Patent ID: 9724482
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: A61M,B05B

Claim:
1. A nebulizer for dispensing a fluid comprising: an insertable container containing the fluid, a housing assembly configured to permit opening of the nebulizer for replacing the container, and a counter device configured to: (i) count respective operations of the nebulizer, (ii) lock the nebulizer to prevent opening of the nebulizer continuously and without interruption during and through a plurality of successive operations of the nebulizer and without unlocking the nebulizer during such continuous lock to permit opening and replacing the container between any of the plurality of successive operations of the nebulizer, and until a predetermined number of the respective operations has been reached or exceeded, where the predetermined number of the respective operations is a greater plurality of operations than the plurality of successive operations of the nebulizer, and (iii) unlock the nebulizer to permit opening the nebulizer to replace the insertable container when the predetermined number of operations has been reached or exceeded, wherein the counter device operates to continuously lock the nebulizer without interruption during and through the plurality of successive operations until the predetermined number of the respective operations has been reached or exceeded.