# US 12,178,958 B2 · Device for the inhalation-synchronized dispensing of a fluid product

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- Number: US 12,178,958 B2
- Document ID: US12178958B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/425,760
- Filed: 2020-02-03
- Published: 2022-05-26
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2019-02-04
- Assignees: Aptar France SAS
- Applicants: Aptar France SAS
- Inventors: David Fabien; Matthieu Cavatorta; Jeremy Tournois; Matthieu Walter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178958B2

## CPC

- A61M 15/0093: {without arming or cocking, e.g. acting directly on the delivery valve}
- A61M 15/0013: {with inhalation check valves}
- A61M 15/0026: {Hinged caps}
- A61M 15/008: {Electronic counters}
- A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)}
- A61M 15/0091: {mechanically breath-triggered}
- A61M 2205/3327: Measuring
- A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow
- A61M 2205/3553: remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
- A61M 2205/3584: using modem, internet or Bluetooth®
- A61M 2205/3592: using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
- A61M 2205/502: User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
- A61M 2205/52: with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
- A61M 2205/581: by audible feedback
- A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback
- A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

A device having a body (10), a reservoir (100) mounted to slide axially relative to the body, a metering valve (200) on the reservoir (100), a blocking element (500), a trigger element (600), an inhalation-controlled trigger system (60) cooperating with the trigger element, an actuating member (800) cooperating with the blocking element, a cover (11) fixed on the body, a push member (810) fastened tot actuating member (800) and mounted to slide axially in the cover, and a spring (850) between the cover and the push member. Before inhalation, the push member is out of contact with the reservoir, such that the force exerted on the push member by the spring is not transmitted to the reservoir, and during inhalation, the push member moves axially with the actuating member so as to come into contact with the reservoir and move it axially in the body to actuate said valve.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inhalation-synchronised fluid product dispenser device comprising a body provided with a mouthpiece, a product reservoir containing a fluid product and a propellant gas being mounted to slide axially relative to said body, a metering valve, comprising a valve member movable between a rest position and an actuation position, being assembled on said reservoir for selectively dispensing the fluid product on each actuation, said device further comprising:
a blocking element that is movable and/or deformable between a blocking position in which said metering valve cannot be actuated, and an actuation position in which said metering valve can be actuated;
a trigger element that is movable and/or deformable between a locking position in which it the trigger element blocks said blocking element in the blocking position, and a release position wherein the trigger element does not block said blocking element;
an inhalation-controlled trigger system comprising an inhalation-sensitive member that is deformable and/or movable under the effect of inhaling, said inhalation-sensitive member cooperating with said trigger element, such that when said inhalation-sensitive member is deformed and/or moved, said inhalation-sensitive member it moves and/or deforms said trigger element towards the release position, thus allowing said blocking element to move and/or deform from the blocking position towards the actuation position;
an actuating member cooperating with said blocking element, such that in the blocking position of said blocking element, said blocking element prevents said actuating member from moving axially, and in the actuation position of said blocking element, said blocking element enables said actuating member to move axially;
a cover fixed on said body;
a push member cooperating with said actuating member and mounted to slide axially in said cover;
a spring disposed between said cover and said push member;
wherein, before inhalation, said push members out of contact with said reservoir, such that the force exerted on said push member by said spring is not transmitted to said reservoir, and during inhalation, said push member moves axially with said actuating member so as to come into contact with said reservoir and move said reservoir axially in said body so as to actuate said metering valve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a cap which can be moved, in particular pivoting on the body, between a closed position of the mouthpiece and an open position of the mouthpiece, said cap cooperating with the said actuating member such that, in the closed position, said cap blocks said actuating member against an axial movement in the body, and when it said is returned from the open position to the closed position, said cap returns the actuating member to the rest position by reloading said spring.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device according to claim 2, wherein said cap can be moved by pivoting on the body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein said blocking element is mounted to pivot on the body about a pivot axis B, and said trigger element is mounted to pivot on the body about a pivot axis C, said axes B and C being parallel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein said actuating member comprises an axial projection cooperating with said blocking element, such that in the blocking position of said blocking element, said axial projection of said actuating member cooperates with an axial blocking extension of said blocking element to thus prevent an axial movement of said actuating member, and in the actuation position of said blocking element, said axial projection of said actuating member cooperates with an axial recess of said blocking element thereby enabling said reservoir to move axially.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device according to claim 5, wherein, in the blocking position of said blocking element, said axial projection of said actuating member urges said blocking element towards the actuation position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein said blocking element comprises a locking projection that, in the locking position of the trigger element, cooperates with a locking shoulder of said trigger element so as to define a latch that prevents said blocking element from moving and/or deforming out of the blocking position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device according to claim 7, wherein in the locking position of the trigger element, said latch forms a first contact point between said blocking element and said trigger element, said blocking element comprising a bearing projection that, in the locking position of the trigger element, cooperates with a bearing surface of said trigger element so as to form, in the locking position of the trigger element, a second contact point between said blocking element and said trigger element, said second contact point being, in the locking position of the trigger element, at a distance from said axis C of the trigger element that is greater than the distance between said axis C and said first contact point.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a central axial sleeve with a lower axial edge, said push member and said spring being assembled around said central axial sleeve, said lower axial edge being deformed to produce a retaining collar for said push member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device according to claim 9, wherein said lower axial edge is thermally deformed by a heating tool.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, comprising an indicator for indicating to the user that the dispensing of fluid product has been made.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device according to claim 11, wherein said indicator is a visual indicator and/or audible indicator.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, comprising an electronic meter.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device according to claim 13, wherein, before the first use of the device, said electronic meter is in standby mode, said electronic meter comprising a contactor, said actuating member, during its a first movement of said actuating member towards the actuation position, contacting said contactor so as to place said electronic meter in normal operating mode.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The device according to claim 13, wherein said electronic meter comprises at least one accelerometer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein said inhalation-sensitive member comprises a deformable membrane that defines a deformable air chamber, said deformable membrane being fixed to said trigger element, said deformable membrane being deformed during inhaling, such that said deformable membrane moves said trigger element from the locking position towards the release position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein said mouthpiece comprises an opening that is connected to an inside of the body, said opening being closed at the start of inhaling by a check valve, such that the inhalation flow due to inhaling initially passes mainly to the inhalation-controlled trigger system.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The device according to claim 17, wherein said check valve is opened when said actuating member moves axially together with said reservoir.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is screwed or snap-fitted on said body.