Nebulizer

• US 10,099,022 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Eicher, Joachim, Gatz, Josef, Herrmann, Frank, Hoelz, Hubert, Jung, Andree, Meisenheimer, Martin, Mueller, Markus, Von Schuckmann, Alfred, Wachtel, Herbert, Winkler, Robert Gerhard, Wuttke, Gilbert, Ziegler, Jochen
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven
• Application Number:
  US14/703,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20150320947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/007 Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0026 Hinged caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0035 Piercing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0036 hollow piercing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0041 with movable piercing or cutting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0071 having a display or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0073 on a ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0007 introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/273 preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/586 Ergonomic details therefor, e.g. specific ergonomics for left or right-handed users
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/10 Device therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0054 Cartridges, i.e. containers specially designed for easy attachment to or easy removal from the rest of the sprayer attachment arrangements between pump and container B05B11/1043
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/108 Means for counting the number of dispensing strokes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/00 : Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents dispensing means incorporated in removable or non-permanently secured container closures B65D47/00; for shops, stores, offices, bars, or the like A47F1/04; showcases or show cabinets with dispensing arrangements A47F3/02; magazines for screws or nuts in combination with spanners, wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/06; for use in connection with the handling of sheets, webs, or filamentary material B65H
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 3/02 : for performing an operation at a predetermined value of the count, e.g. arresting a machine G06M3/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 3/022 : by subtracting

Abstract

A nebulizer and a container with a fluid for such a nebulizer are described, the container comprising an indicator device fixedly mounted on the bottom of the container, the indicator device stopping further use of the container in a locked state when a predetermined number of uses has been reached or exceeded, and when the nebulizer is partially opened, it is blocked against further use, and after replacement of the container including the indicator device, the nebulizer can be used again.

Claims

1. A nebulizer (1) for a fluid (2), comprising;

a replaceable container (3) containing the fluid (2);

a nebulizer housing (24) for receiving the container (3);

a housing part (18) which is at least one of detachable from the nebulizer (1) and openable for replacing the container (3); and

an indicator device (25) for at least one of counting, indicating a number of uses performed, and indicating a number of uses still possible with the container (3);

wherein at least one of;

the indicator device (25) is adapted to initiate at least partial opening of at least one of the nebulizer housing (24) and the housing part (18) in a locked state when a predetermined number of uses has been at least one of reached and exceeded with this container (3),

the indicator device (25) is adapted to prevent complete closed assembly of the nebulizer housing (24), housing part (18) and container (3) in a locked state when the predetermined number of uses has been at least one of reached and exceeded with this container (3), and

the indicator device (25) is adapted to at least one of block complete inserting of the container (3) into the nebulizer (1), and block complete axial or stroke-like movability of the container (3) in the nebulizer (1) in a locked state when the predetermined number of uses has been at least one of reached and exceeded with this container (3).

2. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the nebulizer (1) is adapted to block at least one of further use and tensioning when at least one of the nebulizer housing (24) and housing part (18) is at least partially open.

3. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the indicator device (25) comprises an indicator element (35) and an actuation element (36) for indexing the indicator element (35).

4. The nebulizer according to claim 3, wherein the actuation element (36) is constructed to block further use of the container (3) in the nebulizer (1) in the locked state, wherein the actuation element (36) is moveable back and forth between a first and second position for indexing the indicator element (35) and is moveable into a third position to block further use of the container (3) in the locked state.

5. The nebulizer according to claim 3, wherein the actuation element (36) at least one of comprises and is formed by a sliding carriage.

6. The nebulizer according to claim 3, wherein the actuation element (36) at least one of blocks and closes an insertion opening (54) of the indicator device (25) in the locked state.

7. The nebulizer according to claim 6, wherein the insertion opening (54) allows insertion of a stationary driving part (52) of the nebulizer (1) when the insertion opening (54) is not at least one of blocked and closed.

8. The nebulizer (1) for a fluid (2), according to claim 1, the nebulizer (1), wherein at least one of:

the indicator device (25) comprises an indicator element (35) and an actuation element (36) for indexing the indicator element (35);

the actuation element (36) is constructed to block further use of the container (3) in a locked state when the predetermined number of uses has been at least one of reached and exceeded with the container (3), and

the actuation element (36) is moveable back and forth between a first and second position for indexing the indicator element (35) and is moveable into a third position to prevent further use of the container (3) in a locked state when the predetermined number of uses has been at least one of reached and exceeded with the container (3).

9. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the indicator device (25) comprises a blocking part (61) which blocks further use of the container (3) in the nebulizer (1) in the locked state, wherein the blocking part (61) is integrated into a housing (31) of the indicator device (25).

10. The nebulizer according to claim 9, wherein the blocking part (61) at least one of blocks and closes an insertion opening (54) of the indicator device (25) in the locked state.

11. The nebulizer according to claim 10, wherein the blocking part (61) at least one of comprises and is formed by a sliding carriage.

12. The nebulizer according to claim 9, wherein the blocking part (61) is at least one of connected with and forms an actuation arm (38) for indexing an indicator element (35) of the indicator device (25).

