Dose counter for a metered-dose inhaler
US8662381B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 2010 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2030 |
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 gear wheel having a circular arrangement of ratchet teeth; a display coupled to the gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the gear wheel; and an actuator mechanism having a driver for rotatably driving the gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, the driver being arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of the gear wheel. The actuator mechanism includes a pivotally mounted lever having an input portion. The lever is arranged to amplify a linear stroke at the input portion such that a linear stroke of the driver exceeds the linear input stroke. By amplifying the stroke, the risk of undercounting due to insufficient stroke length may be reduced.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.