Patent · US Expired

Dose counter for inhalers

US5988496A · kind A · utility

110Cited by
19References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 13, 1997
Grant dateNov 23, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 13, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06M1/163
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A device for counting doses of substance issued by a dispenser for fluids or powders, the device being characterized in that it comprises a first count wheel (10, 110) and a second count wheel (20, 120), both count wheels being mounted to rotate about a fixed axis of rotation (3, 103), the first count wheel (10, 110) comprising a set of teeth (11, 111) extending circumferentially about the fixed axis of rotation (3, 103) and co-operating with a drive member (30, 130) for rotating the first count wheel about the fixed axis of rotation on each use of the dispenser, the first count wheel (10, 110) further including a drive tongue (14, 114) that is movable between a rest position in which it does not co-operate with the second count wheel (20, 120), and a drive position in which it does co-operate with the second count wheel (20, 120) to cause it to rotate about the fixed axis of rotation, said drive tongue (14, 114) being forced into its drive position by cam (8, 108).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.