Indicating device

• US 8,944,285 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Engelbreth, Daniel K., Schmidt, James N., Blacker, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C
• Application Number:
  US13/938,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20140076312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/23, 222/36, 222/32, 222/38, 222/162, 222/183, 222/324, 222/402.1, 222/325, 128/200.12, 128/200.14, 128/200.18, 128/200.23, 128/205.23
• US Class Current: 222/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• 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 15/0071 having a display or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0075 on a disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0076 on a drum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• 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 1/083 by mechanical means counting of stacked objects G06M9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/163 with drums

Abstract

A dispensing device for dispensing metered dosages of a medicament from a container includes an indicator housing having an interior and an opening communicating with the interior. A first actuator is disposed within the interior and includes a resilient arm member defining a pawl portion. The first actuator is reciprocally moveable between an actuated position and an at-rest position. A spring is disposed in the indicator housing and biases the first actuator towards the at-rest position. A ratchet gear is rotatably disposed in the indicator housing, and is rotatable in response to the movement of the first actuator between the actuated and at-rest positions. An indicator is rotatably disposed in the indicator housing and is rotatable in response to the rotation of the ratchet gear. A second actuator is shaped to be received through the opening in the indicator housing. The second actuator and indicator housing are moveable relative to each other between first and second positions. The second actuator is inserted through the opening, contacts the first actuator and moves the first actuator to the actuated position when the second actuator and indicator housing are moved to the second position. The first actuator is biased to the at-rest position by the spring when the second actuator and the indicator housing are moved to the first position. A method of dispensing metered dosages of medicament is also provided.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for dispensing metered dosages of a medicament from a container:

an indicator housing comprising an interior and an opening communicating with said interior;

a first actuator disposed within said interior and comprising a resilient arm member defining a pawl portion, wherein said first actuator is reciprocally moveable between an actuated position and an at-rest position;

a spring disposed in said indicator housing, said spring biasing said first actuator towards said at-rest position;

a ratchet gear rotatably disposed in said indicator housing, wherein said ratchet gear is rotatable in response to said movement of said first actuator between said actuated and said at-rest position;

an indicator rotatably disposed in said indicator housing, wherein said indicator is rotatable in response to said rotation of said ratchet gear; and

a second actuator shaped to be received through said opening in said indicator housing, said second actuator and said indicator housing moveable relative to each other between first and second positions, wherein said second actuator is inserted through said opening, contacts said first actuator and moves said first actuator to said actuated position when said second actuator and said indicator housing are moved to said second position, and wherein said first actuator is biased to said at-rest position by said spring when said second actuator and said indicator housing are moved to said first position.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1 further comprising a drive gear disposed between said ratchet gear and said indicator, wherein said ratchet gear rotates said drive gear, and said drive gear rotates said indicator.

3. The dispensing device of claim 2 wherein said drive gear comprises a worm gear.

4. The dispensing device of claim 3 wherein said indicator comprises teeth engaged by said worm gear.

5. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said first actuator does not extend outwardly from said indicator housing through said opening.

6. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said first actuator comprises upper and lower portions defining a longitudinal axis, and wherein said spring is disposed around said lower portion and biases said first actuator along said longitudinal axis to said at-rest position.

7. The dispensing device of claim 6 wherein said spring comprises a compression spring.

8. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said indicator housing comprises a first cover member coupled to a second cover member so as to define said interior therebetween, wherein said indicator and said ratchet gear are disposed in said interior.

9. The dispensing device of claim 8 wherein said first cover member defines an upper surface of said indicator housing and said second cover defines a lower surface of said indicator housing.

10. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said second actuator is moveable along a longitudinal axis as said second actuator and said indicator housing are moved relative to each other between said first and second positions, and wherein said ratchet gear is rotatable about a rotation axis extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

11. The dispensing device of claim 10 wherein said rotation axis comprises a first rotation axis, and wherein said indicator is rotatable about a second rotation axis extending perpendicular to said first rotation axis.

12. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said first and second actuators are separate and not attached.

13. The dispensing device of claim 1 further comprising a dispenser housing, wherein said indicator housing is disposed in said dispenser housing.

14. The dispensing device of claim 13 further comprising a container comprising a medicament, said container coupled to said dispenser housing.

15. The dispensing device of claim 1 further comprising a container comprising a medicament, wherein said container is coupled to said second actuator.

16. A method of dispensing metered dosages of a medicament from a container:

providing an indicating device comprising an indicator housing comprising an interior and an opening communicating with said interior, a first actuator moveably disposed within said interior and comprising a resilient arm member defining a pawl portion, a spring disposed in said indicator housing and engaged with said resilient arm, a ratchet gear rotatably disposed in said indicator housing, and an indicator rotatably disposed in said indicator housing;

moving a second actuator coupled to said container through said opening in said indicator housing from a first position to a second position;

engaging said first actuator with said second actuator and moving said first actuator from an at-rest position to an actuated position as said second actuator is moved from said first position to said second position;

moving said second actuator from said second position to said first position;

biasing said first actuator from said actuated position to said at-rest position with said spring as said second actuator is moved from said second position to said first position;

engaging and rotating said ratchet gear with said pawl portion of said resilient arm; and

rotating said indicator with said ratchet gear.

17. The method of claim 16 said engaging and rotating said ratchet gear with said pawl portion of said resilient arm comprises engaging and rotating a drive gear with said ratchet gear, and engaging and rotating said indicator with said drive gear.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said drive gear comprises a worm gear.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said engaging and rotating said indicator with said drive gear comprises engaging teeth on said indicator with said worm gear.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said first actuator does not extend outwardly from said indicator housing through said opening.