Metering valve for a metered dose inhaler providing consistent delivery
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An aerosol metering valve comprising:
- (a) a valve stem that generally defines a longitudinal axis and comprises;
(1) a body portion comprising a metering surface, wherein the longitudinal axis and a plane tangential to at least a portion of the metering surface define an angle from about 2°
to about 90°
, and(2) a stem portion comprising a discharge passageway, and;
(3) a metering gasket;
(b) a valve body comprising;
(1) a body wall that comprises a sealing portion,(2) an internal chamber defined at least in part by the body wall and comprising a metering portion configured to substantially conform to the metering surface of the valve stem, and(c) a diaphragm having walls that define an aperture in slidable, sealing engagement with the stem portion of the valve stem; and
wherein the metering gasket is configured to be able to form a transient, substantially fluid-tight seal between the valve stem and the sealing portion of the body wall.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a novel design for a metering valve that provides improved consistency of formulation delivery. Generally, the metering valve includes (a) a valve stem that generally defines a longitudinal axis and includes a body portion having a metering surface, wherein the longitudinal axis and a plane tangential to at least a portion of the metering surface define an angle from about 2° to about 90°; and (b) a valve body having an internal chamber defined at least in part by the body wall and includes a metering portion configured to substantially conform to the metering surface of the valve stem.
113 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An aerosol metering valve comprising:
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(a) a valve stem that generally defines a longitudinal axis and comprises; (1) a body portion comprising a metering surface, wherein the longitudinal axis and a plane tangential to at least a portion of the metering surface define an angle from about 2°
to about 90°
, and(2) a stem portion comprising a discharge passageway, and; (3) a metering gasket; (b) a valve body comprising; (1) a body wall that comprises a sealing portion, (2) an internal chamber defined at least in part by the body wall and comprising a metering portion configured to substantially conform to the metering surface of the valve stem, and (c) a diaphragm having walls that define an aperture in slidable, sealing engagement with the stem portion of the valve stem; and wherein the metering gasket is configured to be able to form a transient, substantially fluid-tight seal between the valve stem and the sealing portion of the body wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An aerosol metering valve comprising:
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(a) a valve body that comprises a diaphragm having walls that define an aperture; (b) a metering stem that generally defines a longitudinal axis and also partially defines an interior space, the metering stem comprising a sealing portion, an inlet recess distal to the sealing portion, a metering surface distal to the inlet recess, and a discharge gasket distal to the metering surface, wherein the central axis and a plane tangential to at least a portion of the metering surface defines an angle from about 2°
to about 90°
;(c) a valve stem in slidable, sealing engagement with the aperture and comprising; (1) a sealing portion across a portion of the interior space from the inlet recess of the metering stem;
said sealing portion comprising a metering gasket configured to be able to form a transient fluid-tight seal between the valve stem and the sealing portion of the metering stem,(2) a metering surface configured to substantially conform to the metering surface of the metering stem, (3) an interior surface, (4) a discharge recess in a portion of the interior surface, and (5) a discharge passageway. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification