Dispensing device

• US 7,757,688 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Foley, Martin P., Scarrott, Peter Mycola, Schmidt, James Nick, Grychowski, Jerry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O
• Application Number:
  US11/639,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20070084467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.18, 128/200.23, 128/203.15, 128/203.12, 128/205.23, 128/203.23, 222/32, 222/36, 222/162, 116307-309, 116311-315, 116/317, 116/318
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• 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 15/0073 on a ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0075 on a disc
• 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 1/283 with drums

Abstract

A medicament dispensing device for dispensing metered dosages of a medicament includes an actuator housing having a longitudinally extending cavity and a container disposed in the cavity and having a cylinder with a first outer diameter. The cylinder is adapted to hold the medicament. The container is reciprocally moveable relative to the actuator housing along a longitudinal axis. An indicating device includes an indicator housing having a tubular portion connected to said container, with the indicating device being reciprocally moveable with the container relative to the actuator housing. The tubular portion has a second outer diameter that is of substantially the same diameter as the first outer diameter. A longitudinally extending side wall has a viewing window formed therein. An indicator is rotatably mounted in the indicator housing, with a surface thereof having indicia visible through the viewing window.

Claims

1. A medicament dispensing device for dispensing metered dosages of a medicament, the medicament dispensing device comprising:

an actuator housing having a longitudinally extending cavity;

a container disposed in said cavity and comprising a cylinder having a first outer diameter, said cylinder adapted to hold the medicament, said container reciprocally moveable relative to said actuator housing along a longitudinal axis; and

an indicating device comprising;

an indicator housing comprising a mounting portion and a viewing portion extending longitudinally from said mounting portion, wherein said mounting portion is connected to said container, wherein said indicating device is reciprocally moveable with said container relative to said actuator housing, said mounting portion having a second outer diameter, wherein said second outer diameter is of substantially the same diameter as said first outer diameter, and wherein said viewing portion comprises a longitudinally extending side wall having a viewing window formed therein; and

an indicator rotatably mounted in said viewing portion, said indicator comprising a surface having indicia visible through said viewing window.

2. The medicament dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said mounting portion comprises a base member and said viewing portion comprises a cap member connected to said base member.

3. The medicament dispensing device of claim 2 wherein said cap member is connected to said base member with a snap fit.

4. The medicament dispensing device of claim 2 wherein said base member defines in part said viewing window.

5. The medicament dispensing device of claim 2 wherein said base member comprises a circumferential skirt having said second outer diameter.

6. The medicament dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said mounting portion comprises a tubular portion having said second outer diameter.

7. The medicament dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said container has a first end comprising a valve stem and an opposite second end, wherein said mounting member is connected to said second end.

8. The medicament dispensing device of claim 1 further comprising a lock device moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein said lock device immobilizes at least a portion of said indicating device when moved to said engaged position.

9. The medicament dispensing device of claim 8 wherein said lock device comprises a stop member engaging said indicator.

10. The medicament dispensing device of claim 8 wherein said mounting portion and said viewing portion are moveably connected, wherein said lock device immobilizes said mounting portion relative to said viewing portion when moved to said engaged position.

11. The medicament dispensing device of claim 8 wherein said container is reciprocally moveable relative to said actuator housing along said longitudinal axis when said lock device is in said engaged position.

12. The medicament dispensing device of claim 1 further comprising a longitudinally extending pawl, wherein said indicator is moveable along said longitudinal axis relative to said pawl.

13. The medicament dispensing device of claim 12 wherein said indicator comprises a plurality of teeth.

14. A medicament dispensing device for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments, the medicament dispensing device comprising:

an actuator housing having a longitudinally extending cavity;

a container disposed in said cavity and comprising a cylinder, said cylinder adapted to hold the medicaments, said container reciprocally moveable relative to said actuator housing along a longitudinal axis, wherein said cylinder has a first outer diameter; and

an indicating device comprising;

an indicator housing comprising a tubular portion connected to said container, wherein said indicating device is reciprocally moveable with said container relative to said actuator housing, said tubular portion having a second outer diameter, wherein said second outer diameter is of substantially the same diameter as said first outer diameter, and said indicator housing further comprising a longitudinally extending side wall having a viewing window formed therein, wherein said viewing window and said cylinder are longitudinally spaced apart with said tubular portion positioned between said viewing window and said cylinder; and

an indicator rotatably mounted in said indicator housing, said indicator comprising dosage indicia visible through said viewing window.

15. The medicament dispensing device of claim 14 wherein said indicator housing comprises a base member comprising said tubular portion and a cap member comprising said side wall, wherein said cap member is connected to said base member.

16. The medicament dispensing device of claim 15 wherein said base member comprises a peripheral rim having a cutout defining in part said viewing window.

17. The medicament dispensing device of claim 15 wherein said cap member is connected to said base member with a snap fit.

