Abstract: A simulated cigarette having a generally cylindrical cigarette like housing with a main axis, the housing containing a reservoir of a pressurised inhalable composition. The reservoir has a reservoir outlet at one end which is selectively closed by an outlet valve. The simulated cigarette further comprises a tube with a through bore extending along a substantial portion of the reservoir from the vicinity of the reservoir outlet such that composition flows into a tube bore inlet and along the tube bore to the reservoir outlet. The tube inlet end is retained such that the axis passes through the inlet end and so that the tube bore inlet is positioned in the axial sense in the central 50% of the volume of the reservoir.

Abstract: A combination of an inhaler and a refill pack. The inhaler comprises a reservoir for an inhalable composition, a heating element and/or vibrating transducer to selectively volatilise at least some components of the composition and at least one inhaler capacitor arranged to supply electrical power to the heater and/or vibrating transducer when a user inhales from the inhaler. The refill pack comprises a refill reservoir of inhalable composition and a battery coupled to a refill capacitor, and is arranged to engage with the inhaler and to simultaneously refill the reservoir and recharge the inhaler capacitor from the refill capacitor. The invention also extends to the inhaler and refill pack separately and to a method of refilling and recharging the inhaler.

Abstract: A pressurised container containing a liquid composition to be dispensed and a propellant to pressurise the container. The container has a non-metred outlet valve at its lower end such that it is in communication with liquid in the container when the container is oriented with the valve lowermost. The valve comprises a valve stem having an outlet towards the bottom end communicating with an inlet as a lateral port through the side of the stem, the lateral port being positioned such that it is moveable between a first position out of communication with the liquid and a second position in communication with the liquids. A resilient element biases the valve element to the first position. A sealing plate which surrounds the valve stem and has a first seal and a second seal. An end cap is fitted over the sealing plate.

Abstract: A pressurized refill canister containing a reservoir of composition including a propellant and a nicotine or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative or salt thereof. The reservoir is at a pressure of greater than 400 kPa at 20° C. A refill outlet valve comprises a stem with an axial bore open at the axial end furthest from the reservoir to provide an outlet which discharges the composition in an axial direction. The stem is displaceable from a closed position to which it is biased by a first resilient member with a spring force of greater than 10N when no external force is applied to a dispensing position against the action of the first resilient member to open a flow path from the reservoir to the outlet.

Abstract: An inhaler comprising a reservoir of an inhalable composition, a heater to selectably volatilize at least some components of the composition, and a power source arranged to selectively supply electrical power to the heater when the user inhales from the inhaler. The power source is arranged to heat the heater to a temperature that will volatilize some, but not all of the components of the composition.

Abstract: A pressurized refill canister containing a composition including a propellant. The canister has an outlet valve having a stem biased to a closed position by a first resilient member. The stem has a maximum outer diameter of greater than 3 mm. At the outlet end of the stem, at least part of the wall of the stem extends inwardly from the outside diameter for at least 50% of the radius.

Abstract: A pressurised refill canister containing a reservoir of composition including a propellant, and a non-metered refill outlet valve comprising a stem displaceable from a first position to a dispensing position against the action of a resilient member. The stem comprises a blind bore open at an outlet end and closed at the opposite end and a lateral bore in the side wall of the stem leading to the blind bore. The refill outlet valve further comprises an annular seal which surrounds the stem whereby, in the first position, the lateral bore is not in communication with the inside of the canister, and in the dispensing position, the lateral bore is arranged to move inside the canister with respect to the seal to open a flow path from the inside of the canister via the lateral bore and along the blind bore to the outlet end.

Abstract: A pressurized refill canister containing a reservoir of composition including a propellant, and a non-metered refill outlet valve comprising a stem displaceable from a first position to a dispensing position against the action of a resilient member. The stem comprises a blind bore open at an outlet end and closed at the opposite end and a lateral bore in the side wall of the stem leading to the blind bore. The refill outlet valve further comprises an annular seal which surrounds the stem whereby, in the first position, the lateral bore is not in communication with the inside of the canister, and in the dispensing position, the lateral bore is arranged to move inside the canister with respect to the seal to open a flow path from the inside of the canister via the lateral bore and along the blind bore to the outlet end.

