Medicament applicator
First Claim
1. An actuator for use in dispensing a medicament from a container having at least a first and second portion, said actuator comprising:
- a holder having a grippable portion, wherein said holder is adapted to engage at least the first portion of the container;
a trigger member pivotally connected to said holder at a pivot axis, wherein said trigger member is pivotable about said pivot axis in a first rotational direction toward said grippable portion and a second rotational direction opposite said first direction, wherein said trigger member follows a path as said trigger member is pivoted about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction;
a push member connected to said trigger member, wherein said push member is pivotable about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction in response to said trigger member pivoting in said first rotational direction, wherein said push member is pivotable about said pivot axis in said second rotational direction as said trigger member is pivoted in said second rotational direction, wherein said push member comprises an engagement portion adapted to engage the second portion of the container, wherein said push member is adapted to move at least the second portion of the container relative to said holder, and wherein at least a portion of said push member is moved in a substantially non-parallel relationship to at least a portion of said trigger member as said push member and said trigger member are pivoted in the first and second rotational directions respectively; and
a stop member moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein said stop member is engaged with said push member and immobilizes said engagement portion when said stop member is in said engaged position, and wherein said stop member is maintained in said engaged position as said trigger member is pivoted in said first rotational direction along at least a portion of said path.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator is used to dispense a medicament from a container having at least a first and second portion. The actuator includes a holder, a trigger member and a push member. The trigger member is pivotally connected to the holder at a pivot axis. The push member is connected to the trigger member. The push member is adapted to move at least the second portion of the container relative to the holder as the push member is pivoted in a first direction. In one preferred embodiment, the trigger member follows a path, and a stop member engages one of the container and push member and immobilizes the push member as the trigger member is moved along a predetermined portion of the path.
308 Citations
65 Claims
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1. An actuator for use in dispensing a medicament from a container having at least a first and second portion, said actuator comprising:
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a holder having a grippable portion, wherein said holder is adapted to engage at least the first portion of the container;
a trigger member pivotally connected to said holder at a pivot axis, wherein said trigger member is pivotable about said pivot axis in a first rotational direction toward said grippable portion and a second rotational direction opposite said first direction, wherein said trigger member follows a path as said trigger member is pivoted about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction;
a push member connected to said trigger member, wherein said push member is pivotable about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction in response to said trigger member pivoting in said first rotational direction, wherein said push member is pivotable about said pivot axis in said second rotational direction as said trigger member is pivoted in said second rotational direction, wherein said push member comprises an engagement portion adapted to engage the second portion of the container, wherein said push member is adapted to move at least the second portion of the container relative to said holder, and wherein at least a portion of said push member is moved in a substantially non-parallel relationship to at least a portion of said trigger member as said push member and said trigger member are pivoted in the first and second rotational directions respectively; and
a stop member moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein said stop member is engaged with said push member and immobilizes said engagement portion when said stop member is in said engaged position, and wherein said stop member is maintained in said engaged position as said trigger member is pivoted in said first rotational direction along at least a portion of said path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An actuator for use in dispensing a medicament from a container having at least a first and second portion, said actuator comprising:
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a holder having a grippable portion, wherein said holder is adapted to engage at least the first portion of the container;
a trigger member pivotally connected to said holder at a pivot axis, wherein said trigger member is pivotable about said pivot axis in a first rotational direction toward said grippable portion and a second rotational direction opposite said first direction, wherein said trigger member follows a path as said trigger member is pivoted about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction;
a push member connected to said trigger member, wherein said push member is pivotable about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction in response to said trigger member pivoting in said first rotational direction, wherein said push member is pivotable about said pivot axis in said second rotational direction as said trigger member is pivoted in said second rotational direction, wherein said push member comprises an engagement portion adapted to engage the second portion of the container, wherein said push member is adapted to move at least the second portion of the container relative to said holder, and wherein at least a portion of said push member is moved in a substantially non-parallel relationship to at least a portion of said trigger member as said push member and said trigger member are pivoted in the first and second rotational directions respectively; and
a first stop member adapted to engage said second portion of said container in opposition to said push member, and a second stop member moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein said second stop member is engaged with said first stop member and immobilizes said engagement portion when said second stop member is in said engaged position, and wherein said second stop member is maintained in said engaged position as said trigger member is pivoted in said first rotational direction along at least a portion of said path. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An inhaler for dispensing a medicament comprising:
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a container having a first portion moveable relative to a second portion along a longitudinal axis in a longitudinal direction;
a holder comprising a grippable portion, said holder engaging at least said first portion of said container;
a trigger member pivotally connected to said holder at a pivot axis, wherein said trigger member is pivotable about said pivot axis in a first rotational direction toward said grippable portion and a second rotational direction opposite said first direction, wherein said pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, wherein at least a portion of said trigger member moves in a lateral direction substantially non-parallel to said longitudinal direction as said trigger member is pivoted in said first and second rotational directions, and wherein said trigger member follows a path as said trigger member is pivoted about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction;
a push member connected to said trigger, wherein said push member is pivotable about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction as said trigger member is pivoted in said first rotational direction, wherein said push member is pivotable about said pivot axis in said second rotational direction as said trigger member is pivoted in said second rotational direction, wherein said push member comprises an engagement portion engaging the second portion of the container and moves said second portion relative to said holder and said first portion of said container in said longitudinal direction as said push member is pivoted in said first rotational direction; and
a stop member moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein said stop member is engaged with one of said push member and said container and immobilizes said engagement portion when said stop member is in said engaged position, and wherein said stop member is maintained in said engaged position as said trigger member is pivoted in said first rotational direction along at least a portion of said path. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for dispensing a medicament from a container having a first portion moveable relative to a second portion in a longitudinal direction, the method comprising:
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providing an actuator comprising a holder having a grippable portion, a trigger member pivotally connected to said holder at a first pivot axis, and a push member connected to said trigger;
engaging at least said first portion of said container with said holder;
pivoting said trigger member about said pivot axis in a first rotational direction toward said grippable portion and thereby moving at least a portion of said trigger member in a lateral direction substantially non-parallel to said longitudinal direction as said trigger member is pivoted in said first and second rotational directions, wherein said pivoting said trigger member comprises moving said trigger member along a path;
pivoting said push member about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction and thereby moving at least a portion of said push member in said longitudinal direction;
engaging at least said second portion of said container with an engagement portion of said push member;
engaging one of said container and said push member with a stop member and thereby immobilizing said engagement portion as said trigger member is pivoted in said first rotational direction along at least a portion of said path; and
moving said second portion of said container relative to said holder and said first portion of said container with said push member in said longitudinal direction as said push member pivots about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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Specification