DISTRIBUTOR WITH DOSING COUNTERField of the InventionThe present invention relates to a distributor having a device that indicates the drive to indicate the number of drives thereof. In particular, the invention relates to metered dose inhalers by means of which the medicaments contained in an aerosol container can be administered to a patient.
Background of the InventionThe treatment of patients with medicaments contained in an aerosol, for example, a bronchodilator therapy, is well known. It is also known to use in such therapy, medicaments which are contained in an aerosol and are administered to a patient by means of an inhalation device comprising a housing or tubular sleeve in which the aerosol container and a tube are located. outlet that leads outside the tubular housing. The aerosol containers used in such inhalation devices Ref.032234 are designed to deliver a predetermined dose of the medication during each actuation by means of an outlet valve element at one end, which can be opened either by pressing the valve element. valve while the container is held stationary or depressing the container while the valve member is held stationary. In the use of such devices, the aerosol container is placed in the tubular housing with the element of the outlet valve of the container communicating by means of a support with the outlet tube, for example a nozzle or nozzle. When used to distribute drugs, for example in a bronchodilator therapy, the housing is then maintained by the patient in a more or less vertical condition and the nozzle or nozzle of the installation device is placed in the mouth or nose of the patient. The aerosol container is pressed into the holder to distribute a dose of medicament from the container which is then inhaled by the patient. One problem that arises from the use of such known devices is that the patient can not determine the amount of medication in the container at any given time. In an extreme case this could mean that the patient, who possibly suffers from severe bronchospasm and who needs a dose of the medication, will find that the container does not distribute a dose because its content has already been exhausted. As a solution to the problem described above, the use of dose indicating devices has been suggested, which typically count the number of doses delivered from and remaining in the aerosol container, whereby it becomes possible for the patient to determine how much drug It is available in the container for future use. Typically, the device indicating the dose has an indexing mechanism (i.e. counting) driven by the movement of the container relative to the housing, wherein a preset amount of relative movement leads to a count that is indexed. The U.S. patent No. 4817822 discloses an aerosol dispenser having a device indicating the doses which, in a first embodiment, is removably attached to the end of the protruding portion of the aerosol container. The mechanism of operation of the dose counter is located within a housing which extends from the end of the aerosol container along the outer surface of the tubular housing.
Patent US4817822 discloses a dispenser having a dose indicating device in which the operating mechanism of the dose indicating device is located within a compartment in the housing and is actuated by means of an actuator member attached to the aerosol container. The patent W096 / 16686 describes an aerosol container in which the operating mechanism of the device indicating the dose is electronic and wherein the actuating element comprises a microswitch placed on the wall of the housing. The electronic counting mechanism and the microswitch are contained within a hermetically sealed enclosure. Patent US5482030 describes an aerosol dispenser having a dose indicating device, mechanical, located in and connected to the housing in the vicinity of the outlet tube of the aerosol container when equipped. Many different pharmaceutical products are sold in the form of aerosol containers that require different container bodies and valves sized differently according to the required specifications. Therefore it is normal that there are dimensional variations between different aerosol containers. Even among the same products there may be dimensional variations due to manufacturing tolerances. The problem that is common, for all of the dose indicator devices described above is that the indexing mechanism, which is driven by the relative movement between the body of the container and the housing, lacks any means of compensation for the dimensional variations between the different aerosol containers. Therefore, the indexing mechanisms must be sized according to the product with which they will be used, and thus will not be interchangeable with other products. In addition, for the indexing mechanism to accurately record a count, the dimensions of the components of any particular device must be manufactured to the required high tolerances. Applicants have now found that this problem can be improved by the use of a coupling element which compensates for excess movement (ie overtraining) of the container relative to the housing. By excessive movement is meant here a movement larger than that required to index or mark a count. In one aspect, such excess movement is related to dimensional variations in the container and other parts of the dispenser. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a dispenser comprising a housing having a support is provided.; a container, locatable within the housing, having an outlet, wherein the container performs distribution through the outlet in response to movement of the container relative to the housing; and an indicator of the drive having an indexing mechanism operable by the movement of the container relative to the housing, wherein the indicating mechanism includes a coupling element to compensate for excess movement of the container relative to the housing. By the use of a coupling element, such as a lost motion coupling, it is possible to create a drive indicator of a size which can be used in distributors having valves and actuators made within a wide range of manufacturing tolerances and it can still be adapted to a range of valves and actuators made of different dimensions.
