# US 7,461,650 B1 · Medicament dispenser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,461,650 B1 - Document ID: US7461650B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 10/110,958 - Filed: 2000-09-28 - Granted: 2008-12-09 - Earliest claimed: 1999-10-21 - Assignees: Glaxo Group Limited - Inventors: Paul Kenneth Rand - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7461650B1 ## CPC - B01F 31/24: the containers being submitted to a rectilinear movement - A61M 15/0005: {with means for agitating the medicament} - A61M 15/0006: {using rotating means} - A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)} - A61M 15/0085: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)} - A61M 2205/0266: Shape memory materials - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - 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 A medicament dispenser including a housing, a medicament container having a dispensing outlet; an agitator for agitating the contents; and a driver for driving the agitator independent of any container movement. The driver includes an energy storeage for storing energy releasable to drive the agitator. The medicament container may be a metered dose inhaler or delivering a suitable inhalable medicament. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medicament dispenser comprising: a housing; an aerosol medicament container having a dispensing outlet that comprises a metering valve, wherein said aerosol container contains a suspension of a medicament in a propellant; an agitator for agitating said container, the agitator being disposed outside of the container; and a driver for driving said agitator, wherein said driver comprises an energy store for storing energy which energy is releasable to drive the agitator; wherein the agitator couples mechanically to the container and the agitator is selected from the group consisting of a cam arrangement, a con-rod and crank arrangement and a gear drive arrangement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the container is mounted for movement within the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A medicament dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the container is rotatable within the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A medicament dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the container is movable in a reciprocating fashion within the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the agitator comprises a stepped cam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the agitator comprises a snail cam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a guide to guide fluid flow within the container. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A medicament dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the guide comprises a vane arrangement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A medicament dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the guide comprises a movable impeller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said energy store comprises a battery. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the driver is responsive to a patient-actuable trigger. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A medicament dispenser according to claim 11, wherein said trigger comprises a button, switch or lever arrangement. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A medicament dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the trigger comprises a sensor which is adapted to sense the breath of a patient. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A medicament dispenser according to claim 13, wherein said sensor comprises a breath-movable element which is movable in response to the breath of a patient. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A medicament dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said breath-movable element is selected from the group consisting of a vane, a sail, a piston and an impeller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A medicament dispenser according to claim 13, wherein said sensor comprises a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure profile associated with the breath of a patient. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A medicament dispenser according to claim 13, wherein said sensor comprises an airflow sensor for sensing the airflow profile associated with the breath of a patient. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A medicament dispenser according to claim 13, wherein said sensor comprises a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature profile associated with the breath of a patient. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) A medicament dispenser according to claim 13, wherein said sensor comprises a moisture sensor for sensing the moisture profile associated with the breath of a patient. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) A medicament dispenser according to claim 13, wherein said sensor comprises a gas sensor for sensing the oxygen or carbon dioxide profile associated with the breath of a patient. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) A medicament dispenser according to claim 11, wherein dispensing from the dispensing outlet is responsive to a second patient-actuable trigger. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A medicament dispenser according to claim 21, wherein the patient-actuable triggers are coupled such that agitation and dispensing occurs in a sequential fashion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A medicament dispenser according to claim 1, wherein, said propellant comprises liquefied HFA134a, HFA-227 or carbon dioxide. ### Claim 24 A medicament dispenser comprising: a housing; an aerosol medicament container having a dispensing outlet that comprises a metering valve, wherein said aerosol container contains a suspension of a medicament in a propellant; an agitator for agitating said container, the agitator being disposed outside of the container; and a driver for driving said agitator, wherein said driver comprises an energy store for storing energy which energy is releasable to drive the agitator, said energy store comprising a biasable resilient member; wherein the agitator couples mechanically to the container and the agitator is selected from the group consisting of a cam arrangement, a con-rod and crank arrangement and a gear drive arrangement. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A medicament dispenser according to claim 24, wherein said biasable resilient member is a spring. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) A medicament dispenser according to claim 24, wherein said energy store comprises a clockwork mechanism.