Medicament dispenser

• US 20040094152A1
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Rand, Paul Kenneth, Harvey, Stephen James
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0026 Hinged caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0043 Non-destructive separation of the package, e.g. peeling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0051 the dosages being arranged on a tape, e.g. strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0055 the used dosages being coiled
• 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 15/0068 Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0078 on a strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/02 with activated or ionised fluids, e.g. electrohydrodynamic [EHD] or electrostatic devices; Ozone-inhalators with radioactive tagged particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/062 Desiccants
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/10 with powered movement mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/80 voice-operated command
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 : Packaging for specific medical equipment

Abstract

According to the invention there is provided a medicament dispenser for use with a medicament carrier having a plurality of pockets for containing medicament wherein said pockets are spaced along the length of and defined between two peelable sheets secured to each other, said dispenser having an internal mechanism for accessing said medicament contained within said medicament carrier. The internal mechanism is operated by an electronic drive system.

Claims

1. A medicament dispenser for use with a medicament carrier having a plurality of pockets for containing medicament wherein said pockets are spaced along the length of and defined between two peelable sheets secured to each other, said dispenser having an internal mechanism for accessing said medicament contained within said medicament carrier, said mechanism comprising,

a) an opening station for receiving a pocket of said medicament carrier;

b) peeling means positioned to engage a base sheet and a lid sheet of a pocket which has been received in said opening station for peeling apart such a base sheet and lid sheet, to open such a pocket, said peeling means including lid driving means for pulling apart a lid sheet and a base sheet of a pocket that has been received at said opening station;

c) an outlet, positioned to be in communication with an opened pocket through which a user can remove medicament from such an opened pocket; and

d) indexing means for indexing in communication with said outlet, pockets of a medicament carrier in use with said medicament dispenser,

wherein said lid driving means and/or said indexing means are operated by an electronic drive system.

2. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said electronic drive system is used in conjunction with a mechanical drive system.

3. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said electronic drive system comprises a motor selected from the group consisting of a DC electric motor, a piezoelectric (PZ) motor, an ultrasonic motor, a solenoid motor a linear motor and any combinations thereof.

4. A medicament dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising actuating means for actuating said electronic drive system.

5. A medicament dispenser according to claim 4, wherein said actuating means may take the form of a switch, push-button, or lever.

6. A medicament dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said indexing means comprise a rotatable index wheel having recesses therein, said index wheel being engageable with a medicament carrier in use with said medicament dispenser such that said recesses each receive a respective pocket of the base sheet of a medicament carrier in use with said medicament dispenser.

7. A medicament dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said indexing means comprises an indexing ratchet which is moveable between a locked position whereby said ratchet engages a pocket on said medicament carrier and prevents further peeling thereof, and a release position allowing free movement of said medicament carrier.

8. A medicament dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lid driving means comprises a wheel on which the lid sheet is wound up.

9. A medicament dispenser according to claim 8, wherein said lid sheet wheel has an effective winding surface the diameter of which increases after every use of the dispenser.

10. A medicament dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said electronic control system comprises means to limit the extent of movement of said lid driving means, in order to control the length of medicament carrier peeled by said peeling means.

11. A medicament dispenser according to claim 8, wherein said wheel has a winding surface which decreases in diameter when tension in the lid sheet increases.

12. A medicament dispenser according to claim 11, wherein said wheel comprises a plurality of resiliently flexible arms each extending therefrom at an angle with respect to a radius.

13. A medicament dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said lid driving means comprises a mangle.

14. A medicament dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said lid driving means comprises a roller.

15. A medicament dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said roller is composed of a polymeric rubber.

16. A medicament dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said lid driving means comprises (i) a spool;

and/or (ii) a spiked wheel; and

/or (iii) a clamp system.

17. A medicament dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal mechanism additionally comprises a first chamber to receive the elongated strip of the medicament carrier when the base sheet and lid sheet are peelably sealed together and a second chamber to receive the base sheet after it has been separated from the lid sheet.

18. A medicament dispenser according to claim 17, wherein said first chamber and said second chamber are separated by a wall.

19. A medicament dispenser according to claim 18, wherein said wall is movable to adjust the size of the first and second chambers.

20. A medicament dispenser according to claim 19, wherein said wall is flexible to allow changes to the relative size of the first and second chambers.

21. A medicament dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal mechanism for accessing the said medicament contained within said medicament carrier is housed within a cassette.

22. A medicament dispenser according to claim 21 comprising,

a body;

a holder, shaped to fit within said body and movable relative to said body; and

receivable by said holder, said cassette containing said medicament carrier.

23. A medicament dispenser according to claim 22, wherein movement of said holder relative to said body results in movement of said cassette between a first position and a second position such that the cassette is reversibly removable from the holder when the cassette is in the second position.

24. A medicament dispenser according to claim 23, wherein the first position comprises a dispensing position.

25. A medicament dispenser according to claim 24, wherein the second position comprises a non-dispensing position.

26. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 22 to 25, wherein the holder and body include attaching means to attach the holder to the body.

27. A medicament dispenser according to claim 26, wherein said attaching means comprise a pin and hole system.

28. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 22 to 27, wherein the holder is pivotally movable relative to the body.

29. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 22 to 27, wherein the holder is rotationally movable relative to the body.

30. A medicament dispenser according to either of claims 28 and 29, wherein the holder additionally comprises a stop to limit movement of the holder relative to the body to 180°

.

31. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 22 to 26, wherein the holder is slidably movable relative to the body.

32. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 22 to 31, wherein the holder additionally comprises a catch to retain the cassette.

33. A medicament dispenser according to claim 32, wherein the catch is child resistant.

34. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 28 to 33, wherein the cassette additionally comprises an indexing lever.

35. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 22 to 34, wherein the cassette additionally comprises a mouthpiece.

36. A medicament dispenser according to claim 35, wherein said mouthpiece is extendable.

37. A medicament dispenser according to claim 35, wherein the mouthpiece is retractable.

38. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 35 to 37, wherein the mouthpiece is telescopic.

39. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 21 to 38, wherein the body covers the mouthpiece and indexing lever when the cassette is in the non-dispensing position.

40. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 21 to 39, wherein the cassette additionally comprises a raised portion to fit against the holder.

41. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 21 to 40, wherein at least a portion of the body is shaped for ease of grip by the user.

42. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 21 to 41, wherein the holder includes a thumb or finger grip.

43. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 21 to 42, wherein operation of the device may be performed with one hand.

44. A medicament dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the medicament is in powdered or solid (e.g. tablet) form.

45. A medicament dispenser according to claim 44, wherein the medicament comprises a drug.

46. A medicament dispenser according to claim 45, wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of albuterol, salmeterol, fluticasone propionate and beclomethasone dipropionate and salts or solvates thereof and any combination thereof.

47. A medicament dispenser according to claim 46, wherein said combination comprises salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate.

48. A medicament dispenser according to any of claims 45 to 48, wherein the powdered medicament additionally comprises an excipient.

49. A medicament dispenser according to claim 48, wherein the excipient is a sugar.

50. A kit of parts comprising a cassette according to claim 21;

a holder for said cassette; and

a body, wherein the holder is shaped to fit within said body and is movable relative to said body.

51. A body and holder for use in the medicament dispenser according to any of claims 21 to 49.

52. A cassette for use in the medicament dispenser according to any of claims 1 to 49.

53. Use of a medicament dispenser according to any of claims 1 to 52 for dispensing medicament.