Suitably, the indexing mechanism is operable by a predetermined movement of the container relative to the housing. Suitably, the indexing mechanism marks or indexes the actuation by means of a predetermined rotary movement of a first element driven by the relative movement to a second element during the actuation of the distributor. Preferably, the second element remains stationary relative to the housing during actuation of the dispenser. In a preferred aspect, the first element comprises a pinion carried by an axis through the coupling mechanism and the second element comprises a frame. In another preferred aspect, the first element comprises a fork for coupling with the second element through the coupling mechanism. Suitably, the coupling element comprises a friction drive mechanism. Suitably, the container is an aerosol container. _ Suitably, the container provides metered doses. Preferably, the drive indicator indicates the number of doses distributed from or remaining in the container. Suitably, the dispenser here comprises a housing having a support; a container, locatable within the housing, having an exit element, wherein the container is movable relative to the housing to enable distribution therefrom and the exit element is connectable with the support to prevent relative movement between the same; and an indicator of the drive, locatable within the housing. Preferably, the container and drive indicator are reversibly removable from the housing as a single unit. Suitably, the indicator of the drive is engageable with the container in the vicinity of the output element. More preferably, the drive indicator is engageable with the output element. Suitably, the indicator of the drive is provided with a fastening element which is engageable with a neck portion of the container. Preferably, the neck portion is adjacent to or on the exit element. Suitably, the housing is provided with an outlet, more preferably in the form of a nozzle. Preferably, the dispenser comprises a passageway through which the doses distributed from the container to the outlet can pass. Suitably, the dispenser is an inhaler operated by the breath which is operable in response to breathing in a user. Preferably, the dispenser here is an aerosol dispenser comprising a housing in which a container is located removably, an outlet leading from the housing and a support in the housing arranged to receive an outlet member of the container and having a passage through which the contents of the container can pass to the exit, the exit element is kept stationary in the support of the housing and the body of the container is movable relative to the outlet and the housing to distribute its content in measured doses, and a drive indicating device having an indicator of the drive to indicate the number of doses distributed from or remaining in the container. More preferably, the device indicating the drive is hermetically connected to the container in the vicinity of the outlet element, such that the container and the drive indicating device can be removed from the housing as a single unit. Preferably, the dispenser here is an inhaler of the metered dose comprising a housing in which the container is located removably, an outlet leading from the housing, a support in the housing arranged or distributed to receive the outlet element of the container and that has a passageway through which the contents of the container can pass to the exit, the output element is kept stationary in the support of the housing and the body of the container is movable relative to the outlet and the housing to distribute its content in measured doses, and a window through which the indicator of the drive. A dispenser according to the invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a section through a standard inhalation device comprising an aerosol dispenser; Figure 2 is a section through the dose indicating device as equipped to an aerosol device in an inhalation device;Figure 3 is a perspective view of a counting mechanism used in the dose indicating device of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows the operation sequence of the counter mechanism of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a side section and a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of the dose indicating device as equipped in the housing of an inhalation device; Figure 6 shows an exploded view of a device indicating the dose according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 shows another exploded view of the dose indication device of Figure 6 together with an aerosol container and housing; Figure 8 shows a schematic section through an inhalation device comprising the dose indication device of Figure 6 in a rest position; and Figure 9 shows a schematic section through the inhalation device of Figure 8 in an actuated position.
