Valve for aerosol container

A metering valve comprising:

• a valve body;
• a means for metering a suspension of drug particles in a liquid propellant;
• a valve stem;
• one or more means for sealing the valve stem;
• at least one orifice in the valve body;
• a ring disposed around the valve body and positioned below the at least one orifice;
• a means, below the at least one orifice, for collecting drug particle sediment;
• and,
• means for assisting in the dispersion of the drug particles in the liquid propellant,
• wherein the metering valve is suitable for dispensing the suspension, and
• wherein the drug is a member selected from the group consisting of salmeterol salbutamol, formoterol, ipratroprium, fluticasone, beclomethasone, budesonide, terbutaline, salts, esters and solvates thereof, and combinations thereof.

A metering valve comprising:

• a valve body;
• at least one orifice,
• a sampling chamber having an axial length,
• a ring having a trough and an annular wall interrupted with a plurality of slots and a plurality of vanes, the ring disposed around the valve body,
• a metering chamber,
• a transfer passage between the sampling chamber and the metering chamber,
• a valve stem,
• one or more stem seals;
• and,
• a dispensing passage within the valve stem,
• wherein the valve stem is slibeably moveable within the valve body such that in a first position the dispensing passage is isolated from the metering chamber and the metering chamber is in communication with the sampling chamber via the transfer passage,
• wherein the valve stem is slideably moveable within the valve body such that in a second position the dispensing passage is in communication with the metering chamber and the transfer passage is isolated from the metering chamber,
• wherein the metering valve is suitable for dispensing a suspension of drug particles in a liquid propellant, and
• wherein the drug is a member selected from the group consisting of salmeterol, salbutamol, formoterol, ipratroprium, fluticasone, beclomethasone, budesonide, terbutaline, salts, esters and solvates thereof, and combinations thereof.

A metered dose inhaler comprising:

• an aerosol container containing a suspension of drug particles in a liquid propellant in communication with
• a valve comprising:
• a valve body;
• a metering chamber;
• a valve stem;
• one or more stem seals;
• at least one orifice in the valve body to allow a quantity of the suspension to pass from the container into the valve;
• and,
• a ring having a trough disposed around the valve body, wherein the ring further includes an annular wall interrupted with a plurality of slots forming a plurality of vanes, wherein, upon shaking of the aerosol container, the suspension flows around the plurality of vanes assisting in dispersion of drug particles in the suspension, and,
• wherein the drug is a member selected from the group consisting of salmeterol, salbutamol, formoterol, ipratroprium, fluticasone, beclomethasone, budesonide, terbutaline, salts, esters and solvates thereof, and combinations thereof.

A metered dose inhaler comprising:

• a means for containing a suspension of drug particles in a liquid propellant in communication with
• a valve comprising:
• a valve body;
• a means for metering the suspension;
• a valve stem;
• one or more means for sealing the valve stem;
• at least one orifice in the valve body to allow a quantity of the suspension to pass from the containing means into the valve;
• and,
• a ring having a means, disposed around the valve body, for collecting drug particle sediment,
• wherein the ring further includes an annular wall interrupted with a plurality of slots forming a plurality of vanes, wherein, upon shaking of the containing means, the suspension flows around the plurality of vanes assisting in dispersion of drug particles in the suspension, and,
• wherein the drug is a member selected from the group consisting of salmeterol, salbutamol, formoterol, ipratroprium, fluticasone, beclomethasone, budesonide, terbutaline, salts, esters and solvates thereof, and combinations thereof.