Atomizing devices and methods

A device for dispensing fluid as a spray of droplets, comprising:

• a chamber for containing fluid at a first pressure;
• a piston for pressurizing and discharging the fluid in said chamber, wherein said piston is reciprocable between a loaded position and a discharge position;
• resilient biasing means for urging said piston from the loaded position to the discharge position thereby subjecting the fluid in said chamber to a predetermined increase in pressure from said first pressure to a second pressure of at least 50 bar to permit discharge of the fluid from said chamber at said second pressure, wherein said resilient biasing means is in a loaded state when said piston is in the loaded position;
• latching means for holding said resilient biasing means in the loaded state;
• a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with said chamber, wherein the fluid is drawn into said chamber from said fluid reservoir when said piston is moved to the loaded position;
• and
• atomising means for atomising the fluid discharged from said chamber.

A device for dispensing fluid as a spray of droplets, comprising:

• a chamber for containing fluid at a first pressure;
• a piston for pressurizing and discharging the fluid in said chamber, wherein said piston comprises a channel in fluid communication with said chamber and is reciprocable between a loaded position and a discharge position;
• resilient biasing means for urging said piston from the loaded position to the discharge position thereby subjecting the fluid in said chamber to a predetermined increase in pressure from said first pressure to a second pressure of at least 50 bar to permit discharge of the fluid from said chamber at said second pressure;
• latching means for holding said resilient biasing means so that said piston is in the loaded position;
• actuating means for releasing said latching means so that said resilient biasing means urges said piston from the loaded position to the discharge position thereby initiating discharge of the fluid from said chamber at said second pressure;
• and
• atomising means for atomising the fluid discharged from said chamber.

A device for dispensing fluid as a spray of droplets, comprising:

• a chamber for containing fluid at a first pressure;
• a piston for pressurizing and discharging the fluid in said chamber, wherein said piston comprises a channel in fluid communication with said chamber and is reciprocable between a loaded position and a discharge position;
• resilient biasing means for urging said piston from the loaded position to the discharge position thereby subjecting the fluid in said chamber to a predetermined increase in pressure from said first pressure to a second pressure of at least 50 bar to permit discharge of the fluid from said chamber at said second pressure;
• a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with said chamber, wherein fluid is drawn into said chamber from said fluid reservoir when said piston is moved to the loaded position;
• latching means for holding said resilient biasing means so that said piston is in the loaded position;
• actuating means for releasing said latching means so that said resilient biasing means urges said piston from the loaded position to the discharge position thereby initiating discharge of the fluid from said chamber at said second pressure;
• and
• atomising means for atomising the fluid discharged from said chamber.

A metered dose inhaler for dispensing fluid medicament as a spray of droplets, comprising:

• a chamber for containing fluid medicament at a first pressure;
• a piston for pressurizing and discharging the fluid medicament in said chamber, wherein said piston comprises a channel in fluid communication with said chamber and is reciprocable between a loaded position and a discharge position;
• a non-return valve for said chamber disposed within said channel;
• resilient biasing means for urging said piston from the loaded position to the discharge position thereby subjecting the fluid medicament in said chamber to a predetermined increase in pressure from said first pressure to a second pressure of at least 50 bar to permit discharge of the fluid medicament from said chamber at said second pressure;
• a removable fluid reservoir in fluid communication with said chamber, wherein the fluid medicament is drawn into said chamber from said removable fluid reservoir when said piston is moved to the loaded position, wherein said piston extends from said removable fluid reservoir;
• latching means for holding said resilient biasing means so that said piston is in the loaded position;
• actuating means for releasing said latching means so that said resilient biasing means urges said piston from the loaded position to the discharge position thereby initiating discharge of the fluid medicament from said chamber at said second pressure;
• and
• atomising means for atomising the fluid medicament discharged from said chamber, wherein said atomising means comprises
• a first outlet aperture for discharging a first jet of fluid medicament, and
• a second outlet aperture for discharging a second jet of fluid medicament, said first jet and said second jet impinging upon one another to form a spray of droplets.

A device for dispensing fluid as a spray of droplets, comprising:

• a chamber for containing fluid at a first pressure;
• pressurizing and discharging means for pressurizing and discharging the fluid in said chamber;
• resilient biasing means for urging said pressurizing and discharging means from a loaded position to a discharge position thereby subjecting the fluid in said chamber to a predetermined increase in pressure from said first pressure to a second pressure of at least 50 bar to permit discharge of the fluid from said chamber at said second pressure, wherein said resilient biasing means is in a loaded state when said pressurizing and discharging means is in the loaded position;
• latching means for holding said resilient biasing means in the loaded state;
• actuating means for releasing said latching means, wherein release of said latching means releases said resilient biasing means from the loaded state and said resilient biasing means urges said pressurizing and discharging means to move from the loaded position to the discharge position thereby initiating discharge of the fluid from said chamber at said second pressure;
• and
• atomising means for atomising the fluid discharged from said chamber.