3M™ Face Seal Valve
The valve is one of the most critical components in a pMDI. Most pMDI valves operate on a "dose retention" principle, with the dose collected when the valve stem is released after firing. This can lead to Loss of Prime or Loss of Dose issues when part of this stored dose migrates back to the bulk formulation. To overcome this, patients are advised to "prime" their inhaler by firing uninhaled shots before use. However, because patients don’t always read and follow their medication instructions, they may not prime and, consequently, not get a full dose.
The 3M™ Face Seal Valve operates by collecting the dose as the inhaler is fired. This eliminates the need to prime, resulting in improved compliance and more
The 3M Face Seal Valve Avoids Loss Of Dose Problems
Studies have shown the 3M Face Seal Valve does not need to be primed before use. The graph above shows dose uniformity data before (red) and after (blue) a 28 day rest period for an HFA 134a salbutamol sulphate and 14% ethanol formulation.
3M manufactures both valves and canisters to allow simultaneous optimization for a successful development. The 3M Face Seal Valve is available as part of a complete system program or as a stand alone component. Contact us for more details.
