What is a Meter Dose Inhaler (MDI) used for?

A Meter Dose Inhaler (MDI) is specifically designed to dispense premeasured sprays of medication directly into the lungs. This device allows patients to inhale a specific dose of medication with each puff, making it an efficient way to deliver bronchodilators or corticosteroids for respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The mechanism ensures that the patient receives an exact amount of medication with each activation, enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment.

The other options pertain to functions not associated with an MDI. For example, providing moisture to the airways aligns more with devices like humidifiers rather than an MDI. Delivering oxygen directly is the role of oxygen tanks or concentrators, not inhalers. Storing liquid medication for nebulization relates to nebulizers, which are used for a different type of aerosol delivery. Thus, the role of an MDI is clearly distinct and focused on delivering medication in a controlled and precise manner.