INDICATING DEVICE FOR USE WITH A DISPENSING DEVICE

摘要

An aerosol dispenser for dispensing metered dosages of medicaments from a container having a valve stem extending longitudinally therefrom and moveable between an open and closed position. The container is reciprocally moveable within the housing along a longitudinal axis. The housing has a well adapted to receive the valve stem and an exhaust port. The well communicates with the port such that the metered dosage of medicament is dispensed through the port when the valve stem is moved to the open position. A worm is rotatably mounted in the housing about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis and is responsive to the movement of the reciprocal movement of the container within the housing such that the longitudinal movement causes the worm to rotate about its axis. An indicator member includes dosage indicia visible to a user and a circular gear mounted in the housing about an axis transverse to the axis of the worm and to the longitudinal axis. The circular gear engages the worm. In a preferred embodiment, the indicator assembly is provided in an indicator module. A method for dispensing measured dosages includes the steps of moving the container along the longitudinal axis so as to cause the worm to rotate about its axis, which causes the worm gear to rotate about its axis.