# US 2019/0167939 A1 · Metering Valve for a Metered Dose Inhaler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167939 A1 - Document ID: US20190167939A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/266,342 - Filed: 2019-02-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-05 - Assignees: DunAn Microstaq, Inc.; Pearl Therapeutics, Inc. - Applicants: DunAn Microstaq, Inc.; Pearl Therapeutics, Inc. - Inventors: E. Nelson Fuller; Parthiban Arunasalam; Joseph Nguyen; Joe A. Ojeda, Sr.; Wayne Curtis Long; Michael Thomas Riebe; Matthew Skelly Ferriter; Jill Karen Sherwood; Daniel Marion Deaton, III; Michael Leon Franklin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167939A1 ## CPC - A61M 16/201: {Controlled valves} - A61M 5/16813: {by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line} - A61M 15/0066: {with means for varying the dose size} - A61M 15/008: {Electronic counters} - A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)} - A61M 16/202: {electrically actuated} - A61M 2039/226: {Spindles or actuating means} - A61M 2039/2473: {Valve comprising a non-deformable, movable element, e.g. ball-valve, valve with movable stopper or reciprocating element} - A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - A61M 2205/581: by audible feedback - A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An improved aerosol dispensing apparatus includes an aerosol container, a discharge piece movably mounted to the aerosol container, a flow control valve mounted within the discharge piece, a battery, and an electronically controlled metering valve electronically connected to the battery and in fluid communication with the flow control valve. The flow control valve is movable between an open position wherein a volume of an aerosol formulation is directed from the aerosol container through the flow control valve to the metering valve, and a closed position, wherein the metering valve is configured to precisely control a flow of the aerosol formulation outward of the discharge piece. A solenoid is electronically connected to the battery and is movable between an actuated position wherein the solenoid urges the flow control valve into the open position, and an un-actuated position wherein the flow control valve remains in the closed position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol dispensing apparatus comprising: an aerosol container; a discharge piece mounted to the aerosol container; a flow control valve mounted within the discharge piece; a battery; an electronically controlled metering valve electronically connected to the battery and in fluid communication with the flow control valve, wherein the flow control valve is movable between an open position wherein a volume of an aerosol formulation is directed from the aerosol container through the flow control valve to the metering valve, and a closed position wherein the aerosol formulation is not permitted to flow through the flow control valve to the metering valve, and wherein the metering valve is configured to precisely control a flow of the aerosol formulation outward of the discharge piece; and a solenoid electronically connected to the battery, wherein the solenoid is movable between an actuated position wherein the solenoid urges the flow control valve into the open position, and an un-actuated position wherein the solenoid does not act on the flow control valve and the flow control valve remains in the closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aerosol dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow control valve is configured as an on-off valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The aerosol dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electronically controlled metering valve is an electronically actuated microvalve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The aerosol dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, further including a microcontroller electronically connected between the battery and the microvalve and configured to control a dose amount of the aerosol formulation dispensed through the microvalve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The aerosol dispensing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the dose amount of the aerosol formulation is measured by a volume of the aerosol formulation dispensed through the microvalve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The aerosol dispensing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the dose amount of the aerosol formulation is measured by a duration of a flow of an aerosol formulation dispensed through the microvalve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The aerosol dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, further including a manually actuated switch between the battery and the microvalve and in an outside surface of the aerosol dispensing apparatus, the switch operative to move the microvalve between the open and closed positions. ### Claim 8 An aerosol dispensing apparatus comprising: an aerosol container; a discharge piece movably mounted to the aerosol container; a flow control valve mounted within the discharge piece; a battery; and an electronically controlled metering valve electronically connected to the battery and in fluid communication with the flow control valve, wherein the flow control valve is movable between an open position wherein a volume of an aerosol formulation is directed from the aerosol container through the flow control valve to the metering valve, and a closed position wherein the aerosol formulation is not permitted to flow through the flow control valve to the metering valve, and wherein the metering valve is configured to precisely control a flow of the aerosol formulation outward of the discharge piece. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The aerosol dispensing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the flow control valve is configured as an on-off valve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The aerosol dispensing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the electronically controlled metering valve is an electronically actuated microvalve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The aerosol dispensing apparatus according to claim 10, further including a microcontroller electronically connected between the battery and the microvalve and configured to control a dose amount of the aerosol formulation dispensed through the microvalve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The aerosol dispensing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the dose amount of the aerosol formulation is measured by one of a volume of the aerosol formulation dispensed through the microvalve and a duration of a flow of an aerosol formulation dispensed through the microvalve.