DOSIERAEROSOLABGABEVORRICHTUNG WITH AN ACTUATION EQUIPMENT FOR SPEEDOMETERS

The present invention refers to a meter, and in particular to a meter which can be used with metering aerosol devices as for instance inhalers or atomizers.

There are known various metering aerosol devices for inhalation purposes which dispense an amount of medicament or drug of an exact dose in the form of a mist or an aerosol for instance for the treatment of respiratory tract diseases. Here, above all, the reliable metering of the dispensed medicament is important so that a specific therapeutical effect for the patient can be achieved. Such metering aerosol devices are for instance the so-called MDI (metered-dose inhalers) which normally have a container for accommodating a liquid or powdery medicament, a suitably designed nozzle for atomizing and distributing the medicament, and an actuating device with a mouthpiece via which the generated medicament-containing aerosol is inhaled. In case of propellant aerosols, the actuation of the metering aerosol devices is effected for instance in such a way that the medicament container is displaced linearly with respect to the nozzle arranged in the actuating device, whereby a defined amount of the atomization material is released. A metering aerosol device of said kind is described for example in EP 0 254 391.

Metering aerosol devices usually are designed for multiple dosages. In this connection it is desirable that the number of the dispensed doses, in other words of the dispensed spraying puffs, or of the still available spraying puffs is indicated to the user in order to guarantee that the patient is informed at an early point of time of the fact that the medicament is consumed. Thereby it is avoided that a patient carries with him or her an already almost empty metering aerosol device for instance as a prophylaxis of an acute asthmatic attack.

Therefore controlled-dosage atomizers or controlled-dosage inhalers have been provided with different meters or counters. For instance in EP 0 254 391 there is described an inhaler with a flat meter which is formed on the side of an aerosol dispenser facing the patient. From EP 0 505 321 there is known a reusable inhaler with a resettable meter which is incremented when the first relative position of storage chamber and metering pin is reached. The meter disclosed in GB 1 317 315 has a plurality of annular elements which cooperate mechanically in order to indicate at an indicator ring the dosages still available. Further medicament dispensers with a mechanical meter are disclosed for instance in WO 86/02275 and WO 93/24167.

The known meters for metering devices, however, have either a complex, unmanageable structure or require rather considerable modifications of an already existing metering aerosol device to enable the use thereof together with a meter. But such a modification of an already existing metering device is disadvantageous in that after-wards said device has once again to be subjected to an official approval procedure and the tests involved therewith regarding the medical applicability. This, however, usually is a tedious and expensive process and therefore is undesirable.

Moreover, the known meters are expensive and therefore are not suitable for the mass production of a product which, otherwise, can be manufactured at low costs.

Consequently, proceeding from prior art, the object of the present invention is to develop a meter with small dimensions which has a simple and therefore low-cost design and which can be used with different inhalers for counting the dosages without substantial modifications having to be carried out at the inhalers.

This object is solved according to the invention by a meter comprising four disk units which are arranged in parallel to each other, the centers of which are located on an axis extending perpendicularly to the planes of the four disk units, and a first disk unit of which has first receiving means for taking up a force effecting a rotation of the first disk unit around the axis and first transmission means for the transmission of the motion of rotation onto a second disk unit which includes second receiving means for taking up a force being transmitted by the first transmission means and effecting a rotation of the second disk unit around the axis and second transmission means for transmitting the rotation onto a fourth disk unit which includes third receiving means for taking up a force transmitted through the second transmission means and effecting a rotation of the fourth disk unit around the axis.

Advantageously, the third disk unit defines a fixed position with respect to which the first, second and fourth disk units are mounted rotatably.

In one embodiment the first receiving means of the first disk unit are an external toothing. Furthermore, the first transmission means and the second receiving means are realized in the form of a fixed connection between the first and the second disk unit.

In said embodiment the second transmission means is realized in the form of a spring cam which is arranged elastically at the outer contour of the second disk unit, and the third receiving means is realized in the form of an internal toothing at the fourth disk unit.

