Cartridge, pharmaceutical dispenser for solid pharmaceutical portions and applications of said cartridge and said pharmaceutical dispenser

The present invention relates to a cartridge for a drug dispenser, which contains doses of solid drug, for example, tablets and, above all, in columns. In addition, the invention relates to a medicament dispenser as well as a medicament dispenser comprising a replaceable cartridge. In addition to the above, the invention also relates to practical examples of the use of cartridges and dispensers for drugs for the purpose of storage, ie, for the purpose of dispensing doses of drugs, for example, doses of hormonal preparations.

It is generally known that solid drug doses, for example, tablets, are made available to the user in various types and forms of packaging. For example, such solid drugs are very often delivered in so-called blister packs (PTP, push-through pack), in which each individual tablet is packed inside a separate welded cell. For this purpose, for the most part, a transparent plastic foil is used, which contains capsules for drug doses which are closed with aluminum foil, as a result of which individual cells are formed in which tablets are contained. The tablets are removed from the individual cells before being taken by pressing the tablet capsule capsule, after which the tablets are extruded through aluminum foil. This type of packaging is used the most of all because in this way each individual tablet is sigum and protected from external harmful influences. In another form of packaging, solid drugs are packaged in bottles, within which the individual tablets are not specially packaged. Users - in this case - have to take out individual tablets by hand. In another form of packaging, the tablets are - again without a separate individual package - in the form of columns inside a single tube. In this case, too, individual tablets are removed from the package by hand. This type of packaging is very problematic, as there is a risk that individual tablets will fall out and that they will be damaged or soiled due to falling out. In addition, the user in this case does not have control over the number of tablets he has already taken.

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In order to be able to provide a suitable dosage but also a safe treatment aid, as well as the simple use of drug doses, it is desirable for the user to prepare such packaged doses of drugs in a solid state inside the drug dispenser. In this case, the doses of drugs are in the drug dispenser and, if necessary, it is possible to either take them out of the drug dispenser. The advantage of such systems lies, inter alia, that the doses of drugs in the drug dispenser are protected from external influences and that it is possible to provide with suitable means that the doses are dispensed in predetermined quantities.

For the use of medicaments packaged in so-called blister strips, for example, in the invention published under the designation WO 2005/028316 A2, a medicament dispenser is described which at one end has an opening for receiving a blister strip. To dispense individual tablets, the blister strip is only partially removed from the tablet dispenser, so that only one tablet or a certain, relatively small number of tablets is available to the user. The above is provided by the fact that the blister pack has protrusions into which the grippers engage and thus define the displacement when pulling the blister out of the drug dispenser.

The invention disclosed under U.S. Pat. No. 3,591,043 A describes a drug container and dispenser having a deformable wall as well as an opening at the front. If you apply pressure to the side walls, deforming the locking element opens the lower locking element.

In the invention disclosed under U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,020 B1, another drug dispenser is described comprising a blister pack with blister cells arranged in a circle. Generally speaking, blister cell tablets are accessible through a small window on the upper side of the drug dispenser only when the user presses at least one strip connector located on the side of the drug dispenser and extending over the window at rest to cover the tablets. and protects them from unauthorized use. If the user presses the clutch, the strap will bend and the tablet will be released from the medication dispenser.

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The dispenser for fresh breath tablets and cough tablets is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,258. The lozenges contained in this dispenser are stacked on top of each other. The lozenges, by applying a spring force in the guide, are pressed upwards and in this way reach the ejection head which contains the ejection tray with which the individual tablets are ejected from the side of the drug dispenser.

And in U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,112, a dispenser for fresh breath tablets and cough tablets is described in which the lozenges are stacked in a warehouse to be inserted into a drug dispenser. In this case, too, the lozenges are pressed upwards by the action of a spring force in the warehouse and are ejected from the dispenser for medicines on the provided ejection head with the help of the ejection drawer. In this case, the lozenges are stored in a warehouse that can be provided for transport purposes with a simple protective cover. The tablets, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,258, are dispensed on the side of the drug dispenser.

The invention disclosed under EP 1 189 822 B1 describes a tablet dispenser for medical use. The above-mentioned drug dispenser contains a tube-shaped container inside which the tablets are placed on a pile and stand under spring tension. The tablets are ejected from the side of the drug dispenser by means of a dispensing mechanism actuated by the head of the drug dispenser.

