Claims
- 1. A breath actuated dispensing device for use with an aerosol medicament container for dispensing a medicament in a metered dose, said container being cylindrical and extending along a container axis between a first end and a second end, said container having a spring biased aerosol valve at said first end responsive to an axial force above a predetermined threshold to release said metered dose, comprising:
A. a housing disposed about a central axis and having a first end and a second end, said second end including a shoulder and an expulsion nozzle extending therethrough; B. a support sleeve disposed within said housing, said sleeve adapted for,
axial motion along said central axis, and supporting said second end of said container, whereby said container axis is substantially coaxial with said central axis and said aerosol valve is positioned adjacent said shoulder and in communication with said expulsion nozzle; C. a diaphragm assembly including a relatively rigid central disk, a peripheral attachment ring disposed about a peripheral portion of said disk, and an annular flexure extending between said peripheral portion of said disk and said attachment ring, wherein said central disk is affixed to said first end of said housing and said peripheral ring is affixed to said sleeve, thereby defining a closed region between said diaphragm and said sleeve; D. a breath actuated valve assembly adapted to selectively establish in a first state an air flow path between said closed region and regions exterior thereto, and interrupting in a second state said air flow path; and E. a spring force bias element adapted to bias said sleeve toward said second end of said housing whereby, when said breath actuated valve element is in said second state, pneumatic pressure in said closed region establishes a force on said sleeve equal to and opposite said bias whereby said axial force on said aerosol valve is below said predetermined threshold, and whereby when said breath actuated valve element is in said first state, pneumatic pressure in said closed region establishes a zero force on said sleeve and said bias is sufficient to drive said sleeve and said container toward said shoulder and establish an axial force on said aerosol valve above said predetermined threshold,
wherein said central disk is made of a first material characterized by a relatively high stiffness, and said annular flexure is made of a second material characterized by a relatively low stiffness, and wherein said annular flexure is bonded to said disk, whereby said disk, said annular flexure and said peripheral ring form a contiguous assembly.
- 2. A dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein said peripheral ring is made of said second material and unitarily formed with said annular flexure.
- 3. A dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein said annular flexure is bonded to said disk along at least one surface substantially parallel to said central axis.
- 4. A dispensing device according to claim 3 wherein said at least one bonding surface comprises a continuous surface axially arranged with respect to said central axis.
- 5. A dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein said annular flexure is bonded to said disk along at least one surface substantially traverse to said central axis.
- 6. A dispensing device according to claim 5 wherein said diaphragm assembly further includes a central portion made of said second material and unitarily formed with and extending radially inwardly from said annular flexure, said central portion bonded to said disk along said at least one surface substantially traverse to said central axis.
- 7. A dispensing device according to claim 6 wherein said central portion comprises a disk.
- 8. A dispensing device according to claim 6 wherein said central portion is also bonded to said disk along at least one surface substantially parallel to said central axis.
- 9. A dispensing device according to claim 8 wherein said central portion includes at least one annular wall coaxially arranged with respect to said central axis and received within an annular groove of said disk, said annular wall bonded to said disk along the at least one surface substantially traverse to said central axis.
- 10. A dispensing device according to claim 6 wherein said diaphragm assembly includes a valve port providing fluid communication with said closed region between said diaphragm and said sleeve, and wherein said valve port passes through said central portion and said disk.
- 11. A dispensing device for dispensing a medicament in metered doses, comprising:
a main body with a first and second end; a sleeve movably positioned within said main body and having a closed end; a diaphragm assembly including a relatively rigid central disk, a peripheral attachment ring disposed about a peripheral portion of said disk, and an annular flexure extending between said peripheral portion of said disk and said attachment ring, wherein said central disk is affixed to said first end of said main body and said peripheral ring is affixed to said sleeve, thereby defining a closed region between said diaphragm and said closed end of said sleeve, said diaphragm assembly also including a valve port providing fluid communication between said first end of said main body and said closed region; a spring operatively positioned in said main body to apply a preload force to said sleeve; and a vane operatively positioned in said main body and movable between first and second positions, wherein when said vane is in said first position said vane seals said valve port of said diaphragm assembly and when said vane is in said second position said valve port is unsealed; and wherein said central disk of said diaphragm assembly is made of a first material characterized by a relatively high stiffness, and said annular flexure is made of a second material characterized by a relatively low stiffness, and wherein said annular flexure is bonded to said disk, and wherein said disk, said annular flexure and said peripheral ring form a contiguous assembly.
- 12. A dispensing device according to claim 11 wherein said peripheral ring is made of said second material and unitarily formed with said annular flexure.
- 13. A dispensing device according to claim 11 wherein said annular flexure is bonded to said disk along at least one surface substantially parallel to said central axis.
- 14. A dispensing device according to claim 13 wherein said at least one bonding surface comprises a continuous surface axially arranged with respect to said central axis.
- 15. A dispensing device according to claim 11 wherein said annular flexure is bonded to said disk along at least one surface substantially traverse to said central axis.
- 16. A dispensing device according to claim 15 wherein said diaphragm assembly further includes a central portion made of said second material and unitarily formed with and extending radially inwardly from said annular flexure, said central portion bonded to said disk along said at least one surface substantially traverse to said central axis.
