Nebulizer

• US 9,744,313 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2014
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Besseler, Jens, Herrmann, Frank, Holakovsky, Holger, Argauer, Herbert, Gatz, Josef, Gorshoefer, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, (Jackie) Tan-Uyen T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boecker, Joseph D
• Application Number:
  US14/453,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20150040890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/007 Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0036 hollow piercing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0038 Cutting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0071 having a display or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0073 on a ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6045 having complementary physical shapes for indexing or registration purposes

Abstract

A nebulizer and a housing part comprising a blocking device as well as use of a blocking device are proposed. The blocking device blocks a rotatable element of a counter device in a defined rotational position until the nebulizer is closed.

Claims

1. A nebulizer (1) for a fluid (2), comprising:

a housing,

a housing part (18) which, for purposes of closing the housing, is connectable or attachable to the housing via a delivery mechanism, wherein a container (3) holding the fluid (2) is arranged in the housing part (18) and is fluidically connected to the delivery mechanism when the housing part (18) is connected to the housing, and

a counter device (23) which is inseparably connected with the housing part (18), the counter device (23) comprising a rotatable element that, in a closed state of the nebulizer (1) when the housing part (18) is connected to the housing, meshes with a drive member arranged at the housing,

wherein the nebulizer (1) comprises a blocking device (74) for blocking the rotatable element until the housing part (18) is connected to the housing, wherein the blocking device (74) blocks the rotatable element against rotation by form-fit engagement,

wherein the blocking device (74) comprises a blocking part (75) which has a receiving opening (76) for receiving an engagement portion (70) which is associated to or forms part of the rotatable element, and

wherein the blocking part (75) is axially moveable, in particular out of radial engagement with the engagement portion (70) for unblocking rotation of the rotatable element in the closed state.

2. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the blocking device (74) is arranged at or within the housing part (18).

3. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the blocking device (74) is actuated directly or indirectly by the housing or an inner part (17) of the nebulizer (1) when connecting the housing part (18) to the housing in order to unlock the rotatable element, and/or that the blocking of the rotatable element is terminated upon the closing or connection of the housing part (18) and/or the housing.

4. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the blocking device (74) unlocks the rotatable element automatically when the closed state is at least essentially or completely reached and/or when the rotatable element is in meshing engagement with the drive member.

5. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the counter device (23) comprises a threaded shaft (42) and/or a drive gear (43) as the rotatable element.

6. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the nebulizer (1) or housing comprises a toothing (45) as the drive member.

7. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the engagement portion (70) is associated to or forms part of the rotatable element and/or a threaded shaft (42) of the counter device (23).

8. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the blocking part (75) is axially moved or depressed when the housing part (18) is connected to the housing, wherein in particular the blocking part (75) is depressed by the housing or by an inner part (17) of the nebulizer (1), a retaining part (39) or a securing part (40) arranged within the housing part (18).

9. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the counter device (23) or the rotatable element is driven by rotation of the rotatable element or housing part (18) relative to the housing.

10. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein for replacing the container (3), the housing part (18) is detachable from the housing.

11. A nebulizer (1) for a fluid (2), comprising:

a housing,

a housing part (18) which, for purposes of closing the housing, is connectable or attachable to the housing via a delivery mechanism, wherein a container (3) holding the fluid (2) is arranged in the housing part (18) and is fluidically connected to the delivery mechanism when the housing part (18) is connected to the housing, and

a counter device (23) which is inseparably connected with the housing part (18), the counter device (23) comprising a rotatable element that, in a closed state of the nebulizer (1) when the housing part (18) is connected to the housing, meshes with a drive member arranged at the housing,

wherein the nebulizer (1) comprises a blocking device (74) for blocking the rotatable element until the housing part (18) is connected to the housing, wherein the blocking device (74) blocks the rotatable element against rotation by form-fit engagement, and

wherein the nebulizer (1) or a member (50) thereof comprises a holding part (80) or multiple holding parts (80) for selectively pulling the rotatable element.