To the end that the spring cam comes into engagement with the internal toothing of the fourth disk unit, at the outer contour of the third disk unit at least one projecting part is provided which in a predetermined rotational position of the second disk unit relative to the third disk unit deviates the spring cam in radial direction.

In an advantageous development, the spring cam is wedge-shaped, and the width of the spring cam is larger than the thickness of the second disk unit so that the spring cam projects over the second disk unit in the direction of the axis.

In order to avoid an unintentional reset of the meter, the fourth disk unit has a second toothing circularly formed around the central point of the fourth disk unit, and the third disk unit has a plurality of snap-in toothings for the engagement into the second toothing of the fourth disk unit.

Advantageously, the radius of the second disk unit is larger than the radius of the first disk unit, the radius of the third disk unit is larger than the radius of the first disk unit and smaller than the radius of the second disk unit, and the radius of the fourth disk unit is larger than the radius of the first, the second and the third disk units.

For mounting the four disk units, a bearing pin is provided in a preferred embodiment which has a first section for slidably mounting the first and second disk unit and a second section for slidably mounting the fourth disk unit, and at which the third disk unit is secured between the first and second section.

The bearing pin is used preferably also for securing the meter at an object, for instance an inhaler or metering aerosol generator, and for this purpose the bearing pin has a third section which, on the side of the first disk unit, extends out of the meter.

In order to prevent an unintended reset, the second disk unit has an internal toothing. As counterparts, at the bearing pin there are arranged preferably L-shaped locking elements which interact with the internal toothing of the second disk unit.

In a particularly advantageous development, the meter comprises four disk units which are arranged in parallel to each other, the center points of which are located on an axis extending perpendicularly to the planes of the four disk units. A first disk unit has first receiving means for taking up a force effecting a rotation of the first disk unit around the axis and first transmission means for transmitting the rotation onto a second disk unit. The second disk unit has second receiving means for taking up a force transmitted by the first transmission means and effecting a rotational movement of the second disk unit around the axis. Furthermore, the second disk unit has a spring cam which is arranged elastically at the outer contour of the second disk unit for the transmission of the rotation onto a fourth disk unit which in turn has an internal toothing for taking up a force transmitted through the spring cam and effecting a rotation of the fourth disk unit around the axis. Here, at the outer contour of a third disk unit, there is provided at least one projecting part which in a predetermined rotational position of the second disk unit relative to the third disk unit deviates the spring cam in radial direction so that the spring cam comes into engagement with the internal toothing of the fourth disk unit, wherein at least one tooth of the internal toothing of the fourth disk unit is filled up in order to lead to a locking effect. The advantages of said development will be described in the description of the embodiments.

In an alternative development which, however, is also especially advantageous, the meter includes four disk units which are arranged in parallel to each other, the centers of which are located on an axis extending perpendicularly to the planes of the four disk units. A first disk unit has first receiving means for taking up a force effecting a rotation of the first disk unit around the axis and first transmission means for transmitting the rotation onto a second disk unit. The second disk unit has second receiving means for taking up a force transmitted by the first transmission means and effecting a rotation of the second disk unit around the axis. Furthermore, the second disk unit has a spring cam which is arranged elastically at the outer contour of the second disk unit for the transmission of the rotation onto a fourth disk unit which in turn has an internal toothing for taking up a force transmitted by the spring cam and effecting a rotation of the fourth disk unit around the axis. Here at the outer contour of a third disk unit there is provided at least one projecting part which in a predetermined rotational position of the second disk unit relative to the third disk unit deviates the spring cam in radial direction so that the spring cam comes into engagement with the internal toothing of the fourth disk unit, wherein at least one tooth of the internal toothing of the fourth disk unit is removed in order to suppress an engagement of the spring cam. The advantages of said development will be described in the description of the embodiments.

