NUVE Nebuliser User Guide
Everything you need to get the most out of your NUVE Nebuliser: setup, daily use, cleaning, troubleshooting, the answers to the questions we hear most, and what the research says about mesh technology.
1. What's in the box
Vibrating-mesh device with graduated cup. Model KF-WHQ-601B by Cofoe Medical, CE 0123 medical device, IPX5 splash-resistant.
Soft, shape-retaining silicone.
For adults and older children who can breathe through the mouth.
Read section 7 before you plug anything in.
Spare parts: the Pure Replacement Set contains the adult mask, the kids mask, the mouthpiece and a pair of straps. Replace masks and mouthpiece every 6 to 12 months of daily use, or sooner if you notice cracks, discoloration or a loose seal.
2. Know your device
Medicine cup, on top, graduated 5 / 10 / 15 ml. The top cover opens to fill it.
Mist outlet, on the front of the cup: the mask or the mouthpiece clips on here. The vibrating mesh sits at the base of the cup.
LED display: 20 adult mode · 10 child mode · 05 cleaning mode.
Power button, under the display: press to start, press again to change mode.
Battery compartment, behind the rounded cover on the side: two AA batteries.
USB-C port, on the side of the body under the small rubber flap. PUSH button at the base of the cup to release it for cleaning.
3. Before the first use
4. How to use it, step by step
5. What goes in the cup, and what never should
| Use | Avoid |
|---|---|
|
✓ Sterile saline solution (0.9 %), the everyday choice for congestion and dry airways ✓ Medication prescribed by your doctor for use in a nebuliser ✓ Hypertonic saline if your doctor recommends it |
✕ Purified or distilled water in the cup for a session: it does not produce mist on a mesh device ✕ Essential oils, perfumes, alcohol, honey or any homemade mixture: they clog and damage the mesh ✕ Thick suspensions or syrups not designed for nebulisation ✕ Hot liquids |
Only use products designed for inhalation. If you have a respiratory condition, follow your doctor's instructions on what to nebulise, how much and how often.
6. Cleaning, the part that matters most
A mesh has thousands of microscopic holes. Dried saline or medication is what clogs them. Two minutes of care after each session keep the device working for years.
After every session
Once a week
Disinfect the mask, mouthpiece and cup: soak them for 30 minutes in one part white vinegar to three parts water, or follow the disinfection method your doctor recommends, then rinse and air-dry. This is the routine recommended by respiratory care associations for home nebulisers.
7. Batteries and charging
- The device runs on two AA batteries in the compartment on the side, behind the rounded cover next to the display. Insert them with + and − as marked inside.
- The USB-C port is on the side of the body, under the small rubber flap, not underneath the device. Use the included cable on a standard 5 V USB charger, such as a phone charger. Fast-charge (PD) chargers are not supported.
- Only rechargeable Ni-MH batteries can be charged inside the device. Rechargeable cells say "Ni-MH" or "rechargeable" and "1.2V" on their side. Never plug the cable in with alkaline batteries inside: they can leak and damage the device.
- Charging time depends on the batteries: leave the device plugged in until the indicator shows the charge is complete, which can take a few hours for AA cells. A full charge covers several sessions. Recharge before travelling, and remove the batteries if you store the device for several weeks.
- Prefer disposable batteries? Use good-quality alkaline AA and never connect the cable.
8. Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| Does not turn on | Open the side compartment: both batteries in, + and − the right way round? Batteries that have travelled can arrive empty: charge them in the device with the USB-C cable (rechargeable cells only) or fit fresh AA batteries, then try again. Also check the cup: the device will not start on an empty cup. |
| No mist | Liquid above the minimum level? Device held upright so the liquid touches the mesh? Batteries charged? If all three are fine, run two cleaning cycles back to back: a dried mesh is the usual cause. |
| Weak mist | Switch to adult mode (20). Run a cleaning cycle. Check that you are using saline or a nebuliser medication, not a thick liquid. |
| Mist comes and goes | The liquid is moving away from the mesh. Hold the device more upright and keep it still. |
| Drops at the mouthpiece or inside the mask | Normal condensation, see the first question below. Hold the device upright, do not exhale hard into the mouthpiece, tap the drops off during a pause. |
| Leaking from the cup | Overfilled, or the cover is not fully closed. Empty to the top mark and close the cover until it clicks. |
| Sessions take much longer than before | Partial clog. Run the cleaning mode twice, then let the mesh air-dry fully. If it persists after a week of proper cleaning, contact us. |
| A part does not fit or arrived damaged | Email us a photo and your order number: we replace defective parts. |
9. Questions we hear most
There are drops at the mouthpiece. Is my device faulty?
No. What you are seeing is condensation, and it is a normal part of how every nebuliser works.
The mesh pushes the liquid through thousands of microscopic holes and turns it into a mist of tiny water-based droplets. When part of that mist touches the cooler plastic of the mouthpiece or mask, the droplets join together and become visible drops, exactly like steam on a bathroom mirror. It is more noticeable on the stronger setting, in a cool room, during long sessions, or when the device is tilted.
