Cleaning compound for and method of cleaning valves and actuators of metered dose dispensers containing pharmaceutical compositions

Abstract

A method of cleaning a metered dose spray device, and a cleaning composition for such cleaning, to prevent the device from becoming clogged with medication. The method includes removing the aerosol can containing the medication from the actuator, placing an aerosol can containing a cleaning composition in the actuator, and dispensing the cleaning solution through the actuator. The residual medication is thereby removed from the actuator. A sufficiently small quantity of cleaning composition remains in the actuator so that the cleaning composition itself will not clog the actuator. Additionally, the cleaning composition is non-toxic, so that residual cleaning composition remaining in the actuator will not harm the user when a subsequent dose of medication is dispensed.

1 . An aerosol container removably insertable in a metered dose dispenser for cleaning an actuator of the dispenser, the container containing a cleaning composition comprising a propellant and silicone.  
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1. , wherein the propellant is selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethane, heptafluoroethane, dimethylfluoropropane, tetrafluoropropane, butane, isobutane, dimethyl ether, hydrogen-containing chlorofluorocarbons, hydrogen-containing fluorocarbons, and diethyl ether.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the propellant is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl ether, hydrogen-containing chlorofluorocarbons, hydrogen-containing fluorocarbons, and diethyl ether.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the propellant is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the propellant is present in a concentration of about 90 to 99 wt./wt. % of the total cleaning composition and the silicone is present in a concentration of about 1 to 10 wt./wt. % of the total cleaning composition.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an organic solvent.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the organic solvent is an alcohol solution.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the alcohol solution is ethanol.  
   
   
       9 . A composition for cleaning an actuator of a metered dose dispenser, the composition comprising a propellant, silicone, and ethanol, 
 wherein the propellant is selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethane, heptafluoroethane, dimethylfluoropropane, tetrafluoropropane, butane, isobutane, dimethyl ether, hydrogen-containing chlorofluorocarbons, hydrogen-containing fluorocarbons, and diethyl ether,    and wherein the propellant is present in a concentration of about 90 to 99 wt./wt. % of the total composition and the silicone is present in a concentration of about 1 to 10 wt./wt. % of the total composition.    
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the propellant is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl ether, hydrogen-containing chlorofluorocarbons, hydrogen-containing fluorocarbons, and diethyl ether.  
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the propellant is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.