Details for Patent: 5,290,539
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Title: | Device for delivering an aerosol |
Abstract: | A device for delivering an aerosol, comprising: a casing member, a valve stem, and a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm comprises a thermoplastic elastomer comprising a ethylene/1-butene copolymer. Also disclosed are sealing members comprising such an elastomer and thermoplastic polymer blends, e.g., for use in sealing members of the invention. The devices of the invention are particularly useful with formulations containing 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane or 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane as the propellant. |
Inventor(s): | Marecki; Paul E. (May Township, Washington County, MN) |
Assignee: | Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (St. Paul, MN) |
Filing Date: | Dec 18, 1991 |
Application Number: | 07/809,796 |
Claims: | 1. A device for delivering an aerosol, comprising: a valve stem, a diaphragm having walls defining a diaphragm aperture, and a casing member having walls defining a casing aperture, wherein the valve stem passes through the diaphragm aperture and the casing aperture and is in slidable sealing engagement with the diaphragm aperture, and wherein the diaphragm is in sealing engagement with the casing member, the diaphragm material comprising: a thermoplastic elastomer comprising a copolymer of about 80 to about 95 mole percent ethylene and a total of about 5 to about 20 mole percent of one or more comonomers selected from the group consisting of 1-butene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sole comonomer is 1-butene. 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sole comonomer is 1-hexene. 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sole comonomer is 1-octene. 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises a copolymer of about 91 mole percent ethylene and about 9 mole percent 1-butene. 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises a copolymer of about 88 mole percent ethylene and about 12 mole percent 1-butene. 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises a copolymer of about 80 mole percent ethylene and about 20 mole percent 1-butene. 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises a copolymer of about 90 mole percent ethylene and about 10 mole percent 1-butene. 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises a copolymer of about 92 mole percent ethylene and about 8 mole percent 1-butene. 10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises a copolymer of about 90 mole percent ethylene and about 10 mole percent 1-octene. 11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises a copolymer of about 92 mole percent ethylene and about 8 percent 1-octene. 12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises a copolymer of about 95 mole percent ethylene, about 1 mole percent 1-butene, and about 4 mole percent 1-hexene. 13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises a copolymer of about 94 mole percent ethylene, about 1 mole percent 1-butene, and about 5 mole percent 1-octene. 14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is a thermoplastic polymer blend comprising at least two thermoplastic copolymers, each comprising a copolymer of about 80 to about 95 mole percent ethylene and a total of about 5 to about 20 mole percent of one or more comonomers selected from the group consisting -butene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene. 15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the sole comonomer in each of the copolymers is 1-butene. 16. A device according to claim 14, wherein the thermoplastic polymer blend comprises (i) a copolymer of about 91 mole percent ethylene and about 9 mole percent 1-butene, and (ii) a copolymer of about 80 mole percent ethylene and about 20 mole percent 1-butene. 17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the thermoplastic polymer blend comprises one part by weight of component (i) and about 0.25 to about 4 parts by weight of component (ii). 18. A device according to claim 1, wherein the casing member defines a formulation chamber. 19. A device according to claim 18, wherein the formulation chamber contains an aerosol formulation comprising 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane, or a mixture thereof, in an amount effective to function as a propellant. 20. A device according to claim 19, wherein the formulation is a pharmaceutical formulation comprising 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane, or a mixture thereof, in an amount effective to function as an aerosol propellant, and a drug in an amount sufficient to provide a predetermined number of therapeutically effective doses for inhalation. 21. A device according to claim 20, wherein the drug is a bronchodilator or a steroid. 22. A device according to claim 20, wherein the drug is albuterol sulfate. 23. A device according to claim 20, wherein the drug is beclomethasone dipropionate. 24. A device according to claim 20, wherein the drug is pirbuterol acetate. 25. A device according to claim 19, wherein the formulation further comprises ethanol. 26. A device according to claim 25, wherein the formulation further comprises oleic acid. |