Abstract: A method of assembling a tubular simulated cigarette, the method comprising providing an elongate hollow housing having an inhaling end and a refill end; inserting an outlet valve tube, a dip tube and a support from the refill end so that the support supports the proximal end of the dip tube in the housing; inserting a refill valve into the refill end and fixing it in place to form a composition reservoir with the dip tube placing the reservoir in fluid communication with an outlet orifice when the outlet valve tube is open; inserting a valve element into a recess in the side of the housing so that the valve element is positioned to selectively close the outlet valve tube; inserting a breath operated valve actuation mechanism laterally into the recess; and applying a cover to the recess.

Abstract: A method of assembling and testing a simulated cigarette. Assembling the simulated cigarette to have an elongate main body containing a reservoir for an inhalable composition, a breath operated valve, and a refill valve. Testing the integrity of the reservoir requires applying a pressured gas to open the refill valve to pressurise the reservoir, measuring the pressure drop in the reservoir, and providing a pass indication if the pressure drop remains below a predetermined threshold. It also requires testing the breath operated valve by applying suction at an inhaling end, measuring the flow rate from the cigarette and providing a pass indication if the flow rate falls outside a predetermined limit.

Abstract: An inhaler comprising a reservoir of an inhalable composition, a heater to selectably volatilise at least some components of the composition, and a power source arranged to selectively supply electrical power to the heater when the user inhales from the inhaler. The power source is arranged to heat the heater to a temperature that will volatilise some, but not all of the components of the composition.

Abstract: An inhaler comprising a reservoir for an inhalable composition and a heating element and/or vibrating transducer to selectively volatilise at least some components of the composition. A power source supplies electrical power to the heater/transducer when the user inhales from the inhaler. The inhaler further comprises at least one airflow path arranged to draw air in through the inhaler as a user inhales from an inhaling end, and impinge on a plume of composition downstream of the heater/transducer at the inhaling end to reduce the mean particle size of the plume.

Abstract: A combination of an inhaler and a refill pack. The inhaler comprises a reservoir for an inhalable composition, a heating element and/or vibrating transducer to selectively volatilise at least some components of the composition and at least one inhaler capacitor arranged to supply electrical power to the heater and/or vibrating transducer when a user inhales from the inhaler. The refill pack comprises a refill reservoir of inhalable composition and a battery coupled to a refill capacitor, and is arranged to engage with the inhaler and to simultaneously refill the reservoir and recharge the inhaler capacitor from the refill capacitor. The invention also extends to the inhaler and refill pack separately and to a method of refilling and recharging the inhaler.

Abstract: A pressurised refill canister containing a reservoir of composition including a propellant and a nicotine or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative or salt thereof. The reservoir is at a pressure of greater than 400 kPa at 20° C. A refill outlet valve comprises a stem with an axial bore open at the axial end furthest from the reservoir to provide an outlet which discharges the composition in an axial direction. The stem is displaceable from a closed position to which it is biased by a first resilient member with a spring force of greater than 10N when no external force is applied to a dispensing position against the action of the first resilient member to open a flow path from the reservoir to the outlet.

Abstract: A simulated cigarette having a generally cylindrical cigarette like housing with a main axis, the housing containing a reservoir of a pressurised inhalable composition. The reservoir has a reservoir outlet at one end which is selectively closed by an outlet valve. The simulated cigarette further comprises a tube with a through bore extending along a substantial portion of the reservoir from the vicinity of the reservoir outlet such that composition flows into a tube bore inlet and along the tube bore to the reservoir outlet. The tube inlet end is retained such that the axis passes through the inlet end and so that the tube bore inlet is positioned in the axial sense in the central 50% of the volume of the reservoir.

Abstract: An inhaler comprising a reservoir of inhalable composition, an outlet valve to control the flow of composition from the reservoir, the valve outlet orifice having a maximum dimension h, measured in the direction of opening when fully opened; an expansion chamber downstream of the valve having a length L and diameter D measured half way along the expansion chamber; and an exit orifice at the downstream end of the expansion chamber, the orifice having a length l and a diameter d; wherein 0.1<h/d<1.0; 0.05<h/D<0.25; 1<D/d<10; 5<L/D<15; 0.1<l/d<5.

Abstract: A pressurised refill canister containing a composition including a propellant. The canister has an outlet valve having a stem biased to a closed position by a first resilient member. The stem has a maximum outer diameter of greater than 3 mm. At the outlet end of the stem, at least part of the wall of the stem extends inwardly from the outside diameter for at least 50% of the radius.