Claims for Patent: 10,124,131

Summary for Patent: 10,124,131

Title:	Dose counter for inhaler having an anti-reverse rotation actuator
Abstract:	An incremental dose counter for a metered dose inhaler having a body arranged to retain a canister for movement of the canister relative thereto, the incremental dose counter having a main body, an actuator arranged to be driven and to drive an incremental output member in a count direction in response to canister motion, the actuator being configured to restrict motion of the output member in a direction opposite to the count direction.
Inventor(s):	Walsh; Declan (Co. KilKenny, IE), Fenlon; Derek (Co. Wexford, IE), Kaar; Simon (Co. Cork, IE), Hazenberg; Jan Geert (Co. Kilkenny, IE), Buck; Dan (Co. Waterford, IE), Clancy; Paul (Waterford, IE), Uschold; Robert Charles (Leominster, MA), Karg; Jeffrey A. (Hopkinton, MA)
Assignee:	Ivax Pharmaceuticals Ireland (Waterford, IE) Norton (Waterford) Limited (Waterford, IE) Teva Pharmaceuticals Ireland (Waterford, IE)
Application Number:	15/617,769
Patent Claims:	1. A dose counter for an inhaler comprising: a counter display comprising a tape including dosage information, a drive system arranged to move the counter display incrementally in a first direction from a first station to a second station in response to actuation input, wherein a regulator is provided which is arranged to act upon the counter display at the first station to regulate motion of the counter display at the first station to incremental movements, wherein the first station comprises a first shaft, the tape being arranged on the first shaft and to unwind therefrom upon movement of the counter display, and the first shaft is mounted for rotation relative to a substantially rotationally fixed element of the dose counter, and wherein the regulator comprises at least one projection on one of the fixed element and first shaft, and a wavelike engagement surface including incrementally spaced formations located around a periphery of the other of the fixed element and first shaft for engaging with the projection to accomplish incremental movements of the counter display. 2. The dose counter of claim 1, wherein the tape has dose counter indicia displayed thereon. 3. The dose counter of claim 1, wherein at least two said projections are provided. 4. The dose counter of claim 1, wherein exactly two said projections are provided. 5. The dose counter of claim 1, wherein each projection comprises a radiused surface. 6. The dose counter of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection is located on the substantially rotationally fixed element which comprises a fixed shaft which is fixed to the main body of the dose counter, the first shaft being rotationally mounted to the fixed shaft. 7. The dose counter of claim 6, wherein the fixed shaft has at least two flexible legs, and each leg has at least one said projection formed in an outwardly facing direction thereon, said formations being formed on an inwardly facing engagement surface of the first shaft, said at least one projection being arranged to resiliently engage said one or more formations. 8. The dose counter of claim 6, wherein the fixed shaft comprises a split pin with fork legs and in which each projection is located on a said fork leg. 9. The dose counter of claim 1, wherein an even number of said formations is provided. 10. The dose counter of claim 1, wherein from eight to twelve of said formations are provided. 11. The dose counter of claim 1, wherein ten of said formations are provided. 12. The dose counter of claim 1, wherein each said formation comprises a concavity formed on an engagement surface. 13. The dose counter of claim 12, wherein each concavity comprises a radiused surface wall portion which merges on at least one side thereof into a flat wall portion surface. 14. The dose counter of claim 13, wherein the engagement surface includes a series of said concavities and in which convex wall portions of the engagement surface are formed between each adjacent two said concavities, each said convex wall portion comprising a convex radiused wall portion. 15. The dose counter of claim 14, wherein each convex radiused wall portion of each convex wall portion is connected by said flat wall portion surfaces to each concavity which is adjacent thereto. 16. The dose counter of claim 1, wherein the first shaft comprises a substantially hollow bobbin. 17. The dose counter of claim 16, wherein said formations are located on an inner surface of the bobbin. 18. The dose counter of claim 1, wherein the drive system comprises a tooth ratchet wheel arranged to act upon a second shaft which is located at the second station, the second shaft being rotatable to wind the tape onto the second shaft. 19. The dose counter of claim 18, wherein the second shaft is located on the main body of the dose counter spaced from and parallel to the first shaft. 20. The dose counter of claim 18, wherein the tooth ratchet wheel is fixed to the second shaft and is arranged to rotate therewith. 21. The dose counter of claim 18, wherein the dose counter includes an anti-back drive system which is arranged to restrict motion of the second shaft in a tape winding direction. 22. The dose counter of claim 1, wherein the regulator provides a resistance force of greater than 0.1 N against movement the counter display. 23. The dose counter of claim 22, wherein the resistance force is greater than 0.3 N. 24. The dose counter of claim 22, wherein the resistance force is from 0.3 to 0.4 N. 25. An inhaler comprising the incremental dose counter of claim 1. 26. The inhaler of claim 25, wherein the inhaler is a dry-powder inhaler. 27. The inhaler of claim 26, wherein the inhaler dispenses a dry-powdered medicament in metered doses for patient inhalation. 28. The inhaler of claim 25, wherein the inhaler is a metered dose inhaler comprising a medicament-containing canister.