Medicament dispenser

• US 7,185,648 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smithkline Beecham Corporation (GSK plc)
• Original Assignee: Smithkline Beecham Corporation (GSK plc)
• Inventors: Rand, Paul Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, TEENA KAY
• Application Number:
  US10/110,957
• Time in Patent Office: 2,350 Days
• Field of Search: 12820011-20014, 128/200.16, 128/200.17, 128/200.18, 128/200.21, 128/200.22, 128/200.23, 128/203.12, 128/203.14, 128/203.15, 128/203.19, 12820321-20324, 128/203.28, 128/204.13, 128/204.14, 366/117, 366/118, 366/127, 222160-162, 222/166, 222/167, 222/196, 222/233, 222/235, 222/402.1, 222/402.25, 239/102.2, 239/3, 239/690, 239/690.1, 239/650, 239/654, 239/676, 239/683, 239/142, 239/329, 239/322
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0006 using rotating means
• 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 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8281 spring operated
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/054 Deformable stirrers, e.g. deformed by a centrifugal force applied during operation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/1126 the stirrer being a bent rod supported at one end only
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/445 performing an oscillatory movement about an axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/65 the materials to be mixed being directly submitted to a pulsating movement, e.g. by means of an oscillating piston or air column
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/651 Mixing by successively aspirating a part of the mixture in a conduit, e.g. a piston, and reinjecting it through the same conduit into the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/452 using independent floating stirring elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/4534 using a rod for supporting the stirring element, e.g. stirrer sliding on a rod or mounted on a rod sliding in a tube
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/32025 Battery driven
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/25 using moving elements, e.g. rotating blades
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/75 Aerosol containers not provided for in groups B65D83/16 - B65D83/74

Abstract

A medicament dispenser including a medicament container having a dispensing outlet; an agitator for agitating the contents; and a driver for driving the agitator independent of any container movement. The medicament container may be a metered dose inhaler or delivering a suitable inhalable medicament.

Claims

1. A metered dose inhaler comprising an aerosol container which:

contains a suspension of a medicament in a propellant, and

has a dispensing outlet and a metering valve at the dispensing outlet;

an agitator for agitating the contents of the container, the agitator comprising a movable element located within the container; and

a driver for driving said agitator independently of any movement of the container.

2. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is freely movable within the container.

3. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 2, wherein the movable element is mechanically coupled to the driver.

4. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 2, wherein the container includes a rim defining an access hole, the movable element comprises a flexible sheath protruding through said access hole, and the driver comprises a rod insertable within said flexible sheath for agitation thereof.

5. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 4, wherein the flexible sheath is in sealing contact with the rim.

6. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is magnetically coupled to the driver.

7. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 6, wherein either or both of the movable element or the driver comprises magnetic material or material which is magnetically inductive.

8. A metered dose inhaler medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is pneumatically drivable.

9. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is hydraulically drivable.

10. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is electrically drivable.

11. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 10, wherein the movable element comprises a multi-component strip or wire which is deformable in response to electrical current flow.

12. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 11, wherein said multi-component strip or wire comprises multiple layers of different metals.

13. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 12, wherein the multi-component strip comprises a bimetallic strip.

14. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 11, wherein the multi-component strip comprises at least one piezoelectric or piezoresistive material.

15. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 14, wherein said multi-component wire comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

16. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is shaped to create turbulence within the container when agitated.

17. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the agitator creates regions of pressure difference within the container.

18. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 17, wherein the agitator provides wave energy to the interior of the container.

19. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 18, wherein the agitator is an acoustic wave energy generator.

20. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 18, wherein the agitator is a resonant wave energy generator.

21. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 17, wherein the agitator comprises a piston mechanism within the container.

22. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 21, wherein the piston mechanism is mechanically drivable by the driver.

23. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 22, wherein the drive comprises a plunger for moving the piston.

24. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the driver is associable with the container.

25. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, additionally comprising a housing.

26. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 25, wherein the driver is associable with said housing.

27. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the driver comprises an energy store for storing energy which energy is releasable to drive the agitator.

28. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 27, wherein said energy store comprises a biasable resilient member.

29. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 28, wherein said biasable resilient member is a spring.

30. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 27, wherein the energy store comprises a clockwork mechanism.

31. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 27, wherein the energy store comprises a battery.

32. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the driver is responsive to a patient-actuable trigger.

33. A metered dose inhaler A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said propellant comprises liquefied HFA134a, HFA-227 or carbon dioxide.