Counter structure of a powder aerosol drug delivery device

Abstract

A counter structure for a powder aerosol dosing device belongs to the field of inhalation devices. It includes a shell, a knob is arranged at one end of the shell; a counting disk, a transmission gear, a counting disk cover, a spring, a vibration gear and a turntable are arranged in the shell; the shell, the knob, the counting disk, the counting disk cover, the spring, the vibration gear and the turntable are arranged coaxially; the counting disk, the counting disk cover, the spring and the vibration gear are sleeved on the straight rod of the turntable; an external gear meshing with the transmission gear is arranged on the outer periphery of the straight rod; a counter window is opened on the front of the knob, which is convenient for patients to read and grasp the number of inhalations that have been used or the number of inhalations that are still available; the counter function is set on the knob component, and the remaining dose is counted and displayed while the dose is distributed by the knob. It is suitable for reservoir-type powder inhaler devices where the counter is not convenient to be set on static parts or where the counter function can only be set on moving parts due to space and structural limitations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of devices for introducing media into human body, and in particular to a counter structure of a manually operated multi-dose inhaler. Background Art

[0002] Powder inhalers are widely used in the treatment of diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Powder inhalers are presented to patients as a drug-device combination product. Powder inhalation devices play an important role in this process. On the one hand, they need to effectively deliver drugs, and on the other hand, they need to solve the problem of patient compliance.

[0003] Reservoir-type powder inhalers, as multi-dose powder inhalers, usually need to store medicines for use over a period of time. Therefore, a counter is used as a structure to display the remaining amount of medicine in the device.

[0004] In the existing reservoir type multi-dose powder inhaler (reservoir type inhaler for short), a counter is usually arranged on a fixed structure, and the structure of such a counter is not applicable to a moving part.

[0005] Because setting a counter on a fixed part only requires the counting scale to change, while setting a counter on a moving part requires solving the relative changes of the two moving parts, or the digital intervals of the counter are relatively large, and the counting is not accurate enough. If it is still 100 inhalations, by counting each number, the patient can accurately know the remaining inhalations. If one number is used to count every 10 times (or 10 inhalations, abbreviated as 10 inhalations), the intervals between the numbers are relatively large, and the remaining inhalations can only be estimated by the patient.

[0006] How to set a counter on the moving part of the reservoir-type multi-dose powder inhaler device to avoid the phenomenon that the remaining number of inhalations can only be estimated by the patient is a practical technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in the design and manufacture of the reservoir-type multi-dose powder inhaler device. Summary of the invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a counter structure of a powder aerosol dosing device, which counts and displays the remaining dose while dispensing the dose through a knob.

[0008] The technical solution of the present invention is to provide a counter structure of a powder inhaler dosing device, including a shell of the powder inhaler dosing device, which is characterized by:

[0009] A knob is arranged at one end of the shell; a counting disk, a transmission gear, a counting disk cover, a spring, a vibrating gear and a turntable are arranged in the shell; the shell, the knob, the counting disk, the counting disk cover, the spring, the vibrating gear and the turntable are arranged coaxially; the counting disk, the counting disk cover, the spring and the vibrating gear are set on the straight rod of the turntable; an external gear meshing with the transmission gear is arranged on the outer periphery of the straight rod; a counter window is opened on the front of the knob, which is convenient for the patient to read and grasp the number of puffs that have been used or the number of puffs that are still available; the counter structure sets the counter function on the knob component, and counts and displays the remaining dose while dispensing the dose by turning the knob.

[0010] Specifically, a limit slot is arranged on the outer wall of the shell, and a one-way slot is arranged on the inner wall of the shell. One side of the one-way slot is a straight surface, and the other side is an inclined surface.

[0011] Specifically, a counting disk and a transmission gear are arranged inside the knob.

[0012] Furthermore, a gear for meshing with the transmission teeth is provided inside the counting disk.

[0013] Furthermore, the transmission gear is provided with a central axis, the upper end of the central axis is limited on the counting disk cover through a hole, and the lower end of the central axis is limited on the knob through a hole; in the middle of the central axis of the transmission gear, two layers of gears are provided, the upper teeth of which are meshed with the turntable, and the lower teeth of which are meshed with the counting disk, and the upper gear and the lower gear are coaxially arranged.

[0014] Specifically, the counting disk cover is positioned on the inner wall of the knob, the counting disk cover rotates synchronously with the knob, the center hole of the counting disk cover limits the turntable, and the upper surface of the counting disk cover is engaged with the vibration gear through a uniformly distributed groove structure, so that the vibration gear rotates synchronously with the counting disk cover.

