Patent ID: 7225805

Claim:
A drug dispensing device for repetitive dispensing on successive inhalations of a drug released from a pressurised drug source with a can body, a delivery stem and a valve which is normally open in use of the device, the dispenser comprising: a hollow body having: a wall enclosing a breath passage within the hollow body, an ambient opening to the breath passage, a patient breathing opening to the breath passage, a relatively broad can receptor attached to the hollow body for accommodating the can of the pressurised drug source, a junction member attached to the hollow body at the can receptor for connection with the dispensing stem of the pressurised drug source and leading delivered drug from the dispensing stem, the junction member having a relatively narrow socket for receiving the dispensing stem, a drug disperser for dispersing the delivered drug towards the patient breathing opening, a drug duct from the junction member to the drug disperser, and repetitive dose release means comprising: at least one valve in the drug duct from the container to the disperser for releasing a dose to the drug disperser, a breath detection member arranged in the breath passage to be acted on by breath passing therethrough and a valve actuator operatively connected to the breath detection member and the valve both for opening the valve on each successive inhalation to release a dose and for closing the valve after the release for recharging of the drug duct upstream of the valve in preparation for release of the next dose, the valve and the actuator being so arranged that: on inhalation, with the breath detection member detecting such, the valve is opened to allow pressurised drug through a downstream portion of the drug duct and disperse from the drug disperser in the patient breathing opening; the arrangement permitting a small dose of the drug to be repetitively released on each breath by the patient.