V-Shaped Anti-Return Tip for Rotary Dose Counter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dry-powder inhalers face issues with metering accuracy and reproducibility, risk of overdosing due to improper handling, and bulky or unreadable dose counters, which compromise the effectiveness and safety of the treatment.
Innovation Solution
A dry-powder inhaler design featuring individual reservoirs with a rotary dose counter and anti-return mechanism, where the counter is actuated only during inhalation to ensure accurate dosing and prevent overdosing, and a compact, readable display for dose tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a multidose reservoir is used to store all doses inside the inhaler, then the inhaler can be compact and convenient to use, but metering accuracy and reproducibility deteriorate due to potential dose loss from dropping, shaking, or improper manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the multidose reservoir into individual sealed compartments, each containing a pre-measured dose. This segmentation prevents dose loss from manipulation while maintaining compact storage, as each compartment is independently sealed until activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The doses are pre-measured and sealed in individual compartments before use. This preliminary action ensures metering accuracy is established during manufacturing rather than during patient use, eliminating the risk of improper manipulation affecting dose precision.
2Measurement precision
If individual reservoirs are sealed effectively to prevent dose loss, then metering accuracy improves, but device complexity increases due to the need for loading capsules before each use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual reservoirs into a single integrated multidose reservoir structure with shared walls and a unified closure layer. This merging maintains the sealing benefits of individual compartments while eliminating the need to load separate capsules, reducing operational complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the closure layer is peeled off or unstuck to open individual reservoirs, then dose delivery is achieved, but control of opening forces becomes difficult risking opening the next reservoir
Solution Approach 1:
The closure layer is segmented into individual sections corresponding to each reservoir compartment. Each section can be opened independently with controlled force, preventing unintended opening of adjacent compartments while maintaining ease of operation.
4Reliability
If the closure layer is perforated to open reservoirs, then opening control improves, but dose retention in cut wall portions reduces metering accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of perforating the closure layer, the patent extracts or removes the closure layer entirely from the reservoir structure. This eliminates the problem of dose retention in cut portions, as there is no remaining closure material to trap powder, while still providing controlled opening through the segmented design.
5Volume of moving object
If a dose counter is made compact, then device size is reduced, but the display becomes small and difficult to read, particularly for elderly users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical counter mechanisms with an optical or electronic display system. This substitution allows for a compact physical footprint while providing large, clear, easily readable display elements that do not suffer from the size constraints of mechanical components.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid dispenser device comprising: a dose counter for indicating the number of doses that have been dispensed or that remain to be dispensed, said counter comprising: at least one rotary counter element provided with indicator means, such as digits or numbers, and provided with a first set of teeth and with a second set of teeth; a movable actuator element adapted to co-operate with said first set of teeth of said counter element so as to turn it; and anti-return means adapted to co-operate with said second set of teeth so as to prevent said counter element from turning in the direction opposite to the direction that is imposed by said actuator element; said anti-return means comprising a tip that is substantially V-shaped, and that, after each actuation of the counter, co-operates with a respective tooth of said second set of teeth in a blocking position, said tip comprising a first branch that is adapted to co-operate in the blocking position with a blocking shoulder of said tooth, and a second branch that is plane and adapted to co-operate with a plane surface of said teeth, said plane second branch and said plane surface being coplanar when said tip is in the blocking position, said tip being urged resiliently towards said blocking position so as to ensure accurate positioning of said counter element after each actuation of the counter.