex lens, aspheric lens, spherical lens, pinhole, concave lens, convex lens, lens with a positive focal length, lens with a negative focal length, collimator, or any combination thereof.

132. The device of claim 130, wherein the one or more optical elements comprise expanding optics, reducing optics, or any combination thereof.

133. The device of any one of claims 121-132, wherein the light source comprises a light source with a non-gaussian emission profile.

134. The device of any one of claims 121-133, wherein the surface area flux of the spray is detected in real-time from the detected signal.

135. The device of any one of claims 121-134, wherein the light source comprises a pulsed light source.

136. The device of any one of claims 121-135, wherein the spray is provided within an anatomical model.

137. The device of claim 136, wherein the anatomical model comprises a human airway.

138. The device of claim 136, wherein the anatomical model comprises a model of a human airway.

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