DISPENSER AND ANALYSIS UNIT FOR SAME

Abstract

A dispenser for pharmaceutical or cosmetic media, including a housing, a media reservoir and a discharge opening, wherein medium from the media reservoir is delivered into a surrounding atmosphere through the discharge opening. The dispenser has an electronic analysis unit for detecting usage of the dispenser, and the electronic analysis unit is configured for releasable attachment to the dispenser housing. The electronic analysis unit has a contact side which points in a direction of the housing in an attached state of the electronic analysis unit, and the electronic analysis unit has two parallel contact ribs on the contact side for bearing on the housing.

Claims

1. A dispenser for discharging pharmaceutical or cosmetic media, comprising: a housing; a media reservoir; a discharge opening, wherein medium from the media reservoir is deliverable into a surrounding atmosphere through the discharge opening; and an electronic analysis unit for detecting usage of the dispenser, the electronic analysis unit being configured for releasable attachment to the housing of the dispenser, the electronic analysis unit having a contact side, the contact side in an attached state of the electronic analysis unit pointing in a direction of the housing, the electronic analysis unit having on the contact side two mutually parallel contact ribs for bearing on the housing.

2. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media reservoir includes a reservoir body having a shell face, the electronic analysis unit is configured for releasable attachment to the shell face of the reservoir body, the shell face being a circular-cylindrical shell face, the electronic analysis unit has an electronics housing and electronics components, the electronic components being arranged in the electronics housing, the contact ribs being disposed on the contact side and comprising vertically extending contact ribs, and the electronics housing covers in a circumferential direction at most 50% of the shell face of the reservoir body.

3. The dispenser as claimed in claim 2, further including at least one fastening element, the electronics housing being attached to the shell face by the at least one fastening element, the at least one fastening element comprising a plurality of elastic holding arms or a dimensionally flexible fastening strap.

4. The dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the contact ribs remain stationary relative to the shell face of the reservoir body when the dispenser is operated.

5. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media reservoir includes a reservoir body having a shell face, the electronic analysis unit is configured for releasable attachment to the shell face, the shell face being a circular-cylindrical shell face, and the contact ribs, in terms of a circumferential direction of the reservoir body, are located in a sub-region of the shell face of at most 40% of a circumference of the reservoir body.

6. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media reservoir includes a reservoir body and the dispenser includes at least one of the following: the contact ribs have a mutual spacing of at least 8 mm; and/or the contact ribs have a mutual spacing of at most 20 mm; and/or the contact ribs have a mutual spacing smaller than a diameter of the reservoir body and not more than 80% of the diameter of the reservoir body; and/or the contact ribs project outwardly by a spacing of at least 1.5 mm in relation to an intermediate region lying between the contact ribs.

7. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the contact ribs is attached to an elastic cantilever.

8. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact ribs comprise a plurality of mutually aligned rib segments each provided on an elastic cantilever.

9. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic analysis unit comprises a flexible fastening strap attached to the electronic analysis unit and surrounding the housing.

10. The dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein the electronic analysis unit comprises an electronics housing, and the fastening strap comprises a separate element and is of a material different from a material of the electronics housing.

11. The dispenser as claimed in claim 10, wherein: the fastening strap is configured as an elastic strap, and the fastening strap comprises at least one of the following: an O-ring; and/or a closed strap comprising a double strap surrounding the housing and being fastened in a region of two deflecting loops to a main unit of the electronic analysis unit; and/or a closed strap attached to the housing to completely surround the housing.

12. The dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein: the fastening strap comprises two strap portions each fastened to a main unit of the electronic analysis unit and connected to each other in a region of a closure; or the fastening strap is configured as a variable-length strap, the variable-length strap being adjustable to a desired length configuration by a closure.

13. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has an outer side including a magnetic or magnetizable holding surface thereon, and the electronic analysis unit has a contact side configured to be magnetic or magnetizable such that the electronic analysis unit is magnetically fastened on the housing.

14. The dispenser as claimed in claim 13, further including at least one of the following: the magnetic or magnetizable holding surface is covered by an inscribed label or is integrated into an inscribed label; and/or the magnetic or magnetizable holding surface is formed by a holding sleeve or a holding clamp fastened to the housing in a clamped manner; and/or the magnetic or magnetizable holding surface is adhesively fastened on the housing.

15. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronics analysis unit has at least two elastically deflectable holding arms encompassing the housing and holding the electronics analysis unit on the housing in a clamped manner.

16. The dispenser as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least two holding arms comprises at least three holding arms, two of the three holding arms extending in a first direction of extent and a third of the three holding arms is arranged between the two holding arms and extends in a second direction of extent opposite the first direction of extent.

17. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronics analysis unit comprises a fastening unit and an electronics unit, the fastening unit is configured for releasable attachment to the housing, and the electronics unit is configured for releasable attachment to the fastening unit.

18. The dispenser as claimed in claim 17, further including at least one of the following: the fastening unit is configured for attachment to the housing such that the fastening unit is releasable without tools; and/or the electronics unit is magnetically fastened on the fastening unit; and/or the electronics unit is fastened on the fastening unit by a latching mechanism having an elastically deflectable latching lug; and/or the fastening unit comprises an identification feature stored in an RFID chip of the fastening unit, the identification feature being readable by a sensor of the electronics unit.

19. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, further including at least one of the following: the electronics analysis unit comprises at least one sensor comprising a movement sensor and/or a microphone; and/or the electronics analysis unit comprises an output device comprising at least one LED, a display device, a vibrator and/or a loudspeaker; and/or the electronics analysis unit comprises a wireless module comprising a Bluetooth and/or WIFI wireless module; and/or the electronics analysis unit comprises an energy source comprising a battery.

20. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispenser is configured as a liquid dispenser and the media reservoir is configured as a liquid reservoir, and the dispenser includes one of the following: the dispenser is configured as a squeeze-bottle dispenser and the media reservoir comprises an elastically deformable reservoir body, wherein liquid is discharged by manually compressing said elastically deformable reservoir body; or the dispenser is configured as a pump dispenser having a manually activatable pump device to convey liquid from the media reservoir to the discharge opening; or the dispenser is configured as a spray dispenser; or the dispenser is configured as an inhaler having a depressible container for delivering a dose of liquid; or the dispenser is configured as a drop dispenser having a drop-formation surface surrounding the discharge opening; or the dispenser is configured as a nasal dispenser with an elongate nasal applicator having a distal end, the discharge opening being located at the distal end; or the media reservoir has a volume of up to 200 ml; or the media reservoir is filled with a pharmaceutical liquid.

21. An electronic analysis unit for a dispenser for discharging pharmaceutical or cosmetic media and having a housing, the electronic analysis unit being releasably attachable to the dispenser and comprising: at least one sensor for detecting usage of the dispenser; a contact side, the contact side, in an attached state of the electronic analysis unit to the dispenser, pointing in a direction of the housing of the dispenser; and two mutually parallel contact ribs for bearing on the housing of the dispenser, the two contact ribs being disposed on the contact side.

22. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media reservoir includes a reservoir body and the two contact ribs bear on the reservoir body.

23. The dispenser as claimed in claim 12, further including at least one of the following: the closure is configured as a hook-and-loop fastener; and/or the closure has interacting closure elements on both strap portions, and a plurality of closure elements are disposed on one of the strap portions; and/or the closure is configured as a magnetic closure.

24. The electronic analysis unit as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a plurality of fastening straps for fastening the electronic analysis unit to the dispenser.

25. The electronic analysis unit as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a plurality of fastening units and an electronics unit, the fastening units being attached to the electronics unit.

26. A dispenser for discharging pharmaceutical or cosmetic media, comprising: a housing; a media reservoir including a reservoir body; a discharge opening, wherein medium from the media reservoir is deliverable into a surrounding atmosphere through the discharge opening; and an electronic analysis unit comprising: a contact side, the contact side in an attached state of the electronic analysis unit to the dispenser pointing in a direction of the housing; two mutually parallel contact ribs disposed on the contact side and bearing on the housing, the contact ribs having a mutual spacing smaller than a diameter of the reservoir body and not more than 80% of the diameter of the reservoir body; and a flexible fastening strap surrounding the reservoir body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Further advantages and aspects of the invention will emerge from the claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained below with reference to the figures in which:

[0051] FIGS. 1 to 3 show, by way of example, a liquid dispenser according to the invention having an analysis unit according to the invention;

[0052] FIGS. 4 to 6 highlight a first configuration of contact ribs on a contact side of the analysis unit;

[0053] FIGS. 7 to 8 illustrate a second configuration of contact ribs on a contact side of the analysis unit;

[0054] FIGS. 10 to 14 show different configurations of fastening straps for attaching the analysis unit to the housing of the dispenser;

[0055] FIGS. 15 to 17 show the magnetic attachment of the analysis unit to the housing of the dispenser and

[0056] FIGS. 18 to 21 show a potential modular embodiment of the analysis unit with a fastening unit and an electronics unit, and also coupling means for coupling the electronics unit to the fastening unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0057] FIGS. 1 and 3 show a dispenser 10 according to the invention, which is designed for discharging pharmaceutical liquids. The liquid dispenser 10 is designed by way of example as a nasal dispenser and has an applicator part with an elongate nasal applicator 13, at the distal end of which a discharge opening 16 is provided. However, the specific type of dispenser should be understood as just an example. The invention likewise also comprises other dispensers for media and in particular liquids, in particular pharmaceutical dispensers, which are designed for the oral or topical delivery of medicaments.

