# US 7,464,708 B2 · Dose indicators and dispensing canister-indicator assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,464,708 B2 - Document ID: US7464708B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/515,881 - Filed: 2003-05-19 - Published: 2005-09-22 - Granted: 2008-12-16 - Earliest claimed: 2002-06-03 - Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Inventors: Eduard Marx - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7464708B2 ## CPC - A61M 15/0091: {mechanically breath-triggered} - 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 1/04: for driving the stage of lowest order (with variable ratio of drive G06M1/38) - A61M 15/0096: {Hindering inhalation before activation of the dispenser} - 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)} - G06M: COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An annular dose indicator (50) for use with a dispenser comprising a dispensing canister (10) comprising a substantially cylindrical container (1) having a closed end (2) and an open end (3), said open end of the container being equipped with a dispensing means (4) that comprises an outlet member (5) movable between closed and discharge positions and an adaptor comprising a support block (21) having a socket (22) adapted to receive the outlet member, the container and support block being reciprocally movable relative to each other to cause the outlet member to move to its discharge position thereby dispensing a dose, said annular dose indicator (50) comprising an annular housing (60) having an interior surface (64) defining a substantially circumferential cavity; a counter-ring (80), said counter-ring located in the cavity and being arranged to be moveable relative to the housing by rotation about an axis parallel or substantially parallel to linear reciprocal movement of container and support block; a driving member (90) mounted on the interior surface of the housing, said driving member engaging the counter-ring and being arranged to be selectively engaged during reciprocal movement of container and support block as to drive an incremental, rotational movement of the counter-ring; wherein said indicator (50) is arranged to be circumferentially mountable about the dispensing-canister (10), such that the first edge (51) of the indicator faces towards the closed end of the container, the second edge (52) of the indicator faces towards the outlet of the dispensing canister, so that at least the outlet member of the canister will extend beyond the second edge of the indicator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An annular dose indicator for use with a dispenser comprising (a) a dispensing canister comprising a substantially cylindrical container having a closed end and an open end, said open end of the container being equipped with a dispensing means that comprises an outlet member, having an outlet, movable between closed and discharge positions and (b) an adaptor comprising a support block having a socket adapted to receive the outlet member, the container and support block being reciprocally movable relative to each other to cause the outlet member to move to its discharge position thereby dispensing a dose from the container, comprising an annular housing having an interior surface defining a substantially circumferential cavity; a counter-ring, said counter-ring located in the cavity and being arranged to be moveable relative to the housing by rotation about an axis substantially parallel to linear reciprocal movement of container and support block; a driving member mounted on the interior surface of the housing, said driving member engaging the counter-ring and being arranged to be selectively engaged during reciprocal movement of container and support block as to drive an incremental, rotational movement of the counter-ring; wherein said indicator is arranged to be slidably mountable about the dispensing canister and secured to an external surface of the dispensing canister, such that a first edge of the indicator faces towards the closed end of the container and a second edge of the indicator faces towards the outlet of the dispensing canister, so that at least the outlet member of the dispensing canister will extend beyond the second edge of the indicator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An annular dose indicator according to claim 1, wherein the indicator is arranged such that the counter-ring is locatable about a portion of the container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An annular dose indicator according to claim 1, wherein the outermost circumference of the indicator is less than, equal to or substantially equal to the diameter of the outermost circumference of the dispensing canister. ### Claim 4 A dispensing canister-indicator assembly comprising a dispensing canister comprising a substantially cylindrical container having a closed end and an open end, said open end of the container being equipped with a dispenser that comprises an outlet member, having an outlet, movable between closed and discharge positions; and an annular mechanical dose indicator mounted circumferentially about the dispensing canister and secured to an external surface of the dispensing canister, such that a first edge of the indicator faces towards the closed end of the container and a second edge of the indicator faces towards the outlet of the dispensing canister, so that at least the outlet member of the canister extends beyond the second edge of the indicator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A canister-indicator assembly according to claim 4, wherein the indicator is secured to an external surface of the container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A