Nebulizer and container
AssigneeBoehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
InventorsJoachim Eicher, Hubert Hoelz, Martin Meisenheimer, Joern-Eric Schulz, Herbert Wachtel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A nebulizer and a container with a fluid for such a nebulizer are proposed. The container comprises an indicator device fixedly mounted on the bottom of the container. When a predetermined number of uses of the container (3) with the nebulizer (1) has been reached or exceeded, a signal element becomes visible on the indicator device. The indicator device stops further use of the container in a locked state when a predetermined number of uses has been reached or exceeded. Then, the nebulizer is partially opened and blocked against further use. After replacement of the container including the indicator device, the nebulizer can be used again.
Claims29
A nebulizer (1) for a fluid (2), the nebulizer (1) comprising:
- a nebulizer housing (24) having a housing part (18);
- a replaceable container (3) containing the fluid (2) and being disposed in an inner volume defined by the nebulizer housing (24), wherein the nebulizer housing (24) is opened for replacing the replaceable container (3) by detaching the housing part (18) from the nebulizer (1);
- and
- an indicator device (25) for counting or indicating a number of uses performed or still possible with the replaceable container (3), wherein the indicator device (25) is disposed within an indicator housing (31), which is both inseparably connected with the replaceable container (3) and separable from the nebulizer housing (24) and the housing part (18), such that the indicator device (25) is replaced with the replaceable container (3) to which it is inseparably connected;
- wherein the indicator device (25) comprises a blocking part for preventing further use of the replaceable container (3) in a locked state of the indicator device (25) when a predetermined number of uses has been reached or exceeded with the replaceable container (3), and
- wherein the blocking part is at least one of:
- integrated into the indicator housing (31), forms part of the indicator housing (31), and is arranged inside the indicator housing (31).
A container (3) for replaceable use in a nebulizer (1), the container (3) containing a fluid (2), and the container (3) comprising:
- an outlet and a base (21) opposite to the outlet;
- an indicator device (25) for counting and/or indicating a number of uses performed or still possible with the container (3) before replacement,
- wherein the indicator device (25) is disposed within an indicator housing (31) that is fixedly and inseparably connected to the base (21) of the container (3),
- wherein the indicator device (25) comprises a blocking part for preventing further use of the container (3) in a locked state of the indicator device (25) when the predetermined number of uses has been reached or exceeded,
- wherein the blocking part is at least one of:
- integrated into the indicator housing (31), forms part of the indicator housing (31), and is arranged inside the indicator housing (31),
- wherein the indicator device (25) comprises an indicator element (35), which actuates the blocking part so that it is moved from an initial position in the indicator housing (31) to a locking position when the predetermined number of uses has been reached or exceeded with the container (3), and
- wherein the indicator device (25) comprises a blocking spring (43) preventing a back movement of the blocking part from the locking position to the initial position.
A container (3) for replaceable use in a nebulizer (1), the container (3) containing a fluid (2), and the container (3) comprising:
- an outlet and a base (21) opposite to the outlet;
- an indicator device (25) for counting and/or indicating a number of uses performed or still possible with the container (3) before replacement,
- wherein the indicator device (25) is directly, annularly and fixedly attached to the base (21) of the container (3),
- wherein the indicator device (25) comprises a signal element (34) or flag in which:
- (i) when a predetermined number of uses of the container (3) has been reached or exceeded or when the container (3) is empty, the signal element (34) or flag becomes visible or more visible, and (ii) when the predetermined number of uses of the container (3) has not been reached, the signal element (34) or flag is not visible or less visible as compared with when the predetermined number of uses of the container (3) has been reached or exceeded, and
- wherein the indicator device (25) comprises an indicator housing (31), and, when actuated, the signal element (34) or flag is moved from a first position in the indicator housing (31) of the indicator device (25) to a second position in which the signal element (34) or flag at least partly extends from the indicator housing (31).
A nebulizer (1) for a fluid (2), the nebulizer (1) comprising:
- a nebulizer housing (24) having a central axis;
- a replaceable container (3) containing the fluid (2) and being disposed in an inner volume defined by the nebulizer housing (24), wherein the replaceable container (3) is axially movable relative to the nebulizer housing (24) during conveying of the fluid (2) to be nebulized and during nebulization of the fluid (2);
- and
- an indicator device (25) for counting and/or indicating a number of uses performed or still possible with the replaceable container (3);
- and
- a driving part (52) for actuating the indicator device (25) upon movement of the replaceable container (3) relative to the driving part (52),
- wherein the driving part (52) is stationary, non-movable, and co-axially located relative to the nebulizer housing (24).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.