[0058] By depressing the applicator part relative to a liquid reservoir 14 or the reservoir body 18 forming the liquid reservoir, it is possible to activate a pump device 30 which conveys liquid from the liquid reservoir 14 to the discharge opening 16.

[0059] In the case of a dispenser 10 according to the invention, it is provided that use of the dispenser 10 by the user is electronically detected. An electronic analysis unit 40 is provided for this purpose. In the present example, this electronic analysis unit 40 comprises a battery 25, a display device 24, a circuit board with a processor 28, operating elements 27 and various sensors 26A to 26C.

[0060] The sensors 26A-26C can comprise in particular a movement sensor which detects the orientation of the dispenser and/or accelerations. Furthermore, the sensors 26A-26C may comprise a microphone which detects noises that occur during the handling of the dispenser 10. The captured data are evaluated either directly by means of the processor 28, or entirely or partially on an external system which is connected to the analysis unit 40 via a wireless interface.

[0061] By way of example, the processor 28 may be designed to activate the microphone in the case of movements of the dispenser 10 detected by means of the movement sensor. Noises, in particular noises transmitted through the dispenser housing 12, can be detected by means of the microphone. In particular, the different phases of a pumping process, that is to say the dispensing of liquid from a pumping chamber and the renewed aspiration of liquid from the media reservoir 14 into the pumping chamber, are accompanied by characteristic noises which are readily distinguishable from one another.

[0062] The analysis unit 40 is attached to the reservoir body 18 of the dispenser housing 12, specifically to the shell face 19 of the substantially cylindrical reservoir body 18, presently a circular cylindrical reservoir body.

[0063] The analysis unit 40 does not surround the reservoir body 18, but is provided in the manner of a backpack on one side, such that it imparts to the dispenser an asymmetrical overall shape. The analysis unit, or the electronics housing 41 forming the main constituent part, span only a comparatively small part of the shell face in the circumferential direction, in the present case approximately 90 or a quarter of the circumference.

[0064] The analysis unit 40 has a fastening strap 60 which surrounds the reservoir body 18 and by means of which the analysis unit 40 is pressed to the reservoir body. This fastening strap is attached with both ends to the electronics housing 41 of the analysis unit.

[0065] In the process, the analysis unit 40, or more precisely its electronics housing 41, is not attached to the reservoir body 18 over the entire area, but in the region of contact ribs 44 which are provided on the contact side 42 of the analysis unit 40 on the rear of the electronics housing 41. In FIG. 3, this is illustrated by way of an example of a sectional representation.

[0066] The direct contact between the dispenser housing 12 and the analysis unit 44 is limited to the contact surfaces of the contact ribs 44 by the contact ribs 44, so that a comparatively large surface pressure and a secure hold is achieved here. In particular, the evaluation of sound waves, which are caused by the usage of the dispenser and are detected by the microphone in the intended use, is possible in a better way due to the contact ribs 44.

[0067] FIGS. 4 to 6 show a first configuration of contact ribs 44. The rear side of the analysis unit 40 is illustrated in FIG. 4. This rear side forms a contact side 42, wherein two mutually parallel contact ribs 44 are provided as stationary on the contact side 42. A recessed intermediate region is provided between the two contact ribs 44. As can be seen by means of FIG. 5, the contact ribs 44 make it possible to bear on dispenser housings 12 of different radii of curvature. The same analysis unit 40, or the same fastening unit 40A of the analysis unit 40, can therefore be used equally well for different dispensers 10.

[0068] FIG. 6 once again highlights the geometry of the contact side 42. It can be seen that it has a basically curved concave shape and that the two contact ribs 44 rise up above this curved concave shape. The spacing 46A corresponds to the width of the intermediate region. The spacing 46B indicates the extent to which the intermediate region is recessed at most relative to the contact ribs 44.

[0069] FIGS. 7 to 9 show a second configuration of contact ribs 44. As can be seen on the basis of FIG. 7, the contact side 42 is provided here with altogether three contact ribs 44. A central contact rib 44 is fixedly connected to the housing of the analysis unit 40 and cannot be deflected to a relevant extent relative to the latter. By contrast, two lateral contact ribs 44 are provided from cantilevers 50, wherein both lateral contact ribs 44 each consists of two mutually aligned rib segments, which in turn are in each case provided on an cantilever 50. The two outer contact ribs can therefore be resiliently deflected, whereby they move relative to the electronics housing 41.