canister-indicator assembly according to claim 5, wherein the indicator is secured to the external surface of the container in the vicinity of the first edge of the indicator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A canister-indicator assembly according to claim 4, in combination with an adaptor comprising a support block having a socket adapted to receive the outlet member, the container and support block being reciprocally movable relative to each other to cause the outlet member to move to its discharge position thereby dispensing a dose from the container, wherein the indicator comprises an annular housing having an interior surface defining a substantially cylindrical cavity; a counter-ring, said counter-ring located in the cavity and being arranged to be moveable relative to the housing by rotation about an axis parallel or substantially parallel to linear reciprocal movement of container and support block; and a driving member mounted on the interior surface of the housing, said driving member engaging the counter-ring and being arranged to be selectively engaged during reciprocal movement of container and support block as to drive an incremental, rotational movement of the counter-ring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A canister-indicator assembly according to claim 7, wherein the counter-ring is located about a portion of the container. ### Claim 9 A canister-indicator assembly kit, comprising: a dispensing canister comprising a substantially cylindrical container having a closed end and an open end, said open end of the container being equipped with a dispenser that comprises an outlet member, having an outlet, movable between closed and discharge positions; and an annular mechanical dose indicator arranged to be mounted circumferentially about the dispensing-canister and secured to an external surface of the dispensing canister, such that a first edge of the indicator faces towards the closed end of the container and a second edge of the indicator faces towards the outlet of the dispensing canister, so that at least the outlet member of the canister extends beyond the second edge of the indicator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A canister-indicator assembly according to any one of claim 9, wherein the diameter of the outermost circumference of the indicator is less than or substantially equal to the diameter of the outermost circumference of the dispensing canister. ### Claim 11 An annular mechanical dose indicator for use with a dispensing canister comprising a substantially cylindrical container having a closed end and an open end, said open end of the container being equipped with a dispensing means that comprises an outlet member, having an outlet, movable between closed and discharge positions, said annular mechanical dose indicator being arranged to be mounted circumferentially about the dispensing-canister and secured to an external surface of the dispensing canister, such that a first edge of the indicator faces towards the closed end of the container and a second edge of the indicator faces towards the outlet of the dispensing canister, so that at least the outlet member of the canister extends beyond the second edge of the indicator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An annular mechanical dose indicator according to claim 11, wherein the diameter of the outermost circumference of indicator is less than or substantially equal to the diameter of the outermost circumference of the dispensing canister. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) A dispenser for dispensing doses of medicament comprising a canister-indicator assembly according to claim 4, and an adaptor comprising a support block having a socket adapted to receive the outlet member of the dispensing-canister, the container and support block being reciprocally movable relative to each other to cause the outlet member to move to its discharge position thereby dispensing a dose from the container. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A dispenser according to claim 13, wherein the adaptor is arranged to selectively engage the dose indicator during reciprocal movement of the container and support block as to drive an incremental count of the number of doses dispensed from or remaining in the container. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A dispenser according to claim 13, wherein the adaptor further comprises an elongate or generally cylindrical portion extending opposite the support block defining a chamber, the dose indicator and at least a portion of the container of the canister-indicator assembly being locatable within said chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A dispenser according to claim 15, wherein the canister-indicator assembly is reversibly removable from the adaptor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A dispenser according to claim 15, wherein the dose indicator and at least a portion of the container of the canister-indicator assembly are located within said chamber and the canister-indicator assembly is irremovable from the adaptor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A dispenser according to claim 13, wherein the adaptor further comprises a patient port and wherein the support has an orifice having open communication with the socket and the patient port. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A dispenser according to claim 18, wherein the patient port is detachable from the adaptor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A dispenser according to claim 19, wherein a portion of the adaptor including the patient port and the support block is detachable from the adaptor.