Medicament dispensing device and method for the use thereof

• US 6,561,384 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: 1263152 Ontario Inc.
• Inventors: Blacker, Richard, Engelbreth, Daniel K., Schmidt, James N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICOLAS, FREDERICK C
• Application Number:
  US10/193,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20020170920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 222/23, 222/36, 222/38, 222/183, 222/325, 222/162, 128/200.23, 128/200.18, 128/200.14, 128/200.12, 128/203.23, 128/203.12
• US Class Current: 222/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• 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 15/0068 Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0071 having a display or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0075 on a disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0076 on a drum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• 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: G06M 1/041 for drum-type indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/083 by mechanical means counting of stacked objects G06M9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/163 with drums

Abstract

A device for dispensing metered dosages of a substance from a container includes a dispenser housing and an indicating device. The indicating device includes an indicator housing, at least one engagement member disposed in the indicator housing, a plurality of indicator members coaxially mounted in the indicator housing, and an actuator coupled to and moveable with the container relative to the plurality of indicator members and the dispenser housing. The actuator member is selectively engaged with at least one of indicator members and is operative to advance the at least one indicator member an incremental amount. The at least one engagement member is selectively engaged with an advancement member so as to bias the advancement member into operable engagement with at least one of the indicator members and move the at least one indicator member an incremental amount. A method for dispensing metered dosages of the substance is also provided.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing metered dosages of a substance from a container, said device comprising:

a dispenser housing having a longitudinally extending cavity and a well located at a bottom of said cavity, said housing having an exhaust port communicating with said well;

said container comprising a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom and moveable between a closed position and an open position, said container containing a plurality of metered dosages of said substance, said valve stem dispensing one of said plurality of said metered dosages when said valve stem is moved to the open position, said container disposed in said cavity of said dispenser housing and said valve stem received within said well, said container reciprocally moveable within said dispenser housing along said longitudinal extent of the cavity such that said valve stem is moved between said open and closed position by engagement with said well; and

an indicating device comprising;

an indicator housing;

at least one engagement member disposed in said indicator housing;

a plurality of indicator members coaxially mounted in said indicator housing, wherein said plurality of indicator members comprises at least a first and second indicator member, wherein at least one of said plurality of indicator members comprises dosage indicia, wherein said first indicator member comprises a first plurality of teeth, wherein at least one of said first and second indicator members comprises an advancement member and at least the other of said first and second indicator members comprises a second plurality of teeth, and wherein said at least one engagement member is selectively engaged with said advancement member so as to bias said advancement member into operable engagement with at least one of said second plurality of teeth of said at least the other of said first and second indicator members as said first indicator member is rotated relative to said second indicator member; and

an actuator coupled to and moveable with said container relative to said plurality of indicator members and said dispenser housing, said actuator member selectively engaged with at least one of said first plurality of teeth of said first indicator member so as to advance said first indicator member a first incremental amount in response to the movement of said actuator relative to said plurality of indicator members.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said actuator member comprises a pawl and said first indicator member comprises a ratchet wheel comprising said first plurality of teeth, wherein said pawl selectively engages said ratchet wheel so as to advance said first indicator member said first incremental amount in response to the movement of said actuator relative to said plurality of indicator members.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a biasing member biasing said actuator member away from said plurality of indicator members.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a third indicator member coaxially mounted in said indicator housing adjacent said second indicator member, wherein at least one of said second and third indicator members comprises a second advancement member and at least the other of said second and third indicator members comprises a third plurality of teeth, and said indicator housing further comprising at least a second engagement member, wherein said second engagement member is selectively engaged with said second advancement member of said at least one of said second and third indicator members so as to bias said second advancement member into operable engagement with at least one of said third plurality of teeth of said other indicator member as said second indicator member is rotated relative to said third indicator member.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one non-return member disposed in said indicator housing and selectively engaged with at least one of said first and second plurality of said teeth of at least one of said first and second indicator members.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said engagement member and said non-return member are integrally formed.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said indicator housing is disposed in said bottom of said cavity of said dispenser housing.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said engagement member comprises a ramped surface formed in said indicator housing.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said engagement member comprises a resilient arm member.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said indicator housing comprises a viewing window, wherein said indicia are exposed to the user in said viewing window.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of indicator members comprises an indicator wheel having a circumferential surface, wherein said dosage indicia are applied to said circumferential surface.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said at least one of said plurality of indicator members further comprises a ratchet wheel coaxially mounted with said indicator wheel and attached thereto, said ratchet wheel comprising said first plurality of teeth.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein said advancement member is integrally formed as an outer circumferential portion of said at least one of said plurality of indicator members.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said advancement member includes a tooth portion adapted to engage said at least one of said second plurality of teeth of said at least the other of said first and second indicator members.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein said container further comprises a key member disposed thereon, said key member comprising a key portion, and wherein said indicator housing comprises a passageway shaped to receive said key portion.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein said container comprises first and second ends, wherein said valve stem extends from said first end and wherein said actuator is coupled to said first end.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein said actuator is fixedly mounted to said container.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein said actuator biasingly engages said container.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said container comprises a key member biasingly engaging said actuator.