Detailed description of the inventionAn inhaler of the standard metered dose shown in Figure 1 comprises a tubular housing 1 in which an aerosol container 2 can be located. The housing is open at one end (which hereinafter will be considered to be the top of the device for convenience of description) and closed on the other. An outlet 3 leads laterally from the closed end of the housing 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the outlet 3 is in the form of a mouthpiece proposed for insertion into the patient's mouth but can be designed, if desired, as a mouthpiece for the insertion in the window of the patient's nose. The aerosol container 2 has a stem 4 of the outlet valve at one end. This valve element can be depressed - to release a metered dose from the aerosol container or, alternatively, the valve stem 4 can be fixed and the main body of the container can be moved relative to the valve element to release the dose. As clearly shown in Figure 1, the aerosol container 2 is located in the housing 1 so that one end protrudes from its open top. The spacer beads (not shown) can be provided within the housing for retaining the outer surface of the container 2 spaced from the inner surface of the housing 1. A support 5 is provided at the lower end of the housing 1 and has a passageway 6 in it. which the valve stem 4 of the aerosol container 2 can be located and supported. A second passageway 7 is provided in the support 5 and is directed towards the interior of the outlet 3. Accordingly, when the parts are in the positions shown in Figure 1, the protruding portion of the aerosol container 2 can be depressed to move. the container from its rest position relative to the stem 4 of the valve for opening the valve and a dose of the medicament contained in the aerosol will be discharged through the passageway 7 and towards the outlet 3 from which it can be inhaled by a patient. A dose will be released from the aerosol container each time it is fully depressed. Figure 2 shows the bottom part of. a device similar to. that of Figure 1 but that incorporates a device indicating the dose according to the invention. The dose indicating device comprises a body 8 firmly fixed to the aerosol container by means of the tubular portion 9 formed with handles 10. The tubular portion 9 hermetically couples the periphery of the valve socket 11 while a handle in the shape of the edge 10 engages around the neck 12 of the valve socket 11 which is formed during assembly when the. valve cap 11 is bent inward on the aerosol container 2. Accordingly, the tubular portion 9 and the edge 10 form a hermetic connection with the aerosol container which once assembled by the thrust of the tubular portion 9 on the valve socket 11, can not be easily disassembled. Downstream of the tubular portion 9, the body 8 forms a support 22 for mounting the counter mechanism 13 and the drive pinion 14. The drive pinion 14 is frictionally mounted on the drive shaft 15 of the counter mechanism. The drive pinion 14 is formed with a number of teeth or legs 21 which can be engaged with a number of recesses or notches formed on the post 17 in the form of a frame molded into the housing 1 and extending from the base. dislodging 1 parallel to the rod 4 of the valve. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the driving shaft 15 is connected to the driving fork 16 of the counter mechanism 13. The driving fork 16 has two switching pins 18a and 18b spaced apart laterally from the star wheel 19 of such so that the driving fork 16 can be inclined about the driving shaft 15 between a first position shown in Figure 4 in which the switching pin 18a couples one side of the star wheel 19, and a second position shown in Figure 4d in wherein the switching pin 18b engages the other side of the star wheel 19. The star wheel 19 is connected through a mechanism, similar to that described with reference to the reference numerals 2 to 8 in Figures 1 to 3 of European Patent No. 0280104, to three-digit wheels 33, which have numbers printed on their circumferential faces as described below. When located in the housing 1, the counter mechanism 13 is small enough to be located on the sides of and under the support 5 so that it does not interfere with the throat for the aerosol when it leaves the passage 7. The aerosol container 2 can be provided to the patient with the device indicating the dose already assembled thereto. Alternatively, the housing 1 can be provided to the patient with the dose indicating device located in the position shown in Figure 2 and the aerosol container 2 supplied separately. In this case, the patient is instructed to insert the aerosol container 2 into the housing 1 with the valve stem first. During the first insertion of the container into the housing, the tubular portion 9 and the edge 10 of the dose indicating device mounted on the periphery of the cap 11 of the valve of the aerosol container 2 until the edge 10 snaps closed around the neck 12. After this, the dose indicating device is fixed to the aerosol container 2. Other means of attaching the dose indicator to the container are contemplated, including fixing by means of adhesives; the use of welded contracted sleeves, conformation with heat; curled or bent inward; ultrasonic welding; and by the presence of a ring elastomer at 0 on the container which is pierceable in a fixed manner by the tips or beards on the fixation element of the dose indicator. To operate the device, the protruding portion of the aerosol container is depressed as described above with reference to Figure 1.
