Dose Counter with Flexible Support and Movement Limiter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dose counters for medication delivery devices, such as pressurized metered dose inhalers, face challenges with complex assembly, high manufacturing costs, and susceptibility to counting inaccuracies due to complex moving parts and space constraints, which can lead to incorrect dose tracking.
Innovation Solution
A dose counter design featuring a rotatable indicator member with a drive gear and support member, eliminating the need for additional non-return members, incorporating a movement limiter for fall protection and a compact pawl and biasing mechanism for reduced space and simplified assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional indicating devices with complex moving parts are used, then the device can track the number of dosages, but the device becomes susceptible to counting inaccuracies due to drops or falling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex non-return member from the indicating device, retaining only the essential drive gear and indicator member. This extraction of unnecessary components eliminates the complexity that made the device susceptible to counting inaccuracies during drops, while maintaining the core dosage tracking functionality through simplified indexing features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical parameters of the remaining components by optimizing the geometry and positioning of the indexing features on the drive gear and indicator member. These parameter changes enable the simplified mechanism to achieve reliable one-way rotation and accurate dosage counting without requiring complex non-return members, thereby improving reliability while reducing complexity.
2Reliability
If conventional indicating devices with additional non-return members are used, then the device can prevent reverse movement, but the device requires excessive space and has complex assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the additional non-return member from the indicating device, relying instead on the inherent one-way rotation capability of the simplified drive gear and indicator member assembly. This removal of redundant components reduces device complexity and simplifies assembly while maintaining the reliability needed to prevent reverse movement through properly designed indexing features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of preventing reverse movement and indicating dosage into a single integrated mechanism where the drive gear and indicator member work together as one unit. The indexing features on both components collectively provide the one-way rotation function, eliminating the need for separate non-return members and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If conventional indicating devices are used, then the device can indicate doses remaining, but the device requires relative large housings which interfere with proper actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts unnecessary components from the indicating device, removing the complex non-return member and streamlining the remaining structure. This extraction reduces the volume required for the indicating mechanism, allowing it to fit within smaller housings that do not interfere with proper actuation of the medication delivery device while maintaining reliable dose indication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the indicating device components to nest efficiently within the housing, with the drive gear and indicator member arranged in a compact configuration. The indexing features and rotational elements are positioned to maximize space utilization, enabling the dose indication functionality to be achieved within a reduced volume that does not compromise actuation space.
4Reliability
If conventional indicating devices with complex moving parts are used, then the device can track dosages, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex non-return member from the indicating device, significantly reducing the number of parts that require manufacturing and assembly. This extraction of unnecessary components lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining the essential dosage tracking capability through the simplified drive gear and indicator member with indexing features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into fewer components, where the drive gear and indicator member collectively provide dosage tracking, one-way rotation, and indication functionality. This merging reduces the total part count and simplifies manufacturing processes, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while preserving reliable dosage tracking capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides accurate dose tracking, prevents counting inaccuracies due to external forces, and reduces the overall size and manufacturing complexity of the device, enhancing user experience and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing portion configured to bias the pawl toward the indicator member
Implementation Method 2
A resilient support member rotatably supports the drive gear. At least a portion of the support member is moveable toward and away from the drive gear along the axial direction as the drive gear is rotated
Data Source
AI summary
A dose counter includes a housing having an indicator member rotatably mounted in the housing. A drive gear is associated with the indicator member. The drive gear and a flexible support member include interfacing indexing features, with at least a portion of the support member being moveable toward and away from the drive gear. In another aspect, a movement limiter is operably engaged with the indicator member to prevent any rotation of the indicator member in response to actuations occurring between a predetermined number of actuations greater than one. In another aspect, a drive member includes a pawl portion and a biasing portion. The biasing portion is engageable with indicator member and biases the pawl outwardly relative to the indicator member along the axial direction as the drive member is moved from a preassembled position to an assembled position. Medicament devices including containers of medicament, together with methods of use and assembly, are also provided.