20. A method for dispensing metered dosages of a substance from a container, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a dispenser housing;

providing said container filled with a predetermined number of measured dosages, said container moveably supported in said dispenser housing;

providing an indicating device comprising an indicator housing, at least one engagement member disposed in said indicator housing, a plurality of indicator members coaxially mounted in said housing and an actuator coupled to and moveable with said container relative to said plurality of indicator members, wherein said plurality of indicator members comprises at least a first and second indicator member, wherein at least one of said plurality of indicator members comprises dosage indicia and wherein said first indicator member comprises a first plurality of teeth, at least one of said first and second indicator members comprising an advancement member and at least the other of said first and second indicator members comprising a second plurality of teeth,

moving said container relative to said dispenser housing a first predetermined number of movements;

moving said actuator with said container relative to said dispenser housing and relative to said first indicator member said first predetermined number of movements;

selectively engaging at least one of said first plurality of teeth on said first indicator member with said actuator and thereby rotating said first indicator member a first predetermined amount in response to said first predetermined number of movements of said actuator relative to said first indicator member;

moving said container relative to said dispenser housing a second predetermined number of movements;

rotating said first indicator member a second predetermined amount in response to said second predetermined number of movements of said container relative to said dispenser housing;

selectively engaging said advancement member with said at least one engagement member and thereby biasing said advancement member into operable engagement with at least one of said second plurality of teeth of said at least the other of said first and second indicator members as said first indicator member is rotated said second predetermined amount, and thereby rotating said second indicator member a third predetermined amount with said advancement member in response to said second predetermined number of movements of said container relative to said dispenser housing.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said first predetermined number of movements is one.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said second predetermined number of movements is ten.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein said dispenser housing comprises a well and an exhaust port, said well communicating with said exhaust port, and wherein said container comprises a valve stem received in said well of said housing, and wherein said moving said container relative to said dispenser housing said first and second predetermined number of movements comprises successively moving said valve stem to an open position and then moving said valve stem to a closed position said first and second predetermined number of movements, and wherein said rotating said first indicator member said first predetermined amount in response to said first predetermined number of movements of said actuator relative to said dispenser housing and relative to said plurality of indicator member comprises moving said first indicator member in response to at least one of said movements of said valve stem to said open and closed positions.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said moving said actuator with said container said first and second predetermined number of movements comprises biasingly engaging said actuator with said container.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein said actuator is fixedly secured to said container.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising selectively engaging at least one of said first plurality of said teeth of said first indicator member with a non-return member.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein said first indicator member comprises a ratchet wheel coaxially mounted with an indicator wheel, wherein said ratchet wheel comprises said first plurality of teeth.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein said actuator comprises an arm having an end adapted to selectively engage said at least one of said first plurality of said teeth of said first indicator member.

29. The method of claim 20 further comprising biasing said actuator away from said plurality of indicator members.

30. The method of claim 20 further comprising rotating a third indicator member a fourth predetermined amount upon a third predetermined number of movements of said container relative to said dispenser housing, wherein said third indicator member is coaxially mounted with said second indicator member, wherein at least one of said second and third indicator members comprises a second advancement member and at least the other of said second and third indicator members comprises a third plurality of teeth, and wherein said rotating said third indicator member comprises selectively engaging said second advancement member with a second engagement member disposed in said indicator housing and thereby biasing said second advancement member into operable engagement with at least one of said third plurality of teeth of said at least the other of said second and third indicator members as said second indicator member is rotated relative to said third indicator member.

