Patent ID: 7213593

Claim:
In an atomizing device for propellant-free administration of a metered quantity of a liquid pharmaceutical composition for use by inhalation, the improvement which comprises a two-chambered cartridge for separate storage of an active, pharmaceutical substance, which can be either in dry form or in liquid form, and of a liquid solvent for the active, pharmaceutical substance, both of which, when mixed, will form the liquid pharmaceutical composition to be administered by the atomizing device, which cartridge comprises: (a) a container forming a first chamber for holding a liquid solvent within its interior, which container has a neck and around such neck is a cylindrical ring; (b) a closure cap for the container holding the liquid solvent which closure cap has a lower edge whereby the lower edge of the closure cap engages the neck of the container by means of an internal, encircling bead on the lower edge of the closure cap and whereby the encircling bead on the lower edge of the closure cap engages underneath the cylindrical ring around the neck of the container; and (c) a non-sealing, displacing device which is provided or situated on the closure cap so as to be an integral part thereof, and so that the device will displace a portion of any liquid solvent in the container as the closure cap is pushed onto the neck of the container so that the encircling bead on the lower edge of the closure cap engages underneath the cylindrical ring around the neck of the container, and further whereby the non-sealing, displacing device has at least one second chamber within that portion of the device which would displace a portion of any liquid solvent in the container, which second chamber is suitable for storage of a pharmaceutical formulation that can be dissolved in or diluted by the liquid solvent, and whereby the device also has a cannula guide comprising an elongated tube having a vertical axis which extends from the second chamber to that area of the device situated adjacent the lower edge of the closure cap and wherein the second chamber has two openings, where one opening is from the second chamber to the guide and which is sealed by a pierceable septum, and the other opening is between the second chamber and the interior of the container which is sealed by a sealing film and the lower end of the displacing device is chamfered.