[0070] The cantilevers 50 allow the outer contact ribs 44 to be displaced relative to one another counter to the spring force of the cantilevers 50. As a result, although there are altogether three contact ribs, it can be achieved that all of the contact ribs bear in each case against the dispenser housing 12 when the analysis unit 40 is used with different dispenser housings 12 or reservoir bodies 18. In the case of dispenser housings 12/reservoir bodies 18 with larger diameters, the cantilevers 50 are elastically deflected, whereby this can be advantageous in particular in the context of a fastening of the analysis unit 40 with a fastening strap 60.

[0071] FIGS. 10 to 14 show different configurations of such a fastening strap 60. The respective fastening straps 60 illustrated are attached to a housing of the analysis unit 40 and are placed about the dispenser housing 12.

[0072] In the design of FIG. 10, the fastening strap 60 is designed as a fully encircling fastening strap 60 which is guided in the area of the housing of the analysis unit 40 through a chamber 64 between an electronics unit 40B and the fastening unit 40A. The fastening strap is elastic and can be made of rubber, for example. It allows the attachment to dispenser housings of different sizes.

[0073] In the design according to FIG. 11, the fastening strap has two strap portions 60B, 60C, which are each attached to the housing of the analysis unit 40. The strap portions 60B, 60C can be placed around the dispenser housing 12 from both sides and connected to one another by means of a closure 62. For example, the closure 62 can be a magnetic closure.

[0074] In the design of FIG. 12, a closed fastening strap 60 is used, which is however placed twice around the dispenser housing 12 and is placed in the form of two loops 60A in the area of the housing of the analysis unit, said two loops 60A being attached to the housing of the analysis unit 40.

[0075] The design of FIG. 13 provides that the fastening strap 60 used there is of a variable-length design and can be secured in the correct setting for the dispenser housing by means of a closure 62.

[0076] The design of FIG. 14 is similar to that of FIG. 12. Here, too, a closed fastening strap 60 is used, which is placed around the dispenser housing 12 in two strands and which forms two loops in the region of its ends, which are attached to the housing of the analysis unit 40. Deviating from the design of FIG. 12, in which a flat fastening strap 60 is used, the fastening strap 60 of FIG. 14 is formed as an O-ring with a circular cross section.

[0077] FIGS. 15 to 17 show another form of fastening an analysis unit 40 to the dispenser housing 12. It is provided that a label 72 is attached to the reservoir body 18 of the dispenser 10. In this label 72, a magnetizable holding surface 70 is integrated, which consists, for example, of a magnetizable metal.

[0078] Correspondingly, a permanent magnet 43 is provided on the contact side 42 of the analysis unit 40. If the analysis unit 40 is guided into the region of the holding surface 70, it is magnetically attracted and thus magnetically connected to the reservoir body 18, as shown in FIG. 17. The permanent magnet 43 is preferably designed as a neodymium magnet in order to cause a holding force sufficient for a secure hold.

[0079] FIGS. 18 to 21 highlight the possibility of designing the analysis unit 40 in a modular manner. As is illustrated by means of FIG. 18, in such cases the analysis unit 40 is subdivided into a fastening unit 40A on which the contact side 42 as well as the contact ribs 44 are provided, and an electronics unit 40B which has the predominant number of electrical/electronic components, preferably the entirety of the electronic components. It can however be provided that the fastening unit 40A has an electronic identification means such as an RFID chip in order that the electronics unit 40B can detect whether it is connected to a fastening unit 40A, or to which fastening unit 40A it is connected.

[0080] The subunits 40A, 40B can preferably be coupled to one another without tools. In the case of the design of FIG. 19, the two subunits are connected to magnetic or magnetizable coupling surfaces 94A, 94B.

[0081] In the case of the design of FIG. 20, latching lugs 90A which latch into latching openings 90B on the electronics unit 40B are provided on the fastening unit 40A. Preferably, as a difference from the design of FIG. 20, the latching lugs 90A can be deflected manually in order to be able to separate the connection again. It can however also be provided that the connection of the electronics unit 40B to the fastening unit 40A according to the intended use is non-releasable, such that a corresponding coupling is possible only once, in particular in the case of fixing onto a specific fastening unit 40A that already takes place in the course of production. In the design of FIG. 20 it is also evident that a depression is provided on one of the units, presently on the fastening unit 40A, which serves to form the chamber 64 and to receive a fastening strap 60.

[0082] In the case of the design of FIG. 21, screw holes 92A, 92B are provided on the electronics unit 40B and the fastening unit 40A, through which the two subunits can be screwed to one another. This type of connection is usually not intended to be released by the end user, but serves the purpose of being able to connect a standard electronics unit 40B permanently to a fastening unit 40A in the course of production.