Liquid dispensing and methods for dispensing liquids
Inventors
Patton, John S. • Patton, Ryan S. • Molloy, Lisa • Fink, Jim
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10569033-B2
Publication Date
2020-02-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
A dispenser for supplying a metered volume of a liquid medicament to an aerosolizing device. The dispenser may include a container having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the container is configured to store a volume of liquid medicament. The dispenser may also include a dispensing mechanism coupled to the distal end of the container. The dispensing mechanism may have a distal end terminating in a tip through which the liquid medicament is dispensed. The dispensing mechanism operates to dispense a metered volume of the liquid medicament from the tip each time the dispensing mechanism is operated. The distal end of the dispensing mechanism includes an interface that interacts with a housing of an inhaler to limit an insertion depth of the tip into an opening the housing.
Core Innovation
A metered liquid-medicament dispenser is configured to supply a metered volume of a liquid medicament to an aerosolizing device, including an aerosolizing device comprising a vibratable mesh. The dispenser includes a container having a proximal end and a distal end configured to store a volume of liquid medicament, and a dispensing mechanism coupled to the distal end. The dispensing mechanism operates to dispense a metered volume of the liquid medicament from a tip each time the dispensing mechanism is operated.
The distal end of the dispensing mechanism includes a housing cap with an interior bottom surface comprising a sloped portion sloped toward an aperture and terminating proximate the aperture. The sloped portion is configured to direct the liquid medicament into the aperture, thereby aiding in the draining of the liquid medicament from the container into the dispensing mechanism. The distal end further includes an exterior surface with an interface comprising a protrusion spaced apart from the tip along a longitudinal axis and extending in a lateral direction beyond a periphery of the tip.
The protrusion interacts with an exterior of an opening in a housing of an inhaler to limit insertion depth of the tip, such that the tip remains spaced apart by a fixed distance from an aerosol generator and does not contact tapered side walls of a reservoir of the inhaler. In some embodiments, the tip is inserted into the opening until the interface contacts an exterior surface outside of the opening, and the dispenser is actuated by applying compressive force to a proximal end of the dispenser and to the protrusion along the longitudinal axis to deliver the metered volume from the tip to the vibratable mesh while the tip remains spaced apart by the distance.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides multiple independent claims covering a dispenser for delivering metered liquid medicament to an aerosolizing device and related methods of supplying and manufacturing the dispenser. Across these independent claims, the core coverage centers on a sloped housing cap portion directing medicament into an aperture for draining, an insertion-limiting distal interface protrusion that fixes tip spacing relative to an inhaler aerosol generator or vibratable mesh while preventing contact with tapered reservoir side walls, actuation by applying compressive force along the longitudinal axis, and additional coverage of a transparent proximal container with a liquid-level indicator mark.
Metered-dispenser with sloped housing cap drainage
A dispensing mechanism coupled to a distal end of a container for storing a volume of liquid medicament, where the dispensing mechanism includes a housing cap comprising an interior bottom surface with a sloped portion sloped toward an aperture and terminating proximate the aperture, the sloped portion being configured to direct the liquid medicament into the aperture and aid draining from the container into the dispensing mechanism.
Insertion-limiting interface protrusion that fixes tip spacing
A distal end of the dispensing mechanism comprising an exterior surface including an interface with a protrusion spaced apart from the tip along a longitudinal axis, the protrusion extending laterally beyond a periphery of the tip and interacting with an exterior of an opening in a housing of an inhaler to limit insertion depth, so the tip remains spaced apart by a fixed distance from an aerosol generator and does not contact tapered side walls of a reservoir.
Compressively actuated dispensing along the longitudinal axis
A dispensing mechanism actuated by applying compressive force to a proximal end of the dispenser and to the protrusion along the longitudinal axis, dispensing a metered volume from the tip each time the dispensing mechanism is operated.
Supplying metered liquid medicament by controlled insertion and compressing
A method for supplying a metered volume of liquid medicament comprising inserting a tip into an opening of an inhaler until an interface contacts an exterior surface outside the opening to limit insertion depth, maintaining the tip a distance from a vibratable mesh, and compressing the dispenser to deliver the metered volume from the tip to the vibratable mesh while the tip remains spaced apart by the distance.
Supplying method with inhaler vibratable mesh and tapered reservoir walls
An inhaler with a housing, a mouthpiece, an opening in an exterior surface configured to receive the tip while the container remains external to the exterior surface, a vibratable mesh disposed within the housing and spaced from the opening to aerosolize the metered volume, and a reservoir having tapered walls wider than the opening and the tip; the tip is inserted so it does not contact the tapered walls and the interface protrusion interacts with the opening and is greater in dimension than the opening to limit insertion depth.
Manufacturing dispenser by providing the specified container and dispensing mechanism
A method for manufacturing a dispenser comprising providing a container having a proximal end and a distal end configured to store a volume of liquid medicament and providing a dispensing mechanism that operates to dispense a metered volume from a tip each time the dispenser is operated, where the dispensing mechanism includes a housing cap with an interior bottom surface comprising a sloped portion sloped toward an aperture and an interface protrusion spaced apart from the tip and extending beyond the tip periphery to limit insertion depth into an inhaler opening.
Transparent proximal container with liquid-level indicator mark
A dispenser including a container having at least a portion of the proximal end constructed of transparent material permitting a level of the liquid to be visualized from outside the container, and an indicator mark positioned near the proximal end indicating when the level of the liquid has fallen below an acceptable level.
Across the independent claims in the partial content, the inventive coverage centers on a dispensing mechanism with a sloped housing cap portion that directs liquid into an aperture to aid draining, a distal interface protrusion that limits insertion depth to maintain fixed tip spacing from an inhaler aerosol generator or vibratable mesh and prevent tip contact with tapered reservoir side walls, and actuation by applying compressive force along the longitudinal axis; additional coverage includes a transparent proximal container and a user-facing indicator mark for below-acceptable liquid level.
Stated Advantages
Aids in draining the liquid medicament from the container into the dispensing mechanism by directing liquid medicament into an aperture using the sloped portion of the housing cap.
Maintains the tip spaced apart by a fixed distance from an aerosol generator of the inhaler.
Prevents the tip from contacting tapered side walls of a reservoir of the inhaler.
Indicates to a user when the level of the liquid has fallen below an acceptable level.
Documented Applications
Supplying a metered volume of liquid medicament to an aerosolizing device, including an inhaler having a vibratable mesh for aerosolizing the metered volume.
Supplying metered liquid medicament to an aerosolizing device in a controlled insertion and compressing workflow that keeps the tip spaced apart from the vibratable mesh.
Manufacturing a dispenser for supplying metered volume of liquid medicament to an aerosolizing device.
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