The inventive meter of the above-described kind is especially used in inhalers, atomizers or similar metering aerosol devices. Toward this end, the meter is of a special design and, due to its simple design which is therefore favorable as regards costs, is excellently suitable for said application. In particular the fastening by means of the end of the bearing pin projecting out of the meter contributes to the unproblematic use in any metering aerosol device.

This is an important advantage of the invention, as the inventive meter can be used with different inhalers, atomizers or similar metering aerosol devices without the known devices having to be essentially modified. This has the advantage that the metering aerosol devices have not once again to be subjected to tedious and costly tests regarding the clinical applicability and to approval procedures.

Furthermore, the inventive meter has small dimensions and, therefore, a handy system can be formed in a space-saving manner out of the meter together with the metering device.

The individual components of the inventive meter will be described in the following with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2.FIGS. 1 and 2each show exploded views of the meter viewed from two different viewing directions.

Basically, the meter has four disk units1,2,3and4which are arranged in parallel to each other. The centers of the disk units1,2,3and4lie on an axis extending perpendicularly to the disk units and, as will be described in more detail in the following, are connected with an actuating device10of a metering aerosol generator (not shown) by means of a bearing pin8. The first, second and fourth disk units1,2and4are arranged rotatably relative to the actuating device10. The third disk unit3has a fixed position relative to the actuating device10and thus also relative to the other disk units.

The first disk unit1has a means for taking up a force which effects a rotation of the first disk unit; said means is an external toothing1ainto which an actuating arm5attached at the actuating device10engages (see FIGS.1and2). The first disk unit1has a smaller radius than the second disk unit2and is fixedly connected therewith. By said fixed connection the transmission of the rotation from the first disk unit1onto the second disk unit2is realized. But at the two disk units there can also be provided other means for the transmission of the rotation and for the taking-up of the force effecting a rotation.

In order to transmit the motion of rotation to a fourth disk unit4, as a transmission means a wedge-shaped cam6is arranged at the outer circumference of the second disk unit2, said cam6being connected to the second disk unit2via a spring element6aand being called a spring cam in the following. The spring element6aforms substantially the outer contour of the second disk unit2, but has a freely swinging end. At the freely swinging end the wedge-shaped spring cam6is arranged in such a way that in the rest position it projects over the outer contour of the second disk unit2in radial direction. The geometry of the spring cam is chosen such that the cam or nose engages the internal toothing13of the fourth disk unit4in case of a deviation in radial direction.

For this purpose, the wedge-shaped spring cam6is arranged such that the sharp and the blunt edge are orientated normal to the plane of the second disk unit2. Furthermore, the spring cam6has a width which is larger than the thickness of the second disk unit2so that the spring cam6extends like a pin in parallel to the axis of the disk units in the direction towards the third and fourth disk unit3and4.

In interaction with the other elements of the meter which will be explained in more detail particularly with reference toFIG. 3 and 4, the spring cam6projecting like a pin in the direction of the third and fourth disk units can come into engagement with a first toothing13of the fourth disk unit4(see FIG.2).

The side of the second disk unit2pointing towards the third and fourth disk unit has an internal toothing7which is arranged symmetrically around the axis of the disk units. The internal toothing7, which is seen inFIG. 2but not inFIG. 1, has the same number of teeth as the external toothing of disk unit1. In the embodiment represented in FIG.1andFIG. 2, the number of teeth is ten so that together with a first internal toothing13of the fourth disk unit4with 24 teeth, a total of 240 discrete steps of counting can be realized. But also other values can be easily used.

The radius of the third disk unit3is identical to or preferably slightly smaller than the radius of the second disk unit2. Furthermore, at the outer circumference of the third disk unit3there is arranged a wedge-shaped shoulder11which is used for actuating the spring cam6arranged at the second disk unit2which will be explained in more detail in the following. When a further shoulder is arranged, the transmission ratio is changed. The third disk unit3is fixedly connected with a bearing pin8.

