Novel process for coating inhalation devices

Abstract

The invention relates to coating inhalation devices and their components by cold plasma (pulsed or continuous wave) with fluorinated acrylates. The process gives inhalation devices with improved product performance by reducing drug deposition on the coated parts.

1 . An device for dispensing a drug by inhalation wherein the device or components thereof are coated by a cold plasma coating process characterized in that the coating is a fluorinated acrylate compound or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1  in which the fluorinated acrylate compound is 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H heptadecafluorodecyl acrylate, 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H perfluoroctyl acrylate or 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H perfluoroctyl methacrylate.  
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1  in which the can is coated.  
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1  in which the stem is coated.  
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1  in which the actuator is coated.  
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 1  in which the seals are coated.  
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 1  in which the drug is mometasone, ipratropium bromide, tiotropium and salts thereof, salemeterol, fluticasone propionate, beclomethasone dipropionate, reproterol, clenbuterol, rofleponide and salts, nedocromil, sodium cromoglycate, flunisolide, budesonide, formoterol fumarate dihydrate, Symbicort™ (budesonide and formoterol), 3-[2-(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-3H-1,3-benzothiazol-7-yl)ethylamino]-N-[2-[2-(4-methylphenyl)ethoxy)ethyl]propansulphonamide, terbutaline, terbutaline sulphate, salbutamol base and sulphate, fenoterol, 3-[2-(4-Hydroxy-2-oxo-3H-1,3-benzothiazol-7-yl)ethylamino]-N-[2-[2-(4-methylphenyl)ethoxy]ethyl]propanesulphonamide, hydrochloride.  
     
     
         8 . The use of a fluorinated acrylate compound for the cold plasma coating of a medicinal device.  
     
     
         9 . A process for coating a medicinal device with a fluorinated acrylate which comprises coating the device using a cold plasma.