Metered dose inhalator

• US 5,544,647 A
• Filed: 11/29/1994
• Issued: 08/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kos Life Sciences, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IEP Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Jewett, Warren, Ebeling, Frederick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RACITI, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US08/346,524
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.23, 128/202.22, 128/202.21, 128/203.12, 128/203.15, 128/203.23
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• 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 15/0091 mechanically breath-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0093 without arming or cocking, e.g. acting directly on the delivery valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1028 Pumps having a pumping chamber with a deformable wall B05B11/1087 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1073 Springs
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector

Abstract

A metered dose inhaler is described having an improved electronic counting means to indicate the doses remaining in the aerosol canister component of the inhaler assembly.

Claims

1. An assembly with a metered dose inhalation canister containing a pre-determined number of doses of an aerosol formulation, for delivery orally or intra-nasally, which comprises;

(a) a hollow closed tube having

(i) a first open end adapted by size and configuration to receive a spray stem of an aerosol inhalation canister;

(ii) a second open end adapted by size and configuration to couple with an oral or nasal orifice of a mammal;

(b) a spray-directing element fixedly located within said tube hollow, and having continuous communication with the first open end and the second open end, for directing sprays of the formulation through a portion of the hollow and out of the second open end of said tube, when the inhalation canister is assembled with the apparatus and activated by a user;

(c) a metered dose inhalation canister slidably mounted in the first open end of the tube for delivery of a metered dose to the spray-directing element;

(d) microelectronic means associated with the tube for indicating the number of doses remaining in the canister, after each activation; and

(e) switch means for activating said microelectronic means, said switch means being isolated from exposure to the tube hollow;

said microelectronic means being enclosed within a hermetically sealed sleeve housing, mountable on the canister and adapted by size and configuration to slide over the tube exterior.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switch means comprises a membrane switch.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switch means comprises a membrane switch.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switch means comprises a pneumatic pressure responsive switch.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switch means comprises a switch responsive to electromagnetic radiation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switch comprises a light sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switch comprises a proximity switch.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the microelectronic means comprises an application specific integrated circuit programmed to indicate the number of doses remaining after each actuation.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sleeve has a leading edge which includes the switch means and the tube exterior includes a stop ring for contacting and closing the switch means.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the microelectronic means includes

(a) a power source;

(b) an application specific integrated circuit; and

(c) a light-emitting diode.