With respect to the third disk unit3, the bearing pin8has three different sections, namely section8apointing towards the fourth disk unit4, and sections8band8cpointing towards the first and second disk unit. The diameter of the bearing pin section8bis identical to the diameter of section8a,and the diameter of section8cis reduced compared therewith. The bearing pin8is used for attaching the third disk unit3at the actuating device10such that the disk unit3is fixed with regard to a rotation therewith, and for the rotatable mounting of the first, second and fourth disk units1,2and4. For this purpose, the bearing pin section with the smaller radius8cis inserted into a corresponding opening18of the actuating device10and secured such that the position of the third disk unit3relative to the actuating device10is fixed. The openings provided in the first and second disk units1and2are coordinated with the diameter of the bearing pin section8bsuch that the first and second disk units1and2are slidably rotatable on the bearing pin section8b.It is to be noted that the diameters of the sections8a,8band8care not restricted to the ratio represented inFIG. 1or FIG.2. It is important that the respective openings of the disk units and the diameters of the bearing pin sections are coordinated with each other.

Furthermore, at the bearing pin8there are arranged two L-shaped locking elements9which are arranged at the outer circumference of the bearing pin section8band which engage into the internal toothing7of the second disk unit2. The opening of the fourth disk unit4is coordinated with the diameter of the bearing pin section8ain such a way that the fourth disk unit4is slidably rotatable on the bearing pin section8a.At the section8athere are also arranged symmetrically two snap hooks12apointing towards the fourth disk unit4, said snap hooks12abeing used for the axial fixing of the disk unit4.

On the side of the third disk unit3pointing towards the fourth disk unit4there is arranged a snap-in toothing12which can be seen in FIG.2. In the embodiment represented inFIG. 2the snap-in toothing12consists of four elements which are spaced apart from each other by 90°. The snap-in toothing can, however, also consist of one or of several elements which are arranged centrically around the axis of the bearing pin8. Said snap-in toothing12comes into engagement with a second toothing14of the fourth disk unit4and is substantially used for securing the rotational position of the disk unit4.

The design of the fourth disk unit4can be inferred in particular from FIG.1. The side of the fourth disk unit4pointing towards the other disk units has a first toothing13which is arranged at the inside of the circumference, and a second toothing14circularly arranged around the central point of the fourth disk unit4. The radius of the second toothing14is coordinated with the position of the elements of the snap-in toothing12provided at the third disk unit3.

In the assembled state, the first and second disk units1and2are arranged on the bearing pin section8b;here the L-shaped locking elements9rest in the recess of the internal toothing7of the second disk unit2. The spring cam6projects over the outer contour of the third disk unit3. The fourth disk unit4is arranged on the bearing pin section8aand, due to its cap-like form, accommodates the third disk unit3; here the spring cam6lies between the outer contour of the third disk unit3and the first internal toothing of the fourth disk unit4.

In the following the functioning of the inventive meter is explained. Since an actuating arm5engages into the external toothing of the first disk unit1, as is shown inFIG. 2, by an actuation of the arm5, which will be described in more detail in the following by reference toFIG. 5, the first disk unit1is rotated in the direction of the arrow indicated inFIGS. 1 and 2. In this connection the second disk unit2is rotated therewith, as the first and second disk units1and2are fixedly connected with each other. Here the first and second disk units1and2slide along the bearing pin section8b.In contrast thereto, the third disk unit3is fixedly connected to the actuating device10via the bearing pin8so that the position of the third disk unit3relative to the actuating device10remains unchanged at any time. Simultaneously, the L-shaped locking elements9arranged at the bearing pin section8bare in engagement with the internal toothing7of the disk unit2; but the design of the locking elements9and of the internal toothing7allows a rotation of the first and second disk units1and2in the direction shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. When the first and second disk units1and2are rotated in the direction of the arrow, the locking elements9lock into the respective following toothing of the internal toothing7. When the arm5is operated once again, the disk units1and2rotate on by exactly one tooth and the locking arm engages the next tooth. By such an engagement of the locking elements9into the internal toothing7it is guaranteed that the first disk unit and thus also the second disk unit do not rotate backwards when the actuating arm5is released out of engagement with the disk unit1which is shaped like a toothed wheel, i.e. that they do not move back contrary to the direction of the arrow.

