Abstract:
The present invention provides a device for metered administration of an injectable product including a base section, a container, a drive unit including a driven member projecting into the container, and a metering device for setting the path length of displacement of the driven member in relation to the base section upon actuation of the drive unit, wherein the metering device includes a first and second metering structure.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This applications is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/311,438, filed May 14, 1999, which claims the priority of German Patent Application No. 198 21 934.2 filed May 15, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to injection devices and, more particularly, to an injection device for providing for the metered administration of an injectable product. 
     EP 0 298 067 B1 discloses an injection pen comprising a dual chamber ampoule (or ampule). The pen comprises a base section, a container accommodated by said base section, a drive unit and a metering device. A product dose is dispensed from the container through a needle by advancing in forward direction a piston arranged in said container. The drive unit comprises a driven member projecting into the container, displacing the piston in forward direction upon actuation of the drive unit. The length of the stroke, by which the driven member is displaced in forward direction of the piston in relation to the base section upon actuation of the drive mechanism, is set by means of the metering device. The base section is an enclosure surrounding the container, the drive unit and the metering device. The device, and others generally similar to it, is used for injection or infusion of a generally liquid drug solution. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an injection device for metered administration of an injectable product, such as a liquid drug solution, in particular a medical or cosmetic drug solution such as insulin, wherein the device is configured as simply as possible and is as short in length as possible. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention provides a device for metered administration of an injectable product including a base section, a container, a drive unit including a driven member projecting into the container, and a metering device for setting the path length of displacement of the driven member in relation to the base section upon actuation of the drive unit, wherein the metering device includes a first and second metering structure arranged in the container, the second being adjustable in relation to the first, and wherein metering is effected by interaction of the first and second metering structures. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention provides a device comprising a base section, a container accommodated by said base section, a drive unit and a metering device. A product dose is dispensed from the container through a needle by advancing in forward direction at least one piston arranged in said container. The drive unit comprises a driven member projecting into the container, which displaces the piston in forward direction upon actuation of the drive unit. The length of the stroke, by which the driven member is displaced in forward or dispensing direction of the piston in relation to the base section upon actuation of the drive mechanism, is set by means of the metering device. 
     The base section is preferably an enclosure substantially, but not necessarily, surrounding the container, the drive unit and the metering device. The device is used for injection or infusion of a generally liquid drug solution, preferably a medical or cosmetic liquid. In particular and preferably, the invention refers to a portable device, a so-called injection pen. 
     According to the invention, at least a first metering means and at least a second metering means, the second one being adjustable in relation to the first, are provided in the container, and metering is effected by interaction of the first and second metering means within the container. 
     According to the invention, the space of the container located behind the piston, when looked at in forward direction, is used for accommodating the metering means of the metering device. The overall length may be shortened by providing a container that projects at least somewhat over the piston at the rear. This is particularly the case in multi-chamber ampoules in which several in-line chambers are separated from each other by pistons and are closed by a rear piston. Owing to the fact that generally the rear piston is pushed against the front piston(s) for mixing the chamber contents prior to the first injection, a free rear container space is compulsorily or customarily generated. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, i.e. in a device comprising said multi-chamber ampoule, the free container space is used for arranging the metering means of the metering device, preferably the complete metering device. In addition, a reduction in components is achieved if the mixing member known per se in such devices, mixing being accomplished according to the prior art by driving the rear piston forward for mixing the chamber contents, is simultaneously formed as a carrier of at least one metering means, thus becoming a component of the metering device. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first metering means&#39;s provided at such a mixing member, and the second metering means is directly provided at the driven member. In this embodiment, metering is directly effected between the two components of the device moved in relation to each other for advancing the piston. The mixing member may be configured as a mixing rod and in this design would be surrounded by the driven member, designed as a driven sleeve. Preferably, however, the mixing member is designed as a mixing sleeve and/or a mixing tube, and surrounds the driven member, thus obtaining the structure of both the drive unit and the metering device. 
     The metering device is preferably arranged between two components of the metering device projecting into the container, similar to a coulisse guiding. 
     In one embodiment, the coulisse or link guide system is preferably formed by a recess within the area of an internal circumferential face of the sleeve component and an engaging cam. The recess comprises the first metering means, and the cam the second. In a preferred embodiment, the recess forms a guide channel for the cam. 
