Mechanical count inhaler aerosol dispenser

Abstract

This invention discloses a mechanical counting aerosol dispenser, comprising a driver with an upward-facing opening at one end and a nozzle at the other end, the opening and nozzle forming a certain angle. A drug reservoir containing aerosol medication is inserted into the driver through the opening, and a sealing valve at one end of the drug reservoir is fixed within an insertion hole near the nozzle end of the driver. A circular units digit wheel is nested on the drug reservoir. A fixed cover is provided on the opening side, securely fitted onto the drug reservoir by a sleeve inside the fixed cover, which contains a disc-shaped tens digit wheel. A display window is provided on the front panel of the driver; pressing the drug reservoir to dispense medication drives the digit wheel to rotate, achieving the counting function.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an aerosol delivery device, and more particularly to a mechanical counting inhalation aerosol delivery device. Background Technology

[0002] With increasingly severe air pollution, the number of patients suffering from respiratory diseases both domestically and internationally is rising, and respiratory medications are gradually coming into focus for pharmaceutical companies, doctors, and patients. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the two most serious respiratory diseases affecting patients. In 2013, statistics from the World Health Organization showed that respiratory diseases had become the third leading cause of death, with a mortality rate as high as 14.09%. However, with significant advancements in inhaled drug delivery technologies, patients increasingly prefer inhaled medications to treat lung and bronchial diseases. Recently, metered-dose inhaler (MDI) delivery has become the primary route of choice for medications used to treat respiratory diseases.

[0003] MDI-type inhalers typically consist of an aerosol reservoir, a metered-dose dispensing valve, and an inhalation actuator. The inhalation actuator usually includes a nozzle block, a metered-dose dispensing valve interface, and a user port. The metered-dose dispensing valve is inserted into the actuator, at which point the valve stem engages with the nozzle block of the actuator. In use, the patient places their lips around the user port and presses the bottom of the aerosol reservoir, causing the reservoir to move relative to the valve stem, thus inhaling a dose of medication through the orifice of the nozzle block.

[0004] In the prior art, some dose indicators or counters are designed to require electronics, which increase costs, prevent users from washing the device, may have battery life issues, and, in the case of dose counters, may be difficult to obtain regulatory approval for. Furthermore, many of these dose indicators are complex, requiring numerous small mechanical parts, leading to high costs, assembly difficulties, and the need for complex dimensional tolerances. In some cases, dose indicators for the standard shape and size of metered-dose aerosol inhalers need to be redesigned into larger, more complex, and bulkier forms. Additionally, the character size and clarity of the display on such devices may be poor, making them difficult for users to read. Others design the indicator at the bottom, but their digital wheel needs to be at a specific angle, and the relatively large number of parts makes the design process complex. Some are designed as separate counting components, not integrated into the driver, resulting in correspondingly higher production and matching costs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide a mechanical counting inhalation aerosol delivery device.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this invention is as follows: This invention discloses a mechanical counting inhalation aerosol dispenser, including a driver. One end of the driver has an upward-facing opening, and the other end of the driver has a nozzle. The opening and the nozzle form a certain angle. A drug reservoir containing the aerosol is inserted into the driver through the opening, and a sealing valve located at one end of the drug reservoir is fixed in an insertion hole near the nozzle end of the driver. A circular units digit wheel is nested on the drug reservoir. A fixed cover is provided on the opening side, which is securely fitted onto the drug reservoir by a sleeve inside the fixed cover. A disc-shaped tens digit wheel is embedded in the fixed cover. A display window is provided on the front panel of the driver. Pressing the drug reservoir to dispense the medication drives the digit wheel to rotate, thereby achieving the counting function.

[0007] Preferably, the portion of the medicine storage tank with different outer diameters provides rotational support for the units digit wheel. The units digit wheel is nested on the medicine storage tank and rotates around the axis of the medicine storage tank.

[0008] Preferably, a fixed cover is nested at one end of the medicine storage tank, and the fixed cover is provided with two fixing holes for fixing the rotation shaft of the tens digit wheel, and the tens digit wheel can rotate along the axis formed by the two fixing holes.

[0009] Preferably, the unit digit wheel can rotate along the axis of the medicine storage tank through the space formed by the nesting of the fixed cover and the medicine storage tank.

