Dispenser for media

• US 6,886,556 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aptar Radolfzell GmbH (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fuchs, Karl-Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US10/246,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20030052196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/205.23, 222/71
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/81 Piston pumps, e.g. syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations

Abstract

The problem of the invention is to so develop known dispensers, that it is possible to very precisely determine the actual discharged medium volume.

A dispenser according to the invention has a media path, which leads from a medium storage container to a discharge opening. A delivery device for delivering medium is located in said media path. The media reservoir stores a medium, particularly a fluid, which preferably incorporates at least one pharmaceutical substance. A media discharge can be brought about by means of an operating means. According to the invention, on the dispenser is provided an electronic detecting device for detecting a quantity representing the amount of medium discharged.

Claims

1. Dispenser for a medium, said dispenser comprising:

a storage container;

a discharge opening;

a medium path linking the storage container and the discharge opening;

a delivery device for delivering medium from the storage container via the medium path to the discharge opening as a function of the operation of an operating device, said operating device comprising an electronic detecting unit for producing a signal representing the discharged medium quantity, the delivery device being a manually operable piston pump having a stroke path; and

at least one sensor for detecting at least indirectly values representing the stroke path of the piston.

2. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit comprises a flow volume meter located in the medium path.

3. Dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the flow volume meter is an inductive flow volume meter.

4. Dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the flow volume meter is a thermal flow volume meter.

5. Dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the flow volume meter determines the through-flow quantity on the basis of the pressure difference measuring method.

6. Dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the flow volume meter has a measuring range of 30 to 150 μ

l media volume.

7. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a limit switch is provided to detect an upper dead centre position of the pump piston after a complete pump stroke.

8. Dispenser according to claim 7, further comprising a device for additionally detecting the leaving of a lower dead centre position of the pump piston.

9. Dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the stroke path covered by the pump is detected by a path sensor.

10. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a time value is associated with each operation of the dispenser in the electronic detecting unit.

11. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein in the detecting unit storing in pollable manner information detected with respect to a number of operations of the dispenser.

12. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a measuring sensor is located in the vicinity of the discharge opening, the sensor being at least one sensor selected from the group of sensors consisting of a thermal sensor, an optical sensor and a moisture sensor.

13. Dispenser according to claim 12, wherein the dispenser has a projection for fitting into a nostril, said projection including a tip, the discharge opening and measuring sensor being located in said tip of the projection.

14. Dispenser for a medium, said dispenser comprising:

a storage container;

a discharge opening;

a medium path linking the storage container and the discharge opening;

a delivery device for delivering the medium from the storage container via the medium path to the discharge opening as a function of the operation of an operating device said operating device comprising an electronic detecting unit for producing a signal representing the discharged medium quantity, the dispenser containing a servo device cooperating with the delivery device for controlling the function of said delivery device, and wherein said detecting unit controls said servo device.

15. Dispenser for a medium, said dispenser comprising:

a storage container;

a discharge opening;

a medium path linking the storage container and the discharge opening;

a delivery device for delivering the medium from the storage container via the medium path to the discharge opening as a function of the operation of an operating device said operating device comprising an electronic detecting unit for producing a signal representing the discharged medium quantity; and

a switchable operating barrier for blocking the discharge of medium under control of the detecting unit.

16. Dispenser according to claim 15, wherein the operating barrier is controlled as a function of at least a discharge volume of preceding discharge strokes and the time which has elapsed since then.

17. Dispenser for a medium, said dispenser comprising:

a storage container;

a discharge opening;

a medium path linking the storage container and the discharge opening;

a delivery device for delivering the medium from the storage container via the medium path to the discharge opening as a function of the operation of an operating device, said operating device comprising an electronic detecting unit for producing a signal representing the discharged medium quantity; and

a data exchange device through which the data detected by the detecting unit can be transmitted to at least one dispenser-external data processing device.

18. Dispenser according to claim 17, wherein the data exchange device is designed for bidirectional communication.

19. Dispenser according to claim 17, wherein said at least one external data processing device is a base station for storing the dispenser when not in use.

20. Dispenser according to claim 19, wherein said at least one external data processing device is an evaluation station, being in data transfer connection with the base station via a remote data transmitting system.

21. Dispenser for a medium, said dispenser comprising:

a storage container;

a discharge opening;

a medium path linking the storage container and the discharge opening;

a delivery device for delivering the medium from the storage container via the medium path to the discharge opening as a function of the operation of an operating device said operating device comprising an electronic detecting unit for producing a signal representing the discharged medium quantity;

the medium being a fluid containing at least one pharmaceutical substance.

22. Dispenser according to claim 21, wherein the dispenser is provided with a person identification sensor permitting an authentication of the user by means of characteristic features of the user.

23. Dispenser system for a medium comprising:

a dispenser having a storage container, a discharge opening, a medium path connecting the container with the opening, a manually operable pump between container and opening, a flow volume meter in the medium path producing electric signals, a data processing unit for receiving and processing the signals in order to generate data, an electronic memory for storing the data including data for time and number of pump operations, a data output dispenser;

further comprising an external station, having a data input for receiving the data from the data output, data output and input being connected in a wireless manner.