     The components of the metering device, at which the first metering means is formed, may be simply produced in that the recess may be generated by joining several cylindrical bodies, wherein at least one of these bodies is a hollow cylinder or bowl-shaped, respectively. Preferably both bodies are designed as sleeve bodies or bowl-shaped bodies. 
     A stepped recess is obtained by two cylindrical bodies comprising stepped front faces. Two bowl-shaped bodies may be inserted in-line in forward direction in a third sleeve body, thus forming the stepped recess between them. 
     Metering by means of an adjusting spindle, however, could also be provided. The spindle drive for metering would be formed by the component comprising the first metering means plus an additional adjusting sleeve, simultaneously acting as a straight guide for the driven member. Said metering mechanisms are known per se in injection pens, but prior to the present invention, they have not been located or arranged within a container of an injection pen. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the component of the metering device, at which the first metering means is formed, preferably a mixing member, may be used simultaneously as a transfer member, transferring a forward movement of the driven member to the container. This dual function is applied in so-called auto-injection devices, in which the container is displaced into a frontal position in relation to the base section for inserting the hypodermic needle which is usually firmly attached to the container. 
     Other objects, features, embodiments and advantages of the device and method of the present invention will become more fully apparent and understood with reference to the following description and appended drawings and claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1 a-i  includes an elevational view, an elevational cross-sectional view and a number of cross-sectional views, and depicts an auto-injection device for dual dispensing; 
     FIGS. 2 a-d  includes an elevational view, an elevational cross-sectional view and two cross-sectional views, and depicts an injection device for dispensing a drug four times; and 
     FIGS. 3 a-c  depicts the transfer and metering means of the present invention in context of the injection device depicted in FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The accompanying FIGs. and this description depict and describe embodiments of the injection device and methods of the present invention, and features and components thereof With regard to means for fastening, mounting, attaching or connecting the components of the present invention to form the device as a whole, unless specifically described otherwise, such means are intended to encompass conventional fasteners such as threaded connectors, snap rings, clamps such as screw clamps and the like, rivets, toggles, pins and the like. Components may also be connected by adhesives, glues, welding, ultrasonic welding, and friction fitting or deformation, if appropriate. Unless specifically otherwise disclosed or taught, materials for making components of the present invention may be selected from appropriate materials such as metal, metallic alloys, natural and manmade fibers, vinyls, plastics and the like, and appropriate manufacturing or production methods including casting, extruding, molding and machining may be used. 
     Any references to front and back, right and left, top and bottom and upper and lower are intended for convenience of description, not to limit the present invention or its components to any one positional or spacial orientation. 
     FIG. 1 include a longitudinal section and several cross sections showing an auto-injection device in accordance with the present invention, having the general shape of a pen and comprising an inserted container B, designed in the embodiment as a dual-chamber ampoule. The injection device is shown directly after insertion of the container B in an enclosure, which is formed essentially by a front sleeve-type enclosure  2  and a rear sleeve-type enclosure  3  joined thereto, for example by screw attachment. A front end of the front sleeve-type enclosure  2  is formed by a needle protector  1  attached to the front sleeve-type enclosure  2 , said needle protector  1  being configured as a shell-type sleeve. At its rear face, the rear sleeve-type enclosure  3  is covered by a case cap  4 . 
     When inserting the container B, the container B is pushed into a container bracket  30  up to a stop, accommodated in the front sleeve-type enclosure  2  and projecting from the same rearwardly prior to assembly of the device. The container bracket  30  is used for retaining and centering the container B. The container bracket  30  can be moved against the return force of a return element  31 , for example a compression spring, in relation to the enclosure from its rear position shown in FIG. 1 to a forward position. Thereby the container B accommodated in the container bracket  30  is displaced together with the container bracket  30 . This displacement is used for inserting a hypodermic needle N in the course of an auto-injection. 
     The container B is a circular cylinder widened at a side within the area of a front piston K 1 . An outlet of the container B at the front end, in FIG. 1 the left-hand end of the container B, is closed by a diaphragm. Said diaphragm has been pierced by the hypodermic needle N prior to using the container B. Two in-line pistons K 1  and K 2  are displaceably accommodated in the container B. In the starting state, a powdered drug may be provided in a front chamber of the container, the left-hand chamber of the container in FIG. 1, and a carrier liquid may be provided in a rear chamber of the container formed between the two pistons K 1  and K 2 . 