[0015] Furthermore, the spring is arranged between the counting disk cover and the vibrating tooth; a first inclined vibrating tooth is arranged on the top surface of the vibrating gear, and the first inclined vibrating tooth cooperates with the second inclined vibrating tooth arranged on the bottom surface of the turntable. The spring potential energy is stored through the helical tooth area of ​​the two inclined vibrating teeth, and the spring potential energy is released through the straight tooth surface, thereby providing vibration force.

[0016] Specifically, a single row of pawls is arranged on the outer periphery of the turntable, one side of the pawl end is a straight surface, and the other side of the pawl end is an inclined surface, so that the turntable can only rotate in a single row along the inclined surface and cannot rotate in the reverse direction; a straight rod is arranged in the center of the turntable, and the straight rod extends all the way to the transmission gear below, and meshes with the transmission gear through the external gear arranged on the straight rod.

[0017] The technical solution of the present invention adopts the following process to work and use:

[0018] Process 1: The patient rotates the knob, driving the counting disc cover and the vibrating gear to rotate. The turntable remains stationary under the action of the one-way ratchet, and the vibrating gear moves downward under the action of the bevel teeth. The spring is compressed. When the knob is turned to a certain angle, it is limited by the lower shell. At this time, the vibrating teeth change from bevel teeth to straight teeth, and return to the position before displacement under the action of the spring. In the above process, since the counting disc and the knob rotate synchronously, the reading does not change;

[0019] Process 2: The patient rotates the knob to restore it to its initial position. The knob drives the counting disk cover and the vibration gear to rotate. The vibration gear drives the turntable to rotate through the straight teeth. The rotation of the turntable transmits the transmission gear and the counting disk through the gear at the bottom. The rotation of the counting disk causes the reading displayed in the counter window to change.

[0020] Furthermore, the counter structure can complete a counter count through a patient's one-time medication operation, and can be used repeatedly until the counter reaches zero, which means that the service life of the entire powder aerosol device ends.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are:

[0022] 1. This technical solution can help patients understand the remaining dosage of the product by setting a counter on the knob of the powder aerosol device;

[0023] 2. The transmission is carried out through the meshing of two sets of gears. The rotation angle of the external knob and the rotation angle of the internal counting disk can be adjusted as needed, which is universal;

[0024] 3. By setting the counter on the moving knob, the limitation of the counter setting position is broken. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1a and Figure 1b It is a structural schematic diagram of the lower housing of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2a and Figure 2b It is a structural schematic diagram of the knob of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3a and Figure 3b It is a structural schematic diagram of the counting disk of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4a and Figure 4b It is a structural schematic diagram of the transmission gear of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5a and Figure 5b It is a structural schematic diagram of the counting disk cover of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of the spring of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 7a and Figure 7b It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the vibrating tooth of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 8a and Figure 8b It is a structural schematic diagram of the turntable of the present invention;

[0033] Fig. 9 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the counting device after assembly;

[0034] Fig.10 It is a schematic diagram of the overall cross-sectional structure of the counting device;

[0035] Fig.11a and Fig.11b It is a schematic diagram of counting reading.

[0036] In the figure, 1 is the lower shell, 1-1 is the limit slot, 1-2 is the one-way slot; 2 is the knob, 2-1 is the counter window; 3 is the counting disk, 3-1 is the gear; 4 is the transmission gear, 4-1 is the upper teeth, 4-2 is the lower teeth; 5 is the counting disk cover, 5-1 is the center hole, 5-2 is the upper surface, 5-3 is the uniformly distributed groove structure; 6 is the spring; 7 is the vibration gear, 7-1 is the first inclined vibration tooth; 8 is the turntable, 8-1 is the second inclined vibration tooth, 8-2 is the one-way ratchet, 8-3 is the straight rod, and 8-4 is the external gear. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0038] like Figures 1a to 10 As shown in the figure, the counter structure described in the technical solution of the present invention is a part of a reservoir-type inhaler, and is composed of a lower shell 1, a knob 2, a counting disk 3, a transmission gear 4, a counting disk cover 5, a spring 6, a vibration gear 7, and a turntable 8.

[0039] The lower shell here is only in accordance with the orientation shown in the figure, which does not mean that the shell must be the lower shell. More precisely, it should refer to one end of the reservoir-type inhaler shell, so it is more accurate to call it a shell.

[0040] The housing, the knob, the counting disk, the counting disk cover, the spring, the vibration gear and the rotating disk are coaxially arranged.

