Details for Patent: 6,446,627
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Summary for Patent: 6,446,627
| Title: | Inhaler dose counter |
| Abstract: | A dose counter for a metered dose inhaler comprises actuator means (341), drive means (350) for driving a rotary gear (360) in step-wise fashion in response to displacement of said actuator means (341), said rotary gear (360) comprising a wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth (not shown) around its periphery. Means (364) are provided to prevent reverse rotation of the rotary gear (360). A flexible tape (368) is provided with a visible array of incrementing integers on its surface indicating the number of medicament doses remaining in the inhaler. The tape (368) indexes by a single integer in response to each step of the step-wise rotary motion of the rotary gear (360). A control surface (371) regulates the position of engagement and disengagement between the drive means (350) and the rotary gear (360). In an alternative embodiment (FIG. 6), the control surface (371) is omitted and the means for preventing reverse rotation comprise a stepless restraint (664). |
| Inventor(s): | Bowman; Nicholas John (Royston, GB), Holroyd; Michael John (Great Shelford, GB), Panayi; Costaninos (Royston, GB), Treneman; William Richard (Oakington, GB) |
| Assignee: | Norton Healthcare Limited (London, GB) |
| Application Number: | 09/319,947 |
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Patent Claim Types: see list of patent claims | Use; Delivery; |
Drugs Protected by US Patent 6,446,627
| Applicant | Tradename | Generic Name | Dosage | NDA | Approval Date | TE | Type | RLD | RS | Patent No. | Patent Expiration | Product | Substance | Delist Req. | Patented / Exclusive Use | Submissiondate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| >Applicant | >Tradename | >Generic Name | >Dosage | >NDA | >Approval Date | >TE | >Type | >RLD | >RS | >Patent No. | >Patent Expiration | >Product | >Substance | >Delist Req. | >Patented / Exclusive Use | >Submissiondate |
Foreign Priority and PCT Information for Patent: 6,446,627
| Foriegn Application Priority Data | ||
| Foreign Country | Foreign Patent Number | Foreign Patent Date |
| United Kingdom | 9626538 | Dec 20, 1996 |
| PCT Information | |||
| PCT Filed | December 18, 1997 | PCT Application Number: | PCT/GB97/03480 |
| PCT Publication Date: | July 02, 1998 | PCT Publication Number: | WO98/28033 |
International Family Members for US Patent 6,446,627
| Country | Patent Number | Estimated Expiration | Supplementary Protection Certificate | SPC Country | SPC Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 268619 | ⤷ Try a Trial | |||
| Australia | 5329298 | ⤷ Try a Trial | |||
| Germany | 69729485 | ⤷ Try a Trial | |||
| Denmark | 0966309 | ⤷ Try a Trial | |||
| European Patent Office | 0966309 | ⤷ Try a Trial | |||
| Spain | 2222525 | ⤷ Try a Trial | |||
| United Kingdom | 2320489 | ⤷ Try a Trial | |||
| >Country | >Patent Number | >Estimated Expiration | >Supplementary Protection Certificate | >SPC Country | >SPC Expiration |