When the aerosol container carrying the dose indicating mechanism moves inside the housing 1, the driving pinion 14 begins to rotate, through its engagement with the post 17, causing the rotation of the drive shaft 15 and the driving fork 16 When the driving fork 16 tilts with the rotation of the driving shaft 15, the switching pin 18a moves in engagement with the star wheel 19 (Figure 4a) causing a rotation in the opposite direction of clockwise, increasing, of a spacing of half a tooth of the star wheel while the switching pin 18a can not be further moved in this direction, the switching pin is placed between two adjacent teeth of the star wheel (Figure 4b). At this point, the drive shaft 15 can not rotate additionally and this lack of additional movement of the aerosol container towards the housing 1 leads to the driving pinion 14 continuing to rotate through its engagement with the post 17 under the coupling by friction between the pinion 14 and the drive shaft 15. When the rod 4 of the valve has reached full supposition. Pressed and a measured dose of the medication has been discharged from the aerosol container, the aerosol container is allowed to rotate to its original position. When the aerosol container and the dose indicating mechanism return to their original position, the driving pinion 14 starts to rotate in the opposite direction together with the driving shaft 15 and the driving fork 16. Accordingly, the driving fork 16 is tilted in such a way that the switching pin 18a moves out of engagement with the star wheel 19 while the switching pin 18b moves in engagement with it (Figure 4c), causing the increasing rotation in the inverse direction of the hands of the clock of a spacing of half a tooth of the star wheel until the switching pin 18b can no longer move in this direction (FIG. 4d). Again, the drive shaft 15 can not rotate further at this point and any further movement of the aerosol container out of the housing 1 leads to the driving pinion 14 continuing to rotate through its engagement with the post 17 under the frictional coupling between the pinion 14 and the drive shaft 15. In this way it can be seen that the friction coupling acts as a lost motion coupling which allows the dose indicating device to be used with the aerosol containers having valves with different lengths of travel of the valve stem during operation. Each time the aerosol dispenser is actuated, the star wheel is caused to rotate through two increasing movements in the counterclockwise direction as described above. These movements are translated through the counter mechanism into the appropriate movements of the digit wheels 33, a number on each of the printed circumferential faces of the digit wheels that is clearly visible through the window 20 at the rear of the housing 1 (as shown in Figure 2), to indicate that an additional dose of a drug has been distributed. Having three-digit wheels 33 it is possible for the dose counter to be used to count hundreds of doses. Clearly, if a number less than one hundred doses are to be contained within the dispenser, the dose counter could comprise wheels with a smaller number of digits. Alternatively, if a thousand or more doses are to be contained, then one or more additional digit wheels may be added when appropriate. To remove the aerosol container 2 from the cleaning housing, the aerosol container 2 can be removed from the housing 1 in the usual manner.
When the container is empty, frictional engagement between the drive pinion 14 and the drive shaft 15 allows such additional movement when required by the drive pinion to exit engagement with the post 17 without causing any additional indexing of the counter mechanism. Once removed, the housing 1 can be cleaned as described without danger of interfering with or damaging the dose indicating device, which remains firmly connected to the aerosol container 2. When the housing 1 is clean, the contents of the aerosol 2 with the dose indicating device it can be reinserted into the housing 1. During insertion, the drive pinion 14 will engage the post 17 and will begin to rotate until the aerosol container reaches its normal rest position with the valve stem 4 located on the support 5. When the drive pinion 14 rotates, the friction coupling will act as a lost motion mechanism as described above, allowing any travel of the aerosol container as between the first coupling of the drive pinion 14 and the post 17, and the location of the rod 14 of the valve in support 5. In this way, the friction coupling accommodates and compensates automatically the different lengths of the valve rods protruding from the bushing, which could otherwise lead to the relative position different from the container relative to the indexing mechanism. Figure 5 shows an alternative, lost motion coupling mechanism, which can be used in an aerosol dispenser according to the invention. In this embodiment, instead of a pinion, the driving fork 16 is formed with two spring arms 30 between which the pole 1-7 is firmly coupled (Figure 5a). The post 17 is formed with ridges on its surface (not shown) which provides a rough surface finish to create the required level of friction between the arms 30 and the post 17 such that the arms 30 will hold the post 17 until the applied load exceeds friction. During actuation of the device, when the aerosol container and the dose indicating mechanism are moved, the frictional engagement between the arms 30 and the post 17 causes the driving fork 16 to tilt about the axis of the shaft 15 (not shown). in Figure 5), so that the switching latch 18a is moved in engagement with the star wheel 19 as described in relation to the first embodiment. When the switching latch 18a reaches its travel limit, the driving fork 16 can no longer be moved further, and any further movement of the aerosol container in the housing 1 leads to the arms 30 sliding down the pole 17 by virtue of the friction coupling. During return