GB2398065A — Dispensing apparatus

USPTO Abstract

A dispenser is disclosed for metered dispensation of a medicament. The dispenser comprises a housing 3, a pressure sensor 22, a processing means 23, and a display means 27. The housing 3 is shaped to receive a container 5 containing a medicament. The container 5 has a valve means for dispensing a medicament in metered volume doses. In use, the pressure sensor 22 detects a pressure signature produced on dispensation of medicament from the container 5. The pressure sensor 22 relays signals indicative of the pressure signature to the processing means 23 which analyses and compares the detected signals against stored pressure signatures. The processing means 23, as a result of the comparison detects the quantity of medicament dispensed compared to the intended volume of the metered dose volume. The display means 27 may be arranged to provide an indication as to whether a metered volume dose has or has not been dispensed, and may further indicate the proportion of the intended volume actually dispensed. The display means 27 may be arranged to indicate the accumulated volume of medicament dispensed and/or the quantity of medicament remaining in the dispensing container 5. The pressure sensor 22 may be an acoustic sensor, a vibration sensor, a strain sensor, a compression sensor, a deflection sensor or a flow sensor. The pressure sensor 22 may be located within a chamber 20 isolated from contact with the product during dispensation.