# US 2014/0150778 A1 · A Dose Counter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150778 A1 - Document ID: US20140150778A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/115,440 - Filed: 2011-12-15 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-04 - Assignees: Cipla Limited - Inventors: Geena Malhotra; Xerxes Rao; Shrinivas Madhukar Purandare - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150778A1 ## CPC - A61M 15/0065: {Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices (A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52)} - A61M 15/0075: {on a disc} - A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)} - G06M 1/04: for driving the stage of lowest order (with variable ratio of drive G06M1/38) - G06M 1/042: {with click devices (electromagnetic driving means G06M1/102)} - A61M 2205/276: preventing unwanted use - 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)} - G06M: COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The present invention relates to a dose counter. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a dose counter for use with a Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI). The dose counter comprises a rotary counting element (26) and an actuator (2). The actuator (2) is movable relative to the rotary counting element (26) and comprises a shaped part (17) which can move into and out of engagement with a complementary feature (33) of the rotary counting element (26) when the actuator (2) moves between first and second positions. When the shaped part (17) of the actuator (2) is engaged with the complementary feature (33) of the rotary counter element (26), rotation of the rotary counter element (26) is resisted. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dose counter comprising a rotary counting element and an actuator, the actuator being movable relative to the rotary counting element from a first position to a second position and comprising a shaped part which engages with a complementary feature of the rotary counting element when the actuator is in said first position to resist rotation of the rotary counter element; characterised in that the shaped part of the actuator is moved out of engagement with the rotary counting element by movement of the actuator towards said second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dose counter according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is movable linearly from said first position to said second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dose counter according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is moved from said first position to said second position by the linear movement of a dispensing canister during the delivery of a dose of medicament. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The dose counter according to claim 3, wherein the canister abuts a part of the actuator to move the actuator in the direction of movement of the canister. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dose counter according to claim 1, wherein one or more resiliently deformable parts are deformed as the actuator is moved from the first position to the second position to resist movement of the actuator from said first position to said second position and provide a restorative force urging the actuator back to first position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The dose counter according to claim 5, wherein said one or more resiliently deformable parts are part of the actuator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The dose counter according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a catch to engage with a part of a rotary component, thereby to rotate said rotary component in a first direction as the actuator moves from said first position to said second position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The dose counter according to claim 7, wherein the catch is provided on a resiliently deformable part of the actuator so as to be able to flex away from the rotary component and move past said part of the rotary component when the actuator moves from said second position to said first position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The dose counter according to claim 7, wherein the rotary component is the counting element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The dose counter according to claim 7, wherein the rotary component is a drive wheel for driving the rotary counting element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The dose counter according to claim 10, wherein the rotary counting element is permanently driven by the drive wheel such that the rotary counting element is advanced with every actuation of the actuator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The dose counter according to claim 10, wherein the rotary counting element is advanced only once for each full rotation of the drive wheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The dose counter according to claim 10, wherein the rotary counting element is advanced more than once during a full rotation of the drive wheel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The dose counter according to claim 10, wherein the drive wheel comprises a first plurality of teeth around its periphery with which the said catch can engage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The dose counter according to claim 14, wherein the drive wheel comprises one or more further teeth for engaging with and advancing the counting element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The dose counter according to claim 15, wherein the one or more further teeth comprises only a single tooth. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The dose counter according to claim 14, wherein the first plurality of teeth comprises ten or more teeth. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The dose counter according to claim 10, further comprising non-return means for preventing rotation of the drive wheel in a second direction opposite to said first direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The dose counter according to claim 1, wherein the engagement of the shaped part of the actuator with the rotary counting element as the actuator moves into said first position from said second position assists in advancing the counting element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The dose counter according to claim 1, wherein advancement of the counting element is prevented after a predetermined number of doses have been counted. ### Claim 21 (canceled) ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A metered dose inhaler comprising a dose counter according to claim 1.