Aerosol actuator

• US 5,899,201 A
• Filed: 05/26/1993
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Schultz, Robert K., Sioutas, Constantinos
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US08/067,221
• Time in Patent Office: 2,169 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.18, 128/200.23, 128/203.15
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/002 by flow deviation causing inertial separation of transported particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0086 Inhalation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder

Abstract

A hand held aerosol actuator involving an aerosol source and a chamber having walls defining a constriction aperture. The aerosol source communicates with the chamber and directs an aerosol dose along an axis into the chamber. The constriction aperture is coaxial with the exit orifice and is dimensioned such that the respirable mass of the aerosol dose is increased relative to the respirable mass of an aerosol dose expelled through a like actuator not having the constriction aperture.

Claims

1. A hand held aerosol actuator, comprising:

an aerosol source capable of expelling a turbulent aerosol dose of drug comprising particles of respirable size and a chamber having walls defining a constriction aperture;

wherein

the aerosol source communicates with the chamber and comprises an exit orifice that directs the aerosol dose along an axis into the chamber, the walls defining the constriction aperture are opposite the exit orifice, and the constriction aperture is coaxial with the exit orifice and has a cross sectional area of 0.20 cm² to 0.60 cm².

2. An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol source comprises a pressurize aerosol canister comprising an aerosol valve.

3. An actuator according to claim 2, wherein the pressurized aerosol canister comprises a metered dose aerosol valve and contains a propellant based medicinal aerosol formulation.

4. An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol source comprises:

a pressurized aerosol canister comprising an aerosol valve, in combination with a nozzle block defining said exit orifice.

5. An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol source comprises means for producing a dry powder aerosol.

6. An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol source is a dry powder aerosol source using a source of compressed gas to expel a dose of drug from an exit orifice.

7. An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the constriction aperture has a cross sectional area of about 0.30 cm².

8. An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the constriction aperture has a circular cross section.

9. An actuator according to claim 1, wherein the walls defining the constriction aperture are comprised by a separable mouthpiece.