Patent ID: 9144651
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: A61M,G06M

Abstract:
1. A dose counter for use with an inhaler comprising a container for medicament equipped with a reciprocal actuation means to dispense a dose of medicament therefrom, the dose counter comprising: a counter member constructed and arranged to undergo a predetermined counting motion each time a dose is dispensed, the counting motion comprising at least a first vertical or essentially vertical movement; a count-indicating member constructed and arranged to undergo a predetermined count-indicating motion each time a dose is dispensed, the count-indicating member comprising a first region for interaction with the counter member; a fixed ratchet member; an indexing member constructed and arranged to undergo reciprocal movement coordinated with the reciprocal movement between the reciprocal actuation means and the container and to induce at least said first vertical or essentially vertical movement of the counter member; wherein the counter member is biased towards the ratchet member and/or the indexing member; wherein the counter member comprises a first region for interaction with the count-indicating member, said first region of the counter member comprising at least one surface that is engaged with at least one surface of said first region of the count-indicating member; wherein said first region of the counter member and said first region of the count-indicating member are configured and arranged, such that said count-indicating member completes its count-indicating motion in coordination with the counting motion of said counter member and during and induced by said first movement of the counter member the count-indicating member undergoes a rotational or essentially rotational movement; wherein the counter member comprises a second region for interaction with the ratchet member, said second region comprising at least one surface that is engaged with the ratchet member at the rest position of the dose counter, wherein said at least one surface of second region of the counter member includes a vertical or essentially vertical surface; wherein the reciprocal movement of the indexing member comprises an outward stroke and a return stroke and wherein the counter member comprises a third region for interaction with the indexing member, said third region comprising at least one inclined surface which is engaged with the indexing member during its outward stroke, thereby causing the counter member to undergo the first vertical or essentially vertical movement against the bias; wherein said first vertical or essentially vertical movement of the counter member in turn causes a release of the engagement of the counter member from the ratchet member and thus allows for a subsequent rotational or essentially rotational movement of the counter member under the force of the bias and, if applicable, during further outward movement of the indexing member; wherein the counter member further comprises a fourth region for interaction with the ratchet member, said fourth region comprising at least one inclined surface which is engaged by the ratchet member during the return stroke of the indexing member, thereby causing the counter member to undergo further rotational and vertical movement to complete said predetermined counting motion; and wherein the first region of the counter member or the first region of the count-indicating member comprises at least one channel, while the first region of the opposing count-indicating member or counter member, respectively, comprises at least one protrusion, wherein said at least one channel and said at least one protrusion are constructed and arranged such that at least one surface of said at least one protrusion engages with at least one surface of said at least one channel, wherein said at least one channel is angled at an angle of 1 degree up to and including 60 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of reciprocal movement between the reciprocal actuation means and the container.