GB2368061B — Dose dispensing apparatus

USPTO Abstract

A dispensing system for controlled, especially remote controlled, dispensing of medicaments is disclosed. The system consists of a dispensing mechanism adapted to receive a sealed or resealable container of material to be dispensed and to validate that it is the correct material, and which includes a mechanical actuation mechanism which, when actuated, causes a measured dose of material to be dispensed from the material container. The mechanical actuation mechanism may be inhibited from operation by a locking mechanism which, when actuated, locks the device against the further dispensing of a dose of material until release in accordance with the desired dispensing programme, e.g. until a certain time period has elapsed, or until the programme permits dispensing to occur on some other basis. The dispensing system may be in two parts, a hand-held hand-actuated dispensing mechanism ( 1 ) and a base or docking station ( 2 ) into which the hand-held unit may be placed in order to release the locking mechanism. The docking or base station ( 2 ) may be triggered to cooperate with a remote overall control system, for example a remote computer, by placing the hand-held dispensing mechanism ( 1 ) in it.