A pill counting device includes a step feeder having moveable slats interleaved with fixed slats. The movable slats are vertically offset from one another and are configured to move vertically between top platforms of adjacent fixed slats to carry pills vertically up the step feeder. A top movable slat orients a subset of the plurality of pills into a row of pills to be fed into a count chamber. A camera configured to capture an image of a pill of the individual pills as it falls through the count chamber. The device further includes a control system configured to control movement of the movable slats and to control capturing of images by the camera. The control system is further configured to calculate a characteristic of the pill from the image, and to increment a pill counter in response to the characteristic of the pill meeting predefined criteria.

A pill counting device includes a step feeder having moveable slats interleaved with fixed slats. The movable slats are vertically offset from one another and are configured to move vertically between top platforms of adjacent fixed slats to carry pills vertically up the step feeder. A top movable slat orients a subset of the plurality of pills into a row of pills to be fed into a count chamber. A camera configured to capture an image of a pill of the individual pills as it falls through the count chamber. The device further includes a control system configured to control movement of the movable slats and to control capturing of images by the camera. The control system is further configured to calculate a characteristic of the pill from the image, and to increment a pill counter in response to the characteristic of the pill meeting predefined criteria.

A counting mechanism (100) for a dispenser comprising: a first and a second housing part (110, 120) that are rotatable relative to each other; and a counting ring (130) disposed between the housing parts. The first housing part has a protrusion (111) which abuts the counting ring, holding a portion of the counting ring in contact with the second housing part. The relative rotation of the housing parts causes the protrusion to slide against the surface of the counting ring to drive a rolling movement of the counting ring around the circumference of the second housing part, such that a predefined rotation of the housing parts produces an incremental rotational displacement between the counting ring and second housing part to record a count. The counting mechanism provides a large gear reduction ratio in a compact form which is straightforward to manufacture and provides an accurate and reliable record of counts.

A medicament delivery device (1) comprises an actuation mechanism by successive operation of which a predetermined number of unit doses of medicament can be dispensed. The device includes a locking mechanism for preventing further operation of the actuation mechanism after dispensing of said predetermined number of unit doses. The locking mechanism comprises a resilient member (51), a formation (18) with which the resilient member (51) is engageable to disable operation of the actuation mechanism, and a barrier member (20) that prevents engagement of the resilient member (51) and the formation (18) until said predetermined number of unit doses has been dispensed. The device (1) may be a dry powder inhaler.

A medicament delivery device (1) comprises an actuation mechanism by successive operation of which a predetermined number of unit doses of medicament can be dispensed. The device includes a locking mechanism for preventing further operation of the actuation mechanism after dispensing of said predetermined number of unit doses. The locking mechanism comprises a resilient member (51), a formation (18) with which the resilient member (51) is engageable to disable operation of the actuation mechanism, and a barrier member (20) that prevents engagement of the resilient member (51) and the formation (18) until said predetermined number of unit doses has been dispensed. The device (1) may be a dry powder inhaler.

An activation mechanism for an aerosol dispenser is presented having a first housing structure, an actuation member movably arranged in the first housing structure, wherein the first housing structure is provided with an actuation member opening in level with the axial position of the actuation member, and an activation member slidably attached to the first housing structure, the activation member slides between a non-triggering position and a triggering position relative to the first housing structure, wherein the activation member has a radially flexible tab portion that is offset from the actuation member opening when the activation member is in the non-triggering position, restricting radial flexing of the tab portion, and wherein the tab portion aligns with the actuation member opening when the activation member is in the triggering position, thereby enabling the tab portion to flex radially inwards to cause movement of the actuation member.

A counting mechanism (100) for a dispenser comprising: a first and a second housing part (110, 120) that are rotatable relative to each other; and a counting ring (130) disposed between the housing parts. The first housing part has a protrusion (111) which abuts the counting ring, holding a portion of the counting ring in contact with the second housing part. The relative rotation of the housing parts causes the protrusion to slide against the surface of the counting ring to drive a rolling movement of the counting ring around the circumference of the second housing part, such that a predefined rotation of the housing parts produces an incremental rotational displacement between the counting ring and second housing part to record a count. The counting mechanism provides a large gear reduction ratio in a compact form which is straightforward to manufacture and provides an accurate and reliable record of counts.

A counting mechanism (100) for a dispenser comprising: a first and a second housing part (110, 120) that are rotatable relative to each other; and a counting ring (130) disposed between the housing parts. The first housing part has a protrusion (111) which abuts the counting ring, holding a portion of the counting ring in contact with the second housing part. The relative rotation of the housing parts causes the protrusion to slide against the surface of the counting ring to drive a rolling movement of the counting ring around the circumference of the second housing part, such that a predefined rotation of the housing parts produces an incremental rotational displacement between the counting ring and second housing part to record a count. The counting mechanism provides a large gear reduction ratio in a compact form which is straightforward to manufacture and provides an accurate and reliable record of counts.

A nebulizer and a container with a fluid for such a nebulizer are proposed. The container comprises an indicator device fixedly mounted on the bottom of the container. When a predetermined number of uses of the container (3) with the nebulizer (1) has been reached or exceeded, a signal element becomes visible on the indicator device. The indicator device stops further use of the container in a locked state when a predetermined number of uses has been reached or exceeded. Then, the nebulizer is partially opened and blocked against further use. After replacement of the container including the indicator device, the nebulizer can be used again.

A nebulizer is proposed which receives a container with a fluid and an indicator device. The indicator device stops further use of the container in a locked state when a predetermined number of uses has been reached or exceeded. In the locked state, a locking device locks the nebulizer against rotation in a partially tensioned state and, thus, against further use. After replacement of the container including the indicator device, the nebulizer can be used again.