Medicament applicator

An actuator for use in dispensing a medicament from a container having at least a first and second portion, said actuator comprising:

• a holder adapted to engage at least the first portion of the container;
• a trigger member pivotally connected to said holder about a first pivot axis;
• a first push member hingedly connected to said trigger member about a second pivot axis spaced apart from said first pivot axis;
• and
• a second push member hingedly connected to said first push member about a third pivot axis, wherein said second push member is hingedly connected to said holder about a fourth pivot axis, wherein at least one of said first and second push members is adapted to engage at least the second portion of the container.

An actuator for use in dispensing a medicament from a container having at least a first and second portion, said actuator comprising:

• a holder adapted to engage at least the first portion of the container;
• a first trigger member pivotally connected to said holder about a first pivot axis;
• a second trigger member pivotally connected to said holder about a second pivot axis, wherein said second pivot axis is spaced from said first pivot axis;
• and
• a push member connected to said first trigger member at a first location spaced from said first pivot axis, wherein said push member extends between said first and second trigger members and is connected to said second trigger member at a second location spaced from said second pivot axis, and wherein said push member is adapted to engage at least the second portion of the container.

An inhaler for dispensing a medicament comprising:

• a container having a first portion moveable relative to a second portion along a longitudinal axis;
• a holder engaging at least said first portion of said container;
• a trigger member moveably connected to said holder wherein said trigger member is moveable between at least a first trigger position and a second trigger position;
• and
• a push member coupled to said trigger member and moveably connected to said holder, said push member moveable between at least a first pusher position and a second pusher position as said trigger member is moved between said first and second trigger positions, wherein said push member engages and moves at least the second portion of the container holder relative to said holder as said push member is moved from said first pusher position to said second pusher position.

An inhaler for dispensing a medicament comprising:

• a container having a first portion moveable relative to a second portion along a longitudinal axis;
• a holder engaging at least said first portion of said container;
• first and second trigger members moveably connected to said holder, each of said first and second trigger members moveable between at least a first trigger position and a second trigger position, wherein at least a portion of said first and second trigger members are moveable toward and away from each other;
• and
• a push member connected to said first and second trigger members, said push member moveable between at least a first pusher position and a second pusher position as said first and second trigger members are moved between said first and second trigger positions, wherein said push member engages and moves at least the second portion of the container holder relative to said holder as said push member is moved from said first pusher position to said second pusher position.

A method for dispensing a medicament from a container having a first portion moveable relative to a second portion, the method comprising:

• providing an actuator comprising a holder, a trigger member moveably connected to said holder, and a push member coupled to said trigger member and moveably connected to said housing;
• engaging at least said first portion of said container with said holder;
• moving said trigger member relative to said holder between at least a first trigger position and a second trigger position;
• moving said push member relative to said holder with said trigger member between at least a first pusher position and a second pusher position as said trigger member is moved between said at least said first and second trigger positions;
• engaging at least said second portion of said container with said push member;
• and
• moving said second portion of said container relative to said holder with said push member as said push member moves between at least said first and second pusher positions.

A method for dispensing a medicament from a container having a first portion moveable relative to a second portion, the method comprising:

• providing an actuator comprising a holder, first and second trigger members moveably connected to said holder, and a push member engaged by said first and second trigger members;
• engaging at least said first portion of said container with said holder;
• moving said first and second trigger members toward each other and relative to said holder between at least a first trigger position and a second trigger position;
• moving said push member relative to said holder with said first and second trigger members between at least a first pusher position and a second pusher position as said first and second trigger members are moved between said at least said first and second trigger positions;
• engaging at least said second portion of said container with said push member;
• and
• moving said second portion of said container relative to said holder with said push member as said push member moves between at least said first and second pusher positions.

An actuator for use in dispensing a medicament from a container having at least a first and second portion, said actuator comprising:

• a holder having a grippable portion, wherein said holder is adapted to engage at least the first portion of the container;
• a trigger member pivotally connected to said holder at a pivot axis, wherein said trigger member is pivotable about said pivot axis in a first rotational direction toward said grippable portion and a second rotational direction opposite said first direction;
• and
• a push member connected to said trigger member, wherein said push member is pivotable about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction in response to said trigger member pivoting in said first rotational direction, wherein said push member is pivotable about said pivot axis in said second rotational direction as said trigger member is pivoted in said second rotational direction, wherein said push member is adapted to move at least the second portion of the container relative to said holder, and wherein at least a portion of said push member is moved in a substantially non-parallel relationship to at least a portion of said trigger member as said push member and said trigger member are pivoted in the first and second rotational directions respectively.

