Medicament dispenser

• US 20050247306A1
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Harvey, Stephen James, Lintell, Daniel Thomas de Sausmarez
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.210
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0472 of the count-down type, i.e. counting down a predetermined interval after each reset
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• 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 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 : with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/005 : using electronic timing, e.g. counting means pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0082 : by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements and by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the positions of which represents the time, i.e. combinations of G04G9/02 and G04G9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 : for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

The medicament dispenser has a base unit and a replaceable refill container. The base unit has one or more sensors for sensing one or more conditions of the medicament dispenser and a display for displaying indicia representing a state of the medicament dispenser. First indicia show the base unit and/or the refill container and define a contained area suitable for representing a condition of the medicament dispenser. Second indicia are used to represent at least one sensed condition of the medicament dispenser and are displayed in the contained area defined by the first indicia.

Claims

1. A medicament dispenser comprising a base unit, the base unit being adapted for receiving a replaceable refill container and for sensing one or more conditions of the medicament dispenser, said base unit comprising a display means for displaying indicia representing a state of the medicament dispenser, wherein said display means are configured to display:

first indicia providing a graphical representation of the base unit and/or the refill container, the first indicia defining a contained area suitable for representing a condition of the medicament dispenser; and

second indicia representing at least one sensed condition of the medicament dispenser,

wherein the display means are configured to selectively display the second indicia in said contained area.

2. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first indicia provide a graphical representation of at least part of the external appearance of the refill container.

3. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first indicia provide a graphical representation of at least part of the external appearance of the base unit.

4. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the second indicia include indicia providing a graphical representation of at least part of the external appearance of the refill container.

5. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said second indicia comprise indicia representing a power level of a battery component in said base unit.

6. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said second indicia comprise indicia representing a quantity of medicament remaining.

7. A medicament dispenser according to claim 6, wherein said medicament quantity indicia represent a quantity of medicament remaining in the form of numeric characters.

8. A medicament dispenser according to claim 7, wherein said refill contains a plurality of discrete medicaments and said numeric characters represent the number of discrete medicaments remaining.

9. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensed condition comprise a condition as to whether or not a refill container is attached to said base unit.

10. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensed condition comprise a no medicament remaining condition, or a low medicament remaining condition.

11. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensed condition comprise a condition in which medication has been dispensed to an output part of the dispenser.

12. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensed condition comprise a condition in which the refill container is unauthorized.

13. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said second indicia are selectively controllable independently of the display of said first indicia.

14. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the display means are configured to display third indicia providing a graphical representation of at least part of the external appearance of the base unit.

15. A medicament dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said first indicia are selectively controllable independently of the display of said third indicia.

16. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the medicament dispenser is adapted to selectively control the display of said second indicia on said display means in accordance with a sensed condition of the refill container.

17. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the medicament dispenser is an inhalation device.

18. A medicament dispenser according to claim 17, wherein said dispenser includes a mouthpiece and a sensor for sensing the inhalation of medicament through said mouthpiece.

19. A medicament dispenser according to claim 18, wherein said display means is configured to display indicia representing medicament to be dispensed, and wherein the display of said indicia representing medicament is selectively controllable in accordance with an output of said inhalation sensor.

20. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said base unit comprises:

a cover; and

a holder, shaped to fit within said cover and movable relative to the cover,

wherein said refill container is receivable by said holder, and wherein movement of the holder relative to the cover results in movement of the refill container between a first position and a second position such that the refill container is reversibly removable from the holder when the refill container is in the second position.

21. A medicament dispenser according to claim 20, wherein medicament is dispensible from said dispenser when the refill container is in the first position.

22. A medicament dispenser according to claim 21, wherein the medicament dispenser is arranged to actuate said display means in response to movement of said refill container to said first position.

23. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the medicament is in a form selected from the group consisting of capsule;

a tablet;

an aqueous solution;

an aerosol; and

a dry powder.

24. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the refill container comprises a medicament carrier comprising an elongate strip formed from a base sheet having a plurality of recesses spaced along its length and a lid sheet peelably sealed in superposed relationship thereto to define a plurality of blisters, each for containing medicament therein.

25. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises a first transceiver for receiving data from a second transceiver located on the refill container.

26. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the medicament is selected from the group consisting of albuterol, salmeterol, fluticasone propionate and beclomethasone dipropionate and salts or solvates thereof and any combination thereof.

27. A medicament dispenser comprising a base unit, the base unit being adapted for receiving a replaceable refill container and for sensing one or more conditions of the medicament dispenser, said base unit comprising a display means for displaying indicia representing a state of the medicament dispenser, wherein said display means are configured to display indicia representing at least one sensed condition of the medicament dispenser, wherein the display means are configured to selectively display the said indicia in response to a change in the state of said the medicament dispenser.

28. (canceled)