Patent · US Expired

Aerosol generator and methods of making and using an aerosol generator

US7117867B2 · kind B2 · utility

472Cited by
212References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 15, 2003
Grant dateOct 10, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 24, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2205/8225
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An aerosol generator includes a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet, a heater arranged relative to the flow passage for heating the flow passage, a source of material to be volatilized in communication with the inlet of the flow passage, a valve to open and close communication between the source of material and the inlet of the flow passage, and a pressurization arrangement for causing material in the source of material to be introduced into the flow passage when the valve is in an open position. The aerosol generator further includes a source of power for operating the heater and the valve, and a control device for controlling supply of power from the source of power to the heater and the valve. A metering device in an inhaler includes a pressurized source of medicated fluid and a metering chamber configured to deliver a predetermined volume of fluid to a heated flow passage in the inhaler. The metering chamber can be part of a rotary valve having a bore and a displacement member moveable within the bore from a first position where the fluid is loaded into the bore to a second position where the predetermined volume is ejected out of the bore. Another metering chamber has a…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.