Inhaler device with means for assessing its depletion level

An aerosol medicament dispensing system comprising:

• (a) a pressurized medicament container containing a mass of medicament to be dispensed;
• (b) an adapter having an open end exposing a cavity to receive and removably support said container, and having a mouthpiece for directing medicament to a user patient;
• and
• (c) balance means formed integrally with said adapter responsive to the mass of medicament for permitting rotation of said container and adapter about an axis to provide an indication of the mass of medicament remaining in said container.

An aerosol medicament dispensing system comprising:

• (a) a pressurized medicament container containing a mass of medicament to be dispensed;
• (b) an adapter having an open end exposing a cavity to receive and removably support said container, and having a mouthpiece for directing medicament to a user patient;
• (c) balance means formed integrally with said adapter responsive to the mass of medicament for permitting rotation of said container and adapter about an axis to provide an indication of the mass of medicament remaining in said container;
• and
• (d) a removable mouthpiece cover having a predetermined mass to permit the mouthpiece cover, when in place on the adapter, to counterbalance a portion of the medicament in said container and thereby permit the confirmation of a reserve amount of medicament in said container.

An aerosol medicament dispensing system comprising:

• (a) a pressurized medicament container containing a mass of medicament to be dispensed;
• (b) an adapter having an open end exposing a cavity to receive and removably support said container, and having a mouthpiece for directing medicament to a user patient;
• (c) balance means formed integrally with said adapter responsive to the mass of medicament for permitting rotation of said container and adapter about an axis to provide an indication of the mass of medicament remaining in said container;
• and
• (d) means defining a bias weight positioned on said adapter to permit calibration of the dispensing system's balance.

An aerosol medicament dispensing system comprising:

• (a) a pressurized medicament container containing a mass of medicament to be dispensed;
• (b) an adapter having an open end exposing a cavity to receive and removably support said container, and having a mouthpiece for directing medicament to a user patient;
• and
• (c) said adapter including pivot pins extending therefrom defining an axis of rotation and positioned to be gripped by the user patient to permit rotation of the adapter and container thereabout.

An aerosol medicament dispensing system comprising:

• (a) a pressurized medicament container containing a mass of medicament to be dispensed;
• (b) an adapter having an open end exposing a cavity to receive and removably support said container, and having a mouthpiece for directing medicament to a user patient;
• and
• (c) said adapter including a curved base portion formed integrally therewith for contacting a horizontal surface to permit the adapter and container to rock on said surface to a position indicating the mass of medicament remaining in said container.

An aerosol medicament dispensing system comprising:

• (a) a pressurized medicament container containing a mass of medicament to be dispensed;
• (b) an adapter having an open end exposing a cavity to receive and removably support said container, and having a mouthpiece for directing medicament to a user patient;
• and
• (c) said adapter including a pair of pivot points defining an axis of rotation, lifting means pivotally attached to said pivot points to permit a user to lift the adapter and container, a pointer secured to said lifting means, and a scale positioned adjacent said pointer to provide an indication of the mass of medicament remaining in said container once an adapter and container are raised.

An aerosol medicament dispensing system comprising:

• (a) a pressurized medicament container containing a mass of medicament to be dispensed;
• (b) an adapter including a housing having an open end exposing a cavity to receive and removably support said container;
• (c) said adapter also including a sleeve slidably and pivotally attached to said housing to permit said housing and sleeve to telescope and pivot with respect to each other;
• (d) said housing including an extension having slots therein, said extension slidable into said sleeve to permit telescoping movement;
• (e) means defining external pivot pins attached to said sleeve, said pivot pins defining a pivot axis that is slidable along said slots.