     The injectable product, the drug solution, is formed by advancing the rear piston K 2  against the front piston K 1  . Thereby the carrier liquid is displaced through the widened side section of the container wall into the front chamber. Thus the drug is dissolved in the carrier liquid. This condition is shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The rear piston K 2  is advanced when assembling the front sleeve-type enclosure  2  and the rear sleeve-type enclosure  3 . For this purpose, a mixing member  10 , formed as a sleeve body, is provided in the rear sleeve-type enclosure  3  secured against rotation. The mixing member  10  comprises a front sleeve portion with an external diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the container B and a rear sleeve portion widened in relation to said front sleeve portion. The transition between these two sleeve portions is designed as a shoulder  14 , projecting radially from said front sleeve section. The shoulder  14  is formed circumferentially, but may also be formed by at least one radially projecting web. The rear end face of the mixing member  10  contacts webs  6 , radially projecting inwards from the rear sleeve-type enclosure  3 ; said webs may also be designed as a circumferential wall. When assembling the device, i.e. whilst screwing the two sleeve-type enclosures  2  and  3  together, the mixing member  10 , accommodated and secured against displacement in the rear sleeve-type enclosure  3 , is introduced into the container B, which is open at the rear, and pushed forward in the same. As a result, the mixing member  10  pushes the rear piston K 2  forward (in the direction toward the needle N) towards the front piston K 1 , until the rear piston K 2  has reached the position shown in FIG.  1 . In this position of the pistons K 1  and K 2 , assembly of the sleeve-type enclosures  2  and  3  by screwing has been completed. 
     A drive unit is arranged in the rear sleeve-type enclosure  3 , comprising a drive element  5  designed in this embodiment as a compression spring, and a rod-shaped driven member  20 , guided straight into the enclosure. The drive element  5  is clamped between the webs  6  and a circumferential shoulder face of the driven member  20 , said shoulder face facing the webs  6  oppositely in forward direction. 
     The driven member  20  is arranged around a central longitudinal axis of the enclosure, coinciding with its own central axis and allowing reciprocating rotation between two rotary positions. A metering sleeve D is provided as an extension of the enclosure for rotating the driven member  20 . In its rear section projecting into the metering sleeve D, the driven member  20  comprises guide grooves  21 , extending in advance or forward direction; a guide sleeve  28 , projecting into the cover cap  4 , firmly blocked against displacement and rotatable in relation to the said cap  4 , and an indicator sleeve  8  arranged in the enclosure, firmly secured against displacement and rotatable, engage in said guide grooves  21 . The guide sleeve  28  is connected to the metering sleeve D, firmly secured against rotation, as may be best seen in section H—H. The guide sleeve  28  is used for transferring the rotation of the metering sleeve D to the drive member  20 . The indicator sleeve  8 , connected to the driven member  20  firmly secured against rotation, is used for indicating the position of rotation of the driven member  20  and therefore for indicating the set metered amount. For this purpose the indicator sleeve  8  is provided with markings at its external circumference, in the shown embodiment with two markings for one each of the two rotary positions of the driven member  20 . Said markings may be read through an opening in the enclosure. The indicator sleeve  8  and the guide sleeve  28 , together with the mixing member  10 , act as a straight guide for the driven member  20 . 
     The driven member  20  is retained by a locking and release mechanism in its rear basic position shown. Said locking and release mechanism comprises a release means  7   a,  designed as a release button, acting on a locking means  7   b  transversely to the direction of displacement of the driven member  20 . The structure and mode of operation of the locking and release mechanism is best shown in the joint view of the longitudinal section and cross section F—F. 
     The locking means  7   b  is formed by a sleeve comprising a passage through which the driven member  20  projects. For straight guidance, the locking means  7   b  is guided transversely to the advance/forward and longitudinal direction of the driven member  20  between two straight webs of the enclosure. The sleeve of the locking means  7   b  therefore comprises corresponding straight external faces, each facing said two webs of the enclosure. The passage of the locking means  7   b  is larger than the external diameter of the projecting driven member  20 . When exerting pressure on the release means  7   a,  the locking means  7   b  is displaced against the force of a return element  7   c  formed by a compression spring transversely to the forward direction of the driven member  20 . In the blocked position, the driven member  20  contacts a rear face of the locking means  7   b  by a shoulder  26  formed by a thickened section. This stop is released by transverse displacement of the locking means  7   b . The driven member  20  is released from the locking means  7   b  and may be displaced in longitudinal direction under the engaging pressure of the drive member  5 . 
