Dose counter for a metered-dose inhaler
US10434269B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 6, 2015 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06M1/24
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes a rotatably mounted first gear wheel having ratchet teeth and a display coupled to the first gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the first gear wheel. The dose counter further includes an actuator mechanism having a first ratchet drive pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth of the first gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, and a second ratchet drive pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth of a gear wheel coupled to the display. In use, a first ratchet tooth of the first gear wheel is rotatably driven by the first pawl and then a second ratchet tooth of the gear wheel coupled to the display is rotatably driven by the second pawl.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.