Method and apparatus for a controlled delivery of particles

• US 9,817,012 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2015
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bluestone Technology GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bluestone Technology GmbH
• Inventors: Grgen, Frank, Sehlinger, Torsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Raevis, Robert R
• Application Number:
  US14/806,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20160139165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 73 6456, 7386321, 7386423, 7386381, 7386481
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0043 Non-destructive separation of the package, e.g. peeling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0051 the dosages being arranged on a tape, e.g. strips
• 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 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/02 Equipment for testing the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/02 Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/40 Packages formed by enclosing successive articles, or increments of material, in webs, e.g. folded or tubular webs, or by subdividing tubes filled with liquid, semi-liquid, or plastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1009 Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids

Abstract

In a method and in an apparatus for the controlled delivery of particles, said particles are supplied to a measurement station in which the quantity of particles is detected. The particles are subsequently transferred by the measurement station to a dispensing device and are dispensed.

Claims

1. A method for the controlled delivery of allergenic particles, comprising the following steps:

continuously supplying stored particles to a measurement station;

continuously detecting the quantity of supplied particles in the measurement station;

transferring the detected particles from the measurement station to a dispensing device; and

delivering the transferred particles from the dispensing device, to an exposed patient to study symptoms.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the particles are supplied to the measurement station in a strip-shaped arrangement.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the particles are supplied to the measurement station in one layer.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the particles are supplied to the measurement station in a packaging.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the particles are conducted through the measurement station in a packaging.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the particles are introduced into the dispensing device in a closed packaging;

and in that the packaging is opened in the dispensing device.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the particles are supplied in a strip-shaped packaging which in particular comprises two film strips, transparent or translucent film strips.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the particles are sucked off from the inner side of an opened packaging in the dispensing device.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the particles are displaced by means of compressed air in the dispensing device and are delivered from the dispensing device.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the speed at which the particles are transferred to the dispensing device is controlled in dependence on the detected quantity of particles.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the particles are counted in the measurement station.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that image data of the particles are acquired in the measurement station.