[0010] Preferably, the outer edge of the annular units digit wheel has two sets of numbers 0-9 arranged along the circumference, with the distance between each adjacent number being the same. Two protrusions perpendicular to the top surface of the annular ring are provided at specific digit positions on the units digit wheel.

[0011] Preferably, the two protrusions on the units digit wheel, which are perpendicular to the top surface of the ring, are located between the digits 0 and 9.

[0012] Preferably, the outer edge of one side of the disc-shaped tens digit wheel is provided with numbers 0-N, where N is a number greater than 1, and the angle formed by each adjacent number and the center of the disc is the same. The other side of the tens digit wheel disc is provided with strip-shaped protrusions corresponding to each number.

[0013] Preferably, the outer edge of one side of the disc-shaped ten-digit wheel is provided with the numbers 0-12.

[0014] Preferably, the outer edge of one side of the disc-shaped ten-digit wheel is provided with the numbers 0-6.

[0015] Preferably, the outer edge of one side of the disc-shaped ten-digit wheel is provided with the numbers 0-3.

[0016] Preferably, the plane of the tens digit wheel disk is at a certain angle to the top surface of the units digit wheel ring. When the units digit wheel rotates, the protrusion on the top surface of the units digit wheel ring can move the strip protrusion on the back side of the tens digit wheel disk, so that the tens digit wheel can rotate along the disk axis by a corresponding angle.

[0017] Preferably, the angle between the plane of the tens digit wheel and the top surface of the units digit wheel is between 45 and 135 degrees.

[0018] Preferably, the angle between the plane of the tens digit wheel and the top surface of the units digit wheel is 90 degrees.

[0019] Preferably, the outer surface of the unit digit wheel ring is provided with two sets of driven blocks arranged along its axis. Each set of driven blocks is evenly arranged circumferentially, and the distance between adjacent driven blocks in each set is equal to the distance between adjacent digits on the unit digit wheel. The two sets of driven blocks are staggered, and each driven block has an inclination angle. The inclination angles of the two sets of driven blocks are set towards each other. One to six active blocks are provided on the inner wall of the driver. The active blocks have symmetrically arranged inclined sides along the axial direction of the unit digit wheel. The inclined sides gradually approach each other along the rotation direction of the unit digit wheel, and the inclined sides can selectively engage with the corresponding driven blocks. When the medicine tank moves along the axial direction, the active blocks on the driver can move relative to the driven blocks on the unit digit wheel through their inclined sides, thereby driving the unit digit wheel to rotate axially. Each time the medicine tank is pressed and released, it drives the unit digit wheel to rotate one digit.

[0020] Preferably, the driver is provided with two active levers, and the angle between the two active levers and the axis of the medicine storage tank is 180 degrees.

[0021] Preferably, a display window is provided on the front panel of the driver, through which the combined number of the tens digit wheel and the units digit wheel located at the position of the display window can be read.

[0022] Preferably, the combination of the tens digit wheel and the units digit wheel located in the display window can be read as a number from 0 to 129.

[0023] Preferably, the combination of the tens digit wheel and the units digit wheel located in the display window can be read as a number from 0 to 69.

[0024] Preferably, the combination of the tens digit wheel and the units digit wheel located in the display window can be read as a number from 0 to 39.

[0025] Preferably, the fixed cover is provided with a pointed protrusion, and the back side of the tens digit wheel is provided with a groove. The pointed protrusion matches the groove so that the tens digit wheel will not rotate freely when there is no driving force.

[0026] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0027] The mechanical counting inhalation aerosol dispenser has its mechanical structure located inside the driver, forming an integrated counting indicator. Compared to electronic indicators, it is simpler, more reliable, and more accurate, with lower production costs. Furthermore, the display window is located on the front panel of the driver, making it easy for users to read and less prone to damage or loss. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a front view according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a side sectional view according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of a driver according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a front view of a medicine storage tank according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5 and Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of a fixed cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 7 and Figure 8 This is a structural diagram of a ten-digit wheel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 9 This is a structural diagram of the units digit wheel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 10 This is an assembly diagram of the units digit wheel and the tens digit wheel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 11 This is an assembly diagram of a unit digit wheel, a medicine storage tank, and a fixed cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The following description is intended to disclose the invention and enable those skilled in the art to implement it. The preferred embodiments described below are merely examples, and other obvious variations will occur to those skilled in the art.

