Abstract: A metering valve for use with a pressurized dispensing container includes a valve stem (1) co-axially slidable within a valve member (2) defining an annular metering chamber (13). The valve stem (1) is provided with a wiper (30) extending radially therefrom to contact an inner surface of the valve member (2) such that, in use, as the valve stem (1) slides axially within the valve member (2), the wiper (30) scrapes the inner surface to remove solid matter disposed thereon.

Abstract: A metering valve for dispensing an accurately metered dose of a product includes a valve stem having at one end a piston extending within and slidable relative to a cup shaped valve body. A spring member urges the piston against a base of the valve body. Movement of the valve stem against the spring action causes the piston to move away from the base of the valve body to define a temporary metering chamber between the valve stem and valve body. A clearance between an outer surface of the piston and an inner surface of the valve body provides a path for the product to flow from the container to the metering chamber. A seal within the container is contacted by an end of the piston to prevent the flow of product along the path, and the product is dispensed from the temporary metering chamber through an outlet in the valve stem.

Abstract: A metering valve for use in a pressurized dispensing container has a valve member co-axially slidable within an annular metering chamber defined between the valve member and a substantially cylindrical chamber body. The chamber volume is between 50 and 100 micro liters. The metering valve has an outer seal operable between the valve member and an outer end portion of the chamber body to seal an outlet duct of the valve member when the valve member is in an inoperative position. The valve member is slidable to an operative position in which the contents of the metering chamber are dischargeable in use via the outlet duct. The outer end portion of the chamber body comprises a first inwardly stepped shoulder, a lip having an inner surface which slopes outwardly away from the peripheral edge of the outer seal, and a second inwardly stepped-shoulder. An annular seal support associated with the outer seal has a periphery which is supported by the second shoulder.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for use with a pressurized dispensing container dispenses an aerosol spray. The dispensing apparatus includes a housing defining a tubular body that receives, in use, the pressurized dispensing container. A tubular mouthpiece projects laterally from the body, the mouthpiece having a tubular lip portion defining an outlet through which the aerosol spray is inhalable. A removable cap engages the mouthpiece to overlay the lip portion and close the outlet. A strap connects the cap to the body so that the cap is maintained with the housing when it is disengaged from the mouthpiece. The cap includes a tubular portion with an internal surface that conforms with an external surface of the lip portion. Movement of the cap into and out of the engaged position is accompanied by co-axial relative movement of the cap and the lip portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inhaler for products such as medicaments, and particularly to an inhaler for transferring to a patient, at a controlled air flow, a metered dose of a medicament contained in a pressurised dispensing container. The inhaler includes a housing adapted to receive a pressurised dispensing container, a mouthpiece, a duct connecting the container outlet with the mouthpiece, and an air inlet arrangement having at least one air inlet for allowing air into the inhaler when a user applies suction to the mouthpiece. The air inlet arrangement also has an air flow controller in which a piston member with a tapering external surface is movable due to a pressure change when suction is applied to the mouthpiece. The resulting piston movement effects a change in the flow of air through the air inlet. The air flow controller also includes a spring for urging the piston member to a rest position to allow maximum air flow to the air inlet.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inhaler for products such as medicaments, and particularly to an inhaler for transferring to a patient a metered dose of product contained in a pressurized dispensing container. The inhaler includes a housing adapted to receive a pressurized dispensing container, a mouthpiece, duct means for connecting an outlet of the container with the mouthpiece and air inlet means for allowing air into the inhaler for when a user applies suction to the mouthpiece. The housing also comprises a mechanical break-up component located in the duct means. The component breaks up the product as it passes along the duct means, before mixing with the air flow to effect atomization of the product. The duct means includes a chamber for receiving the mechanical break-up component, the chamber having an end wall providing a barrier between the chamber and the mouthpiece to prevent the mechanical break-up component from entering the mouthpiece.

Abstract: An atomizing pump (FIG. 1) has a piston (3) slidable in a cylinder (5) to expel liquid from a pump chamber (4). A valve member (8) is slidable in a stem (6) of the piston defining a liquid delivery duct (7). A separately formed cylindrical extension (11) of the valve member is movable in and out of sealing contact with the valve member to open and close a liquid inlet port (105) to the chamber (4). The valve member has a core (102) projecting within the cylindrical extension and having a projecting stop formation (103) which co-operates with a stop formation (104) on the cylindrical extension to limit lost motion between the valve member and cylindrical extension. The valve member is biased into an extended position by a spring acting on the stop member projecting from the core so that the spring extends between the core and the cylindrical extension. This arrangement helps maintain alignment between the pump components and resists buckling of the spring.

