System with nebulizer and container
AssigneeBoehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
InventorsJoachim Eicher, Andreas Fiol, Martin Meisenheimer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system with a nebulizer as well as a container with a fluid and an indicator device for such a nebulizer are proposed. A check scheme is used for indicating the number of containers already used with the nebulizer or which still can be used with the nebulizer. The indicator device indicates the number of uses performed or still possible with the current container. The indicator device is adapted to let stepwise appear a color sequence and/or replacement symbol when approaching a predetermined number of uses with the container. Further, the indicator device can show markings in braille.
Claims12
A nebulizer (1) for nebulizing a fluid (2) and for receiving a plurality of replaceable containers (3) consecutively in series, each replaceable container (3) including a plurality of doses of the fluid (2) therein, the nebulizer (1) comprising:
- a housing part (18) having detachment features facilitating repeated patient-detachment of the housing part (18) from the nebulizer (1) for the purpose of replacing each of the plurality of replaceable containers (3), and which:
- (i) when detached, provides access to an interior of the nebulizer (1) such that used ones of the plurality of replaceable containers (3) may be removed and replaced, and (ii) when re-attached, prevents access to the interior of the nebulizer (1), and completely surrounds and prevents access to the plurality replaceable containers (3),
- a check scheme (75) for marking a number of containers (3) among the plurality of replaceable containers (3) already used or which still can be used;
- a cover for covering the check scheme (75), wherein the housing part (18) includes the cover, such that:
- (i) the cover is detached from the nebulizer (1) in response to the patient-detachment of the housing part (18) from the nebulizer (1), (ii) the cover prevents access to the check scheme (75) when the housing part (18) is attached to the nebulizer (1), and (iii) the cover does not prevent access to the check scheme (75) when the housing part (18) is detached from the nebulizer (1),
- wherein the cover includes at least a transparent portion positioned such that the patient may view the check scheme (75) through the housing part (18) when attached to the nebulizer (1),
- wherein the check scheme (75) comprises multiple check boxes (76) for the patient to manually indicate each time a used one of the plurality of replaceable containers (3) is replaced, when the cover does not prevent access to the check scheme (75) when the housing part (18) is detached from the nebulizer (1),
- wherein manual indication is a marking by at least one of writing, scratching, partial removal, and piercing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.