[0041] The counting disk, counting disk cover, spring and vibration gear are arranged on the straight rod of the rotating disk. The outer periphery of the straight rod is provided with an external gear meshing with the transmission gear.

[0042] See body 1a and Figure 1bThe outer wall of the lower shell 1 is provided with a limit slot 1-1, so that the knob 2 can reciprocate a certain angle in the limit slot, and the inner wall of the lower shell 1 is provided with a one-way slot 1-2, so that the one-way pawl 8-2 of the turntable 8 can only rotate in the same direction in the one-way slot; one side of the one-way slot 1-2 is a straight surface and the other side is an inclined surface (see Figure 1a ), the one-way ratchet 8-2 can only slide out along the inclined surface clockwise, and is blocked by the straight surface when rotating counterclockwise.

[0043] Figure 2a and Figure 2b In the embodiment, a counter window 2-1 is provided on the front of the knob 2 to facilitate the patient to read the readings; a counting disk 3 and a transmission gear 4 are provided inside the knob for rotation;

[0044] The outside of the counting disk 3 is printed with readings, which are printed according to the total dose of the medicine. The readings decrease from the total dose to zero one by one, and a red warning is printed for the last ten puffs.

[0045] Figure 3a and Figure 3b In the figure, a gear 3 - 1 is arranged inside the counting disk 3 for meshing with the transmission tooth 4 .

[0046] The transmission gear 4 is provided with a central shaft 4a, the upper end of the central shaft is limited on the counting disk cover 5 through a hole, and the lower end of the central shaft is limited on the knob 2 through a hole.

[0047] like Figure 4a and Figure 4b As shown, two layers of gears are arranged in the middle of the central axis 4a of the transmission gear 4, the upper gear 4-1 is meshed with the rotating disk, the lower gear 4-2 is meshed with the counting disk, and the upper gear and the lower gear are arranged coaxially.

[0048] Figure 5a and Figure 5b In the figure, since the counting disk cover is stuck on the inner wall of the knob, the counting disk cover and the knob rotate synchronously, the center hole 5-1 of the counting disk cover limits the turntable 8, and the upper surface 5-2 of the counting disk cover is engaged with the vibration gear through the uniformly distributed groove structure 5-3, so that the vibration gear and the counting disk cover rotate synchronously.

[0049] Figure 6 The spring 6 shown is arranged between the counting disk cover and the vibrating teeth, and is limited by the vibrating teeth on the outside. When working, the spring is compressed and released instantly to provide elastic potential energy.

[0050] Figure 7a and Figure 7bIn the figure, a first inclined vibration tooth 7-1 is arranged on the top surface of the vibration gear 7, which cooperates with the second inclined vibration tooth 8-1 arranged on the bottom surface of the turntable. The spring potential energy is stored through the helical tooth area of ​​the two inclined vibration teeth, and the spring potential energy is released through the straight tooth surface, thereby providing vibration force.

[0051] like Figure 8a and Figure 8b As shown in the figure, a single row of ratchet pawls 8-2 are arranged on the outer periphery of the rotating disk 8, one side of the ratchet pawl is a straight surface and the other side is an inclined surface, so that the rotating disk can only rotate along the inclined surface in a single row and cannot rotate against the straight surface.

[0052] In the center of the turntable 8, a straight rod 8-3 is provided, which extends to the transmission gear below and meshes with the transmission gear 4 through an external gear 8-4 provided on the straight rod.

[0053] Fig. 9 and Fig.10 The overall structure and cross-sectional structure of the assembled counter structure are given in FIG.

[0054] exist Fig.11a and Fig.11b In the figure, a schematic diagram of the counting reading of the present technical solution is given, wherein: Fig.11a The example given is for a maximum of 60 suctions. Fig.11b The examples given are for a maximum of 30 times.

[0055] also, Fig.11a and Fig.11b As shown in Note 1, it means that white characters are printed on a red background inside the box, and red characters are printed on a white background outside the box.

[0056] Fig.11a and Fig.11b Note 2 indicates that after the counter is assembled, the initial position is aligned with the center line of the counter window when in use.

