Dispenser having a system for detecting discharge processes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10065006-B2
Application number	US-201515119239-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2015
Priority date	Mar 17, 2014
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

Dispenser for the discharge of pharmaceutical media having a liquid storage, a base body, an actuating handle that is manually displaced with respect to the base body for causing a discharge process of media from the liquid storage into an environment, and an electronic detection system for detecting discharge processes. A sensor is provided, which, subject to the displacement of a reference component mechanically coupled to the actuating handle such that during a discharge process the reference component is displaced with respect to the base body, generates an output signal. The sensor is configured for generating output signals of two distinguishable types as a function of the extent of the displacement, and is provided with an electronic calibration memory in which calibration data regarding discharge behavior of the dispenser are stored.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A dispenser for discharging pharmaceutical media, the dispenser comprising:
a liquid reservoir;
a base body;
an actuating handle which is manually displaceable with respect to the base body in order to cause a process involving discharge of medium from the liquid reservoir into an environment; and
an electronic detection system for detecting discharge processes;
wherein the detection system has:
a sensor which generates output signals depending on the displacement of a reference component that is mechanically coupled to the actuating handle such that the reference component is displaced with respect to the base body during a discharge process, wherein the output signals are of at least two distinguishable types as a function of an extent of the displacement of the reference component, and
an electronic calibration memory in which calibration data concerning discharge behavior of the dispenser are stored.

2. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the detection system has an evaluation device for processing the output signals, the evaluation device evaluating the discharge process by taking account of the types of the output signals.

3. The dispenser as claimed in claim 2 , wherein:
the evaluation device is configured as a counting device which evaluates the discharge process by taking account of the types of the output signals and taking account of the calibration data stored in the calibration memory.

4. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the output signals are analog output signals.

5. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the actuating handle is mechanically coupled to a pump device which has a volumetrically variable pump chamber, of which a volume of the pump chamber can be decreased by the actuating handle.

6. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the actuating handle is mechanically coupled to an outlet valve which can be opened by displacement of the actuating handle.

7. A method for producing the dispenser with the calibration memory as claimed in claim 1 , comprising:
a. actuating the dispenser in an automated manner by a calibration device not assigned to the dispenser, wherein the behavior of the dispenser is detected; and
b. storing data representing the detected behavior of the dispenser in the calibration memory of the dispenser.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein:
the detection of the behavior of the dispenser involves detecting a relative position of the reference component to the base body in which, during the actuation:
the discharge of the medium begins and/or
the discharge of the medium is concluded.

9. A method for operating the dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, upon actuation of the dispenser,
a. the extent of the displacement of the reference component with respect to the base body is detected,
b. the actuation is categorized by comparing the extent of the displacement with data from the calibration memory, and
c. a counting process is performed or not performed, depending on the categorization.

10. The dispenser as claimed in claim 4 , wherein:
the sensor is configured as a potentiometer.

11. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the calibration data represents particularities of the dispenser with respect of the discharge behavior thereof in reaction to a displacement of the actuating handle.

12. A discharging system for discharging pharmaceutical media, the discharging system comprising:
a dispenser including a liquid reservoir, a base body, an actuating handle and an electronic detection system within the dispenser;
the actuating handle being manually displaceable with respect to the base body in order to cause a process involving discharge of medium from the liquid reservoir into an environment;
the electronic detection system detecting discharge processes and including a sensor and an electronic calibration memory;
the sensor generates output signals depending on the displacement of a reference component that is mechanically coupled to the actuating handle such that the reference component is displaced with respect to the base body during the discharge process, wherein the output signals are of at least two distinguishable types as a function of an extent of the displacement of the reference component; and
the electronic calibration memory stores calibration data concerning discharge behavior of the dispenser representing particularities of the dispenser with respect of the discharge behavior thereof in reaction to a displacement of the actuating handle.

13. The discharging system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
the electronic detection system has an evaluation device for processing the output signals, the evaluation device evaluating the discharge process by taking account of the types of the output signals.

14. The discharging system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein:
the evaluation device is configured as a counting device which evaluates the discharge process by taking account of the types of the output signals and taking account of the calibration data stored in the electronic calibration memory.

15. A method for producing the discharging system as claimed in claim 12 , comprising:
a. actuating the dispenser in an automated manner by a calibration device not assigned to the dispenser, wherein the discharge behavior of the dispenser is detected; and
b. storing data representing the detected behavior of the dispenser in the electronic calibration memory of the dispenser.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein:
the detection of the discharge behavior of the dispenser involves detecting a relative position of the reference component to the base body in which, during the actuation:
the discharge of the medium begins and/or
the discharge of the medium is concluded.

17. A method for operating the discharging system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein, upon actuation of the dispenser,
a. the extent of the displacement of the reference component with respect to the base body is detected,
b. the actuation is categorized by comparing the extent of the displacement with data from the electronic calibration memory,
c. a counting process is performed or not performed, depending on the categorization.

18. The discharging system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
the electronic calibration memory is fixed to the liquid reservoir.

Assignees

• Aptar Radolfzell Gmbh

Inventors

• Helmlinger Michael

Classifications

• B05B11/108

  Means for counting the number of dispensing strokes · CPC title

• B05B11/107

  Gate valves; Sliding valves · CPC title

• B05B11/1016

  the outlet valve having a valve seat located downstream a movable valve element controlled by a pressure actuated controlling element (B05B11/1022, B05B11/1023 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61M15/009

  using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08) · CPC title

• A61M2205/70

  with testing or calibration facilities · CPC title