EP0879610A2 — Recyclable medication dispensing divice

USPTO Abstract

A multi-use pen-shaped medication dispensing device (20) made of a plastic material that is recyclable after the contents of the medication cartridge (40) have been exhausted. The device (20) is made of a minimal number of parts, which include a housing (22), a dial assembly (34), a generally cylindrical button assembly (32) located within the proximal end (50) of the dial assembly (34), an internally threaded nut (36), and an externally threaded leadscrew (38). The device (20) is arranged so that the dial (34) must be rotated to the zero dose position prior to setting a dose. The device (20) includes a lockout mechanism (52) that prevents the dial (34) from being depressed during dosing. The device (20) further includes a mechanism (157) that limits the maximum dosage that can be dialed up and a mechanism (230, 234) that prevents the user from dialing up a dosage greater than that remaining in the cartridge (40).