Compact Dose Indicator for pMDI Actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dose indicators and counters for pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) devices are complex, costly, and difficult to assemble, often requiring tight dimensional tolerances and many mechanical parts, making them inefficient and expensive.
Innovation Solution
A simplified dose indicator design with a reduced number of components, including a chassis, a units display unit, and an optional tens display unit, using a drive means that engages the display units on a curved path and is driven by a force from outside the circumference, allowing for reliable and compact dose counting from 200 to 0 within existing pMDI actuators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional dose counters are designed with multiple small mechanical parts and indexing mechanisms, then precise dose counting can be achieved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive means and display unit into a single integrated mechanism. The display unit is directly coupled to the drive means, eliminating the need for separate indexing mechanisms and multiple mechanical parts. This merging maintains precise dose counting while significantly reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost.
2Measurement precision
If traditional dose indicators use multiple mechanical components for indexing, then accurate dose indication is provided, but assembly difficulty increases and dimensional tolerances become tighter
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit and drive means are merged into an integrated assembly where the display unit is directly coupled to the drive means. This eliminates multiple separate mechanical components and their associated assembly steps, making manufacturing easier while maintaining accurate dose indication through the direct coupling mechanism.
3Volume of moving object
If dose counters are designed with compact mechanisms, then space efficiency improves, but reliability may decrease due to tighter tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated design of the display unit directly coupled to the drive means creates a compact counter mechanism that eliminates gaps and interfaces between separate components. This merging maintains reliability by reducing the number of potential failure points while achieving space efficiency through the consolidated structure.
4Ease of manufacture
If simplified dose indicators with fewer parts are used, then manufacturing cost decreases, but reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves cost reduction by merging the display unit and drive means into an integrated mechanism with fewer parts. Reliability is maintained through the direct coupling design that eliminates complex indexing mechanisms and reduces the number of potential failure points, proving that simplification does not compromise reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A dose indicator or dose counter is disclosed which includes an indexable first display unit indexable about a first display axis, an indexable second display unit indexable about a second display axis, the second display axis being transverse to the first display axis, and a chassis comprising a chassis frame, a displacement portion comprising a drive means to engage the first display unit, and at least one hinge means directly or indirectly connecting the displacement portion and chassis frame. The drive means is preferably configured to index the dose indicator. The dose indicator/counter has a small number of components yet is effective, reliable and compact.