13. The nebulizer (1) for a fluid (2), according to claim 1, wherein the nebulizer (1), wherein at least one of:

the indicator device (25) comprises a blocking part (61) for preventing further use of the container (3) in a locked state when the predetermined number of uses has been at least one of reached and exceeded with the container (3);

the blocking part (61) closes an insertion opening (54) of the indicator device (25) in the locked state; and

the blocking part (61) is at least one of integrated into a housing (31) of the indicator device (25) and is moveable transversally to at least one of a longitudinal and dispensing direction of at least one of the container (3) and nebulizer (1).

14. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the nebulizer (1) comprises a stationary driving part (52) for at least one of:

(i) at least one of driving, actuating, and triggering the indicator device (25), and; and

(ii) at least one of opening and piercing the container (3), by relative movement of at least one of the container (3) and indicator device (25) to at least one of the nebulizer housing (24) and the driving part (25).

15. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the indicator device (25) is inseparably connected with of the container (3), but separable from the nebulizer housing (24) and housing part (18), so that it is replaceable together with the container (3).

16. The nebulizer (1) for a fluid (2), according to claim 1, the nebulizer (1), wherein:

the container (3) is moveable axially within the closed nebulizer housing (24) during nebulization, and

the indicator device (25) comprises a housing (31) which is inseparably connected with a housing (29) of the container (3), but separable from the nebulizer housing (24) and housing part (18), so the indicator device (25) is replaceable together with the container (3).

17. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of:

the indicator device (25) is fixedly arranged at at least one of a base (21) of the container (3) and opposite to an outlet or head (28) of the container (3), and

the indicator device (25) is connected by snap-fit and form-fit with the container (3).

18. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the indicator device (25) comprises a piercing part (48) for opening an aeration of the container (3).

19. The nebulizer according to claim 18, wherein the piercing part (48) is at least one of axially moveable inside, is located inside, and biased inside a housing (31) of the indicator device (25), when not actuated.

20. A container (3) for a nebulizer (1), the container (3) containing a fluid (2), and the container (3) comprising:

an indicator device (25) for at least one of counting and indicating at least one of a number of uses performed and a number of uses still possible with the container (3),

wherein the indicator device (25) comprises a piercing part (48) for opening an aeration of the container (3).

21. The container according to claim 20, wherein the indicator device (25) is fixedly arranged at least one of at a base (21) of the container (3) and opposite to at least one of an outlet and head (28) of the container 3.

22. The container according to claim 20, wherein the indicator device (25) is connected by at least one of a snap-fit and a form-fit with the container (3).

23. The container according to claim 20, wherein the indicator device (25) comprises an indicator element (35) and an actuation element (36) for indexing the indicator element (35), wherein the actuation element (36) is constructed to block further use of the container (3) in a locked state when a predetermined number of uses has been at least one of reached and exceeded with the container (3).

24. The container according to claim 21, wherein the indicator device (25) comprises a blocking part (61) which blocks further use of the container (3) in a locked state when a predetermined number of uses has been at least one of reached and exceeded with the container (3), wherein the blocking part (61) closes an insertion opening (54) of the indicator device (25) in the locked state.

25. A container (3) for a nebulizer (1), the container (3) containing a fluid (2), and the container (3) comprising:

an indicator device (25) for at least one of counting and indicating at least one of a number of uses performed and a number of uses still possible with the container (3), wherein at least one of;

the indicator device (25) comprises an indicator element (35) and an actuation element (36) for indexing the indicator element (35),

the actuation element (36) is constructed to block further use of the container (3) in a locked state when a predetermined number of uses has been at least one of reached and exceeded with the container (3), and

the actuation element (36) is moveable back and forth between a first and second position for indexing the indicator element (35) and is moveable into a third position to block further use of the container (3) in a locked state when the predetermined number of uses has been at least one of reached and exceeded with the container (3).

26. The container according to claim 25, wherein the actuation element (36) at least one of comprises and is formed by a sliding carriage.

27. The container according to claim 25, wherein the actuation element (36) closes an insertion opening (54) of the indicator device (25) in the locked state.

28. A container (3) for a nebulizer (1), the container (3) containing a fluid (2), and the container (3) comprising:

an indicator device (25) for at least one of counting and indicating at least one of a number of uses performed and a number of uses still possible with the container (3), wherein at least one of;

the indicator device (25) comprises a blocking part (61) which blocks further use of the container (3) in a locked state when a predetermined number of uses has been at least one of reached and exceeded with the container (3),

the blocking part (61) closes an insertion opening (54) of the indicator device (25) in the locked state, and

the blocking part (61) is at least one of integrated into a housing (31) of the indicator device (25) and moveable transversally to at least one of a longitudinal and dispensing direction of the container (3).

29. The container according to claim 28, wherein the blocking part (61) is connected with an actuation arm (38) for indexing an indicator element (35).

30. The container according to claim 28, wherein the blocking part (61) at least one of comprises and is formed by a sliding carriage.