초록 ▼

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

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A dose counter comprising: a housing;an indicator member rotatably mounted in said housing, said indicator member configured with dosage indicia;a drive gear associated with the indicator member and rotatable about an axis defining an axial direction, wherein said drive gear comprises a plurality

1. A dose counter comprising: a housing;an indicator member rotatably mounted in said housing, said indicator member configured with dosage indicia;a drive gear associated with the indicator member and rotatable about an axis defining an axial direction, wherein said drive gear comprises a plurality of first indexing features disposed radially about said axis; anda support member rotatably supporting said drive gear, said support member comprising at least one second indexing feature releasably engaging at least one of said first indexing features, wherein at least a portion of said support member is moveable toward and away from said drive gear along said axial direction as said drive gear is rotated relative to said support member, and wherein said at least one second indexing feature is successively engaged with said first indexing features as said drive gear is rotated relative to said support member. 2. The dose counter of claim 1 wherein said support member comprises a resilient clevis, wherein said clevis is flexed toward and away from said drive gear as said at least one second indexing feature is successively engaged with said first indexing features. 3. The dose counter of claim 1 wherein one of said first or second indexing features comprises a recess, and wherein the other of said first or second indexing features comprises a protuberance shaped to engage said recess. 4. The dose counter of claim 1 wherein said drive gear is integrally formed with said indicator member. 5. The dose counter of claim 1 further comprising a pawl engaging at least one of a plurality of ratchet teeth formed on a face of said drive gear, wherein said plurality of ratchet teeth are disposed radially about said axis. 6. The dose counter of claim 5 wherein said ratchet teeth are positioned a greater radial distance from said axis than are said first indexing features. 7. The dose counter of claim 1 wherein said indicator member is a first indicator member, and wherein said support member biases said first indicator member against a second indicator member along said axis, wherein said second indicator member comprises dosage indicia. 8. The dose counter of claim 1 wherein said support member completely surrounds an axle supporting said indicator member and drive gear. 9. A medication delivery system comprising: a container of medicament; anda dose counter according to claim 1 coupled to said container. 10. A dose counter comprising: a housing;an indicator member rotatably mounted in said housing, said indicator member configured with dosage indicia, wherein said indicator member is rotatable upon a predetermined number of actuations, wherein said predetermined number is greater than one; anda movement limiter operably engaged with said indicator member to prevent any rotation of said indicator member in response to said actuations occurring between said predetermined number of actuations. 11. The dose counter of claim 10 wherein said indicator member comprises a plurality of teeth, and wherein said movement limiter is moveable between a pair of said teeth upon each dose actuation. 12. The dose counter of claim 11 wherein said movement limiter is moveable toward and away from said indicator member along an axial direction defined by an axis of rotation of said indicator member. 13. The dose counter of claim 10 wherein said predetermined number is 10. 14. A medication delivery system comprising: a container of medicament; anda dose counter according to claim 10 coupled to said container. 15. A dose counter comprising: a housing;an indicator member rotatably mounted in said housing about an axis extending in an axial direction, said indicator member configured with dosage indicia, wherein said indicator member is rotatable about said axis upon a predetermined number of actuations, wherein said predetermined number is greater than one; anda movement limiter reciprocally moveable along said axial direction relative to said indicator member in response to each of said actuations occurring between said predetermined number of actuations, wherein said movement limiter is operably engaged with said indicator member to prevent any rotation of said indicator member. 16. The dose counter of claim 15 wherein said indicator member comprises a plurality of teeth, and wherein said movement limiter is reciprocally moveable between a pair of said teeth upon each dose actuation. 17. A dose counter comprising: an indicator member rotatable about an axis of rotation extending in an axial direction, wherein said indicator member comprises a face defining a circumferential perimeter and a plurality of teeth radially arranged on said face relative to said axis;a drive member comprising a pawl portion shaped to engage at least one of said plurality of teeth, and a biasing portion, wherein said drive member is moveable relative to said indicator member from a preassembled position, wherein said pawl portion is positioned outside of said perimeter, to an assembled position, wherein said pawl is positioned inside of said perimeter, wherein said biasing portion is engageable with said indicator member, and biases said pawl outwardly relative to said indicator member along said axial direction, as said drive member is moved from said preassembled position to said assembled position. 18. The dose counter of claim 17 further comprising first and second housing components moveable relative to each other along a longitudinal direction positioned substantially perpendicular to said axial direction, wherein said indicator member is coupled to said first housing component, and said drive member is coupled to said second housing component, and wherein said drive member is moved along said longitudinal direction from said preassembled to said assembled position. 19. The dose counter of claim 18 wherein said first and second housing components are moveable along said longitudinal direction from a preassembled position to an assembled position. 20. The dose counter of claim 19 wherein said first and second housing components are reciprocally moveable relative to each other along said longitudinal direction when in said assembled position. 21. The dose counter of claim 17 wherein said biasing portion comprises a ramped surface. 22. A method of assembling a dose counter comprising: moving a drive member relative to an indicator member along a first direction, wherein said indicator member is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending in an axial direction;engaging a biasing portion of the drive member with said indicator member and biasing said drive member relative to the indicator member along said axial direction, said axial direction being substantially perpendicular to said first direction;releasing said drive member; andengaging said indicator member with a pawl portion of said drive member. 23. The method of claim 22 wherein said biasing portion comprises a ramped surface and wherein said engaging said biasing portion with said indicator member comprises sliding said ramped surface along a portion of said indicator member. 24. The method of claim 22 wherein said engaging said indicator member with a pawl portion comprises engaging at least one of a plurality of teeth arranged radially around said axis with said pawl. 25. A dose counter comprising: a housing;an indicator member rotatably mounted in said housing about an axis, said indicator member configured with dosage indicia around a circumferential surface thereof, said indicator member comprising a side face, wherein a plurality of ratchet teeth are formed in said side face, said ratchet teeth arranged circumferentially around and radially spaced from said axis, and wherein a plurality of nesting pockets are formed in said side face adjacent to and in alternating sequential spacing relative to said plurality of ratchet teeth, wherein said nesting pockets are arranged circumferentially around and radially spaced from said axis;a pawl shaped and positioned to sequentially engage said ratchet teeth; anda non-return member shaped and positioned to sequentially engage said nesting pockets. 26. The dose counter of claim 25 wherein said non-return member is engaged with at least one of said nesting pockets and prevents rotation of the indicator member as said indicator member is moved relative to said pawl member, and wherein said pawl is engaged with at least one of said ratchet teeth as said indicator member is moved relative to said non-return member. 27. A dose counter comprising: a housing;an indicator member rotatably mounted in said housing;a drive gear operably coupled to said indicator member;a pawl moveable toward and away from said drive gear during normal operation; andan arrestor brace moveable adjacent said flexible pawl during a high-impact event, wherein said arrestor brace prevents said pawl from moving away from said drive gear during said high-impact event. 28. The dose counter of claim 27 wherein said indicator member and said drive gear are integrally formed. 29. The dose counter of claim 27 wherein said housing comprises a cap member reciprocally moveable relative to a base member, wherein said pawl is connected to said base member and said arrestor brace is connected to said cap member. 30. The dose counter of claim 29 wherein said drive gear is rotatably mounted to said cap member.