Dose indicating device
AssigneeTrudell Medical International
InventorWINSTON Z. LU
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An indicating device includes a housing having a longitudinally extending cavity shaped to receive the container and an indicator member disposed in the cavity and having a longitudinally extending wall shaped to surround at least a portion of the container. The indicator member is rotatably mounted within the housing and is rotatable relative thereto about a longitudinal axis. The indicator member includes a driven gear. A drive gear is disposed in the housing and includes a drive portion selectively engaged with the driven gear. An actuator is adapted to move with the container and is selectively engaged with the drive gear.
Claims14
1-15. (canceled)
An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, said indicating device comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinally extending cavity shaped to receive the container;
- an indicator member disposed in said cavity and having a longitudinally extending wall shaped to surround at least a portion of the container, said indicator member rotatably mounted within said housing and rotatable relative thereto about a longitudinal axis, said indicator member comprising a driven gear;
- a drive gear disposed in said housing and comprising a drive portion selectively engaged with said driven gear;
- and
- an actuator adapted to move with the container, said actuator selectively engaged with said drive gear.
20-22. (canceled)
A dispensing device suitable for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, the dispensing device comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinally extending cavity;
- a container of medicament disposed in said cavity and operably engaged with said housing, wherein said container is reciprocally moveable relative to said housing along a longitudinal axis;
- an indicator member disposed in said cavity and having a longitudinally extending wall surrounding at least a portion of the container, said indicator member rotatably mounted within said housing and rotatable relative thereto about said longitudinal axis, said indicator member comprising a driven gear;
- a drive gear disposed in said housing and comprising a drive portion selectively engaged with said driven gear;
- and
- an actuator moveable in response to the reciprocal movement of said container, said actuator selectively engaged with said drive gear.
A method for indicating the number of metered dosages that have been dispensed from or remain in a container, the method comprising:
- reciprocally moving a container of medicament along a longitudinal axis relative to a housing, wherein said container is disposed in a longitudinally extending cavity defined by said housing;
- moving an actuator with said container;
- selectively engaging a drive gear with said actuator, wherein said drive gear comprises a drive portion;
- selectively engaging a driven gear with said drive portion, and thereby rotating an indicator member about said longitudinal axis, wherein said indicator member comprises a longitudinally extending wall surrounding at least a portion of the container, wherein said indicator member is disposed in said cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.