Apparatus for dispensing pressurized contents

• US 20060130832A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adam M. Schechter, Alan M. Schechter
• Original Assignee: Adam M. Schechter, Alan M. Schechter
• Inventors: Schechter, Adam M., Schechter, Alan M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,832,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.120
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• 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 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards

Abstract

Containers for incrementally dispensing pressurized contents are described. The containers comprise a vessel suited to contain pressurized contents, a port integral with the vessel and through which pressurized contents contained in the vessel can be released from the vessel, preferably incrementally in approximately equal amounts, and a measuring device disposed in the vessel. The measuring device senses ambient conditions in the vessel and, directly or with other components, indicates, for example, the amount of pressurized contents remaining in the vessel and displaying it to an observer; methods for comparing the amount of contents actually released from the vessel compared to a theoretical constant; and methods for time logging (alone or in conjunction with the logging of other data) the actuation of the dispensing valve for comparison to a prescribed method. Devices for incrementally dispensing pressurized contents from such containers are also described. Such devices further comprise a metering value for dispensing pressurized contents from the vessel. In preferred embodiments, each actuation of the metering valve results in release of a pre-determined quantity of the vessel contents. For example, in embodiments wherein the pressurized contents comprise a therapeutic composition, the instant devices include improved Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) for delivery of predetermined doses of a therapeutic composition to a patient, wherein the MDIs provide for sensing of the amount, for example, of the therapeutic composition remaining in the vessel after each actuation of the metering valve.

Claims

1. A container for dispensing pressurized contents, comprising:

a vessel suited to contain pressurized contents;

a port integral with the vessel and through which pressurized contents contained in the vessel can be released from the vessel; and

a measuring device disposed in the vessel, wherein the measuring device is capable of sensing an amount of the pressurized contents within the vessel and arranged to output a signal representative of the amount of the pressurized contents within the vessel.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the container further comprises pressurized contents.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein the pressurized contents comprise a composition that is dispensed as an aerosol upon release from the container.

4. A container according to claim 2 wherein the pressurized contents comprise solid particles suspended in a gas.

5. A container according to claim 2 wherein the pressurized contents comprise liquid particles suspended in a gas.

6. A container according to claim 1 wherein the measuring device is a pressure sensor.

7. A container according to claim 1 wherein the measuring device is a mass sensor.

8. A container according to claim 1 wherein the measuring device is a volume sensor.

9. A container according to claim 2 wherein the pressurized contents comprise a therapeutic composition.

10. A container according to claim 8 wherein the therapeutic composition comprises a therapeutic agent and a physiologically acceptable carrier.

11. A container according to claim 9 wherein the therapeutic agent comprises is a molecule selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide and a small molecule.

12. A container according to claim 2 wherein the pressurized contents comprise a composition selected from the group consisting of a pressurized fuel, a pressurized deodorant, a pressurized cooking aid, a pressurized air freshener, a pressurized spray paint, a pressurized gas, pressurized air, and pressurized cleaning solutions.

13. An apparatus for incrementally dispensing pressurized contents from a container, comprising:

a container according to claim 1, wherein the container further comprises pressurized contents in the vessel, and

a dispenser functionally coupled to the port of the container, wherein the dispenser provides for incrementally dispensing at least a portion of the pressurized contents in the vessel upon actuation of the dispenser.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the dispenser forms a portion of a housing that supports the container.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the housing is arranged to serve as an actuator for the dispenser.

16. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the signal representative of the amount of the pressurized contents within the vessel is updated after actuation of the dispenser.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the signal is an electronic signal output to a device configured to interpret the signal and provide an output representative of the amount of the pressurized contents within the vessel.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the device configured to interpret the signal is a microprocessor configured to convert the signal to an output used for driving a sound generator attached to the apparatus.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the device configured to interpret the signal is a microprocessor configured to convert the signal to an output for visualization on a display attached to the apparatus.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the output for visualization is an alphanumeric representation of the amount of pressurized contents remaining in the container.

21. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the output for visualization is a schematic representation of the amount of pressurized contents remaining in the container.

22. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the output for visualization is a digital representation of the amount of pressurized contents remaining in the container.

23. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the output for visualization is an analog representation of the amount of pressurized contents remaining in the container.

24. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the output for visualization is an LED representation of the amount of pressurized contents remaining in the container.

25. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the output for visualization is an eyeglass representation of the amount of pressurized contents remaining in the container.

26. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the device further comprises a chronometer.

27. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the device comprises a memory for storing data processed by the microprocessor.

28. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the device further comprises a microprocessor and a memory, wherein the microprocessor is configured to compare data stored in the memory.

29. An apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a transmitter for transmitting data stored in the memory to a receiver.

30. An apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising at least one port configured for communicative connection to another machine.

31. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the dispenser is configured to incrementally dispense a substantially equal amount of the pressurized contents in the container upon each actuation of the actuator.

33. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the dispenser forms a portion of a housing that supports the container, and wherein the housing further comprises a transfer channel to direct inhalation of the pre-determined dose of the therapeutic composition by the patient.

32. An apparatus for incrementally dispensing a therapeutic composition for inhalation by a patient, comprising:

a. a container, comprising;

i. a vessel containing a therapeutic composition stored under pressure, wherein the therapeutic composition comprises a therapeutic agent and a physiologically acceptable carrier;

ii. a port integral with the vessel and through which at least a portion of the therapeutic composition can be released from the vessel; and

iii. a measuring device disposed in the vessel, wherein the measuring device is capable of sensing an amount of the therapeutic composition within the vessel and arranged to output a signal representative of the amount of the therapeutic composition within the vessel;

b. a metering valve functionally associated with the port for dispensing a pre-determined dose of the therapeutic composition from the vessel; and

c. a dispenser functionally associated with the metering value such that at least a portion of the therapeutic composition can be dispensed from the container upon actuation of the metering value by the dispenser.

34. An apparatus for incrementally dispensing a therapeutic composition for inhalation by a patient, comprising:

a. a container, comprising;

i. a vessel containing a therapeutic composition stored under pressure, wherein the therapeutic composition comprises a therapeutic agent and a physiologically acceptable carrier;

ii. a port integral with the vessel and through which at least a portion of the therapeutic composition can be released from the vessel; and

iii. a measuring device disposed in the vessel, wherein the measuring device is capable of sensing an amount of the therapeutic composition within the vessel and arranged to output a signal representative of the amount of the therapeutic composition within the vessel;

b. a metering valve functionally associated with the port for dispensing a pre-determined dose of the therapeutic composition from the vessel;

c. a dispenser functionally associated with the metering value such that at least a portion of the therapeutic composition can be dispensed from the container upon actuation of the metering value by the dispenser; and

d. circuitry configured to receive the signal the output from the measuring device and process the signal to produce a result representative of the amount of the therapeutic composition within the vessel.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the circuitry includes a microprocessor in electrical communication with a memory for storing results representative of the amount of the therapeutic composition within the vessel being stored as data.

36. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the circuitry includes a microprocessor in electrical communication with a memory, wherein the microprocessor is configured to compare calculated results representative of the amount of the therapeutic composition within the vessel with data stored in the memory in order to determine how many more uses are available in the container.

37. An apparatus according to claim 34 further comprising a chronometer functionally interfaced with the circuitry, wherein the circuitry is configured to receive, process, and store in the memory a timing signal from the chronometer that corresponds to a time the metering valve is actuated to dispense a portion of the therapeutic composition.

38. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the circuitry includes a capacity to transfer at least a portion of the data stored in the memory to another machine.