Dispensing – Movably mounted supply container – Moving relatively to trap – impeller or valve to cause discharge
Patent
1997-09-02
1999-05-04
Huson, Gregory L.
Dispensing
Movably mounted supply container
Moving relatively to trap, impeller or valve to cause discharge
222509, B67D 564
Patent
active
058993657
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a device which makes it easier to dispense an aerosol dose from conventional aerosol containers.
Conventional containers comprising pharmaceutical preparations which dispense an aerosol upon use are generally known as "aerosol containers". These containers are filled with a fluid preparation pressurised at a pressure of several bar, of which a certain amount is released as a spray which, together with the air, forms the aerosol. The preparations themselves comprise a liquefied fuel gas or fuel gas mixture in which at least one active substance and, optionally, auxiliary agents may be dissolved or suspended.
Conventional aerosol containers are provided with metering valves which dispense a fixed amount of the preparation during each operation. The release of the dose takes place when the axially movable valve stem of the metering valve is pressed in. In conventional equipment the valve stem is placed into a corresponding receiving means of a nozzle which simultaneously forms a support surface for the thumb or finger by means of which the valve stem is depressed. A typical aerosol container of this kind is shown in FIG. 1.
The aerosol container 1, while forming a lateral or cylindrical cavity, is positioned in a sleeve 2 open at the top, which is fixedly connected to the nozzle 3. The valve stem 4 with the lateral outlet orifice 5 is secured to the recess 6 of the nozzle. By means of the inner pressure of the container and a spring, the valve stem is pushed outwards. The forces acting thereon must be overcome to initiate an aerosol spray.
In order to actuate the container, the patient normally presses his thumb and one finger onto the grip surface 7 of the nozzle and onto the base 8 of the aerosol container. The initiation of the aerosol spray must be coordinated with the breathing of the patient so that the aerosol administration takes place at the right time during breathing in. It has been shown that many patients find this coordination difficult, for example, if there is a need for a particularly speedy administration in the event of an asthma attack. Here, it may happen that the patient administers too low a dose of active substance. If he himself has the feeling of having received an insufficient amount of active substance, he may possibly administer a further dose which could result in exceeding the proper dosage.
The device according to the invention described below is an accessory for conventional aerosol containers. It achieves the object of making release of the aerosol spray easier, thus also avoiding any problems of coordination.
The device of the invention largely comprises two elongate, shell-like members, whose open sides face one another. They are jointly able to receive a conventional aerosol dispenser with a nozzle and are, on one narrow side, pivotally connected by a hinge, the nozzle projecting through an opening close to the hinge, substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the pivotal movement takes place, and means being provided on the narrow side of the shell-like members positioned opposite the hinge. These means press onto the base of the aerosol container upon actuation of the device (thereby initiating an aerosol spray) and, upon non-actuation, under the pressure of the valve stem, cause the shell-like members to pivot away from one another in such a way that the valve stem reaches its starting position. The new device is surrounded by the whole hand and may therefore be triggered off in a particularly easy manner.
The invention is described in greater detail by means of a typical embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 6.
FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the device of the invention. Here, in the inside of the aerosol device, aerosol container 1, sleeve 2 and nozzle 3 are visible. The shell-like member 9, which is to the right in the operational position, faces the viewer. Hinge 11 is visible below opening 10 for nozzle 3. The means 12 are shaped in such a way that they increasingly push base 8 of the aerosol container downwards, while the shell-like members 9
REFERENCES:
patent: 3272392 (1966-09-01), Meshberg
patent: 3344959 (1967-10-01), Faso
patent: 5088624 (1992-02-01), Hackett et al.
Eichler Gerd
Hochrainer Dieter
Reeg Reiner
Boehringer Ingelheim KG
Devlin Mary-Ellen
Huson Gregory L.
Raymond Robert P.
Stempel Alan R.
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