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US 10,716,907 B2Granted
Nebulizer
AssigneeBoehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
InventorsJoachim Eicher, Josef Gatz, Markus Mueller, Herbert Wachtel
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Abstract
A nebulizer is proposed which receives a container with a fluid and an 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. In the locked state, a locking device locks the nebulizer against rotation in a partially tensioned state and, thus, against further use. After replacement of the container including the indicator device, the nebulizer can be used again.
Claims31
A nebulizer (1) for a fluid (2), the nebulizer (1) comprising:
- an upper housing part (16);
- a lower housing part (18);
- a replaceable or insertable container (3) containing the fluid (2);
- an indicator device (25) for counting or indicating a number of uses performed or still possible with the container (3);
- and
- a locking device (26) adapted to block further use of the nebulizer (1) or container (3) in a locked state when a predetermined number of uses has been reached or exceeded with the current container (3), wherein:
- the nebulizer (1) is tensioned for next use by a rotation of the lower housing part (18) relative to the upper housing part (16), such rotation about a predetermined total rotation angle being necessary for reaching a complete tensioned state for the next use of the nebulizer (1), and
- the locking device (26), or a locking element (66) thereof, is adapted to block the rotation of the lower housing part (18) at an intermediate position after initiating the rotation of the lower housing part (18), but before reaching the predetermined total rotation angle, and thereby before reaching the complete tensioned state of the nebulizer (1).
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.