to its original position, the driving fork 16 tilts in the other direction until the switching bolt 18b moves in engagement with the star wheel 19 and can no longer be moved further. Any further movement of the aerosol container out of the housing 1 causes the arms 30 to slide upwardly of the post 17. Figures 6 to 9 show an inhalation device with an electromechanical dose-indicating device according to the invention . As with the embodiments described above, the device indicating the dose comprises a body 40 firmly fixed to the aerosol container by means of the tubular portion 41 formed with handles (not shown). The tubular portion 41 tightly engages the periphery of the valve socket 11 while a handle in the shape of an edge engages around the neck 12 of the valve socket 11. Accordingly, the tubular portion 41 and a flange form a tight or watertight connection with the aerosol container which once assembled by the thrust of the tubular portion 41 on the valve socket 11, it can not be disassembled easily. Downstream of the tubular portion 41, the body 40 forms a support for mounting the counter mechanism 43, and defines a chamber for accommodating the switching slider 44. The switching slider 44 is a cylindrical washer made of silicone rubber and having a hole of a diameter such that, with the can and the dose-indicating device mounted within the actuator housing, it provides a frictional fit on the bolt 45, which is molded into the housing and protrudes through the housing. a hole in the body 40. The friction adjustment of the switching slide 44 on the bolt 45 ensures that the switching slide will not move along the bolt unless it is pushed. Two contact elements 46, 47, both of which comprise a switching contact and a circuit board contact, and one of which further comprises a battery contact, are mounted in such a way that the contacts of the battery and the board, the circuit is in constant contact with a first terminal of the battery 48 and the printed circuit board (PCB) 49 respectively. The switching contacts do not contact each other but are positioned on either side of the bolt 45, and define the upper limit of movement of the switching slide 44 within its chamber. Accordingly, when the switching slide 44 is in its upper position as shown in Figure 9, it contacts the switching contacts, so that they close the circuit between them due to the electrical conductivity of the silicone rubber. of the switching slide. Although in the described embodiment the switching slide is made of silicone rubber, it will be appreciated that it could alternatively be made of a non-conductive rubber having an insert on its upper face, made of metal or some other conductive material. In addition to its connections to the contact elements 46, 47, the PCB 49 also has connections to the other terminal of the battery and to a liquid crystal display (LCD) 50 of three digits in a conventional manner. The PCB comprises a specific integrated circuit for the application (ASIC), which provides the logic by which the dose indicator can be verified, programmed and made operational, as described in more detail later, to keep a record of how many Sometimes the switching contact circuit is closed and urges the LCD to display the number of remaining doses in the aerosol container. The ASIC is thus designed and programmed according to a known manner. Instead of a digital display, the LCD could be formatted alternately to display an analogous indication. When the aerosol container is mounted in the actuator housing, the LCD 50 is visible through the window 20. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the LCD and the window are located in the back of the housing, but they could also be located in the front part or some other part of the housing. The counter mechanism 43 is small enough to be located on the sides of and below the block of the rod (support 5) molded into the housing so that it does not interfere with the throat for the aerosol when it comes out. To operate the device, the protruding portion of the aerosol container when fitted in the actuator housing is depressed as described above. When the aerosol container carrying the dose indicating mechanism moves within the housing from its rest position (shown in Figure 8), the chamber accommodating the switching slide 44 moves downwardly until the top face of the switching slide 44, which is mounted on the bolt 45, meets the switching contacts 46, 47 and the switching circuit is closed. This causes the ASIC to decrease or reduce the number displayed by the LCD 50. When the aerosol container continues to move, a metered dose of the medicament is discharged from the valve, while the commutator slide 44 is pushed down along the bolt 45 by virtue of the friction fit of the slide. switch over the bolt until the valve stem reaches its limit of travel and the aerosol container no longer moves (Figure 9). In this way, it can be seen that the friction adjustment of the switching slide 44 on the bolt 45 allows the upper stroke of the valve stem after the switching circuit has been closed, so as to act as a movement coupling. lost. The aerosol container is then allowed to return to its original position within the housing, and when it returns, the chamber accommodating the switching slide 44 moves to the breaking of the switching circuit when the switching contacts 46, 47 are they move away from the switching slide 44. The body 40 is then joined to the lower face of the switching slide 44 and pulls the switching slide upwards along the pin 45 until the valve stem returns to its Resting position (Figure 8). Because the dose indicating device is designed to be suitable for use in relation to aerosol containers of different sizes containing different numbers of doses to be delivered, the ASIC is designed to be adjusted in the factory according to the size of the aerosol container with which the dose indicating device is assembled. After assembly of the