Dose dispensing apparatus

• US 20040069798A1
• Filed: 10/17/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GW Pharmaceuticals Limited (Jazz Pharmaceuticals Plc)
• Original Assignee: GW Pharmaceuticals Limited (Jazz Pharmaceuticals Plc)
• Inventors: Guy, Geoffrey William, Grey, Matthew James, Riddiford, Martin Philip, Dave, Rajiv Bobby
• Granted Patent: US 7,111,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0445 for preventing drug dispensing during a predetermined time period
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means

Abstract

A dispensing system for controlled, especially remote controlled, dispensing of medicaments is disclosed. The system consists of a dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a sealed or resealable container of material to be dispensed and to validate that it is the correct material, and which includes a mechanical actuation mechanism which, when actuated, causes a measured dose of material to be dispensed from the material container. The mechanical actuation mechanism may be inhibited from operation by a locking mechanism which, when actuated, locks the device against the further dispensing of a dose of material until release in accordance with the desired dispensing programme, e.g. until a certain time period has elapsed, or until the programme permits dispensing to occur on some other basis. The dispensing system may be in two parts, a hand-held hand-actuated dispensing mechanism (1) and a base or docking station (2) into which the hand-held unit may be placed in order to release the locking mechanism. The docking or base station (2) may be triggered to cooperate with a remote overall control system, for example a remote computer, by placing the hand-held dispensing mechanism (1) in it.

Claims

1. A dispensing system consisting of a programmable dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a sealed or resealable container containing multiple doses of material to be dispensed, and including a mechanical actuation mechanism which, when actuated, causes a measured dose of material to be dispensed from the material container, and wherein the mechanism may be inhibited from operation by a locking mechanism which, when actuated, locks the device against the further dispensing of a dose of material until released in accordance with a desired dispensing programme, and wherein the container and dispensing mechanism are provided with means enabling the authenticity of the container placed in the dispensing mechanism to be checked.

2. A dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein release is by the passage of sufficient time following a previous actuation.

3. A dispensing system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein release is effected by means of a suitable latching mechanism which acts to lock the device against dispensing until the latching mechanism is released.

4. A dispensing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein release of the locking mechanism is effected by remote control.

5. A dispensing system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container has an identification tag associated therewith and containing information about its content, and the dispensing mechanism includes means for addressing the tag and validating the dosage regime in accordance with a preset programme.

6. A dispensing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the system comprises a hand-held handactuated dispensing mechanism including the locking mechanism and a separate base or docking station into or near which the hand-held unit may be placed in order to release the locking mechanism.

7. A dispensing system according to claim 6 wherein the docking or base station is configured to operate in cooperation with a remote overall control system.

8. A dispensing system according to claim 7 wherein the docking or base station contains transmitter/receiver means for communicating with a remote control computer enabling exchange of signals/data between the remote computer and the base or docking station when the dispensing device is placed in the base or docking station.

9. A dispensing system according to claim 8 and configured to enable the dispensing history of the handheld device to be uploaded to a remote computer at the same time or adjacent in time to the remote computer sending the hand-held device appropriate control signals.