Abstract: The present invention provides a dispensing apparatus for delivering metered doses of product from a pressurised dispensing container comprising: a housing comprising a body portion and a removable mouthpiece, the body portion containing a dose counting mechanism and a sleeve; the body portion comprising an aperture through which said pressurised dispensing container can pass to be received in the sleeve but through which the sleeve is unable to pass such that the sleeve is retained within the body portion; the sleeve being located in the body portion such that an upper end of said pressurised dispensing container when received in the sleeve is accessible to allow actuation of said pressurised dispensing container; the apparatus comprising means for retaining said pressurised dispensing container in the body portion.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device for discharging a fluid having a housing, a piston pump, a biasing mechanism, and a trigger mechanism. The housing has a fluid discharge outlet. The pump has a pump chamber casing for fluid storage, a piston sliding in the pump chamber, a piston plunger, and a delivery channel leading to the housing outlet The biasing mechanism biases the piston pump casing towards the housing outlet. The trigger mechanism has a catch member and a restraining member movable by a manually actuatable trigger from a cocked to a triggered configuration. The cocked restraining member engages the catch member to prevent movement and fluid discharge. A triggered restraining member disengages from the catch member for movement of the casing towards the housing outlet to discharge fluid from housing outlet.

Abstract: A seal for a valve for use in a pharmaceutical dispensing device, which seal is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer including a propylene component with isotactic crystallinity.

Abstract: A seal for a valve for use in a pharmaceutical dispensing device, which seal is formed from a blend comprising: a thermoplastic elastomer including a propylene component with isotactic crystallinity; and a polymer selected from one or more of polypropylene, polyethylene and copolymers thereof.

Abstract: A hand-held dispenser for dispensing a pharmaceutical product is disclosed. The dispenser has a housing providing a duct. A frangible membrane is provided in the duct. A probe with a piercing tip is mounted in the duct and arranged such that, in use the piercing tip pierces the frangible membrane. An air compression device is provided to compress air for expelling a pharmaceutical product through the probe and a channel is provided to substantially equalise the pressure in the air compression device and the pressure above the frangible membrane. The ability to substantially equalise the pressure in the bellows and the pressure above the frangible membrane on the sheath provides for a mote consistent release of pharmaceutical product when the frangible membrane is pierced.

Abstract: A metering valve is provided for a pressurised container containing a pharmaceutical formulation. The valve has a stem with a central flange and a hollow open end with a side port. The stem slides in a body having larger and smaller diameter portions, and being closed off by a seal against which the flange rests in an inoperative position. A second seal is located around the stem on the opposite side of the flange and trapped by a spring which urges the stem into its inoperative position. When the stem is depressed, the inner seal forms a sliding seal with the smaller diameter portion of the body to define a metering chamber filled with the pharmaceutical formulation. Continued depression opens the side hole to allow the contents of the metering chamber to be dispensed.

Abstract: A metering valve (1) is provided for a pressurised container (14) containing a pharmaceutical formulation. The valve has a stem (2) with a central flange (11) and a hollow open end (19) with a side port (20). The stem slides in a body (3) having larger and smaller diameter portions, and being closed off by a seal (4) against which the flange (11) rests in an inoperative position. A second seal is located around the stem on the opposite side of the flange and trapped by a spring (6) which urges the stem into its inoperative position. When the stem is depressed, the inner seal (5) forms a sliding seal with the smaller diameter portion of the body to define a metering chamber (13) filled with the pharmaceutical. Continued depression opens the side hole (20) to allow the contents of the metering chamber to be dispensed.

Abstract: A metering valve used with a pressurized dispensing container, the metering valve has a valve stem assembly that slides co-axially within an annular metering chamber that surrounds the valve stem assembly and forms a substantially cylindrical chamber body. The metering valve also has an outer seal at the top of the cylindrical chamber body and an inner seal at the bottom of the cylindrical chamber body. The valve stem assembly has an outlet and an associated passage that is above the line of the outer seal when the metering valve is at rest, and is below the line of the outer seal when the metering valve is actuated, thereby creating a dispensing passage for the metering chamber's contents. The valve stem assembly has an inlet and an associated passage that is above the line of the inner seal when the metering valve is at rest, and is below the line of the inner seal when the metering valve is actuated.