31. The method of claim 20 wherein said engagement member comprises a ramped surface formed in said indicator housing.

32. The method of claim 20 wherein said engagement member comprises a resilient arm member.

33. The method of claim 20 wherein said advancement member is integrally formed as an outer circumferential portion of said at least one of said first and second indicator members.

34. The method of claim 20 wherein said advancement member includes a tooth portion, and wherein said biasing said advancement member into operable engagement with at least one of said second plurality of teeth comprises engaging said at least one of said second plurality of teeth with said tooth portion.

35. The method of claim 30 wherein said indicator housing comprises a viewing window, and further comprising viewing said indicia in said viewing window.

36. The method of claim 20 wherein at least one of said first and second indicator members comprises an indicator wheel having a circumferential surface, wherein said indicia are applied to said circumferential surface.

37. The method of claim 20 wherein said rotating said first indicator member said second predetermined amount comprises rotating said first indicator member one revolution.

38. A kit having components capable of being assembled as a dispensing device for dispensing metered dosages of a medicament from a container, the kit comprising:

a dispenser housing having a longitudinally extending cavity and a well located at a bottom of said cavity, said housing having an exhaust port communicating with said well;

said container comprising a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom and moveable between a closed position and an open position, said container containing a plurality of metered dosages of said substance, said valve stem adapted to dispense one of said plurality of said metered dosages when said valve stem is moved to the open position, said container adapted to be disposed in said cavity of said dispenser housing and said valve stem received within said well; and

an indicating device comprising;

an indicator housing;

at least one engagement member disposed in said indicator housing;

a plurality of indicator members coaxially mounted in said indicator housing, wherein said plurality of indicator members comprises at least a first and second indicator member, wherein at least one of said plurality of indicator members comprises dosage indicia, wherein said first indicator member comprises a first plurality of teeth, wherein at least one of said first and second indicator members comprises an advancement member and at least the other of said first and second indicator members comprises a second plurality of teeth, and wherein said at least one engagement member is adapted to selectively engage said advancement member so as to bias said advancement member into operable engagement with at least one of said second plurality of teeth of said at least the other of said first and second indicator members as said first indicator member is rotated relative to said second indicator member; and

an actuator adapted to be coupled to said container, said actuator member moveable relative to said plurality of indicator members and adapted to selectively engage at least one of said first plurality of teeth of said first indicator member so as to advance said first indicator member a first incremental amount in response to the movement of said actuator relative to said plurality of indicator members.

39. The kit of claim 38 wherein said actuator member comprises a pawl and said first indicator member comprises a ratchet wheel comprising said first plurality of teeth, wherein said pawl is adapted to selectively engage said ratchet wheel.

40. The kit of claim 38 wherein said indicating device further comprises a biasing member adapted to bias said actuator member away from said plurality of indicator members.

41. The kit of claim 38 wherein said indicating device further comprises a third indicator member coaxially mounted in said indicator housing adjacent said second indicator member, wherein at least one of said second and third indicator members comprises a second advancement member and at least the other of said second and third indicator members comprises a third plurality of teeth, and said indicator housing further comprising at least a second engagement member, wherein said second engagement member is adapted to selectively engage said second advancement member of said at least one of said second and third indicator members so as to bias said second advancement member into operable engagement with at least one of said third plurality of teeth of said other indicator member as said second indicator member is rotated relative to said third indicator member.

42. The kit of claim 38 wherein said indicating device further comprises at least one non-return member disposed in said indicator housing and adapted to selectively engage at least one of said first and second plurality of said teeth of at least one of said first and second indicator members.

43. The kit of claim 42 wherein said engagement member and said non-return member are integrally formed.

44. The kit of claim 38 wherein said engagement member comprises a ramped surface formed in said indicator housing.

45. The kit of claim 38 wherein said engagement member comprises a resilient arm member.

46. The kit of claim 38 wherein said indicator housing comprises a viewing window, wherein said indicia are exposed to the user in said viewing window.