Abstract: A gas supply (30) supplies pressurized gas to a nozzle (1) such that a flow of gas is discharged through an aperture (77) defined between a lip (3) of the nozzle and a vibrating diaphragm (9). A liquid dispenser (42) introduces a metered quantity of liquid into the gas flow such that the liquid droplets are atomized by the vibrating diaphragm. The diaphragm is held under tension so that it is vibrated by the gas flow. The supply of gas may be a manually operated displacement or diaphragm pump or may be a pressurized gas container. Metered doses may be dispensed for oral inhalation without providing external energy source for the vibration of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A drug capsule comprises a sleeve forming a side wall of the capsule and having first and second end caps which close the opened ends of the sleeve. The end faces of the end caps are frangible so that they can be ruptured by the open ends of the sleeve by causing the end caps to be displaced along the sleeve towards one another to open the capsule. A dispenser is formed from the combination of the capsule and a pair of elements, each element being adapted to receive a respective one of the end caps so that the capsule interconnects the elements, whereby the capsule can be opened by moving the elements towards one another. One of the elements provides a mouth piece and the other element provides an air flow passageway provided with a turbine to induce turbulence in the air flow through the capsule. The drug capsule and dispenser are primarily intended for administering powdered drugs by inhalation.

Abstract: A dispensing device which includes a container for liquid to be dispensed, an outlet nozzle including a device to break-up a flow of liquid under pressure into a spray, a piston for forcing liquid out of the container under pressure and through the nozzle, and a drive device for moving the piston a predetermined distance to dispense a predetermined quantity of liquid from the container. The drive device includes a dose selector for selecting the predetermined amount of liquid and a plunger for moving the piston, movement of the dose selector determining subsequent movement of the plunger. The device is particularly suited to nasal administration of liquid.

Abstract: A connecting apparatus for medical conduits including a valve body defining a first duct and having a connector for coupling to a first conduit. A valve is incorporated within the first duct and is a ball and spring type valve normally biased in closed position. An adaptor is releasably connectable to the body and has a female coupling for connection to a second conduit having a male coupling. A valve actuator is received within the adaptor and is arranged such that by connecting the adaptor to the valve body and then connecting the second conduit to the adaptor, the male coupling automatically moves the valve actuator towards the valve member thereby opening the valve against the action of the spring. When the adaptor is disconnected from the valve body, the valve member assumes a closed position in which an exposed surface portion of the spherical valve member is substantially flush with the end face of the valve body.

Abstract: A pump (1) has a tubular inlet portion (4) which is arranged to penetrate the mouth (27) of a container having a seal (29) in order to dispense liquid from the container. The pump has a body (2) connected to a housing (23) comprising holding means (25) which holds the container such that in a first position the inlet portion of the pump is external to the seal and in a second position the inlet portion extends through the seal into a reservoir (30) to allow liquid to be dispensed. In the second position, the inlet portion projects into the reservoir to an extent sufficient to displace a volume of liquid filling the inlet channel (6) of the pump and occupying the pump chamber (3). The pump is thereby rendered self priming by the initial movement between the first and second positions which at the same time disrupts the seal. The pump is particularly useful for the nasal administration of liquid sprays from an ampule having an elastomeric seal closure or a duck bill valve.

Abstract: A pump dispenser connected to a container of liquid has a first piston reciprocatable in a first cylinder for pumping a quantity of liquid at each depression of the piston. A valve member received within a channel in the first piston is spring biassed into a position in which a dispensing outlet is normally closed and is movable to release liquid in response to excess liquid pressure in the first chamber. A cylindrical extension to the valve member defines a conduit communicating with liquid in the container and is separable from the valve member to open a liquid inlet port for recharging the first chamber. A second piston is movable in tandem with the first piston and cooperates with a second cylinder to provide suction on a return stroke of the pistons which is utilised to remove residual liquid from a dispensing channel delivering pumped liquid to a nozzle. Residual liquid collected in the second chamber is returned to the container during the next subsequent actuating stroke of the pistons.