Abstract: A pressurised metered dose inhaler (1) comprising: a reservoir (2) for containing pressurised product, a valve (9) having an inlet (11) communicating with the reservoir and an outlet (14) through which product is dispensed in use, a piece of magnetisable material (5), an armature (8) extending into proximity with the valve, and an electromagnet (7) surrounding at least a portion of the armature. Wherein the armature is coupled to, or forms part of, the valve such that controlled energisation of the electromagnet causes the armature to be either attracted to or repelled from the piece of magnetisable material one or more times to operate the valve for a controlled time period to effect dispensation of a metered dose of pressurised product from the reservoir through the valve outlet.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus comprises: a housing suitable to receive in use a pressurised dispensing container capable of dispensing metered doses of a product; and a dose counter; wherein the dispensing apparatus further comprises a hydraulic system for activating the dose counter based on movement of the received pressurised dispensing container. A combination of the dispensing apparatus and a pressurised dispensing container which comprises a dispensing canister, a metering valve and a ferrule. A dose counter for counting activations of a pressurised dispensing container comprising: a hydraulic system; and a counter; the hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic cylinder with a primary piston, a secondary piston and a working fluid, wherein the secondary piston is coupled to, or otherwise operates the counter and the primary piston is engaged by, fixed to, coupled to, or otherwise moved by, a pressurised dispensing container.

Abstract: Dispensing apparatus for delivering metered doses of product from a pressurised dispensing container, having a housing for receiving, in use, the pressurised dispensing container, and an outlet through which, in use, metered doses of product from the pressurised dispensing container can be dispensed. The housing has an aperture via which the pressurised dispensing container can be inserted into the housing. The dispensing apparatus is at least partially enclosed by a shrink wrapped film, the shrink wrapped film including an opening which is: (a) at least partly aligned with the aperture of the housing; and (b) dimensioned so as to allow, in use, said pressurised dispensing container to pass through the opening in order to be inserted into the housing via the aperture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metering valve comprising a valve stem (11) co-axially slidable within a valve body (14), the metering valve comprising a metering chamber (13) having no moving parts therein.

Abstract: A metering valve for a pressurized fluid reservoir with an immobile fixed chamber body sealed off by a plug with at least one opening that serves as an inlet into the metering chamber that also serves as the outlet of any temporarily stored pressurized gas, with a valve stem that surrounds the metering chamber that it is co-axially aligned and slidable with respect to the metering chamber such that the valve stem's attached seals and its dispensing opening expose the metering chamber's opening to the dispensing opening of the valve stem as the valve stem is actuated to overcome the biasing forces of a spring, and subsequently close the metering chamber's opening when not actuated from the valve stem's dispensing opening and expose the metering chamber's opening to the pressurized fluid reservoir so that a metered dose of pressurized fluid is dispensed during each cycle of actuation of the valve stem.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus (1) comprising a housing containing a dosage counter comprising at least two annular members (11, 13) and a cog (12), each being mounted rotationally. The housing is suitable for receiving, in use, a container (1) containing a product for dispensation. Each actuation of the apparatus causes the first annular member to incrementally rotate which, after a predetermined number of actuations of the apparatus, causes the cog to rotate, the rotation of the cog causing the second annular member to incrementally rotate.

Abstract: A seal for a valve for use in a pharmaceutical dispensing device, which seal is formed from an elastomeric composition comprising: (a) an isobutylene polymer or co-polymer thereof; (b) a cross-linking agent for the isobutylene polymer or co-polymer thereof; and (c)) an accelerator for the cross-linking agent, wherein the accelerator includes a polysulphide compound derived from a substituted dithiocarbonic acid or derivative thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metering valve comprising a valve stem (11) co-axially slidable within a valve body (14), the metering valve comprising a metering chamber (13), wherein the metering chamber is constructed wholly from rigid components.

Abstract: A container or vial (1) for a fluid, the container (1) comprising a casing defining an interior for storage of the fluid and a closure member (2). The closure member (2) comprises a body and at least one resilient projection (7) to seal in a storage condition an outlet of the casing, wherein upon an increase in the pressure of the interior of the container (1) the at least one resilient projection (7) is deflected to accommodate outflow of fluid through the outlet. The pressure in the interior of the container (1) may be increased by displacing the closure member (2) into the container (1) or by displacing some other element such as a bung (61, 82) into the container (1). The container (1) and closure member (2) may be used in a dispenser (90) and the closure element may be used in a valve (110).

Abstract: Dispensing apparatus comprising a housing having a first part (2) and a second part (3) together defining an interior of the housing for receiving a dispensing container, the first and second part being movable from an open position to permit insertion of said dispensing container into the interior of the housing to a closed position in which removal of said dispensing container from the interior of the housing is prevented, the dispensing apparatus further comprising a mouthpiece (4) which is removably connectable to the housing, wherein when connected to the housing the mouthpiece defines an outlet for a product dispensed, in use, from said dispensing container, and wherein when the mouthpiece is disconnected from the housing the first and second parts substantially enclose the interior to prevent access to and removal of said dispensing container received in the interior.