Valve for aerosol container

• US 7,387,121 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smithkline Beecham Corporation (GSK plc)
• Original Assignee: Smithkline Beecham Corporation (GSK plc)
• Inventors: Harvey, Stephen James
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ali; Shumaya B
• Application Number:
  US10/312,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20030106550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,542 Days
• Field of Search: 12820014-20017, 12820021-20023, 128/203.12, 128/203.13, 128/203.15, 128/203.19, 128/205.19, 128/205.22, 128/205.24, 424/45, 424/46, 424/400, 239/333, 239/349, 239/533.15, 239/571, 239/583, 239/321, 239/337, 604/24, 604/37, 604/38, 604/45, 137/145, 137/533.17, 137/533.23, 137/467, 251/94, 251/903, 251/82, 251/83, 251/73, 222/383.1, 222/385, 222/401, 222/402.1, 222/1, 222/402.2, 222/402.23, 222/162, 222/402.13
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• 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 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0091 mechanically breath-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0093 without arming or cocking, e.g. acting directly on the delivery valve
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/54 Metering valves ; Metering valve assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/02 with measuring chambers which expand or contract during measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/04 of the free-piston type

Abstract

There is provided a propellant-operable self-activating and self-returning metering valve for an aerosol container for dispensing a formulation comprising a substance in a fluid propellant contained therein. There is also provided a canister for use in a metered dose inhaler having the valve thereon.

Claims

1. A propellant-operable metering valve for an aerosol container, said metering valve being adapted to dispense a formulation comprising a substance in a fluid propellant contained therein, said metering valve comprising:

a valve body; and

a valve member, said valve member being moveable within said valve body; and

a latch for latching the valve member against movement;

wherein said valve member includes a first reaction surface and a second reaction surface, and wherein said valve member is, upon release of said latch, movable by pressure exerted by the propellant on said first reaction surface to drive said valve member from a first position to a second position within said valve body, and said valve member is also movable by pressure exerted by the propellant on said second reaction surface to return said valve member to said first position.

2. The metering valve of claim 1, wherein said metering valve is breath-operable.

3. The metering valve of claim 1, wherein said latch is for latching the valve member in its second position on movement thereto from said first position and for latching said valve member in its first position on its return thereto from said second position.

4. The metering valve of claim 3, wherein said latch comprises a lock selected from the group consisting of a mechanical manual-activation lock, an electronic activation lock, an electrically-operated activation lock, a breath-activation lock and combinations thereof.

5. The metering valve of claim 1, wherein said movement of said valve member between said first and second positions switches said metering valve between a first dispensing sequence wherein one dose of formulation is discharged from said metering valve, and a second dispensing sequence wherein a second dose of formulation is dispensed from said metering valve.

6. The metering valve of claim 5, wherein said valve member and said valve body define a first metering chamber having a first metering volume and a second metering chamber having a second metering volume.

7. The metering valve of claim 6, wherein said first metering volume and said second metering volume are substantially equal.

8. The metering valve of claim 6, wherein said valve body has a first priming inlet that allows flow of formulation into said first metering chamber to form said first metering volume and a second priming inlet that allows flow of formulation into said second metering chamber to form said second metering volume.

9. The metering valve of claim 5, wherein said valve member comprises a valve stem and pressure exerted by the propellant elicits a reciprocal piston movement of said valve stem within said valve body to switch said metering valve between said first and said second dispensing sequences.

10. The metering valve of claim 9, wherein said valve stem and said valve body define annular first and second metering chambers.

11. The metering valve of claim 9, wherein said first reaction surface takes the form of a first piston head surface and said second reaction surface takes the form of a second piston head surface.

12. The metering valve of claim 11, wherein said cross-sectional area of said second reaction surface is greater than said cross-sectional area of said first reaction surface.

13. The metering valve of claim 5, wherein said valve member comprises a rotating disk and pressure exerted by the propellant elicits clockwise rotation of said disk within said valve body to switch said metering valve between said first and the second dispensing sequences.

14. The metering valve of claim 13, wherein pressure exerted by the propellant elicits counter-clockwise rotation of said disk within said valve body to drive said metering valve between the first and the second dispensing sequences.

15. The metering valve of claim 13, wherein said rotating disk and said valve body define wedge-shaped annular first and second metering chambers.

16. The metering valve of claim 15, wherein each of said first and second metering chambers have first and second opposing faces defined by said disk, said first face comprising a leading face and said second face comprising a secondary face, said leading face having a greater cross-sectional area than said secondary face, such that said first leading face comprises said first reaction surface and said second leading face comprising said second reaction surface.

17. The metering valve of claim 16, wherein said first and said second reaction surfaces have substantially equal cross-sectional areas.

18. A method for dispensing a formulation, the method comprising:

providing the formulation having a substance in fluid propellant in a metered dose inhaler having a metering valve, the metering valve comprising a valve member which is movable from a first position to a second position and vice-versa, the metering valve having first and second reaction surfaces, and the metering valve having a latch for latching the valve member against movement, wherein after dispensing one dose the inhaler is automatically primed for further dose release; and

in a propellant-driven operative cycle, releasing the latch, wherein pressure is exerted by the propellant on the first reaction surface to drive the valve member from the first position to the second position, and pressure is exerted by the propellant on the second reaction surface to return the valve member to the first position.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said propellant-driven operative cycle comprises a first dispensing sequence and a second dispensing sequence, the first dispensing sequence comprising:

propellant-driven formation of a first charging first metering chamber;

the formation of a defined first metering volume;

a second dispensing position wherein the second metering volume is discharged to the patient; and

a return to the first charging position.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the operative cycle comprises the steps of latching the valve member with the latch when the valve member is in both the first and second positions.

