Dose counter and recording method
First Claim
1. A dose counter for a metered dose inhaler comprising a force sensor, an electronic controller, a memory for storing data indicative of a remaining number of doses and an electronic display device coupled to the controller for displaying the remaining number of doses, said dose counter being attached or otherwise integrated into a base of a canister containing medicament such that force applied to the base of the canister is registered by the force sensor, said controller being configured to measure force applied to said dose counter when depressing said canister and measure a time duration of the depression of said canister, and said controller being responsive to measured force to decrement the remaining number of doses stored in the memory and shown on said display device when the measured force exceeds a defined minimum force threshold and the measured time duration exceeds a pre-determined and defined minimum time duration.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dose counter for a metered dose inhaler includes a force sensor, an electronic controller, a memory for storing data indicative of a remaining number of doses and an electronic display device coupled to the controller for displaying the remaining number of doses. The dose counter is attached or integrated into a base of a canister containing medicament such that force applied to the base of the canister is registered by the force sensor, the controller being configured to measure force applied to the dose counter when depressing the canister and being responsive to measured force to decrement the remaining number of doses stored in the memory and shown on the display device.
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Citations
11 Claims
- 1. A dose counter for a metered dose inhaler comprising a force sensor, an electronic controller, a memory for storing data indicative of a remaining number of doses and an electronic display device coupled to the controller for displaying the remaining number of doses, said dose counter being attached or otherwise integrated into a base of a canister containing medicament such that force applied to the base of the canister is registered by the force sensor, said controller being configured to measure force applied to said dose counter when depressing said canister and measure a time duration of the depression of said canister, and said controller being responsive to measured force to decrement the remaining number of doses stored in the memory and shown on said display device when the measured force exceeds a defined minimum force threshold and the measured time duration exceeds a pre-determined and defined minimum time duration.
Specification