12. The nebulizer according to claim 11, wherein the holding part (80) or the multiple holding parts (80) selectively pull the rotatable element by engaging a collar (82) of the rotatable element, in an axial direction.

13. The nebulizer according to claim 12, wherein the collar (82) of the rotatable element is disc-like.

14. A housing part (18) for a nebulizer (1) for dispensing a fluid (2), comprising:

a counter device (23) arranged at the housing part (18), and

a rotatable element within the counter device (23) which is driven by the nebulizer (1),

wherein the housing part (18) comprises a blocking device (74) for blocking the rotatable element when the housing part (18) is detached from the nebulizer (1) and/or when the housing part (18) does not completely close a housing of the nebulizer (1), wherein, for blocking the rotatable element, the blocking device (74) locks the rotatable element against rotation by form-fit engagement,

wherein the blocking device (74) comprises a blocking part (75) which has a receiving opening (76), and

wherein the blocking part (75) is axially moveable or depressible for unblocking the rotatable element.

15. The housing part according to claim 14, wherein the blocking device (74) is arranged at or within the housing part (18).

16. The housing part according to claim 14, wherein the counter device (23) comprises a threaded shaft (42) and/or a drive gear (43) as the rotatable element.

17. The housing part according to claim 14, wherein the housing part (18) holds the container (3) containing the fluid (2) inseparable from the counter device (23).

18. The housing part according to claim 14, wherein for blocking the rotatable element, the blocking device (74) blocks the rotation of the rotatable element in a defined rotational position of the rotatable element.

19. The housing part according to claim 14, wherein the receiving opening (76) has at least partly a non-circular cross section for receiving a non-circular engagement portion (70) for rotational blocking of the rotatable element.

20. A nebulizer (1) for a fluid (2), comprising:

a housing,

a housing part (18) which, for purposes of closing the housing, is connectable or attachable to the housing via a delivery mechanism, wherein a container (3) holding the fluid (2) is arranged in the housing part (18) and is fluidically connected to the delivery mechanism when the housing part (18) is connected to the housing, and

a counter device (23) which is inseparably connected with the housing part (18), the counter device (23) comprising a rotatable element that, in a closed state of the nebulizer (1) when the housing part (18) is connected to the housing, meshes with a drive member arranged at the housing,

wherein the nebulizer (1) comprises a blocking device (74) for blocking the rotatable element until the housing part (18) is connected to the housing, wherein the blocking device (74) blocks the rotatable element against rotation by form-fit engagement, and

wherein the nebulizer (1) is adapted to pull the rotatable element in an axial direction towards the drive member.

21. The nebulizer according to claim 20, wherein for blocking the rotatable element, the blocking device (74) blocks the rotation of the rotatable element in a defined rotational position of the rotatable element.

22. The nebulizer according to claim 20, wherein the blocking device (74) comprises a blocking part (75) which has a receiving opening (76) for receiving an engagement portion (70) which is associated to or forms part of the rotatable element, and wherein the receiving opening (76) has at least partly a non-circular cross section for receiving a non-circular engagement portion (70) for rotational blocking of the rotatable element.

23. The nebulizer according to claim 20, wherein the housing part (18) holds the container (3) containing the fluid inseparably from the counter device (23).

24. A nebulizer (1) for a fluid (2), wherein the nebulizer is constructed as an inhaler comprising:

a housing,

a pressure generator (5) for conveying the fluid (2) from a container (3) holding the fluid (2) to a pressure chamber (11) and for nebulizing the fluid (2) through a nozzle (12),

a housing part (18) which can be connected to the housing, and

a counter device (23) arranged at the housing part (18), the counter device (23) comprising a rotatable element that, in a closed state of the nebulizer (1) when the housing part (18) is connected to the housing, meshes with a drive member arranged at the housing,

wherein the nebulizer (1) is adapted to pull the rotatable element in an axial direction towards the drive member.