21. A metered dose inhaler for dispensing a pharmaceutical formulation, comprising:

a pressurized container, said container having a pharmaceutical formulation and a propellant disposed therein; and

a metering valve having a valve body and a valve member, said valve member being moveable within said valve body, and a latch for latching the valve member against movement, wherein said valve member includes a first reaction surface and a second reaction surface, and wherein said valve member is, upon release of said latch, movable by pressure exerted by the propellant on said first reaction surface to drive said valve member from a first position to a second position within said valve body, and said valve member is also movable by pressure exerted by the propellant on said second reaction surface to return said valve member to said first position.

22. The metered dose inhaler of claim 21, wherein said metering valve is breath-operable.

23. The metered dose inhaler of claim 22, wherein said metering valve comprises a monitor for monitoring the breath cycle of a patient.

24. The metered dose inhaler of claim 23, wherein said monitor comprises at least one sensor for sensing at least one breath profile associated with said breath cycle.

25. The metered dose inhaler of claim 24, wherein said breath profile is selected from the group consisting of a pressure profile, an airflow profile, a temperature profile, a moisture profile and a chemical profile.

26. The metered dose inhaler of claim 24, wherein said monitor provides a signal for dispensing the formulation at a trigger point.

27. The metered dose inhaler of claim 26, wherein said monitor comprises an electronic information process that has a predictive algorithm for predicting the optimal trigger point.

28. The metered dose inhaler of claim 21, wherein said latch is for latching the valve member in its second position on movement thereto from the first position and for latching the valve member in its first position on its return thereto from the second position.

29. The metered dose inhaler of claim 28, wherein said latch comprises a lock selected from the group consisting of a mechanical manual-activation lock, an electronic activation lock, an electrically-operated activation lock, a breath-activation lock and combinations thereof.

30. The metered dose inhaler of claim 21, wherein said movement of said valve member between said first and second positions switches said metering valve between a first dispensing sequence wherein one dose of said pharmaceutical formulation is discharged from said metering valve, and a second dispensing sequence wherein a second dose of said pharmaceutical formulation is dispensed from said metering valve.

31. The metered dose inhaler of claim 30, wherein said valve member and said valve body define a first metering chamber having a first metering volume and a second metering chamber having a second metering volume.

32. The metered dose inhaler of claim 31, wherein said first metering volume and said second metering volume are substantially equal.

33. The metered dose inhaler of claim 31, wherein said valve body has a first priming inlet that allows flow of said pharmaceutical formulation into said first metering chamber to form said first metering volume, and a second priming inlet that allows flow of said pharmaceutical formulation into said second metering chamber to form said second metering volume.

34. The metered dose inhaler of claim 31, wherein said valve member comprises a rotating disk and pressure exerted by said propellant elicits clockwise rotation of said disk within said valve body to switch said metering valve between said first and the second dispensing sequences.

35. The metered dose inhaler of claim 34, wherein pressure exerted by said propellant elicits counter-clockwise rotation of said disk within said valve body to drive said metering valve between said first and the second dispensing sequences.

36. The metered dose inhaler of claim 34, wherein said rotating disk and said valve body define wedge-shaped annular first and second metering chambers.

37. The metered dose inhaler of claim 36, wherein each of said first and second metering chambers have first and second opposing faces defined by said disk, said first face comprising a leading face and said second face comprising a secondary face, said leading face having greater cross-sectional area than said secondary face, such that said first leading face comprises said first reaction surface and said second leading face comprising said second reaction surface.

38. The metered dose inhaler of claim 37, wherein said first and said second reaction surfaces have substantially equal cross-sectional areas.

39. The metered dose inhaler of claim 30, wherein said valve member comprises a valve stem and pressure exerted by said propellant elicits a reciprocal piston movement of said valve stem within said valve body to switch said metering valve between said first and said second dispensing sequences.

40. The metered dose inhaler of claim 39, wherein said valve stem and said valve body define annular first and second metering chambers.

41. The metered dose inhaler of claim 39, wherein said first reaction surface takes the form of a first piston head surface and said second reaction surface takes the form of a reaction surface takes the form of a second piston head surface.

42. The metered dose inhaler of claim 41, wherein said cross-sectional area of said second reaction surface is greater than said cross-sectional area of said first reaction surface.

43. The metered dose inhaler of claim 21, wherein said pharmaceutical formulation includes at least one medicament.

44. The metered dose inhaler of claim 43, wherein said medicament is selected from the group consisting of fluticasone propionate, salbutamol, beclomethasone dipropionate, salmeterol, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or esters thereof and mixtures thereof.

45. The metered dose inhaler of claim 21, wherein said propellant is selected from the group consisting of liquefied HFA 134a, HFA 227 and mixtures thereof.

46. The metered dose inhaler of claim 45, wherein said propellant is substantially free of adjuvants.