A counter for a handheld device for dispensing a pharmaceutical substance, has a housing, at least one counter wheel which has readable characters, and a drive part which is designed to rotate the counter wheel, the counter wheel being rotatably attached to a mounting part. The mounting part of the counter is designed independently of the housing, and the drive part is directly attached to the mounting part. The counter can have at least one counter wheel which has readable characters and a drive part which is designed to rotate the counter wheel. The counter wheel has readable characters and is designed in a cylindrical manner and with a central axis, and has a drive part which is designed to rotate the counter wheel, the counter wheel being provided with an engagement toothing via which the drive part acts on the counter wheel so as to rotate same, the drive part having a rotational axis.

This invention generally relates to counters and in particular to counters for use with dispensers and to dispensers comprising said counters. More particularly the present invention relates to counters for use with metered-dose dispensers, such as metered-dose inhalers (MDIs). In particular, the present invention provides a counter comprising: a first ring member having a first indicia and being rotatable in increments about an axis, the first indicia indicating a count; a limiting member comprising a limiting mechanism, wherein the limiting mechanism comprises an engaging portion arranged to act radially with respect to the first ring member to contact the first ring member to limit free rotation of the first ring member relative to the limiting member about the axis.

A dose counting mechanism for an aerosol dispenser is presented where the dose counting mechanism has a first body structure, a second body structure rotatably attached to the first body structure, an annular dose counter provided with a plurality of teeth along its perimeter, the dose counter being arranged coaxially with the first body structure and the second body structure, each of the first body structure and the second body structure being rotatable relative to the dose counter, a rotatable actuator that meshes with the teeth of the dose counter, the actuator being configured to follow the perimeter of the dose counter when the second body structure is rotated relative to the first body structure, and a rotator that rotates concurrently with one of the first body structure and the second body structure and that engages with the actuator when rotation of the first body structure relative to the second body structure is initiated.

There is provided a dose counter assembly for use with a medicament dispenser, the dose counter assembly comprising: a) a units dose display means comprising a first count indicia and one or more driver teeth; b) a tens dose display means comprising a second count indicia; and c) a driver, wherein the first count indicia and second count indicia align at a common viewing area to collectively display a count sequence.

The present disclosure relates to a dose indicator comprising, a chassis comprising a chassis frame and a displacement portion comprising a drive part to engage an indexable first display unit indexable about a first display axis, the indexable first display unit comprising a drive tooth to drive an indexable second display unit indexable about a second display axis, the second display axis being non-coaxial with the first display axis, the indexable second display unit comprising two or more second display unit indexing teeth, wherein the drive tooth and each of the second display unit indexing teeth comprise lips on their respective engagement surfaces, the drive tooth lip and second display unit indexing tooth lip each being adapted to engage at an engagement angle that produces a resultant force acting to pull the first display unit and second display unit together. The present disclosure further relates to an actuator for an inhaler, wherein the actuator comprises a dose indicator as described above. The present disclosure is also directed to an inhaler comprising such actuator.

A counter for a handheld device for dispensing a pharmaceutical substance, has a housing, at least one counter wheel which has readable characters, and a drive part which is designed to rotate the counter wheel, the counter wheel being rotatably attached to a mounting part. The mounting part of the counter is designed independently of the housing, and the drive part is directly attached to the mounting part. The counter can have at least one counter wheel which has readable characters and a drive part which is designed to rotate the counter wheel. The counter wheel has readable characters and is designed in a cylindrical manner and with a central axis, and has a drive part which is designed to rotate the counter wheel, the counter wheel being provided with an engagement toothing via which the drive part acts on the counter wheel so as to rotate same, the drive part having a rotational axis.

A biopsy needle actuator includes an adjustable top plate setting the distance a needle and cannula move when the actuator is fired, a shot counter tracking the number of shots taken with the actuator during a biopsy procedure, and a lifecycle indicator tracking the cumulative number of shots of the actuator during a recommended service life. A threaded rod sets the throw distance of the needle and cannula allowing the actuator to excise a biopsy tissue specimen of between 20 mm and 60 mm. A number wheel in the shot counter is moved upon firing of a needle carrier. The lifecycle indicator registers arming of the actuator and indicates when the mechanical components of the actuator need servicing. A biopsy needle within a cannula is mounted in the actuator where by the core bed of the needle is orientated downward when in use aiding in extraction of the tissue sample.

A biopsy needle actuator includes an adjustable stop plate setting the distance a needle and cannula move when the actuator is fired, a shot counter tracking the number of shots taken with the actuator during a biopsy procedure, and a lifecycle indicator tracking the cumulative number of shots of the actuator during a recommended service life. A threaded rod sets the throw distance of the needle and cannula allowing the actuator to excise a biopsy tissue specimen of between 20 mm and 60 mm. A number wheel in the shot counter is moved upon firing of a needle carrier. The lifecycle indicator registers arming of the actuator and indicates when the mechanical components of the actuator need servicing. A biopsy needle within a cannula is mounted in the actuator where by the core bed of the needle is orientated downward when in use aiding in extraction of the tissue sample.

A dose counting mechanism for an aerosol dispenser is presented where the dose counting mechanism has a first body structure, a second body structure rotatably attached to the first body structure, an annular dose counter provided with a plurality of teeth along its perimeter, the dose counter being arranged coaxially with the first body structure and the second body structure, each of the first body structure and the second body structure being rotatable relative to the dose counter, a rotatable actuator that meshes with the teeth of the dose counter, the actuator being configured to follow the perimeter of the dose counter when the second body structure is rotated relative to the first body structure, and a rotator that rotates concurrently with one of the first body structure and the second body structure and that engages with the actuator when rotation of the first body structure relative to the second body structure is initiated.

A counter containing a first ring member having first indicia and a second ring member having second indicia, each of the first and second ring members being rotatable in increments about a common axis, one or both of the first and second indicia indicating a count; and a drive mechanism for rotating the first ring member and for rotating the second ring member after one or more predetermined degrees of rotation of the first ring member, wherein the drive mechanism contains a pawl-and-teeth mechanism which contains a first and second pawl engageable with a plurality of teeth, and wherein each of the first and second pawls contains a driving engagement face for engaging in a driving engagement with one of the plurality of teeth, and a sliding engagement face for sliding over one of the plurality of teeth.