Indicator device responsive to axial force for use with inhaler
AssigneeSenetics, Inc.
InventorsGage Garby, Jeffery T. Ballas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device to indicate the application of a non-rotative force, having particular utility in recording the dispensing of a push-down activated aerosol medication dispenser. A non-rotative force on an outer cover is translated into a rotation of an indicator wheel relative to the outer cover by a set of flexible pawls engaged with a set of teeth. The pawls depress and thereby extend circumferentially when the applied force flexes them to effect a rotation of the teeth. Suitable means indicate the relative rotation of the teeth such as a window in the outer cover through which is visible indicia on the indicator wheel. The device may also include means to resist its operation by a child.
Claims44
A device to administer aerosol medication to a patient, comprising:
- (a) a dispenser including a canister with an interior holding pressurized aerosol medication, the canister having a first end with an outlet port and a second end, the outlet port being separated from the canister interior by an actuation valve that is actuable to establish communication between the outlet port and the canister interior, and a second end opposite the first end;
- and a canister holder holding the canister, the canister holder being in communication with the canister port whereby the displacement of the canister in relation to the canister port whereby actuates the actuation valve to release medication from the canister to an interior of the canister holder, and the canister holder having a canister holder outlet in communication with the canister holder interior to allow medication to flow from the canister interior through the canister outlet to the patient;
- and
- (b) an indicator mechanism attached to the dispenser above the canister adjacent the second end, the indicator mechanism including an indicator rotatable about and moveable parallel to an axis of rotation upon the displacement of said canister in relation to the canister holder;
- and a rotation mechanism for rotating said indicator upon movement of said indicator mechanism parallel to said axis of rotation;
- said indicator being rotated in the plane perpendicular to said axis of rotation;
- and a set of indicia to indicate rotation of the indicator.
A method for administering to a patient an aerosol medication contained in a canister having a pressurized interior containing medication, an outlet port at a first end an actuation valve separating the interior from the port and a second end, the method comprising:
- (a) installing the canister into a canister holder, the canister and canister holder thereby constituting a dispenser, the canister being installed in the canister holder in a manner to allow the actuation of the actuation valve to release medication from the canister by applying an actuation force to the canister to displace the canister in relation to the canister holder;
- (b) installing an indicator mechanism on the dispenser adjacent the second end to record the release of medication from the canister upon said applying an actuation force, the indicator mechanism including an indicator rotatable about and movable parallel to an axis of rotation, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the indicator about the axis of rotation upon the displacement of the canister in relation to the canister holder in the direction of said axis of rotation to move the indicator parallel to said axis of rotation;
- and
- (c) successively applying a force to the indicator mechanism to substantially simultaneously rotate the indicator and release medication.
A device to indicate the release of aerosol medication from a canister having a first end and a second end by applying a force to the canister in an axial direction, comprising:
- a dispenser including a canister case for holding the canister;
- and an indicator mechanism which rotates upon applying said force to indicate a release of the aerosol medication, the indicator mechanism mounting on the canister adjacent the second end;
- wherein the canister case includes an opening adjacent the first end to access said canister;
- and the indicator mechanism includes an indicator, an actuator engaged with the indicator to allow movement of the indicator in relation to the actuator, a set of indicia on at least one of the indicator and actuator to indicate the movement of the indicator in relation to the actuator, and a ratchet mechanism to limitedly move the indicator in relation to the actuator in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction upon application of a force applied in the axial direction to the actuator.
An indicator mechanism for use with a canister having an axis, comprising:
- an actuator having a first actuator member and a second actuator member having a means for engaging said canister;
- an indicator rotatively mounted between the first actuator member and second actuator member;
- a rotator for rotating the indicator in relation to said first actuator member in a first direction upon applying a non-rotative force to said first actuator member such that said first and second actuator members are moved axially towards each other, wherein the rotator includes a section that is flexed circumferentially with respect to the canister axis as the force is applied;
- a limiter for preventing rotation of the indicator in relation to said first actuator member in a second direction opposite the first direction upon release of said force;
- and indica to indicate the rotation of the indicator in relation to said first actuator member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.