[0057] This technical solution can achieve the following effects through the above-mentioned design of the parts structure and the matching setting between the parts:

[0058] Process 1: The patient rotates the knob to drive the counting disc cover and the vibrating gear to rotate. The turntable remains stationary under the action of the one-way pawl, and the vibrating gear moves downward under the action of the bevel teeth. The spring is compressed. When the knob is turned to a certain angle, it is limited by the lower shell. At this time, the vibrating teeth change from bevel teeth to straight teeth and return to the position before displacement under the action of the spring. In the above process, the counting disc and the knob rotate synchronously, and the reading does not change;

[0059] Process 2: The patient rotates the knob to restore it to its initial position. The knob drives the counting disk cover and the vibration gear to rotate. The vibration gear drives the turntable to rotate through the straight-face teeth. The rotation of the turntable transmits the transmission gear and the counting disk through the gear at the bottom. The rotation of the counting disk causes the reading to change.

[0060] The above operation completes one counter count through one medication process of the patient, and is repeated until the counter reaches zero, that is, the service life of the entire powder inhaler device ends.

[0061] Embodiment 1:

[0062] When the knob is rotated 30°, the speed is changed 3 times through the first-stage turntable and the counting disk, the second-stage transmission is not set, the turntable rotates 10°, and the counting reading can be printed from 36-0, preferably 30-0.

[0063] Embodiment 2:

[0064] When the knob is rotated 30°, the first-stage turntable and transmission gear change speed by 3 times, the second-stage transmission gear and counting disk change speed by 2 times, the turntable rotates 5°, and the counting reading can be printed from 72-0, preferably 60-0.

[0065] Embodiment 3:

[0066] When the knob is rotated 60°, the first-stage turntable and transmission gear change speed by 3 times, the second-stage transmission gear and counting disk change speed by 2 times, the turntable rotates 10°, and the counter reading can be printed from 36-0, preferably 30-0.

[0067] Embodiment 4:

[0068] When the knob is rotated 60°, the first-stage turntable and transmission gear change speed by 3 times, the second-stage transmission gear and counting disc change speed by 4 times, the turntable rotates 5°, and the counter reading can be printed from 72-0, preferably 30-0.

[0069] Embodiment 5:

[0070] When the knob is rotated 90°, the first-stage turntable and transmission gear change speed by 3 times, the second-stage transmission gear and counting disc change speed by 3 times, the turntable rotates 10°, and the counter reading can be printed from 36-0, preferably 30-0.

[0071] Embodiment 6:

[0072] When the knob is rotated 90°, the first-stage turntable and transmission gear change speed by 3 times, the second-stage transmission gear and counting disc change speed by 6 times, the turntable rotates 5°, and the counter reading can be printed from 72-0, preferably 60-0.

[0073] Embodiment 7:

[0074] When the knob is rotated 90°, the first-stage turntable and transmission gear change speed by 6 times, the second-stage transmission gear and counting disc change speed by 6 times, the turntable rotates 2.5°, and the counter reading can be printed from 144-0, preferably 120-0.

[0075] Embodiment 8:

[0076] When the knob is rotated 180°, the first-stage turntable and transmission gear change speed by 3 times, the second-stage transmission gear and counting disc change speed by 6 times, the turntable rotates 10°, and the counter reading can be printed from 36-0, preferably 30-0.

[0077] Embodiment 9:

[0078] When the knob rotates 180°, the first-stage turntable and transmission gear change speed by 6 times, the second-stage transmission gear and counting disc change speed by 6 times, the turntable rotates 5°, and the counter reading can be printed from 72-0, preferably 60-0.

[0079] Embodiment 10:

[0080] The counter reading can record the remaining dose, with each number printed starting from a large number, such as 60, 59, 58 until 0; it can also be printed in interval numbers, such as 60, 58, 56 until 0; the counter can also record the cumulative number of uses from a small number to a large number factor, such as 0, 1, 2 until 60.

[0081] The technical solution of the present invention provides a counting function module or unit of a reservoir-type multi-dose drug delivery device, which transmits the reading information of the number of puffs or the remaining number of puffs to the patient through digital printing through the patient's reciprocating operation of the knob rotation action, through unidirectional processing (i.e., the knob reciprocates and the counting disk moves in the same direction) and speed change processing (i.e., the knob reciprocates a certain angle, and after two-stage gear speed change, the counter rotates a different angle).

[0082] In the technical solution, the rotation angle of the knob can be set as needed, and the transmission speed can be set to count the total number of suction times as needed.

[0083] The counter numbers of the present invention can be printed in order or in reverse order as needed; they can be printed one by one or at intervals.

[0084] The counter of the present invention is arranged on the moving part (knob), and the numbers displayed by the moving part will not be wrong during the movement process, and only one number will be changed for each rotation operation.