     A safety device ensures that the release means  7   a  can only be actuated and therefore the driven member  20  can only be released when a container B has been inserted into the enclosure. Said safety device comprises a release locking body  18  and a compression spring  19 . The release locking body  18  comprises a central sleeve section from which two webs  18   a  project forwardly in longitudinal direction (section E—E). Said two webs  18   a  project through two suitably formed slots in the shoulder  14  of the mixing member  10  and engage the rear edge of the container B. A third web  18   b  projects from the central sleeve section of the release locking element  18  towards the rear in longitudinal direction. Said third web  18   b  projects through the release means  7   a , as best shown in the joint view of the longitudinal section and two cross sections F—F and G—G. At the height or level of the release means  7   a , i.e. in the section projecting through the release means  7   a , the third web  18   b  of the release locking body  18  comprises a longitudinal slot. A rib  7   d  of the release means  7   a , radially projecting inwards, enters said longitudinal slot upon actuation of the release locking element  18 , if the slot of the release locking body  18  is at the same height as the internal rib  7   d  of the release means  7   a . As seen in longitudinal direction behind the slotted section the third web  18   b  of the release locking body  18  is again formed as a closed web. The compression spring is tensioned between the web  6  on the enclosure side and a shoulder projecting inwardly from the inner jacket face of the central sleeve section of the release locking body  18 . Once a container B has been inserted, the two front webs  18   a  of the release locking body  18  push against the rear edge of the container B, thus being retained in the position shown in the longitudinal section of FIG. 1, allowing the internal rib  7   d  of the release means  7   a  to enter the slot of the release locking body  18 , and to transversely displace the locking means  7   b . Should a container not have been inserted, the release locking body  18  is pushed forwardly by the compression spring  19  into the annular gap, which is now free, until the central sleeve section of the release locking body  18  contacts the shoulder  14  of the mixing member  10 . In this blocking position of the release locking body  18 , the rear closed portion of the third web  18   b  of the release locking body  18  is positioned in front of the internal rib  7   d  of the release means  7   a . Thus a transverse displacement of the release means  7   a  is no longer possible. The drive mechanism is now blocked. 
     A drive coupling exists between the mixing member  10  and the driven member  20 , projecting through the driven member  20 , allowing the mixing member  10  to be entrained by the driven member  20  upon an advance of the driven member  20 , i.e. being advanced itself in relation to the enclosure. Said coupling is effected by a positive locking and a frictional connection in the front section of the mixing member  10 . Said coupling is formed by a first coupling means  13 , a second coupling means or inclined shoulder  24  and a third coupling means  25 . 
     The first coupling means  13  is a front web of a guide groove for the third coupling means  25 , said groove being formed between two peripheral webs at the internal jacket face of the mixing member  10 . The third coupling means  25  is a ductile or flexible washer, in the embodiment a spring elastic washer, provided longitudinally with one slot like a piston ring. The second coupling means  24  is formed by a shoulder generated by widening of the rod-shaped driven member  20 . When advancing, the driven member  20  pushes said second coupling means  24  against the third coupling means  25  and this in turn against the first coupling means  13 , with the advance of the driven member  20  therefore also effecting the advance of the mixing member  10 . Simultaneously, the mixing member  10  acts as a transfer member, transferring the forward movement of the driven member  20  to the container bracket  30  and the container B when its peripheral shoulder  14  pushes against the container bracket  30  and the container B. The shoulder  14  therefore acts as a drive for the container B. 