[0038] like Figure 1-11 As shown, a mechanical counting aerosol dispenser includes a driver 1 and a fixed cover 2. One end of the driver 1 has an upward-facing opening 6, and the other end has a nozzle 7. The opening 6 and the nozzle 7 are at a certain angle. A storage tank 3 containing the aerosol medication is inserted into the driver 1 through the opening 6. A sealing valve 16 located at one end of the storage tank 3 is fixed in an insertion hole 10 near the nozzle 7 on the driver 1. Pressing the storage tank 3 allows the aerosol to be sprayed from the nozzle 7. Specifically, the spray principle of the dispenser uses existing technology, which will not be detailed here. A circular units digit wheel 4 is nested on the storage tank 3. The fixed cover 2 is located on the side of the opening 6 and is securely fitted onto the storage tank 3 by a sleeve 11 inside the fixed cover 2. A disc-shaped tens digit wheel 5 is embedded in the fixed cover 2. A display window 8 is provided on the front panel of the driver 1. Pressing the storage tank 3 to dispense medication drives the units digit wheel 4 and the tens digit wheel 5 to rotate, achieving the counting function.

[0039] The medicine storage tank 3 has a portion 14 with a different outer diameter, which provides a rotational support platform 15 for the annular units digit wheel 4. The units digit wheel 4 is nested on the medicine storage tank 3 and rotates around the axis of the medicine storage tank 3.

[0040] One end of the medicine storage tank 3 is fitted with a fixing cover 2, which is fixed to the medicine storage tank 3 by a sleeve 11 inside the fixing cover 2. The fixing cover 2 is provided with two fixing holes 13, into which the rotating shaft 21 of the tens digit wheel 5 is inserted to fix the tens digit wheel 5. The tens digit wheel 5 can rotate along the axis formed by the two fixing holes 13.

[0041] The fixed cover 2 is provided with a pointed protrusion 12, and the back side of the tens digit wheel 5 is provided with a groove 23. The pointed protrusion 12 matches the groove 23, so that the tens digit wheel 5 will not rotate freely when there is no driving force.

[0042] The units digit wheel 4 rotates along the axis of the medicine storage tank 3 through the space formed by the nesting of the fixed cover 2 and the medicine storage tank 3.

[0043] The outer edge of the units digit wheel 4 has two sets of numbers 18 from 0 to 9 arranged along the circumference, with the distance between each adjacent number 18 being the same. At specific digit positions on the units digit wheel 4, there are two protrusions 19 perpendicular to the top surface of the ring.

[0044] The outer edge of one side of the disc-shaped tens digit wheel 5 is provided with numbers 20 from 0 to N, where N is a number greater than 1. The angle formed between each adjacent number 20 and the center of the disc is the same. The other side of the disc of the tens digit wheel 5 is provided with strip-shaped protrusions 22 corresponding to each number 20.

[0045] The plane of the tens digit wheel 5 is at a certain angle 24 to the top surface of the ring of the units digit wheel 4. When the units digit wheel 4 rotates, the protrusion 19 on the top surface of the ring of the units digit wheel 4 can move the strip protrusion 22 on the back side of the tens digit wheel 5, so that the tens digit wheel 5 can rotate along the axis of the disc by a corresponding angle.

[0046] Two sets of driven blocks 17 are arranged along the axis of the ring on the outer surface of the units digit wheel 4. Each set of driven blocks 17 is evenly arranged in the circumferential direction, and the distance between adjacent driven blocks 17 in each set is equal to the distance between adjacent digits 18 on the units digit wheel 4. The two sets of driven blocks 17 are staggered and each driven block 17 has an inclination angle. The inclination angles of the two sets of driven blocks 17 are set towards each other. An active block 9 is provided on the inner wall of the driver 1. The active block 9 has symmetrically arranged inclined sides along the axial direction of the units digit wheel 4. The inclined sides gradually approach each other along the rotation direction of the units digit wheel 4, and the inclined sides can selectively engage with the corresponding driven blocks 17. When the medicine tank 3 moves along the axial direction, the active block 9 on the driver 1 can move relative to the driven blocks 17 on the units digit wheel 4 through the inclined sides, thereby driving the units digit wheel 4 to rotate along the axial direction. Each time the medicine storage tank 3 is pressed, it pops up, causing the units digit wheel 4 to rotate by one digit.