An inhaler for dispensing a medicament comprising:

• a container having a first portion moveable relative to a second portion along a longitudinal axis in a longitudinal direction;
• a holder comprising a grippable portion, said holder engaging at least said first portion of said container;
• a trigger member pivotally connected to said holder at a pivot axis, wherein said trigger member is pivotable about said pivot axis in a first rotational direction toward said grippable portion and a second rotational direction opposite said first direction, wherein said pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and wherein at least a portion of said trigger member moves in a lateral direction substantially non-parallel to said longitudinal direction as said trigger member is pivoted in said first and second rotational directions;
• and
• a push member connected to said trigger, wherein said push member is pivotable about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction as said trigger member is pivoted in said first rotational direction, wherein said push member is pivotable about said pivot axis in said second rotational direction as said trigger member is pivoted in said second rotational direction, and wherein said push member engages said second portion of said container and moves said second portion relative to said holder and said first portion of said container in said longitudinal direction as said push member is pivoted in said first rotational direction.

A method for dispensing a medicament from a container having a first portion moveable relative to a second portion in a longitudinal direction, the method comprising:

• providing an actuator comprising a holder having a grippable portion, a trigger member pivotally connected to said holder at a first pivot axis, and a push member connected to said trigger;
• engaging at least said first portion of said container with said holder;
• pivoting said trigger member about said pivot axis in a first rotational direction toward said grippable portion and thereby moving at least a portion of said trigger member in a lateral direction substantially non-parallel to said longitudinal direction as said trigger member is pivoted in said first and second rotational directions;
• pivoting said push member about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction and thereby moving at least a portion of said push member in said longitudinal direction;
• engaging at least said second portion of said container with said push member;
• and
• moving said second portion of said container relative to said holder and said first portion of said container with said push member in said longitudinal direction as said push member pivots about said pivot axis in said first rotational direction.

A method of assembling an actuator for use in dispensing a medicament from a container, said method comprising:

• providing a container having a first portion and a second portion, a holder, a trigger member and a push member connected to said trigger member, wherein said trigger member and said push member are pivotally connected to said holder about a pivot axis;
• connecting said holder and said first portion of said container;
• and
• connecting said push member and said second portion of said container.

A method for dispensing a substance into a nasal cavity of a user comprising:

• providing nasal applicator comprising an actuator comprising a nozzle comprising an end having a first outlet;
• and a diffuser comprising a first portion disposed on said nozzle and a second portion forming a passageway communicating with said first outlet, wherein said second portion has a second outlet communicating with said passageway, wherein said second outlet is spaced from said first outlet, and wherein said passageway is tapered;.
• inserting said second portion into said nasal cavity;
• dispensing said substance from said applicator into said passageway;
• and
• dispensing said substance from said passageway through said second outlet into said nasal cavity.

An actuator for use in dispensing a medicament from a container having at least a first and second portion, said actuator comprising:

• a holder adapted to engage at least the first portion of the container;
• a trigger member moveably connected to said holder, wherein said trigger member is moveable between at least a first trigger position and a second trigger position;
• a push member coupled to said trigger member, wherein said push member is moveable between at least a first pusher position and a second pusher position as said trigger member is moved between said first and second trigger positions, wherein said push member is adapted to move at least the second portion of the container relative to said holder as said push member is moved from said first pusher position to said second pusher position;
• and
• an indicator member rotatably mounted to said holder and a drive mechanism connected between said indicator member and at least one of said trigger member and said push member, wherein said drive mechanism moves said indicator member an incremental amount in response to a predetermined number of movements at least one of said trigger member and said push member between said first and second trigger positions and said first and second pusher positions respectively.

An actuator for use in dispensing a medicament from a container having at least a first and second portion, said actuator comprising:

• a holder adapted to engage at least the first portion of the container;
• a first trigger member pivotally connected to said holder about a first pivot axis;
• a second trigger member pivotally connected to said holder about a second pivot axis, wherein said second pivot axis is spaced from said first pivot axis;
• and
• a push member connected to said first trigger member at a first location spaced from said first pivot axis, wherein said push member extends between said first and second trigger members and is connected to said second trigger member at a second location spaced from said second pivot axis, and wherein said push member is adapted to engage at least the second portion of the container;
• and
• an indicator member rotatably mounted to said holder and a drive mechanism connected between said indicator member and at least one of said first and second trigger members, wherein said drive mechanism moves said indicator member an incremental amount in response to a predetermined number of movements at least one of said first and second trigger members.