When the first and second disk unit1and2are rotated in the direction of the arrow as indicated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the spring cam6arranged at the second disk unit2runs along the outer contour of the third disk unit3. When proceeding from a toothed gear with ten teeth and when the arm5is actuated ten times, the spring cam6moves over an angle of 360°, i.e. the spring cam makes one complete rotation and reaches again its starting position. As long as the spring cam6is not influenced by the shoulder11of the third disk unit3, the spring cam6does not engage into the first toothing13arranged at the inner circumferential side of the fourth disk unit4. Only when the shoulder11raises the spring cam6in radial direction, the spring cam6comes into engagement with the first internal toothing of the fourth disk unit4and effects a rotation of the fourth disk unit around a rotational position.

The step-by-step rotation of the disk unit2relative to the third disk unit3as well as the engagement of the spring cam6of the second disk unit2into the internal toothing13of the fourth disk unit4are described in detail in the following with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4.FIGS. 3 and 4show schematical cross-sectional views which explain in particular the cooperation of the second and third disk units2and3in a more detailed manner. InFIGS. 3 and 4the disk units2and3are represented viewed from the direction of view shown in FIG.2. For reasons of a better general survey, the third disk unit3is indicated in both representations only in broken lines.FIG. 3shows the above-mentioned starting position or resting position of the second disk unit2relative to the third disk unit3fixedly connected with the actuating device10. In said position the locking element9is locked in the first tooth7-1of the internal toothing7. By actuation of the actuating arm5which engages into the toothed wheel-shaped first disk unit1(not shown in FIG.3), the disk unit2is rotated step-by step, i.e. tooth by tooth, in the direction of the arrow as indicated in FIG.3. Here, starting from the first inner tooth7-1, the locking element9engages the teeth7-2through7-9in ascending order. During the rotation of the first and second disk unit1and2initiated by the actuating arm5, the spring cam6runs along the circumference of the third disk unit3represented by a broken line inFIG. 3without any deviation of the spring cam6. In this case the spring cam6does not engage into the first toothing13of the fourth disk unit4.

When the actuating arm5has been actuated so often that the locking element9locks into the tooth7-10of the internal toothing7, i.e. when, proceeding from the starting position shown inFIG. 3, the actuating arm5has been actuated for the ninth time, then the spring cam6is in contact with the shoulder11. The effect thereof is that the spring cam6, as is shown inFIG. 4, is deviated in radial direction. In other words, the spring cam6is actuated in this position by the shoulder11and the spring cam6engages the toothing13at the inner circumference and rotates the fourth disk unit4forward by one tooth of the first toothing13in the direction of the arrow.

During this rotation of the fourth disk unit4effected by the cooperation of the shoulder11and the spring cam6, the second toothing14arranged at the inside of the fourth disk unit4pointing towards the first, the second and the third disk unit comes into engagement with the snap-in toothing12. The snap-in toothing12and the second toothing14of the fourth disk unit4here serve to secure the fourth disk unit4against rotation, and by the snap hooks12athere is guaranteed an axial fixation of the fourth disk unit4.

When a locking is desired after a single passage of all teeth of the disk unit4, this can be achieved in that, instead of the 24 teeth as described above, only 23 teeth are formed and a tooth gap is left free. Said kind of locking is represented inFIG. 5Awhich shows a detail of the internal toothing13of the fourth disk unit4. The rotation of the fourth disk unit4is carried out in the directions of the arrow, and the positions a) and b) indicate the starting position and the final position. The tooth located therebetween (position c)) is not formed whereby the locking effect is obtained.