[0047] A display window 8 is provided on the front panel of the driver 1, through which the combination of the numbers 18 and 20 located on the tens digit wheel 5 and the units digit wheel 4 in the display window 8 can be read.

[0048] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed invention. The scope of protection claimed by the appended claims and their equivalents is defined.

Claims

1. A mechanical counting inhalation aerosol dispenser, comprising a driver, one end of which has an upward-facing opening, and the other end of which has a nozzle, the opening and the nozzle forming a certain angle; a drug reservoir containing a drug aerosol is inserted into the driver through the opening, and a sealing valve located at one end of the drug reservoir is fixed inside the driver near the nozzle end; a circular unit digit wheel is nested on the drug reservoir; a fixed cover is provided on the opening side, which is securely fitted onto the drug reservoir by a sleeve inside the fixed cover, and a disc-shaped tens digit wheel is embedded in the fixed cover; a display window is provided on the front panel of the driver, which drives the digit wheel to rotate to achieve the counting function when the drug reservoir is pressed to dispense the drug; the circular unit digit wheel... Two sets of numbers 0-9 are arranged along the circumference of the outer edge, with the same distance between each adjacent number; the units digit wheel has two protrusions perpendicular to the top surface of the ring; the outer edge of one side of the disc-shaped tens digit wheel has numbers 0-N, where N is a number greater than 1, and the angle formed between each adjacent number and the center of the disc is the same; the other side of the tens digit wheel disc has strip-shaped protrusions corresponding to each number; the plane of the tens digit wheel disc forms a certain angle with the top surface of the units digit wheel ring, and the protrusions on the top surface of the units digit wheel ring can move the strip-shaped protrusions on the back side of the tens digit wheel disc when the units digit wheel rotates, so that the tens digit wheel can rotate along the disc axis by a corresponding angle.

2. The mechanical counting inhalation aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The medicine storage tank has a portion with a different outer diameter, which provides rotational support for the unit digit wheel; the unit digit wheel is nested on the medicine storage tank and rotates around the axis of the medicine storage tank.

3. The mechanical counting inhalation aerosol dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that, A fixed cover is nested at one end of the medicine storage tank. The fixed cover has two fixing holes for fixing the rotation shaft of the tens digit wheel, and the tens digit wheel can rotate along the axis formed by the two fixing holes.

4. The mechanical counting inhalation aerosol dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that, The unit digit wheel can rotate along the axis of the medicine storage tank through the space formed by the nesting of the fixed cover and the medicine storage tank.

5. A mechanical counting inhalation aerosol dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that, Two sets of driven blocks are arranged along the axis of the ring on the outer surface of the units digit wheel. Each set of driven blocks is evenly arranged in the circumferential direction, and the distance between adjacent driven blocks in each set is equal to the distance between adjacent digits on the units digit wheel. The two sets of driven blocks are staggered and each driven block has an inclination angle. The inclination angles of the two sets of driven blocks are set towards each other. An active block is provided on the inner wall of the driver. The active block has symmetrically arranged inclined sides along the axial direction of the units digit wheel. The inclined sides gradually approach each other along the rotation direction of the units digit wheel, and the inclined sides can selectively engage with the driven blocks on the corresponding sides. When the medicine tank moves along the axial direction, the active block on the driver can move relative to the driven block on the units digit wheel through the inclined sides, thereby driving the units digit wheel to rotate axially. Each time the medicine tank is pressed and popped up, it drives the units digit wheel to rotate by one digit.

6. The mechanical counting inhalation aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A display window is provided on the front panel of the driver, through which the combination of the tens digit wheel and the units digit wheel located at the position of the display window can be read.

7. The mechanical counting inhalation aerosol dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed cover is provided with a pointed protrusion, and the back side of the tens digit wheel is provided with a groove. The pointed protrusion matches the groove so that the tens digit wheel will not rotate freely when there is no driving force.

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