Click pen applicator device and method of using same

Abstract

A click pen applicator device that provides predetermined dosing of the formulation for precise application, and rapidly primes the formulation using the dosing click mechanism to prepare the applicator for use is disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for dispensing a formulation comprising:
 a centerband having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a storage section having the formulation disposed within;   an applicator section situated at the distal end of the centerband; and   a multistage actuator section situated at the proximal end of the centerband for rapid priming with a click dispensing mechanism with a piston seat having two sets of external threads on a shaft with an unthreaded length therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the multistage actuator section comprises:
 a spiral having internal threads configured to engage with the external threads of the piston seat; and   a priming spring operatively engaged between the piston seat and the spiral.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the two sets of external threads of the piston seat have a same pitch. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein a first set of the two sets of external threads includes a length shorter than that of a second set of the two sets of external threads. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein a pitch of a second set of the two sets of external threads is configured to dispense a discrete dose with each dispensing actuation. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the priming spring is configured to expand over the unthreaded length of the piston seat when the internal threads of the spiral do not engage the external threads of the piston seat. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the multistage actuator section further comprises:
 a cup attached to a distal end of the piston seat;   a seal between the cup and the proximal end of the centerband;   a gear operatively engaged with the shaft of the piston seat;   a click spring operatively disposed between the gear and the spiral; and   a spiral sleeve and a push button operatively engaged with the gear, the push button having a locking element.   
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the applicator section comprises:
 a passing seat attached to the distal end of the centerband;   a seal between the passing seat and the distal end of the centerband;   an orifice reducer situated inside the passing seat;   a nose attached to a distal end of the passing seat; and   a cap attached to the distal end of the centerband.   
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the cap includes a pintel configured to seal at least one of the nose and the passing seat of the applicator section. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the seal between the cup and the proximal end of the centerband is an o-ring, and the seal between the passing seat and the distal end of the centerband is an o-ring. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the formulation comprises salicylic acid. 
     
     
         12 . A method of priming and dosing a formulation using a click pen dispensing device, the method comprising:
 priming the formulation at a priming rate using a click actuator with a piston seat having two sets of external threads on a shaft with an unthreaded length therebetween; and   dosing the formulation at a dosing rate different from the priming rate using the click actuator.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the click actuator is actuated using one hand. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the click actuator includes a locking element for preventing the priming and the dosing. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the formulation comprises salicylic acid. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the priming step includes at least one fine priming rate and a gross priming rate. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the dosing step dispenses a predetermined dose of the formulation, and the priming step dispenses a predetermined priming dose of the formulation. 
     
     
         18 . A method of dispensing a formulation, using a device comprising a centerband having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a storage section having the formulation disposed within, an applicator section situated at the distal end of the centerband, and a multistage actuator section situated at the proximal end of the centerband, the method comprising:
 priming the device by priming actuations of the multistage actuator section with a piston seat having two sets of external threads on a shaft with an unthreaded length therebetween, the priming step comprising a gross priming actuation displacing a volume greater than that of a predetermined dose;   dispensing the predetermined dose of the formulation, via the applicator section, by subsequent dispensing actuations of the multistage actuator section; and   applying the predetermined dose via the applicator section.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the priming step comprises at least one fine priming actuation displacing a volume less than that of the gross priming actuation. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the priming step comprises at least one fine priming actuation displacing a volume equal to that of the predetermined dose.