Dosage counting devices

• US 20040149772A1
• Filed: 03/09/2004
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consort Medical PLC (Recipharm AB)
• Original Assignee: Bespak Corporation
• Inventors: Ouyang, Tianhong
• Granted Patent: US 7,195,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0068 Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0073 on a ring
• 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: G06M 1/041 for drum-type indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/163 with drums

Abstract

Apparatus comprising a housing (1) defining a (2) portion for receiving in use a dose-dispensing container (20), the housing containing a dose counter comprising at least one annular counter member (141, 142), a helix-like coil (143) and transmission means (144) for operatively connecting the helix-like coil and the at least one annular counter member, wherein movement of the received dose-dispensing container acts to compress the helix-like coil to thereby rotate the transmission means and the at least one annular counter member.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising a housing defining a portion for receiving in use a dose-dispensing container, the housing containing a dose counter comprising at least one annular counter member, a helix-like coil and transmission means for operatively connecting the helix-like coil and the at least one annular counter member, wherein movement of the received dose-dispensing container acts to compress the helix-like coil to thereby rotate the transmission means and the at least one annular counter member.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the helix-like coil comprises an upper ring, a lower ring and at least one strut spanning between the upper and lower rings.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the at least one strut is helically shaped.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each of the at least one annular counter members comprise a first series of teeth, the transmission means comprising protrusions selectively engagable with each of the first series of teeth such that rotational movement of the transmission means causes the at least one annular counter member to rotate relative to the housing in a first direction.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the first series of teeth are formed around an inner rim of the at least one annular counter members.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the dose counter comprises two or more annular counter members.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the transmission means comprises a drum having the protrusions dependent therefrom, wherein one end of the helix-like coil is rotationally fixed relative to the housing and the other end of the coil is engaged with the drum, such that movement of the received dose-dispensing container compresses the helix-like coil to thereby rotate the drum.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein one of the upper or lower rings of the helix-like coil comprises at least one protrusion engageable in at least one slot formed in the drum.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8 wherein a first annular counter member is driven to incrementally rotate in the first direction on each actuation of the received dose-dispensing container and a second annular counter member is driven to incrementally rotate in the first direction only after a pre-determined number of incremental rotations of the first annular counter member.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein a bearing surface is provided forming at least part of the inner rim of the first annular counting member to selectively hold the drum protrusions out of engagement with the first series of teeth of the second annular counter member, the bearing surface comprising at least one indent allowing movement of the drum protrusions radially outwardly into engagement with the first series of teeth of the second annular counter member after a pre-determined number of incremental rotations of the first annular counter member.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a support slidably received in the housing to support the at least one annular counter member, helix-like coil and transmission means in proper alignment

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the support is located in a lower end of the dose-dispensing container receiving portion of the housing.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the support comprises at least one ratchet engagable with a second series of teeth formed on each of the annular counter members, so as to prevent rotation of the annular counter members in a direction opposed to the first direction.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13 wherein a lens is provided in the support.

15. Apparatus comprising a housing defining a portion for receiving in use a dose-dispensing container, the housing containing a dose counter comprising at least one annular counter member, a helix-like coil and transmission means for operatively connecting the helix-like coil and the at least one annular counter member, and a support for supporting the at least one annular counter member, helix-like coil and transmission means in proper alignment with the received dose-dispensing container, wherein the support is an interference fit in the housing such that a first actuation of the received dose-dispensing container sets the position of the support relative to the received dose-dispensing container and housing.

16. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.