Medicament dispenser

• US 7,249,687 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Gregor John McLennan
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kumar; Rakesh
• Application Number:
  US10/517,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20050258182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 221/74, 221/7, 221/25, 221/26, 221/71, 221/69, 221/73, 221/82, 221/84, 221/4, 221/87, 221/13, 221/5, 221/8, 221/2, 206/531, 206/532, 128/203.15, 128/203.21, 700/236
• US Class Current: 221/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0026 Hinged caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0043 Non-destructive separation of the package, e.g. peeling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0051 the dosages being arranged on a tape, e.g. strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0055 the used dosages being coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0075 on a disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0078 on a strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0472 the band being wound in flat spiral, folded in accordion or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/22 for visual indication of the result of count on counting mechanisms, e.g. by window with magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/246 Bands; Sheets

Abstract

A medicament dispenser for use with a medicament carrier having multiple distinct medicament doses carried thereby and an internal mechanism for dispensing the distinct medicament doses carried by the medicament carrier. The mechanism comprises receiving means for receiving the medicament carrier; release means for releasing a distinct medicament dose from the medicament carrier on receipt thereof by the receiving means; an outlet, positioned to be in communication with the medicament dose releasable by the release means; indexing means for individually indexing the distinct medicament doses of the medicament carrier; and counting means for counting each time a distinct medicament dose of the medicament carrier is indexed by the indexing means. The counting means is a distinct electronic counter unit that is reversibly receivable by the medicament dispenser.

Claims

1. A medicament dispenser for use with a medicament carrier having multiple distinct medicament doses carried thereby, said dispenser having an internal mechanism for dispensing the distinct medicament doses carried by said medicament carrier, said mechanism comprising,

a) receiving means for receiving the medicament carrier;

b) release means for releasing a distinct medicament dose from the medicament carrier on receipt thereof by said receiving means;

c) an outlet, positioned to be in communication with the medicament dose releasable by said release means;

d) indexing means for individually indexing the distinct medicament doses of the medicament carrier; and

e) counting means for counting each time a distinct medicament dose of the medicament carrier is indexed by said indexing means,

wherein said counting means is provided as a distinct electronic counter unit that is detachable from the medicament dispenser and wherein the electronic counter unit comprises an electronic reader capable of reading an analogue count indicium and an electronic display for displaying said indicium in digital form.

2. A medicament dispenser for use with a medicament carrier having multiple distinct medicament doses carried thereby, said dispenser having an internal mechanism for dispensing the distinct medicament doses carried by said medicament carrier, said mechanism comprising,

a) receiving means for receiving the medicament carrier;

b) release means for releasing a distinct medicament dose from the medicament carrier on receipt thereof by said receiving means;

c) an outlet, positioned to be in communication with the medicament dose releasable by said release means;

d) indexing means for individually indexing the distinct medicament doses of the medicament carrier; and

e) counting means for counting each time a distinct medicament dose of the medicament carrier is indexed by said indexing means,

wherein said counting means is provided as a distinct electric dose counter unit that is detachable from the medicament dispenser and wherein the electronic counter unit comprises an electronic reader capable of reading an analogue count indicium and an electronic display for displaying said indicium in digital form, wherein the medicament dispenser comprises analogue count means and the analogue count indicium is readable therefrom by said electronic reader.

3. A medicament dispenser for use with a medicament carrier having multiple distinct medicament doses carried thereby, said dispenser having an internal mechanism for dispensing the distinct medicament doses carried by said medicament carrier, said mechanism comprising,

a) receiving means for receiving the medicament carrier;

b) release means for releasing a distinct medicament dose from the medicament carrier on receipt thereof by said receiving means;

c) an outlet, positioned to be in communication with the medicament dose releasable by said release means;

d) indexing means for individually indexing the distinct medicament doses of the medicament carrier; and

e) counting means for counting each time a distinct medicament dose of the medicament carrier is indexed by said indexing means,

wherein said counting means is provided as a distinct electric dose counter unit that is detachable from the medicament dispenser and wherein the electronic counter unit comprises an electronic reader capable of reading an analogue count indicium and an electronic display for displaying said indicium in digital form, wherein the medicament carrier is provided with analogue count indicia arranged sequentially thereon and readable therefrom by the electronic reader.

4. A medicament dispenser for use with a medicament carrier having multiple distinct medicament doses carried thereby, said dispenser having an internal mechanism for dispensing the distinct medicament doses carried by said medicament carrier, said mechanism comprising,

a) receiving means for receiving the medicament carrier;

b) release means for releasing a distinct medicament dose from the medicament carrier on receipt thereof by said receiving means;

c) an outlet, positioned to be in communication with the medicament dose releasable by said release means;

d) indexing means for individually indexing the distinct medicament doses of the medicament carrier; and

e) analogue counting means for counting each time a distinct medicament dose of the medicament carrier is indexed by said indexing means,

f) manipulating means to manipulate an analogue count indicium provided by said analogue counting means, wherein the manipulating means comprises an electronic reader capable of reading an analogue count indicium and an electronic display for displaying a manipulated representation of that indicium in digital form.

5. A medicament dispenser for use with a medicament carrier having multiple distinct medicament doses carried thereby, said dispenser having an internal mechanism for dispensing the distinct medicament doses carried by said medicament carrier, said mechanism comprising,

a) receiving means for receiving the medicament carrier;

b) release means for releasing a distinct medicament dose from the medicament carrier on receipt thereof by said receiving means;

c) an outlet, positioned to be in communication with the medicament dose releasable by said release means;

d) indexing means for individually indexing the distinct medicament doses of the medicament carrier; and

e) analogue counting means for counting each time a distinct medicament dose of the medicament carrier is indexed by said indexing means,

f) manipulating means to manipulate an analogue count indicium provided by said analogue counting means, wherein the manipulating means comprises a prismatic viewer capable of acting on the analogue count indicium and causing it to be displayed in manipulated form at a desired viewing position.