Dry powder inhaler dose counters

Abstract

Dry powder inhaler dose counters capable of making a display move swiftly between digits, in contrast to the progressive movement that occurs in simple gearing mechanisms.

1 . A method of treating a respiratory disorder comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an active agent with a dry powder inhalation device comprising:
 a housing defining a chamber; a patient port in communication with said chamber; an elongate carrier carrying medicament; an advancement mechanism for advancing a length of the elongate carrier into the chamber; a displacement sensor that advances in association with continuous advancement of the elongate carrier; and a transfer component that converts the advancement of the displacement sensor into intermittent motion of a units dose display.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the displacement sensor has a range of movably engaged positions wherein the displacement sensor movably engages the transfer component, and the dry powder inhalation device further comprises a discrete alignment mechanism capable of moving the displacement sensor backwards to one of a plurality of spatially defined positions that are not within said range of movably engaged positions. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the discrete alignment mechanism comprises a reverse pawl wheel capable of engaging with a post fixed to the device housing. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the reverse pawl wheel comprises two pawl arms. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein the discrete alignment mechanism comprises a slot in the reverse pawl wheel that is reversibly engageable with a post fixed to the device housing. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the advancement mechanism comprises a rotatable mouthpiece cover. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the advancement mechanism comprises an uptake spool. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the displacement sensor is driven by gears on the uptake spool. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the displacement sensor comprises a rotatable gear. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the transfer component comprises a Geneva wheel. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the Geneva wheel has scallops along its outer edge. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the units dose display is a geared units dose wheel with numerical indicia on one face of the wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  further comprising a tens dose display comprising a geared tens dose wheel coupled to the units dose wheel and wherein the units dose display and the tens dose display cooperate to indicate a number of doses remaining in the device. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the tens dose wheel has scallops along its outer edge. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the elongate carrier is a dimpled tape. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the displacement sensor moves in association with movement of the elongate carrier. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said active agent comprises at least one of albuterol, levalbuterol, terbutaline, fenoterol, metaproterenol, isoproterenol, isoetharine, bitolterol, epinephrine, tulobuterol, bambuterol, reproterol, adrenaline, ipratropium, oxitropium, tiotropium, daratropium, aclidinium, glyciopyrronium, beclomethasone, betamethasone, butixocort, flunisolide, budesonide, mometasone, ciclesonide, rofleponide, aminophylline, dyphylline, theophylline, cromolyn sodium, nedocromil sodium, ketotifen, azelastine, ergotamine, cyclosporine, salmeterol, fluticasone, formoterol, arformoterol, procaterol, indacaterol, TA2005 (carmoterol), omalizumab, montelukast, zafirlukast, betamethasone sodium phosphate, dexamethasone, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, dexamethasone acetate, prednisone, methylprednisolone acetate, oglemilast, zileuton, insulin, atropine, prednisolone, benzphetamine, chlorphentermine, amitriptyline, imipramine, clonidine, actinomycin c, bromocriptine, fentanyl, buprenorphine, pentamidine, calcitonin, leuprolide, alpha-1-antitrypsin, interferons, propranolol, lacicortone, triamcinolone, dinoprost, xylometazoline, diazepam, lorazepam, folic acid, nicotinamide, clenbuterol, ethinyloestradiol, levonorgestrel, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof such as albuterol sulfate, formoterol fumarate, salmeterol xinafoate, aclidinium bromide, glycopyrronium bromide, beclomethasone dipropionate, triamcinolone acetonide, fluticasone propionate, fluticasone furoate, tiotropium bromide, leuprolide acetate or mometasone furoate.