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US 6,701,917 B2Granted
Dose counter for medicament inhaler
AssigneeNorton Healthcare Limited
InventorDavid O'Leary
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A new and improved inhaler includes an accurate and consistent mechanical dose metering system that dispenses dry powdered medicament in discrete amounts or doses for patient inhalation, a pressure relief system that manages pressure within a medicament reservoir of the inhaler to ensure consistently dispensed doses, and a dose counting system indicating the number of doses remaining in the inhaler.
Claims14
A medicament inhaler comprising:
- a mouthpiece for patient inhalation;
- a dose meter including a pawl movable along a predetermined path during the metering of a dose of medicament to the mouthpiece;
- a dose counter including,
- a bobbin,
- a rotatable spool,
- a rolled ribbon received on the bobbin and rotatable about an axis of the bobbin, the ribbon having indicia thereon successively extending between a first end of the ribbon secured to the spool and a second end of the ribbon positioned on the bobbin, and
- teeth extending radially outwardly from the spool into the predetermined path of the pawl so that the spool is rotated by the pawl and the ribbon is advanced onto the spool during the metering of a dose.
4 more elements
A medicament inhaler comprising:
- A. a housing having a case, a mouthpiece for patient inhalation, and a cover pivotally mounted to the case for covering the mouthpiece, said cover being movable between an opened position and a closed position;
- B. a dose counter received in said housing, said dose counter comprising:
- a bobbin,
- a rotatable spool,
- a rolled ribbon received on the bobbin and rotatable about an axis of the bobbin, the ribbon having indicia thereon successively extending between a first end of the ribbon secured to the spool and a second end of the ribbon positioned on the bobbin,
- teeth extending radially outwardly from the spool;
- and
- C. transmission means engaging with said cover and said teeth, such that said spool is rotated by said transmission means when said cover moves from an opened position to a closed position or moves from a closed position to an opened position.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.