Valve for aerosol container

Abstract

A valve for an aerosol container suitable for use in dispensing a quantity of the contents thereof is disclosed. The valve components comprise a fluorinated polymer and/or a fluorinated coating which have been found to reduce drug deposition in the valve.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An aerosol container comprising: 
 a vial body containing an aerosol formulation of a suspension or solution of a medicament in a hydrogen-containing fluorocarbon liquid propellant, and    a valve for dispensing a metered amount of the aerosol formulation per actuation thereof,    wherein the valve comprises a valve body defining a metering chamber configured to contain a metered amount of the aerosol formulation for dispensing by the valve, a transfer passage through which the metered amount of the aerosol formulation is able to pass from the vial body into the metering chamber, and dispensing means which enables the metered amount of the aerosol formulation to be dispensed from the metering chamber; and    wherein the metering chamber is made from a plastics material which is a mixture of a fluorinated polymer and a non-fluorinated polymer.    
     
     
         2 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein the plastics material comprises at least 5% by weight fluorinated polymer.  
     
     
         3 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein a part or all of the surface of said metering chamber which is in contact with the aerosol formulation is coated with a fluorinated material.  
     
     
         4 . An aerosol container according to  claim 3 , wherein the coating is a plasma coating.  
     
     
         5 . An aerosol container according to  claim 4 , wherein the plasma coating is a CF 4  coating.  
     
     
         6 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein the propellant is selected from liquefied 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-n-propane, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         7 . An aerosol container according to  claim 6 , wherein the propellant is substantially free of adjuvants.  
     
     
         8 . An aerosol container according to  claim 6 , wherein the medicament is selected from fluticasone propionate, salbutamol, beclomethasone dipropionate, salmeterol, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or esters thereof and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein the metering chamber is moulded from the plastics material.  
     
     
         10 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluorinated polymer is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylfluoride (PVF) and polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE).  
     
     
         11 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-fluorinated polymer is selected from the group consisting of acetal and polyester.  
     
     
         12 . An inhalation device comprising an aerosol container, said aerosol container comprising: 
 a vial body containing an aerosol formulation of a suspension or solution of a medicament in a hydrogen-containing fluorocarbon liquid propellant, and    a valve for dispensing a metered amount of the aerosol formulation per actuation thereof,    wherein the valve comprises a valve body defining a metering chamber configured to contain a metered amount of the aerosol formulation for dispensing by the valve, a transfer passage through which the metered amount of the aerosol formulation is able to pass from the vial body into the metering chamber, and dispensing means which enables the metered amount of the aerosol formulation to be dispensed from the metering chamber; and    wherein the metering chamber is made from a plastics material which is a mixture of a fluorinated polymer and a non-fluorinated polymer.    
     
     
         13 . An inhalation device according to  claim 12 , wherein the plastics material comprises at least 5% by weight fluorinated polymer.  
     
     
         14 . An inhalation device according to  claim 12 , wherein a part or all of the surface of said metering chamber which is in contact with the aerosol formulation is coated with a fluorinated material.  
     
     
         15 . An inhalation device according to  claim 14 , wherein the coating is a plasma coating.  
     
     
         16 . An inhalation device according to  claim 15 , wherein the plasma coating is a CF 4  coating.  
     
     
         17 . An inhalation device according to  claim 12 , wherein the metering chamber is moulded from the plastics material.  
     
     
         18 . An inhalation device according to  claim 12 , wherein the fluorinated polymer is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylfluoride (PVF) and polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE).  
     
     
         19 . An inhalation device according to  claim 12 , wherein the non-fluorinated polymer is selected from the group consisting of acetal and polyester.  
     
     
         20 . An inhalation device according to  claim 12 , wherein the inhalation device is a metered dose inhaler.