# US 7,407,066 B2 · Dosage counting devices

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- Number: US 7,407,066 B2
- Document ID: US7407066B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/468,813
- Filed: 2002-02-22
- Published: 2004-07-29
- Granted: 2008-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2001-02-23
- Assignees: Bespak PLC
- Inventors: Tianhong Ouyang; Geoff Brace
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407066B2

## CPC

- G06M 1/041: {for drum-type indicating means}
- A61M 15/0068: {Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses}
- A61M 15/0073: {on a ring}
- A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)}
- G06M 1/00: Design features of general application
- G06M: COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- 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)}

## Abstract

Apparatus comprising a housing (1) defining a portion (2) for receiving in use a dose-dispensing container (20), the housing containing a dose counter comprising an annular counter member (40) and a driving member (41), the driving member comprising a planar ring portion (50) and first and second sets of flexible teeth (51, 52) depending from opposite sides of the planar ring portion, the first set of dependant fexible teeth (51) engaging a first series of teeth (47) formed on the annular counter member, wherein on movement of the received dose-dispensing container towards the driving member the first and second sets of dependant flexible teeth are caused to flex towards the plane of the ring portion to thereby incrementally rotate the annular counter member in a first direction relative to the housing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus comprising a housing defining a portion for receiving in use a dose-dispensing container, the housing containing a dose counter comprising an annular counter member and a driving member, the driving member comprising a planar ring portion and first and second sets of flexible teeth depending from opposite sides of the planar ring portion, the first set of dependent flexible teeth engaging a first series of teeth formed on the annular counter member, wherein on movement of the received dose-dispensing container towards the driving member the first and second sets of dependent flexible teeth are caused to flex towards the plane of the ring portion to thereby incrementally rotate the annular counter member in a first direction relative to the housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a support member slidably received in the housing to support the annular counting member and driving member in proper alignment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the support member comprises a series of teeth engagable with a second series of teeth formed on the annular counter member, so as to prevent rotation of the annular counter member in a direction opposed to the first direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dose counter further comprises a bearing member against which a surface of the received dose-dispensing container bears, the bearing member comprising a series of teeth engagable with the second set of dependent flexible teeth of the driving member, such that movement of the bearing member towards the driving member causes the driving member to rotate relative to the bearing member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the annular counter member comprises a series of indicia around its periphery.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the indicia are visible to a user through a window formed in the housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the driving member is formed from sheet metal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the teeth of the driving member are dependent flanges pressed from the sheet metal.