Large plug-in nebulisers lose liquid the same way, you just don't see it. In a traditional jet nebuliser, larger droplets hit the inside walls and drip back into the reservoir, mist condenses inside the long tubing, and up to half of the dose can remain in the cup at the end of a treatment. On a compact device the mouthpiece sits right next to the mesh, with no tubing in between, so the few drops that form are visible.
It is already part of how nebulised doses work. No nebuliser delivers 100 % of the liquid into the lungs: some stays in the device, some condenses, some is breathed back out. Doses are set with these normal losses in mind. The drops are the same liquid you put in the cup, nothing added or altered.
To keep drops to a minimum: hold the device upright, do not fill above the top mark, breathe gently and avoid exhaling hard into the mouthpiece, pause and tap the drops off during a long session, and run the cleaning mode after every use. A laboratory study found that mesh nebulisers that were not cleaned produced larger droplets over time.
When it is not normal: liquid dripping steadily or leaking from the cup itself, the device "spitting" large drops instead of a fine even mist, or weak or no mist even after cleaning. Send us a short video and we will take care of it.
Sources: BestBets clinical review on mesh vs jet nebulisers · Respiratory Care, mesh vs jet nebuliser in children with asthma · Therapeutic Delivery, review of mesh nebulisers
It is so small. Is it as effective as the big machine?
Yes. Size has nothing to do with the dose. A compressor nebuliser is big because it contains a motor and an air pump; the mesh does the same job with a vibrating plate the size of a coin. The research in section 10 shows mesh nebulisers leave less liquid behind and deliver the dose faster than jet nebulisers, with comparable lung deposition. What matters is that the liquid covers the mesh and that the mesh is clean.
Why does it stop by itself?
Two safety behaviours. The device stops when the liquid no longer reaches the mesh, so the mesh never runs dry. And each mode has a time limit, after which the device switches off. If it stops with liquid still in the cup, tilt it back upright so the liquid touches the mesh and press the button again.
It worked for weeks, now the mist is weak. Is it worn out?
Most of the time it is a clogged mesh, not a worn one. Run the cleaning mode two or three times in a row with warm water, let it dry completely with the cover open, then test with saline in adult mode. If the mist is back, keep to the routine: clean after every session, never leave liquid in the cup. If the mist stays weak after a week of proper cleaning, send us a short video with saline in the cup and we will sort it out. For reference, leading manufacturers recommend replacing a nebuliser head every 3 to 6 months of daily use: a slow decline after months is normal wear, a failure after two or three weeks despite cleaning is not, and we replace it.
Can I use tap water or distilled water?
For a session, use saline or a prescribed solution only. Distilled or purified water does not produce mist on a mesh device, and tap water is not meant for inhalation. For the cleaning cycle, warm tap water is fine; use distilled water for cleaning only if your tap water is very hard.
Can adults and children share one device?
Yes. Use the adult mask or the kids mask and the matching mode, and clean the parts between users. For hygiene we recommend one mask per person.
Can I use my prescribed medication in it?
Many nebuliser medications are compatible with mesh devices, but ask your doctor or pharmacist to confirm for your specific prescription, and never use products that are not designed for nebulisation.
Is the medicine cup sold separately?
The cup is part of the device. Masks, mouthpiece and straps are in the Replacement Set. If your cup is damaged, contact us with your order number.
10. What the research says
The NUVE Nebuliser is a vibrating-mesh nebuliser. Instead of a compressor pushing air through the liquid, a fine mesh vibrates thousands of times per second and turns the liquid into a mist. That is why it is quiet, small and cordless, and it also changes how much of the liquid actually reaches you.
More than 60 % of the droplets are under 5 microns, the range that reaches the lower airways, with an output of at least 0.2 ml per minute.
- A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis in patients with COPD reported that vibrating-mesh nebulisers leave far less liquid behind at the end of a session (residual volume under 10 % versus up to 50 % for jet nebulisers) and deliver the dose faster. Read the study
- A 2026 laboratory comparison on paediatric breathing patterns found that vibrating-mesh nebulisers delivered close to double the dose of jet nebulisers during spontaneous breathing, with shorter sessions. Read the study
- In a hospital emergency department, children with asthma flare-ups treated with a vibrating-mesh nebuliser needed fewer treatments and less time to improve than those treated with a jet nebuliser. Respiratory Care
- A scientific review concluded that lung deposition with mesh nebulisers is similar to jet nebulisers, while mesh devices are smaller, quieter and portable. Therapeutic Delivery
- On saline: the 2023 Cochrane review of 34 trials (5,205 infants) found that nebulised hypertonic saline may modestly shorten hospital stays and reduce hospitalisation in acute bronchiolitis, with no significant adverse events reported. Evidence quality was rated low to moderate, and this applies to treatment supervised by clinicians. Read the review
- On hygiene: respiratory care guidelines insist that cleaning after each use and weekly disinfection are what prevent contamination of home nebulisers. AARC guide · American Lung Association
Email us with your order number and, if you can, a short video. Replies come from a real person, usually within a day.
Write to contact@nuvesleep.com