Nebulizer

• US 9,827,384 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2012
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2011
• 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: Holakovsky, Holger, Thoemmes, Ralf, Rohrschneider, Marc, Witte, Florian, Deane, Kevin Peter, Jennings, Douglas Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ditmer, Kathryn E
• Application Number:
  US13/476,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20130125881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• Field of Search: 12820014, 12820016, 12820018, 12820019, 12820021, 604141, 604143, 604151-155
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/007 Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0025 with caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0036 hollow piercing means
• 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 15/0071 having a display or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/273 preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0054 Cartridges, i.e. containers specially designed for easy attachment to or easy removal from the rest of the sprayer attachment arrangements between pump and container B05B11/1043
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/108 Means for counting the number of dispensing strokes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1091 being first hold in a loaded state by locking means or the like, then released B05B11/1092 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/0421 Controlled or regulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/026 Connecting or supporting parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/24 Drums; Dials; Pointers for measuring instruments in general G01D; for time measuring instruments G04B19/00, including drums G04B19/21, G04C19/04; date indicating G04B19/24

Abstract

A nebulizer is proposed which comprises a replaceable container containing fluid, a housing part detachable from the nebulizer for replacing the container, and an operation counter inseparable from the housing part as depicted in exemplary FIG. 10. The operation counter comprises a lead screw and an associated rider both supported by the housing part.

Claims

1. A nebulizer (1) which is an inhaler for a fluid (2), comprising:

a replaceable container (3) containing the fluid (2),

a housing part (18), which is detachable from the nebulizer (1) for replacing the container (3) and which is inseparable from the container (3),

an operation counter (45) for counting each use of the nebulizer (1) drawing the fluid from the replaceable container (3), the operation counter (45) including a first lead screw (46) and an associated, first rider (47), where the use of the nebulizer causes movement of the first rider (47) and the first lead screw (46) to register such use, wherein the operation counter (45), including the first lead screw (46) and the first rider (47), is disposed entirely within, and are inseparable from, the housing part (18), such that the operation counter (45) is replaced together with the container (3) when the housing part (18) is removed from the nebulizer (1) and replaced, and

a use opening lock (52) that blocks opening of the nebulizer (1) or detachment of the housing part (18) and, thus, blocks container replacement, based on uses of the nebulizer (1) with the replaceable container (3), wherein the use opening lock (52) is opened by the operation counter (45) or first rider (47) when a predetermined number of uses has been reached or exceeded with the replaceable container (3).

2. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the first lead screw (46) is driven by relative rotation of the housing part (18) and/or during conveying of fluid (2) into a pressure generator (5) or pressure chamber (11) of the nebulizer (1) and/or during tensioning of a drive spring (7) of the nebulizer (1).

3. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the operation counter (45) locks the nebulizer (1) against further use conveying of fluid (2) into a pressure generator (5) of the nebulizer (1), tensioning of a drive spring (7) of the nebulizer (1), rotation of the housing part (18), pressure generation and/or nebulization, in a first locked state when a predetermined number of uses has been reached or exceeded with the current or associated container (3).

4. The nebulizer according to claim 3, wherein the housing part (18) guides a first locking element (50) which is a spring or a spring biased element, whereby for entering the first locked state the first locking element (50) is moved into a locking position by or together with the first rider (47) for entering the first locked state.

5. The nebulizer according to claim 3, wherein the first locked state is reset by replacing the housing part (18) together with the container (3) and operation counter (45).

6. The nebulizer according to claim 1, further comprising:

a container opening lock (62) that blocks opening of the nebulizer (1) or detachment of the housing part (18) and, thus, blocks container replacement, based on a predetermined number of container replacements, wherein the container opening lock (62) is closed when the predetermined number of container replacements or, when a predetermined number of uses of the nebulizer (1) has been reached or exceeded.

7. The nebulizer according to claim 6, wherein the nebulizer (1) comprises a container counter (23) counting the number of containers (3) that have been used or inserted or still can be used or inserted.

8. The nebulizer according to claim 7, wherein the container counter (23) closes the container opening lock (62).

9. The nebulizer according to claim 7, wherein the container counter (23) actuates or comprises a second lead screw (57) and an associated, second rider (58).

10. The nebulizer according to claim 9, wherein the second rider (58) actuates or closes the container opening lock (62).

11. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the container (3) is pre-assembled into the housing part (18).

12. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the container (3) is moveable back and forth within the nebulizer (1) and/or relative to the housing part (18) of the nebulizer (1) during conveying of fluid (2), pressure generation and/or nebulization.

13. The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein the nebulizer (1) comprises a securing mechanism (35) operating to hold the container (3) inseparably in the housing part (18), wherein the container (3) is moveable back and forth within the housing part during conveying of fluid (2), pressure generation and/or nebulization.