NEBULIZER

• US 20110048415A1
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Inventors: GESER, Johannes, NOEHL, Klaus, FIOL, Andreas, ZIERENBERG, Bernd, WUTTKE, Gilbert, KAULMANN, Stefan, KUNZE, Hubert
• Granted Patent: US 8,997,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• 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 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• 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 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/108 Means for counting the number of dispensing strokes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1091 being first hold in a loaded state by locking means or the like, then released B05B11/1092 takes precedence

Abstract

A nebulizer having an insertable container and a monitoring device for counting actuations of the nebulizer is proposed. The monitoring device is mounted in a detachable housing part and directly detects movements of container during a nebulizing process, an air supply current in the region of a mouthpiece, and/or the production of aerosol, in order to detect this as the actual dispensing of fluid and actuation of the nebulizer, while preferably the time of actuation of the nebulizer is additionally detected and stored. This allows better monitoring and guidance for the user.

Claims

1. A hand-holdable nebulizer for fluid, comprising:

a container containing the fluid;

a pressure generator for at least one of conveying and nebulizing the fluid;

a monitoring device for counting actuations of the nebulizer; and

an input device;

wherein the monitoring device comprises a timer and a memory so that the number and times of the actuations can be detected and stored;

wherein the timer measures only relative time; and

wherein the monitoring device is at least one of programmed and set using the input device.

2. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the input device is manually actuatable.

3. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a key or keyboard.

4. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is operative for laying down the absolute start of the relative time measurement of the timer and for storing it in the memory.

5. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is operative for the absolute start of the relative time measurement of the timer is indicated by initiating or first switching on of the monitoring device and is stored in the memory.

6. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is operative for laying down the absolute end of the relative time measurement of the timer.

7. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the input device is operative for enabling the absolute end of the relative time measurement of the timer to be determined by interrogating the monitoring device and by comparison with an absolute time base.

8. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is operative for detecting the absolute times of the actuations of the nebulizer and for storing the detected absolute times in the memory.

9. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the nebulizer comprises an outer housing part detachable for one of inserting and replacing of the container, wherein the monitoring device is mounted on the outer housing part which allows the monitoring device together with the outer housing part, to be removed from the nebulizer and from the pressure generator.

10. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprising an interface allowing the monitoring device to be at least one of switched on, programmed, set, reset and interrogated.

11. The nebulizer according to claim 10, wherein the interface is operable only optically.

12. The nebulizer according to claim 10, wherein a connecting device is provided, the monitoring device being connectable to the connecting device through the interface.

13. The nebulizer according to claim 12, wherein the monitoring device is disconnectable from the nebulizer and wherein the monitoring device is connectable to the connecting device through the interface only after the monitoring device has been disconnected from the nebulizer.

14. The nebulizer according to claim 12, wherein the monitoring device is adapted to be inserted in a suitable recess of the connecting device.

15. The nebulizer according to claim 12, wherein the connecting device is adapted to be at least partially inserted in an housing or actuating member of the nebulizer containing the monitoring device.

16. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is constructed so as to only be switched on when first fitted together with a nebulizer, when the container is first inserted, when the pressure generator is first tensioned or actuated, or when it is switched on by the input device.

17. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device cannot be switched off once it has been switched on.

18. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the nebulizer and the monitoring device has means for interrogating identification or coding on the container.