Patent ID: 7637260

Claim:
A dispensing device for dispensing a medicament in metered doses, comprising: a main body with a first and second end; a sleeve movably positioned within said main body and having a closed end; a diaphragm assembly including a relatively rigid central disk, a peripheral attachment ring disposed about a peripheral portion of said disk, and an annular flexure extending between said peripheral portion of said disk and said attachment ring, wherein said central disk is affixed to said first end of said main body and said attachment ring is affixed to said sleeve, thereby defining a closed region between said diaphragm assembly and said closed end of said sleeve, said diaphragm assembly also including a valve port providing fluid communication between said first end of said main body and said closed region; a spring operatively positioned in said main body to apply a preload force to said sleeve; and a vane operatively positioned in said main body and movable between first and second positions, wherein when said vane is in said first position said vane seals said valve port of said diaphragm assembly and when said vane is in said second position said valve port is unsealed; wherein said central disk of said diaphragm assembly comprises a first material characterized by a relatively high stiffness, said annular flexure comprises a second material different from said first material and characterized by a relatively low stiffness, said annular flexure is bonded to said disk along a continuous surface substantially parallel to a central axis of said diaphragm assembly, and said disk, said annular flexure and said attachment ring form a contiguous assembly.