     Within an area provided in the container B, the mixing member  10  and the driven member  20  form the metering device of the present invention. For this purpose, the mixing member  10  is provided with a recess in the internal jacket section behind the first coupling means  13 . Said recess comprises two grooves  11  and  12  extending in forward direction, arranged parallel to each other at offset angles. In forward direction, the said grooves  11  and  12  are of different lengths. The shorter groove  11  is formed as a dead groove in the jacket face and the longer groove  12  is limited in forward direction by the rear web of the seat for the third coupling means  25 . At their rear ends, the grooves  11  and  12  end in a widened section of the recess at the same height in relation to forward direction, as best shown in the joint view of the longitudinal section and cross sections C—C, D—D and E—E. The widened section of the recess extends up to the rear end face of the front sleeve portion of the mixing member  10 . The opposite facing sidewalls of the widened section ending at this point, are each extended by one of the grooves  11  and  12  in forward/advance direction. 
     The rod-shaped driven member  20  is provided with a cam  23 , radially projecting outwardly. In the starting position of the injection device, the cam  23  engages the widened section of the recess of the mixing member  10 . Said recess with the two grooves  11  and  12  forms a first metering means, and the cam  23  forms a second metering means of the metering device. 
     In a first metering position, the cam  23  is positioned flush to the groove  11  on the first sidewall of the widened section extending in forward direction, and in the second metering position, the cam  23  is positioned flush to the second sidewall of the widened section of the recess extending in forward direction. In the starting position, the driven member  20  is free to rotate in either direction around its longitudinal axis between said two metering positions. The two sidewalls of the wide groove define the two rotational and metering positions of the driven member  20 , and the lengths of the two narrow grooves  11  and  12  define the amount of the drug solution to be dispensed during injection. 
     The widened section of the recess in the mixing member  10  could also be extended to the end of the short groove  11  in forward direction, with the recess assuming a simple stepped shape in forward direction. 
     For executing an auto-injection, the auto-injection device is positioned on a tissue surface, in particular human skin, with a front needle protector sleeve  9 , which may be pushed back in relation to the enclosure and/or the front needle protector  1 . When exerting pressure against the surface of the tissue, the needle protector sleeve  9  is pushed back to its rearmost position in relation to the enclosure. The hypodermic needle, firmly attached to an outlet at the front end of the container B in forward direction, is initially still surrounded by the needle protector  1 , and the needle protector sleeve  9  is pushed over the same, up to and beyond its front tip, therefore not yet being in contact with the tissue surface. 
     For actuation, i.e. for inserting the needle and dispensing the drug solution, the user pushes the release means  7   a  inwardly in radial direction after having positioned the driven member  20  by means of the metering sleeve D into the required rotational and metering position. The locking means  7   b  is pushed away below the stop shoulder  26  by pushing inwardly, thus releasing the driven member. Subject to the pressure of the drive element  5 , the driven member  20  and by means of the coupling also the mixing member  10  is advanced in relation to the enclosure. Positive locking and the frictional connection between the driven member  20  and the mixing member  10  is of sufficient strength to effect entrainment of the mixing member  10  pushing its shoulder  14  against the container bracket  30  and the container B, advancing the same in relation to the enclosure and against the return force of the return element  31  up to frontal position, defined by the enclosure-sided stop  32 . 
     In the frontal position of the container bracket  30  or the container B, the coupling releases the drive connection between the driven member  20  and the mixing member  10 . Under the continued pressure of the drive element  5 , the flexible washer  25  is compressed due to the mixing member  10  being fixed, thus being pushed over the second coupling means or inclined shoulder  24 . The driven member  20  now advances further, also in relation to the mixing member  10 , simultaneously also pushing the two pistons K 1  and K 2  forwardly in the container towards the container outlet. The drug solution is then dispensed through the needle inserted into the tissue whilst the container B is in its frontal position. 
     In the first metering position, the advance of the driven member  20  is limited by the front end of the groove  11 . In the first metering position, dispensing is completed upon the cam  23  touching the wall of the groove extending in circumferential direction. 
     After retraction of the needle N, the injection device is prepared for a second injection. For this purpose, only the driven member  20  is to be initially retracted in relation to the mixing member  10  against the forward/advance direction. The front end of the driven member  20  comprises a stamp or ram  22 , designed as a flange-type widened section. When dispensing the drug solution, the ram  22  of the driven member  20  pushes against the rear piston K 2 , and during retraction the rear circulating/peripheral shoulder face of the ram  22  pushes against the web  13  projecting from the internal jacket face of mixing member  10 . During further retraction of the driven member  20  the mixing member  10  is thereby entrained, i.e. also pushed back up to its rear position, as shown in FIG.  1 . The container bracket  30  and the container B accommodated therein follow the movement of the mixing member  10  due to the pressure of the return element  31 . The return force of the return element  31  is relatively low in relation to the drive force of the drive element  5 , thus not interfering whilst the container B is advanced for inserting the needle N. 