dose indicating device and the first connection of the battery, the ASIC enters its self-test mode. After this, the programming mode can be introduced by activating the switch, allowing it to be programmed to count down from the appropriate number of doses (for example 200, 120, 80 or 60). This can be done automatically on a packaging line. After the programming has been carried out, the ASIC enters the counting mode, where the LCD_ is decreased during the closing of the contact circuit of the switch. When the zero count is reached, the ASIC is designed to prevent the count from being further reduced in a known manner. To prevent false readings due to the effects of the "bounce" of the switch, the ASIC can be designed for reduction only after the switching circuit has been closed for a predetermined time interval in a known manner. In the event that the aerosol container is obstructed in the actuated position after the operation, or that the switching circuit is jammed when closed due to mechanical damage or contamination, the ASIC may be designed to bleach the LCD to alert the user that there is a problem. As with the other embodiments of the invention described above, the aerosol container can be removed from the actuator housing in the usual manner. When the container is removed, the body 40 pulls the switch slide up along the bolt 45 until it clears the bolt together. Once removed, the housing can be cleaned without interfering with or damaging the dose indicating device, which remains firmly connected to the aerosol container. __ _ During the reinsertion of the aerosol container, which can only occur when the body of the dose indicating device is correctly oriented with respect to the housing by virtue of its respective shapes, the switching slide 44 engages and is pushed towards up through the bolt 45 until the top face meets the switch contacts. The additional insertion of the aerosol container leads to the switching slide 44 being pushed down along the pin 45 until the valve stem is seated again inside the support 5.. It will be appreciated that by the ASIC programming, a design of the dose indicating device could be used in conjunction with a range of aerosol containers of various capacities. By virtue of the switching mechanism, the same design of the dose indicating device could also be used in conjunction with a range of different valves having different stem lengths of the valve and different directions of rod travel. Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to an inhaler of the metered dose, manually operable by the patient, it will be appreciated that other drive mechanisms may be substituted. In particular, the use of an inhaler operated by the breath in which the actuator is aided, and is made in response to, preferably activated by, breathing in the patient, is also contemplated. The dispenser of the invention is suitable for distributing the medicament, particularly for the treatment of respiratory disorders. The appropriate medicaments can therefore be selected, for example from analgesics, for example codeine, dihydromorphine, ergotamine, fentanyl or morphine.; anginal preparations, for example, diltiazem; antiallergics, for example, cromoglycate, ketotifen or nedocromil; antiinfectives for example, cephalosporins, penicillins, streptomycin, sulfonamides, tetracyclines and pentamidine; antihistamines, for example, metapyrylene; anti-inflammatories, for example, beclomethasone dipropionate, fluticasone propionate, flunisolide, budesonide,. rofleponide, mometasone fur'acoate or triamcinolone acetonide; antitussives, for example, noscapine; bronchodilators, eg, albuterol, salmeterol, ephedrine, adrenaline, fenoterol, for oterol, isoprenaline, metaproterenol, phenylephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, pirbuterol, reproterol, rimiterol, terbutaline, isoetarin, tulobuterol, or (-) -4-amino-3, 5 -dichloro-a- [[[6- [2- (2-pyridinyl) ethoxy] exyl] methyl] -benzenemethanol; diuretics, for example, amiloride; anticholinergics, for example, ipratropium, tiotropium, atropine or oxitropium; hormones, for example, cortisone, hydrocortisone or prednisolone; xanthines, for example, aminophylline, choline theophyllinate, lysine theophyllinate or theophylline; Therapeutic proteins and peptides, for example, insulin or glucagon. It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that, where appropriate, the drugs can be used in the form of salts(for example, as alkali metal or amine salts or as acid addition salts) or as esters (for example, lower alkyl esters) or as solvates (for example, hydrates) to optimize the activity and / or stability of the medicine. Preferred medicaments are selected from albuterol, salmeterol, fluticasone propionate and beclomethasone dipropionate and the salts and solvates thereof, for example albuterol sulfate and salmeterol xinafoate. Medications can also be supplied in combinations. Preferred formulations containing combinations of active ingredients contain salbutamol (e.g., as the free base or sulfate salt) or salmeterol (e.g., as the xinafoate salt) in combination with an anti-inflammatory steroid such as the beclomethasone ester. (for example, dipropionate) or a fluticasone ester (for example, propionate). It will be understood that the present description is for illustrative purposes only and the invention extends to modifications, variations and improvements thereto. The application of which this description and claims form a part, can be used as a basis for priority with respect to any subsequent application. The claims of such subsequent application may be directed to any feature or combination of the features described therein. They may take the form of product, method or use claims and may include, by way of example and without limitation, one or more of the following claims.
It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates._ Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following