Medicament Dispenser

• US 20080041368A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Palmer, Mark, Jones, Christopher, May, James, Tansley, Robert, Lintell, Daniel Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,201,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0028 using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
• 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 15/0078 on a strip
• 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 2202/064 Powder

Abstract

There is provided a sheet driver for use in a medicament dispenser including a medicament carrier having a plurality of pockets for containing medicament wherein said pockets are spaced along the length of and defined between first and second sheets secured to each other and separable by drivable pulling action, the sheet driver comprising a base; ascending from the base, a shaft defining a rotational axis; on the base, a drive surface for receipt of drive to rotate the base about the rotational axis; about the shaft, a torsion spring defining first and second spring legs; mounting about the shaft and the torsion spring for rotation about the rotational axis, a hub defining a hub surface for receipt of a sheet of the medicament carrier. A first leg receiver of the base receives the first spring leg of the torsion spring and a second leg receiver of the hub receives the second spring leg of the torsion spring such that relative rotation of the base and the hub results in tensioning of the torsion spring.

Claims

1. A sheet driver for use in a medicament dispenser including a medicament carrier having a plurality of pockets for containing medicament wherein said pockets are spaced along the length of and defined between first and second sheets secured to each other and separable by drivable pulling action, said sheet driver comprising

(a) a base;

(b) extending from said base, a shaft defining a rotational axis;

(c) at said base, a drive surface for receipt of drive to rotate the base about said rotational axis;

(d) about said shaft, a torsion spring defining first and second spring legs;

(e) mounting about the shaft and said torsion spring for rotation about the rotational axis, a hub defining a hub surface for receipt of a sheet of said medicament carrier,

wherein a first leg receiver of the base receives said first spring leg of the torsion spring and a second leg receiver of said hub receives said second spring leg of the torsion spring such that relative rotation of the base and the hub results in tensioning of the torsion spring.

2. A sheet driver according to claim 1, wherein the base is of essentially circular form.

3. A sheet driver according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is integral with the base.

4. A sheet driver according to claim 1, wherein the drive surface defines a gearing surface.

5. A sheet driver according to claim 1, wherein the drive surface extends circumferentially about the base.

6. A sheet driver according to claim 1, wherein the drive surface is integral with the base.

7. A sheet driver according to claim 6, wherein the base defines a rim and the drive surface is provided to said rim.

8. A sheet driver according to claim 1, wherein the drive surface is provided to a separate part, which associates with the base.

9. A sheet driver according to claim 8, wherein said part comprises a ring that fits over and is received by a rim of the base.

10. A sheet driver according to claim 9, wherein the drive surface is provided to the outer circumference of the ring.

11. A sheet driver according to claim 9, wherein an inner circumferential surface of the ring is also provided with gearing and the base is provided with a ratchet arm such that the base and ring are in ratcheted engagement.

12. A sheet driver according to claim 1, wherein the first and second spring legs protrude from first and second ends of the spring.

13. A sheet driver according to claim 1, wherein the hub fits over the torsion spring and shaft.

14. A sheet driver according to claim 1, wherein the hub is provided with sheet engaging means for engaging the end of a sheet.

15. A sheet driver according to claim 14, wherein the sheet engaging means comprises surface marking or coating provided to the hub to enhance the frictional contact between the hub and the sheet.

16. A sheet driver according to claim 14, wherein the sheet engaging means comprises loop-engaging means for engaged receipt of a looped end of a sheet.

17. A sheet driver according to claim 1, additionally comprising a lock for locking the rotation of the hub relative to the base.

18. A sheet driver according to claim 17, wherein the lock locates at a defined rotational spacing from a start position at which the torsion spring is not tensioned, and the or each locking position defines a tensioning of the torsion spring.

19. A sheet driver according to claim 17, wherein the hub is provided with a locking pin receivable by one or more locking pin receivers of the base.

20. A sheet driver according to claim 17, wherein, the base is provided with a locking pin receivable by one or more locking pin receivers of the hub.

21. 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 first and second sheets secured to each other and separable by drivable pulling action, said dispenser having an internal dispensing 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 a sheet driver according to claim 1 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) indexer for indexing in communication with said outlet, pockets of a medicament carrier in use with said medicament dispenser, said indexer being interconnected with said sheet driver such that movement of one correlates with the movement of the other.

22. A medicament dispenser for use with plural medicament carriers, each having a plurality of pockets for containing medicament wherein said pockets are spaced along the length of and defined between first and second sheets secured to each other and separable by drivable pulling action, said dispenser having an internal dispensing mechanism for accessing said medicament contained within each of said plural medicament carriers, said mechanism comprising,

a) an opening station for receiving a pocket of each of said plural medicament carriers;

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 a sheet driver as according to claim 1 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) an indexer for indexing in communication with said outlet, pockets of each of said plural medicament carriers in use with said medicament dispenser, said indexer being interconnected with said sheet driver such that movement of one correlates with the movement of the other.

23. A medicament dispenser according to claim 21, wherein the indexer comprises a rotatable index wheel having pocket receiving recesses therein.

24. A medicament dispenser according to claim 21, additionally comprising an indexing lever for actuating the indexer and sheet driver.

25. A medicament dispenser according to claim 21, wherein the indexing lever couples to a movable cover provided to the dispenser such that movement of the cover results in movement of the indexing lever.

26. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the peeling means additionally comprises a guide for guiding the lid sheet and base sheet along separate paths at the opening station.

27. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, additionally comprising at least one medicament carrier having a plurality of pockets containing medicament wherein said pockets are spaced along the length of and defined between first and second sheets secured to each other and separable by drivable pulling action.

28. A medicament dispenser according to claim 27, wherein said at least one medicament carrier comprises a lid sheet which is hermetically sealed to a base sheet except in the region of the blisters such that said lid sheet and base sheet can be peeled apart by said drivable pulling action.

29. A medicament dispenser according to claim 27, wherein the leading end of either the base or lid sheet or is looped for receipt by the hub.

30. A medicament dispenser according to claim 27, wherein the medicament is in powdered or tablet form.

31. A medicament dispenser according to claim 30, wherein the medicament comprises a drug.

32. A medicament dispenser according to claim 31, wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of albuterol, salmeterol, fluticasone propionate and beclomethasone dipropionate, salts thereof, solvates thereof and any combination thereof.

33. A medicament dispenser according to claim 32, wherein said combination comprises salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate.

34. A medicament dispenser according to claim 30, wherein the medicament additionally comprises an excipient.