     For the next injection, the driven member  20  is rotated to its second metering position, in which the cam  23  is positioned flush with the groove  12 . In this position, the driven member  20  may be advanced in relation to the mixing member  10  so far as to allow any residual quantity of the drug solution to be dispensed when actuating the drive mechanism, i.e. the release means  7 . Forward movement is limited by a stop flange  27 . 
     FIG. 2 shows an injection device comprising a metering device arranged within the container B, allowing four set dose amounts of a drug solution to be dispensed. The injection device is a simple injection device in the sense that the user inserts the needle manually and exerts continuous manual pressure to the metering button D of the driven member  20  for dispensing the solution. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the mixing member  10  fulfils both the function of mixing the drug solution and metering the amount of the drug solution to be dispensed. The following describes differences from the injection device of FIG.  1 . Features and components in common in the embodiments are commonly referenced. 
     The container B is arranged in the front sleeve-type enclosure  2 , secured against displacement. After screwing the two sleeve-type enclosures  2  and  3  together, i.e. after completing its mixing function, the mixing member  10  is also accommodated within the enclosure secured against displacement. It comprises, when looked at in forward direction of the driven member  20 , a front sleeve portion, a central sleeve portion, widened in relation to the same and another widened rear sleeve section, sitting closely enveloping in the enclosure. The front sleeve section of the mixing member  10  acts as a slideway (or race-like guiding and support structure or travel path) for the driven member  20 . The central sleeve section extends up to the internal walls of the container. 
     In the central sleeve section, the mixing member  10  comprises a steeped guide channel  17  on an internal jacket face. A rear channel section each, extending in forward direction, is connected by a subsequent channel section extending in circumferential direction to a channel section next frontal to it when looked at in forward direction, facing again in forward/advance direction. The guide channel  17  forms the first metering means. The second metering means  23  is again designed as a cam, projecting directly from an external jacket face of the driven member  20  and guided in the guide channel  17  upon advancing the driven member  20 . Accidental erroneous metering is safely eliminated due to the course of the guide channel  17  with the two-sided guide system of the cam  23  when seen in forward direction. Rotation into the next metering position will only be possible upon the cam  23  having reached the end of a channel section extending in forward direction, i.e. after the set product dose of the previous metering position has been dispensed. 
     The metering position of the driven member  20  in relation to the enclosure may again be read through an opening in the enclosure from an indicator sleeve  8 , which is attached to the metering button D and secured against rotation. The metering button D is mounted to the rear section of the driven member, projecting from the enclosure towards the rear. In its front section, it forms an annular gap around the driven member  20 . A return element  29 , acting as a pressure spring, has been provided in said annular gap and is supported opposite the shoulder section between the rear and the central sleeve section of the mixing member  10 . 
     The mixing member  10  is separately and individually shown in FIG.  3 . The first metering means, i.e. the guide channel  17  formed on the internal jacket area of the mixing member  10 , is obtained by assembling several components. The central sleeve section of the mixing member  10  of the embodiment is a circular cylinder. An additional sleeve  16  is inserted in this sleeve section for forming the guide channel  17  and is suitably attached in its angular position. The central sleeve section of the mixing member  10  comprises a section raised inwardly, including a rear stepped face area. The additional sleeve  16  is of a contour following said stepped shape, by which it is pushed into the mixing member  10  spaced oppositely from the raised central sleeve section. The faces of the central sleeve section facing each other and of the sleeve body  16  form the sidewalls of the guide channel  17 , thus forming stop faces  17   a ,  17   b ,  17   c  and  17   d , facing against the forward direction. The heights of these stop faces  1   a  to  17   d  define the metered amounts when dispensing the drug solution. The raised section in the mixing member  10  may also be formed by a separate bowl-or sleeve-type body, also to be attached in the sleeve body of the mixing member  10 , which would be smooth in this case. 
     The design of each of the first metering means may also be reversed, and the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential spirit or attributes thereof. The described embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative, not restrictive.