Abstract: Capsules containing powder to be inhaled are received in a storage chamber within a tubular body of a dispensing apparatus. The chamber has a cylindrical portion along which capsules are fed to a dispensing station by a feed mechanism having feed members. An actuating sleeve overlays the body and is connected to the feed members which are moved into and out of the chamber by cam action. An end cap slidable on the body has a gripping means for gripping a forward portion of a capsule to enable the capsule to be opened at the dispensing station by pulling apart portions of the capsule. The apparatus allows capsules to be opened for inhalation of the contents and for the spent capsules to be ejected by movement of a single sleeve actuator relative to a body.

Abstract: An actuator for a liquid spray pump is provided with a skirt which co-operates with a body of the pump to compress a volume of air during pump actuation. Air compressed by this action is ejected from an air injection channel in the vicinity of a liquid spray emerging from a first nozzle defined by the actuator. A second nozzle is connected to the actuator externally of the first nozzle to define an air gap therebetween and the air ejection channel communicates with the air gap such that in use both the liquid spray and the compressed air are dispensed through the second nozzle aperture. Primarily intended for dispensing water based products, the effect of the compressed air is to assist in the evaporation of water contained in the liquid or any other volatile liquid dissolved in a liquid product to be dispensed in aerosol form.

Abstract: Pump apparatus for delivering water based formulations as an aerosol spray provides for quantities of liquid and air to be pressurized in separate chambers by pump action. Liquid is dispensed through an orifice via a dispensing channel which in one embodiment is purged during a terminal part of the actuating stroke by the release of air through the dispensing channel. In the second embodiment air and liquid are mixed during the actuating stroke so as to be dispensed together and during a return stroke air is sucked through the dispensing channel to remove residual liquid. The air purging action prevents the build-up of deposits in the dispensing channel and orifice.

Abstract: Upper and lower hollow cylinders communicate with each other. The diameter of the upper cylinder is larger than that of the lower cylinder. The lower cylinder has an opening through which fluid to be dispensed can be introduced. A piston has an upper vertical hollow cylindrical section open at opposite ends with a first extension in peripheral sealing engagement with the inner surface of the upper cylinder and a lower extension in peripheral sealing engagement with the inner surface of the lower cylinder. An aperture is located in the second extension between its ends. A vertical stem is slidable within and extends through the upper section of the piston. The stem has an enlargement spaced below its upper end. A vertical discharge conduit is coaxial with the piston and stem. An actuator is disposed above the upper cylinder, being secured to the upper end of the stem and having a horizontal discharge channel which communicates with the discharge conduit.

Abstract: A dispensing device is described which is a pump for dispensing accurately metered amount of fluids in the form of a spray. The device has a piston sliding in a cylinder. A fluid inlet to the cylinder is normally closed off by a ball valve and, when open, communicates with an outlet passage leading to a swirl chamber and outlet nozzle. Cooperating first and second cam surfaces are provided on parts fixed to the cylinder and piston respectively so that relative rotational movement of the cam surfaces causes the piston to slide in the cylinder, the stroke being fixed by the profiles of the cam surfaces.

Abstract: A pump dispenser has a body consisting of two hollow cylinders of dissimilar diameters, the diameters of the two cylinders defining an outer boundary of a pump chamber. A piston defines the inner boundary of the pump chamber. The piston also defines a slidable seal with both body diameters and is provided with an aperture which can function as an outlet port on a downstroke and an inlet port port on an upstroke. A stem cooperates with the piston to form a discharge path which can be opened or closed and also cooperates with the aperture to define the ports. The stem is biased to close the discharge port when the dispenser is in rest position.

Abstract: Dispensing apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber receiving liquid to be dispensed and comprising a perforate membrane which defines a front wall of the chamber. A vibrating means is connected to the housing and is operable to vibrate the perforate membrane to dispense droplets of liquid through holes in the perforate membrane. The membrane defines an array of holes each of which is flared such that the cross-section narrows in a direction from the rear surface of the membrane in contact with the liquid towards the front surface of the membrane. The apparatus is suitable for dispensing pharmaceutical products as an atomized mist and provides a hand-held inhaler for oral inhalation.