18. The medicament dispensing device of claim 17 wherein said cap member is moveably connected to said base member.

19. The medicament dispensing device of claim 14 further comprising a lock device moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein said lock device immobilizes at least a portion of said indicating device when moved to said engaged position.

20. The medicament dispensing device of claim 19 wherein said lock device comprises a stop member engaging said indicator.

21. The medicament dispensing device of claim 19 wherein said container is reciprocally moveable relative to said actuator housing along said longitudinal axis when said lock device is in said engaged position.

22. The medicament dispensing device of claim 14 further comprising a longitudinally extending pawl, wherein said indicator is moveable along said longitudinal axis relative to said pawl.

23. The medicament dispensing device of claim 22 wherein said indicator comprises a plurality of teeth.

24. The medicament dispensing device of claim 14 wherein said container has a first end comprising a valve stem and an opposite second end, wherein said indicator housing is connected to said second end.

25. A medicament dispensing device for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments, the medicament dispensing device comprising:

an actuator housing having a longitudinally extending cavity;

a container disposed in said cavity and comprising a cylinder, said cylinder adapted to hold the medicaments, said container reciprocally moveable relative to said actuator housing along a longitudinal axis, wherein said cylinder has a first outer diameter; and

an indicating device comprising;

an indicator housing comprising a tubular portion connected to said container, wherein said indicating device is reciprocally moveable with said container relative to said actuator housing, said tubular portion having a second outer diameter, wherein said second outer diameter is of substantially the same diameter as said first outer diameter, and said indicator housing further comprising a side viewing window opening in a radial direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; and

an indicator rotatably mounted in said indicator housing, said indicator comprising dosage indicia visible through said viewing window.

26. The medicament dispensing device of claim 25 wherein said indicator is rotatably mounted in said indicator housing about said longitudinal axis.

27. The medicament dispensing device of claim 25 wherein said indicator comprises a ring, wherein said indicia are formed on an outer circumferential surface of said ring.

28. The medicament dispensing device of claim 27 wherein said indicator further comprises a plurality of teeth, and further comprising a drive member mounted in said indicator housing, said drive member selectively engaging at least one of said plurality of teeth so as to rotate said indicator about said longitudinal axis.

29. The medicament dispensing device of claim 28 wherein said plurality of teeth extend longitudinally from said ring.

30. The medicament dispensing device of claim 28 wherein said plurality of teeth comprises a first plurality of teeth, and said indicator further comprising a second plurality of teeth selectively engaged by an indexing member mounted in said indicator housing, said indexing member releasably engaging at least one of said second plurality of teeth to prevent rotation therebetween.

31. The medicament dispensing device of claim 25 further comprising a lock device moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein said lock device immobilizes at least a portion of said indicating device when moved to said engaged position.

32. The medicament dispensing device of claim 31 wherein said lock device comprises a stop member engaging said indicator.

33. The medicament dispensing device of claim 31 wherein said container is reciprocally moveable relative to said actuator housing along said longitudinal axis when said lock device is in said engaged position.

34. The medicament dispensing device of claim 25 further comprising a longitudinally extending pawl, wherein said indicator is moveable along said longitudinal axis relative to said pawl.

35. A method of assembling a medicament dispensing device comprising:

providing an actuator housing having a longitudinally extending cavity;

providing a container comprising a cylinder having a first outer diameter, said cylinder adapted to hold a medicament;

providing an indicating device comprising;

an indicator housing comprising a tubular portion having a second outer diameter and defining a longitudinal axis, wherein said second outer diameter is substantially the same as said first outer diameter, and said indicator housing further comprising a side viewing window opening in a radial direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; and

an indicator rotatably mounted in said indicator housing, said indicator comprising dosage indicia visible through said viewing window;

fixedly connecting said tubular portion of said indicator housing to said container;

disposing said container in said cavity of said actuator housing; and

connecting said container to said actuator housing, wherein said container and said indicator housing are reciprocally moveable relative to said actuator housing along a longitudinal axis.

36. A method of dispensing medicament comprising:

providing an actuator housing having a longitudinally extending cavity;

providing a container disposed in said cavity and comprising a cylinder, said cylinder adapted to hold the medicaments, said container reciprocally moveable relative to said actuator housing along a longitudinal axis, wherein said cylinder has a first outer diameter;

providing an indicating device comprising;

an indicator housing comprising a tubular portion connected to said container, wherein said indicating device is reciprocally moveable with said container relative to said actuator housing, said tubular portion having a second outer diameter, wherein said second outer diameter is substantially the same as said first outer diameter, and said indicator housing further comprising a side viewing window opening in a radial direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; and

an indicator rotatably mounted in said indicator housing, said indicator comprising dosage indicia visible through said viewing window;

reciprocally moving said container and said indicating device relative to said actuator housing and thereby dispensing a least one metered dosage of medicament.