- 17. A dispensing device according to claim 16 wherein said central portion comprises a disk.
- 18. A dispensing device according to claim 16 wherein said central portion is also bonded to said disk along at least one surface substantially parallel to said central axis.
- 19. A dispensing device according to claim 18 wherein said central portion includes at least one annular wall coaxially arranged with respect to said central axis and received within an annular groove of said disk, said annular wall bonded to said disk along the at least one surface substantially traverse to said central axis.
- 20. A dispensing device according to claim 16 wherein said diaphragm assembly includes a valve port providing fluid communication with said closed region between said diaphragm and said sleeve, and wherein said valve port passes through said central portion and said disk.
- 21. A dispensing device according to claim 16 for dispensing an aerosol medicament in metered doses.
- 22. A dispensing device according to claim 16 for dispensing an HFA aerosol medicament in metered doses.
- 23. A dispensing device according to claim 16 for dispensing a dry powder medicament in metered doses.
- 24. A dispensing device according to claim 16 for dispensing an aqueous medicament in metered doses.
- 25. A diaphragm for defining a closed region within a medicament dispensing device including a main body, a sleeve movably positioned within said main body, and a spring operatively positioned in said main body to apply a preload force to said sleeve, said diaphragm comprising:
a relatively rigid central disk made of a first material characterized by a relatively high stiffness, and adapted to be affixed to an inner end of said main body of said medicament dispensing device; a peripheral attachment ring disposed about a peripheral portion of said disk and adapted to be attached to a closed end of said sleeve of said medicament dispensing device; and an annular flexure made of a second material characterized by a relatively low stiffness, and extending between said peripheral portion of said disk and said attachment ring to thereby define a closed region between said diaphragm and said closed end of said sleeve; and wherein said annular flexure is bonded to said disk, and said disk, said annular flexure and said peripheral ring form a contiguous assembly.
- 26. A diaphragm according to claim 25 further comprising a valve port for providing fluid communication between said inner end of said main body and said closed region.
- 27. A diaphragm according to claim 25 wherein said peripheral ring is made of said second material and unitarily formed with said annular flexure.
- 28. A diaphragm according to claim 25 wherein said annular flexure is bonded to said disk along at least one surface substantially parallel to a central axis of said diaphragm.
- 29. A diaphragm according to claim 28 wherein said at least one bonding surface comprises a continuous surface axially arranged with respect to said central axis.
- 30. A diaphragm according to claim 25 wherein said annular flexure is bonded to said disk along at least one surface substantially traverse to a central axis of said diaphragm.
- 31. A diaphragm according to claim 25 further comprising a central portion made of said second material and unitarily formed with and extending radially inwardly from said annular flexure, said central portion bonded to said disk along said at least one surface substantially traverse to a central axis of said diaphragm.
- 32. A diaphragm according to claim 31 wherein said central portion comprises a disk.
- 33. A diaphragm according to claim 31 wherein said central portion is also bonded to said disk along at least one surface substantially parallel to said central axis.
- 34. A diaphragm according to claim 33 wherein said central portion includes at least one annular wall coaxially arranged with respect to said central axis and received within an annular groove of said disk, said annular wall bonded to said disk along the at least one surface substantially parallel to said central axis.
- 35. A diaphragm according to claim 31 further comprising a valve port for providing fluid communication between said inner end of said main body and said closed region, and wherein said valve port passes through said central portion and said disk.
- 36. A diaphragm comprising:
a relatively rigid central disk made of a first material characterized by a relatively high stiffness; a peripheral attachment ring disposed about a peripheral portion of said disk; and an annular flexure made of a second material characterized by a relatively low stiffness, and extending between said peripheral portion of said disk and said attachment ring; and wherein said annular flexure is bonded to said disk, and said disk, said annular flexure and said peripheral ring form a contiguous assembly.
- 37. A diaphragm according to claim 36 further comprising a valve port.
- 38. A diaphragm according to claim 36 wherein said peripheral ring is made of said second material and unitarily formed with said annular flexure.
- 39. A diaphragm according to claim 36 wherein said annular flexure is bonded to said disk along at least one surface substantially parallel to a central axis of said diaphragm.
- 40. A diaphragm according to claim 39 wherein said at least one bonding surface comprises a continuous surface axially arranged with respect to said central axis.
- 41. A diaphragm according to claim 36 wherein said annular flexure is bonded to said disk along at least one surface substantially traverse to a central axis of said diaphragm.
- 42. A diaphragm according to claim 41 further comprising a central portion made of said second material and unitarily formed with and extending radially inwardly from said annular flexure, said central portion bonded to said disk along said at least one surface substantially traverse to said central axis.
- 43. A diaphragm according to claim 42 wherein said central portion comprises a disk.
- 44. A diaphragm according to claim 42 wherein said central portion is also bonded to said disk along at least one surface substantially parallel to said central axis.
- 45. A diaphragm according to claim 44 wherein said central portion includes at least one annular wall coaxially arranged with respect to said central axis and received within an annular groove of said disk, said annular wall bonded to said disk along the at least one surface substantially parallel to said central axis.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
09591321 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
|
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/591,321, filed Jun. 9, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0002] The subject matter in this application is related to that in U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,150. That patent is incorporated by reference.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US01/18664 |
6/8/2001 |
WO |
|