Apparatus for dispensing pressurized contents
First Claim
1. A container for dispensing pressurized contents as an aerosol, comprising:
- a vessel suited to contain pressurized contents that comprise a composition that, when dispensed, is dispensed as an aerosol;
a port integral with the vessel and through which pressurized contents contained in the vessel can be released from the vessel; and
a measuring device disposed within the vessel, wherein the measuring device is capable of sensing an amount of the pressurized contents within the vessel and arranged to output a signal representative of the amount of the pressurized contents within the vessel.
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Abstract
Containers for incrementally dispensing pressurized contents are described. The containers comprise a vessel suited to contain pressurized contents, a port integral with the vessel and through which pressurized contents contained in the vessel can be released from the vessel, preferably incrementally in approximately equal amounts, and a measuring device disposed in the vessel. The measuring device senses ambient conditions in the vessel and, directly or with other components, indicates, for example, the amount of pressurized contents remaining in the vessel and displaying it to an observer; methods for comparing the amount of contents actually released from the vessel compared to a theoretical constant; and methods for time logging (alone or in conjunction with the logging of other data) the actuation of the dispensing valve for comparison to a prescribed method. Devices (including metered dose inhalers) for incrementally dispensing pressurized contents from such containers are also described.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A container for dispensing pressurized contents as an aerosol, comprising:
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a vessel suited to contain pressurized contents that comprise a composition that, when dispensed, is dispensed as an aerosol; a port integral with the vessel and through which pressurized contents contained in the vessel can be released from the vessel; and a measuring device disposed within the vessel, wherein the measuring device is capable of sensing an amount of the pressurized contents within the vessel and arranged to output a signal representative of the amount of the pressurized contents within the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for incrementally dispensing an aerosolized therapeutic composition for inhalation by a patient, comprising:
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a. a container, comprising; i. a vessel containing an aerosolizable composition comprising a therapeutic composition and a propellant stored under pressure, wherein the therapeutic composition comprises a therapeutic agent and a physiologically acceptable carrier; ii. a port integral with the vessel and through which at least a portion of the aerosolizable composition can be released from the vessel; and iii. a measuring device disposed within the vessel, wherein the measuring device is capable of sensing an amount of the aerosolizable composition within the vessel and arranged to output a signal representative of the amount of the aerosolizable composition within the vessel; b. a metering valve functionally associated with the port for dispensing a pre-determined dose of the aerosolizable composition from the vessel; and c. a dispenser functionally associated with the metering value such that at least a portion of the aerosolizable composition can be dispensed from the container upon actuation of the metering value by the dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. An apparatus for incrementally dispensing an aerosolized therapeutic composition for inhalation by a patient, comprising:
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a. a container, comprising; i. a vessel containing an aerosolizable composition comprising a therapeutic composition and a propellant stored under pressure, wherein the therapeutic composition comprises a therapeutic agent and a physiologically acceptable carrier; ii. a port integral with the vessel and through which at least a portion of the aerosolizable composition can be released from the vessel; and iii. a measuring device disposed within the vessel, wherein the measuring device is capable of sensing an amount of the aerosolizable composition within the vessel and arranged to output a signal representative of the amount of the aerosolizable composition within the vessel; b. a metering valve functionally associated with the port for dispensing a pre-determined dose of the aerosolizable composition from the vessel; c. a dispenser functionally associated with the metering value such that at least a portion of the aerosolizable composition can be dispensed from the container upon actuation of the metering value by the dispenser; and d. circuitry configured to receive the signal the output from the measuring device and process the signal to produce a result representative of the amount of the aerosolizable composition within the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification