Dispensing device

• US 8,973,784 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trudell Medical International (Trudell Medical Limited)
• Inventors: Lu, Winston, Morton, Robert, Balles, Joaquim
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, LIEN M
• Application Number:
  US12/322,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20090139518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,231 Days
• Field of Search: 222/36, 222/38, 222/48, 128/200.23, 128/205.15, 128/205.23, 128/203.15, 215/230
• US Class Current: 222/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/08 Pocket atomisers of the injector type aerosol cans A61M15/009
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0025 with caps
• 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 15/007 Mechanical counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0073 on a ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0076 on a drum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• 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: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/268 wherein the stem portion is moved for opening and closing the valve, e.g. by translation, rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/27 preventing use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system of medicament dispensers includes a plurality of dispenser housings each having a unique first indicia and a plurality of containers each having a unique second indicia. The unique second indicia of each of the containers corresponds to one of the unique first indicia of a corresponding one of the dispenser housings. Methods for associating various containers and dispensers is also provided.

Claims

1. A system of medicament dispensers comprising:

a plurality of dispenser housings each having a unique first indicia different from said first indicia of the other of said plurality of dispenser housings, wherein said unique first indicia is capable of being seen by a user, and wherein each of said plurality of dispenser housings is configured with a dosage indicating device; and

a plurality of containers each holding dosages of the same type of medicament, each of said containers having a unique second indicia different from said second indicia of the other of said plurality of containers, wherein said unique second indicia is capable of being seen by the user, and wherein said unique second indicia of each of said containers corresponds to one of said unique first indicia of a corresponding one of said plurality of dispenser housings, wherein each of said containers is coupled to said corresponding one of said dispenser housings.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of dispenser housings is configured with a well and each of said plurality of containers is configured with a valve stem, wherein said valve stem of each of said containers is shaped to be removeably received in said well of said corresponding one of said plurality of dispenser housings.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of first indicia and each of said plurality of second indicia comprises alphanumeric characters.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of said first indicia comprises a color.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said first indicia are applied to a corresponding dispenser housing with a label.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said second indicia are applied to a corresponding container with a label.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said pluralities of unique first and second indicia are associated with a single, particular user.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the uniqueness of said pluralities of unique first and second indicia are preserved for a certain time period.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said time period extends beyond an expiration of a particular lot of said medicament.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of dispenser housings is configured with a mouthpiece.

11. A medicament dispenser comprising:

a dispenser housing having a unique first indicia, wherein said unique first indicia is non duplicative of indicia used with any other dispenser housing prescribed for a particular user;

a container holding dosages of a medicament, said container having a unique second indicia corresponding to said unique first indicia, wherein said unique second indicia is non duplicative of indicia used with any other container prescribed for the particular user; and

wherein said dispenser housing is configured with a dosage indicating device capable of indicating the number of dosages of medicament dispensed from or remaining in the container.

12. The medicament dispenser of claim 11 wherein said unique first and second indicia each comprise alphanumeric characters.

13. The medicament dispenser of claim 11 wherein said unique first and second indicia each comprise a color.

14. The medicament dispenser of claim 11 wherein said unique first and second indicia are identical.

15. The medicament dispenser of claim 11 wherein said dispenser housing is configured with a first label comprising said first indicia.

16. The medicament dispenser of claim 15 wherein said container is configured with a second label comprising said second indicia.

17. The medicament dispenser of claim 11 further comprising a connector coupled between said dispenser housing and said container.

18. The medicament dispenser of claim 17 wherein said connector comprises a tether.

19. A kit adapted for assembly into a medicament dispenser comprising:

a dispenser housing;

a container holding a plurality of dosages of medicament, said container capable of being associated with said dispenser housing for dispensing dosages of medicament from said container;

a dosage indicating device capable of being associated with said dispenser housing for indicating the number of dosages of medicament dispensed from or remaining in said container;

a first label capable of being associated with said dispenser housing, said first label comprising a unique first indicia, wherein said unique first indicia is non duplicative of indicia used with any other dispenser housing prescribed for a particular user; and

a second label capable of being associated with said container, said second label comprising a unique second indicia, wherein said first and second indicia are matching, wherein said unique second indicia is non duplicative of indicia used with any other container prescribed for the particular user.

20. The kit of claim 19 wherein said first and second matching indicia are identical.

21. The kit of claim 20 wherein said first and second indicia each comprise alphanumeric characters.

22. The kit of claim 20 wherein said first and second indicia each comprise a color.

23. The kit of claim 19 wherein said first and second labels comprise a first pair of labels, and further comprising a plurality of other pairs of labels, wherein each of said pairs of labels comprises different matching first and second indicia.

24. A method for assembling a medicament dispenser comprising:

providing a dispenser housing comprising a dosage indicating device;

providing a container holding a plurality of dosages of medicament;

applying a first label to said dispenser housing, said first label comprising a unique first indicia, wherein said unique first indicia is non duplicative of indicia used with any other dispenser housing prescribed for a particular user;

applying a second label to said container, said second label comprising a unique second indicia, wherein said first and second indicia are matching, wherein said unique second indicia is non duplicative of indicia used with any other container prescribed for the particular user; and

connecting said container to said dispenser housing.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said connecting said container to said dispenser housing comprises inserting a valve stem of said container into a well of said dispenser housing.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said first and second indicia are identical.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein said first and second indicia each comprise alphanumeric characters.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein said first and second indicia each comprise a color.

29. The method of claim 24 further comprising providing a second dispenser housing comprising a second dosage indicating device;

providing a second container holding a second plurality of dosages of said medicament;

applying a third label to said second dispenser housing, said third label comprising a unique third indicia; and

applying a fourth label to said second container, said fourth label comprising a unique fourth indicia, wherein said third and fourth indicia are matching, and wherein said third and fourth indicia are different than said first and second indicia; and

connecting said second container to said second dispenser housing.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising providing a plurality of subsequent dispenser housings each comprising a dosage indicating device;

providing a plurality of subsequent containers each holding a plurality of dosages of said medicament;

applying pairs of labels to corresponding subsequent dispenser housings and containers, wherein said pairs of labels each comprise matching indicia, and wherein said matching indicia of each of said pairs of labels is different than said matching indicia of the other pairs of labels.