Metered dose dispensing aerosol valve

• US 6,454,140 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kindeva Drug Delivery L.P.
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Jinks, Philip A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US09/907,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20020079337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 222/402.2
• US Class Current: 222/402.2
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/54 Metering valves ; Metering valve assemblies

Abstract

A metered dose aerosol valve that minimizes loss of prime and loss of drug dose by having a one-way valve mechanism positioned toward the end of a transfer passage that allows drug substance to pass from the aerosol container into the metering chamber, but not back.

Claims

1. A metered dose dispensing aerosol valve for a container comprising a valve body defining an aperture, a seal mounted at the aperture, a metering chamber, a tank seal, a transfer passage through which a quantity of substance to be dispensed can pass from the container into the metering chamber and a valve stem having a dispensing passage, the valve stem being moveable through the seal such that in a first position the dispensing passage is isolated from the metering chamber and the metering chamber is in communication with the container via the transfer passage and in a second position the dispensing passage is in communication with the metering chamber to allow substance to be dispensed from the metering chamber through the dispensing passage and the transfer passage is isolated from the metering chamber, and the valve stem extending, at least in said second position, through the tank seal, wherein the transfer passage comprises a mechanical flow valve positioned towards the end of the transfer passage adjacent the metering chamber, which in said first position, allows substance to be dispensed to pass from the container into the metering chamber but not out of the metering chamber.

2. A metered dose dispensing aerosol valve as claimed in claim 1 in which the transfer passage is formed within the valve stem and the flow valve comprises a displaceable seal which displaces to freely allow substance to enter the metering chamber but provides a barrier to substance in the metering chamber.

3. A metered dose dispensing aerosol valve as claimed in claim 2 in which the transfer passage has an outlet from the valve stem which is positioned within the metering chamber when the valve stem is in the first position and the displaceable seal is positioned at said outlet.

4. A metered dose dispensing aerosol valve as claimed in claim 3 in which the displaceable seal comprises an elastomeric sleeve or ring extending around the valve stem.

5. A metered dose dispensing aerosol valve as claimed in claim 2 in which the valve stem extends in the first position through the metering chamber in sealing engagement with the tank seal and said tank seal provides said elastomeric seal for the flow valve.

6. A metered dose dispensing aerosol valve as claimed in claim 1 in which the valve stem is in sealing engagement with a tank seal at least in said second position and the transfer passage is defined between the tank seal and valve stem when the valve stem is in the first position.

7. A metered dose dispensing aerosol valve as claimed in claim 6 in which the transfer passage is annular and the valve stem comprises an elastomeric stem seal secured to the valve stem which seals against the tank seal but is displaceable to allow passage of substance from the container through the transfer passage into the metering chamber.

8. A metered dose dispensing aerosol valve as claimed in claim 7 in which said elastomeric seal is positioned on an end of valve stem.

9. A metered dose dispensing aerosol valve as claimed in claim 1 in which the inner end of the valve stem has a seal support plug secured thereto, the seal support plug extending through a tank seal in sealing engagement therewith when the valve stem is in said first position, the sealing support plug having one or more apertures forming said transfer passage which are covered by a displaceable, annular elastomeric seal located between the top surface of the seal support plug and the inner end of the valve stem.

10. A metered dose dispensing aerosol as claimed in claim 9 in which the top surface of said seal support plug is planar and the annular elastomeric seal is planar.

11. A metered dose dispensing aerosol as claimed in claim 9 in which the top surface of the seal support plug is bevelled and the inner end of the valve stem has a corresponding configuration whereby the annular elastomeric seal is forced to adopt a “

v”

configuration by being compressed between the inner end of the valve stem and the seal support plug.