InFIG. 5Bthere is shown another development of the fourth disk unit4by which it is prevented that the fourth disk unit4continues to rotate after the reaching of a maximum counting value. In this embodiment, at the location c) a tooth of the internal toothing has been left out so that not even in the position deviated by the shoulder11the spring cam6comes into engagement with the internal toothing13of the fourth disk unit4. This means that after an almost complete revolution of the fourth disk unit4a further rotation is prevented.

The development according toFIG. 5Bis advantageous in that, on the one hand, a shifting onward of the fourth disk unit4is avoided but that, on the other hand, a further movement of the actuating device and thus an actuation of the atomizer (MDI) is not impaired. This means for the user that it is reliably indicated to him or her when the maximum number of spraying puffs has been reached but that the user is not prevented from further using the atomizer (MDI). With regard to the diseases to be treated by means of atomizers of the kind being under discussion here (MDI), for instance asthmatic attacks, this is an important advantage, as by the second development according toFIG. 5Bno locking of the entire system is effected which hinders the user from the output of a—perhaps life-saving—spraying puff. By the inventive design the further use thereof is possible.

It really is to be expected that not only in emergency situations as described above, but also during normal use the user acts upon the device with such an enormous strength that the mechanism which actually is to effect a locking does not withstand the affecting forces and is at least partially destroyed. The parts coming off in this connection form fragments in a moment in which the user wants to deeply inhale the generated aerosol. Thereby particles of the destroyed meter can be inspired therewith. Also this is effectively avoided by the development according toFIG. 5B, because a further use of the device is possible, without the meter, however, being shifted onwards visibly.

In the following actuation of the first or second disk unit by the actuating arm5, the second disk unit2once again resumes the starting position represented inFIG. 3, and the movement of the spring cam6described above with reference toFIG. 3is once again passed through, without the spring cam6coming into engagement with the first toothing13of the fourth disk unit4. Only when the locking element once again locks into the tooth7-10of the internal toothing7, the spring cam6is once again deviated by the shoulder11so that it comes again into engagement with the internal toothing13and thereupon rotates the fourth disk unit4forward by one tooth of the first internal toothing13. In this way, when the first disk unit has ten teeth, the fourth disk unit4is rotated further by exactly one tooth of the first toothing13each time after ten actuations of the actuating arm5. When the first internal toothing13of the fourth disk unit4has for instance 24 teeth, the maximum number of counting positions in this case amounts to 240, i.e. when the fourth disk unit4is rotated by 360°, 240 actuations of the actuating arm5are counted. The second toothing14of the fourth disk unit4has the same number of teeth as the first internal toothing13.

It is to be noted that the number of teeth of the first and second toothings13and14can be adapted correspondingly to the desired transmission. A 30-teeth first or second toothing13or14thus can be used for a counting of up to 300 actuations. The transmission ratio of the inventive meter or the number of countings, however, can also be varied by arranging another shoulder or several shoulders at the outer edge of the third disk unit3. This enables in particular an uncomplicated and rapid adaptation of the inventive meter to a desired transmission ratio.

The fourth disk unit4can be designed in the form of an indicating disk in order to indicate the countings correspondingly. This can be achieved for instance by an imprinted pointer or a color marking on the front side as well as on the edge of the fourth disk unit4. In the embodiment represented inFIG. 2there is indicated a pointer indicating element4a.In accordance with the rotational position of the fourth disk unit4, the pointer indicates the number of actuations.

The above described meter can be used together with different actuating devices, as far as the movement of the actuating device is transmitted by means of an actuating arm onto the meter. In the following a particularly advantageous actuating device10according to the invention is explained as an example in detail.

