Managing your condition at home

eChamber Portable Nebuliser Pro

A compact, rechargeable vibrating-mesh nebuliser (BHC-NEBPRO-1) — how to use it, keep it clean and get the most from it.

For patients & families
Nebulised Therapy Managing Your Condition · 5 of 26 Oxygen in the Home
Authorship & review
Dr Sean James Ledger, BSc Physio (Hons) MSc PhD FHEA
Director and Principal Physiotherapist
Ahpra registration PHY0002298174
Version
1.3
Last updated
6 September 2026
Next review
6 September 2027
Every guide on this site is reviewed at least once a year, and sooner when the evidence changes.
How these guides are written and reviewed →
In plain language

The eChamber is a small, battery-powered nebuliser you can use almost anywhere. It uses a vibrating mesh — a tiny plate covered in microscopic holes that shakes the liquid into a fine mist. It is quiet, quick and portable, but the mesh and the electrical contacts need looking after: keep the device dry, rinse the medication cup after every use, and give it a weekly vinegar-and-water clean. This page walks through using it and caring for it. It is for liquid medication nebulisation only.

e-chamber Portable Nebuliser Pro handheld vibrating-mesh nebuliser
e-chamber Portable Nebuliser Pro. Product code BHC-NEBPRO-1 (Bird Healthcare).
Products we stock — please read

Inspire Clinic uses and recommends the e-chamber Portable Nebuliser Pro and PARI MucoClear® (3% and 6%) hypertonic saline, and both are available for purchase at the clinic, so we have a commercial interest in them. We have written this guide because these are the products we set up and teach most often, and can therefore support properly — not because they are the only suitable ones.

Other nebulisers and nebuliser solutions are available in Australia through pharmacies and other suppliers, and many will do the same job. You are under no obligation to buy anything from Inspire Clinic, our clinical advice does not depend on where you buy your equipment, and if you already have a different device or would prefer one, tell us and we will help you use it well. Whether nebulised treatment is right for you, and what goes in the cup, remains a decision for your prescriber.

What is in the box

Before first use: clean, disinfect and dry all of the parts, and charge the device fully.

How to use it — step by step

1
Open the cupRemove the lid on the medication cup.
2
Add your medicinePour in your prescribed liquid medicine, filling to below the 10 ml maximum line — no higher.
3
Close the lidRefit the lid on the medication cup.
4
Fit mouthpiece or maskAttach the mouthpiece, or a mask if you prefer.
5
Switch onClick the blue ON/OFF switch to start (pull the slider down if it is covering the switch). A light comes on.
6
Hold it uprightKeep the nebuliser vertical so the liquid stays in contact with the mesh.
7
BreatheTake slow, deep breaths to inhale the medicine.
8
It stops itselfAfter about 8–10 minutes the device switches off automatically. If you need longer and there is still enough medicine, simply switch it on again.

Finishing and the weekly rinse

Every time you finish: nebulise 3 ml of warm tap water to flush the mesh. Once a week, nebulise 3 ml of warm tap water plus 1 ml of vinegar, then press ON/OFF to turn off. This keeps the fine mesh from clogging.1

Then detach the medication cup by pushing the "press" button behind the device and pulling the cup upwards. Dispose of any leftover medication, and clean any accessories you used.

Cleaning

  1. Remove the medication cup, lid, and mouthpiece or mask from the device.
  2. Submerge and hand-wash these parts in lukewarm water (no more than 50 °C) for about 5 minutes.
  3. Set them aside to dry in a clean place, then disinfect if required.2

To disinfect (if needed): place the cleaned medication cup, lid and mouthpiece in a disinfectant solution (such as Milton, following its instructions), or steam-sterilise in a standard baby-steam device. Air-dry completely afterwards.

Protect the electronics. Only ever wash the removable medication cup and accessories. Never rinse, submerge or dunk the device body or its USB charging port — water in the battery housing causes overheating or failure. Wipe the body with a slightly damp cloth and dry it. Make sure every part is completely dry before reassembling or charging.

Charging & battery

Looking after the mesh (medication cup)

The medication cup is a semi-disposable consumable with a maximum warranty of three months. Because vibrating mesh pushes liquid through microscopic pores, a fine mineral film gradually builds up and narrows them over time — this happens with every vibrating-mesh nebuliser and is not a fault3. To get the longest life from each cup:

Keep the pins and plates clean

The device works by making contact between the connector pins on the medication cup and the metal plates on the body. If either becomes dirty or corroded, the nebuliser may light up but produce no mist, because the signal cannot pass. After each use, gently clean and dry both the pins and the plates, leave no moisture or medicine on them, and store the device somewhere clean and dry.

Troubleshooting

ProblemLikely causeWhat to do
Won't turn on / no lightDevice isn't switched onTurn it on and check the light comes on.
Button is jammedPress the ON/OFF switch to dislodge it.
Device isn't chargingCharge it (see Charging & battery).
USB cable may be brokenUse a cable with the same voltage/amp rating, or contact warranty. A non-matching cable may void warranty.
Mist is too weakNot enough medicine in the cupRefill — no higher than the 10 ml line.
Wrong medication in useCheck with your prescriber; see product warnings.
The spray mesh is blockedPut 3 drops of white vinegar and 3–6 ml water in the cup and run it until the cup is empty — do not inhale this — then clean the cup.
Lights up but no mist at allConnector pins or metal plates are dirty or corrodedSwitch off, then gently clean and dry both the pins on the cup and the plates on the body (see Keep the pins and plates clean).
Some medicine left in the cupThis is normalA small residual amount is expected.
Strange noisePossible product faultContact warranty / Bird Healthcare.

Storage

Store the device in its carry case, keeping the temperature between −20 °C and 55 °C, relative humidity under 80%, and atmospheric pressure between 70 and 106 kPa. Do not leave it unused in storage for more than 5 years.

Older device? (made 2021 or earlier)

Bird Healthcare will voluntarily replace any e-chamber nebuliser made in 2021 or earlier (the manufacture date is printed on the base) with the current model at no cost — the newer connector alloy resists corrosion and conducts better. To arrange a replacement, email service@birdhealthcare.com.

References & evidence base

  1. Bird Healthcare. e-chamber nebuliser (BHC-NEBPRO-1) — instructions for use, cleaning and disinfection. Melbourne: Bird Healthcare; 2026.
  2. Boe J, Dennis JH, O’Driscoll BR, et al. European Respiratory Society guidelines on the use of nebulizers. Eur Respir J 2001;18(1):228–242.
  3. Ari A, Restrepo RD; American Association for Respiratory Care. Aerosol delivery device selection for spontaneously breathing patients. Respir Care 2012;57(4):613–626.

References are numbered in citation order (Vancouver/BMJ style) and were current at the time of writing. Cleaning and maintenance steps follow the manufacturer’s instructions for this device — always follow the leaflet supplied with your own nebuliser and your prescriber’s advice.

How we treat this at the clinic

More than one of our services applies here, and which combination suits you depends on what your assessment shows.

Important: This page summarises the manufacturer's instructions and general nebuliser care — it is not a substitute for the printed manual supplied with your device, your prescriber's advice, or the leaflet with your medicine. Use the eChamber for prescribed liquid medicines only. If your breathing worsens during or after nebulising, stop and seek advice; in an emergency call 000. For help, contact Inspire Clinic.

Corrections: If something on this page is wrong, out of date or unclear, we want to know. Email reception@inspireclinic.au with the page name and what you believe is incorrect. Substantive corrections are made promptly, and the guide’s version and last-updated date are changed to reflect it.