[0085] The invention is applicable to a reservoir type powder inhaler, in particular to a reservoir type powder inhaler device in which the counter is inconvenient to be arranged on a static part or the counter function can only be arranged on a moving part due to space limitation and structural limitation.

[0086] The invention can be widely used in the design and manufacturing fields of reservoir type powder inhalers.

Claims

1. A counter structure of a powder inhaler dosing device, comprising a housing of the powder inhaler dosing device, characterized in that: A knob is provided at one end of the housing; In the housing, a counting disc, a transmission gear, a counting disc cover, a spring, a vibration gear and a rotating disc are arranged; The housing, knob, counting disk, counting disk cover, spring, vibration gear and rotating disk are coaxially arranged; The counting disk and the transmission gear are arranged inside the knob; Inside the counting disc, a gear is provided for meshing with the transmission gear; On the outside of the counting disc, there are printed readings, which are printed according to the total dose of the medicine, and the readings decrease from the total dose to zero; A straight rod is provided at the center of the turntable; The spring is arranged between the counting disk cover and the vibration gear; A first inclined vibrating tooth is arranged on the top surface of the vibrating gear, and the first inclined vibrating tooth cooperates with a second inclined vibrating tooth arranged on the bottom surface of the rotating disk, and the spring potential energy is stored through the inclined tooth area of ​​the two inclined vibrating teeth, and the spring potential energy is released through the straight tooth surface, thereby providing a vibration force; The counting disk, counting disk cover, spring and vibration gear are set on the straight rod of the rotating disk; an outer gear meshing with the transmission gear is arranged on the outer periphery of the straight rod; A one-way pawl is arranged on the outer periphery of the rotating disk, one side of the pawl end is a straight surface, and the other side of the pawl end is an inclined surface, so that the rotating disk can only rotate along the inclined surface in a single direction and cannot rotate in the reverse direction; A limit slot is provided on the outer wall of one end of the housing so that the knob can reciprocate and rotate at a certain angle in the limit slot; A one-way slot is provided on the inner wall of the housing, so that the one-way pawl of the rotating disk can only rotate in the one-way slot in the same direction; One side of the one-way slot is straight, and the other side is inclined. The one-way pawl of the turntable can only slide out along the inclined surface clockwise, and will be blocked by the straight surface when rotating counterclockwise. On the front of the knob, there is a counter window, which is convenient for patients to read and understand the number of inhalations that have been used or the number of inhalations that are still available; The counter structure is provided with the counter function on the knob component, and the remaining dose is counted and displayed while the dose is dispensed by turning the knob; The counter structure described herein operates and is used in the following process: Process 1: The patient rotates the knob, driving the counting disc cover and the vibrating gear to rotate. The turntable remains stationary under the action of the one-way pawl, and the vibrating gear moves downward under the action of the helical tooth surface. The spring is compressed. When the knob is turned to a certain angle, it is limited by the lower housing. At this time, the vibrating gear changes from the helical tooth surface to the straight tooth surface, and returns to the position before the displacement under the action of the spring. In the above process, since the counting disc and the knob rotate synchronously, the reading does not change; Process 2: The patient rotates the knob to restore it to its initial position. The knob drives the counting disk cover and the vibration gear to rotate. The vibration gear drives the turntable to rotate through the spur tooth surface. The rotation of the turntable transmits the transmission gear and the counting disk through the external gear at the bottom. The rotation of the counting disk causes the reading displayed in the counter window to change.

2. The counter structure of the powder aerosol dosing device according to claim 1, characterized in that The transmission gear is provided with a central shaft, the upper end of the central shaft is limited on the counting disk cover through a hole, and the lower end of the central shaft is limited on the knob through a hole; In the middle of the central axis of the transmission gear, two layers of gears are arranged, the upper layer of gears are meshed with the rotating disk, and the lower layer of gears are meshed with the counting disk, and the upper layer of gears and the lower layer of gears are arranged coaxially.

3. The counter structure of the powder aerosol dosing device according to claim 1, characterized in that The counting disk cover is positioned on the inner wall of the knob, the counting disk cover rotates synchronously with the knob, the central hole of the counting disk cover limits the rotating disk, and the upper surface of the counting disk cover is engaged with the vibration gear through the evenly distributed groove structure, so that the vibration gear and the counting disk cover rotate synchronously.

4. The counter structure of the powder aerosol dosing device according to claim 1, characterized in that The counter structure can complete one counter count at the same time through one medication operation by the patient, and can be used repeatedly until the counter reaches zero, that is, the service life of the entire powder aerosol device ends.

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