The actuating device10represented inFIGS. 1 and 2includes a cylindrical sleeve15and a cylindrical lower part16. At the outside of sleeve15there is arranged an actuating arm5. The sleeve15and the lower part16are connected to each other via an arcuate spring17. When the spring17is actuated, i.e. when the sleeve15and the lower part16are pressed together in axial direction, a linear movement of the sleeve15relative to the lower part16is guaranteed by suitable guiding elements19which are arranged at the sleeve15in a manner pointing towards the lower part16. Therein the inner circumferential side of the sleeve15slides along the outside of the guiding elements19. It is essential that a straight-lined movement of the sleeve15and thus also a straight-lined movement of the actuating arm5are guaranteed when the actuating device10is pressed together, and a reliable engagement of the actuating arm5into the toothed wheel-shaped first disk unit1is obtained.

An alternative design of the actuating device10is shown in FIG.6.FIG. 6shows a side view of the actuating device, viewed from the viewing direction analogous to FIG.1. The actuating device10represented inFIG. 6also has a cylindrical sleeve15and a lower part16. In contrast to the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the lower part16has a further section16athe longitudinal axis of which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the lower part16. The curved spring17is secured at the section16aand at the sleeve15at the outside of which the actuating arm5is mounted. The lower part16in this embodiment is used e.g. for the accommodation of the medicament container of a conventional metered aerosol or inhaler as e.g. a MDI (metered-dose inhaler) which upon actuation dispenses a predetermined amount of a medicament-containing spray mist. The nozzle required for the production of the spray mist is integrated in the lower part16or in the section16athereof, and the produced spray mist is discharged via the nozzle opening which has the reference numeral20in FIG.6. Thus, said embodiment has the advantage that the nozzle required for the production of a medicament-containing spray mist is already integrated in the actuating device10. Moreover, it is to be noted that the actuation of the device10is effected by pressing together the actuating or atomizer device10in the direction of the arrow indicated in FIG.6. To get the actuating device inFIG. 6into an operative state, the sleeve must be displaced in the direction of the arrow until the snap hooks25lock into the window26. Thereby the springs17are biased, the sleeve15is located in the final position and the inner side of the sleeve17receives its axial guidance in that it slides on the outside of the cylinder16, analogous to the guiding elements19described in connection withFIGS. 1 and 2.

In order to enable an exact control of the already dispensed doses or of the spraying puffs still available for the patient which makes use of such an inhaler, the above described meter is secured at the actuating device10via the bearing pin8. By pressing together the actuating device10, i.e. by pressing together of the curved springs17, the actuating arm5is moved which is attached at the sleeve15in a suitable manner. Due to the spring effect of the springs17, the actuating device10resumes again its starting position after the pressing together. Apart from said spring effect, the two springs17also have a guiding effect with regard to the linear movement of the cylindrical sleeve15.

InFIG. 7there is illustrated an example of application in which the inventive meter is integrated.FIG. 7shows a housing21of a metering aerosol dispensing device which is provided with a mouthpiece22. The mouthpiece22is arranged at the lower section of the housing21in an angular position. In the upper section of the housing21there is a metering aerosol container23for receiving an aerosol to be atomized. At the lower section of the aerosol container23there follows a nozzle section which is inserted into the guiding sleeve15of the actuating device10. The actuating device10is connected with the inventive meter consisting of disk units1,2,3and4in order to count and indicate the dispensed or still remaining dosages. During each pumping puff which, as described above, is triggered by the actuation of the actuating device10, a certain amount of aerosol is dispensed and atomized via a respective nozzle the structure and use of which in such conventional metering aerosol devices is generally known, and can be inhaled by the patient via the mouthpiece22.

It is advantageous that for the use of an inventive meter in a conventional atomizer or inhaler, this device has not to be changed in its essential components, in particular not the nozzle. By a simple arrangement of an actuating arm for actuating the meter, an easier and simpler structure is rendered possible which can be used universally with already known atomizers and inhalers. Thereby an expensive modification of the already known atomizers can be dispensed with. This is of particular advantage, as for instance in case of a change of the nozzle form such inhalers have to be subjected once again to medical tests for obtaining an approval, which normally are tedious, sumptuous and thus also costly.