The invention disclosed under U.S. Pat. No. 2003/0132239 A1 describes a warehouse for receiving accumulated tablets, for example, fresh breath tablets and cough tablets, which is intended for use inside a tablet dispenser. The tablets are dispensed on the head of the drug dispenser by means of a dispensing apparatus transverse to the axis of the drug dispenser.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,440 discloses a dispenser for tablets, for example, birth control pills, flint lighters or candies, for example, candies. Tablets or similar items are contained on the goinil inside a single capsule that can be inserted into a drug dispenser. Tablets or similar items are discarded on the side of the medication dispenser.

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U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,720 discloses a candy or tablet dispenser containing a lockable warehouse. In the housing, two chambers are formed through the warehouse. In one of the chambers in the warehouse there are sweets or tablets. Sweets or tablets are thrown to the side when using the medicine dispenser, as a result of which the slider on the warehouse is activated with the thumb, which activates the ejection device, and as a result it drops one candy or one tablet laterally.

Furthermore, in the invention published under the designation DE 42 30 452 A1, a container for storing and individually discharging dragees contained in holders is described. Container for the purpose of ejecting dragees - has a pressure crusher and an ejection tongue that, at the very least, has a flexible tip. By pressing on the push rod, the tip moves in the direction of pressure and through the design of the ejector tongue guide directly through the opening in the carrier shell. The opening is located at the outer end of the carrier, opposite the other opening through which it is possible to eject the dragee with the top part of the ejection tongue which you press towards the inner part of the carrier.

From the invention published under the designation WO 2008/071233 A1, a tablet dispenser is known which has a warehouse with the possibility of insertion and extraction. The tablet dispenser has an ejection device consisting of a release button, an ejection rail as well as a pressure transfer device from the button to the tablet ejection rail.

The invention disclosed under DE 88 07 774 I1 describes a tablet dispenser comprising a gripper connected to a tablet container, a slider and a lid provided with an opening on it and through which the tablet is discharged outwards.

From the invention published under the designation DE 31 43 953 A1, a dispenser for tablets is known which contains a basic element with a movable slider for drug dosage. It is possible to insert a tablet cartridge, ie a spare tablet container, into the tablet dispenser. When the dose slider is moved, the products individually fall out of the tablet dispenser.

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The invention disclosed under U.S. Pat. No. 3,270,915 A discloses a pharmaceutical tablet dispenser comprising an outer container, a cylindrical warehouse that can be inserted into a drug dispenser, a bottom lock, and a rotary slider within the block. The swivel slider contains an opening through which the tablets are dispensed.

For most of the known or listed drug dispensers, it is not stated how tablets, lozenges, candies or the like are placed in the drug dispenser. In several documents, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,440, it is stated that it is possible to change a capsule for tablets or similar items and that it is inserted into a cavity inside the drug dispenser. And in U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,720, it is stated that a warehouse containing sweets or tablets is placed in a housing. However, the use of such drug dispensers has proven to be problematic, especially when used by blind people or if you use them in low light, because users cannot catch tablets in all cases, but tablets or the like fall out of the drug dispensers. and in this way it is possible to lose them. First of all, when a small medicine dispenser is used for tablets, it may happen that the user is not sure whether he has taken out the tablet.

Furthermore, the known tablet dosing devices do not ensure that the tablets cannot be damaged at any stage of use, for example, when inserted into a drug dispenser.

Due to the above, the present invention has the problem that known drug dispensers do not offer sufficiently simple and safe use as well as solid drug administration. As a result, the task is to find means for storing and taking doses of drugs in the solid state, in particular the cartridge for the drug dispenser, the drug dispenser and the drug dispenser in which the drug dose cartridge will be located. With these means, the mentioned problems would not occur when using and taking doses of solid drugs. In particular, the drug dispenser and cartridge should be simple and safe from the point of view of their use, and in particular should ensure the fact that the user can safely take each individual dose of medication from the drug dispenser without losing the drug dose at any time. do not notice. In addition, doses of drugs in solid

53243 Β The condition should not be damaged at any time during transport and storage, as well as use in the medicine dispenser.

This problem, i.e., this drug release can be solved by using a replaceable cartridge according to claim 1, a drug dispenser according to claim 10 and using a cartridge according to claim 8. Preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in the subclaims.

As regards the use of the terms Solid Drug Dosage and Drug Dose in the description of the invention and the claims, these terms mean pills, dragees, capsules, tablets and other solid forms offered on the drug market. In order to simplify the description of the invention, in the following text, the term Tablets will be used for all other doses of solid drugs. Therefore, when using this term, each individual type of drug dose in the solid state is included.

The cartridge and drug dispenser according to the present invention are used together for the consumption of tablets and the cartridge is inserted into the drug dispenser for the purpose of using the same (drug dispenser). First of all, the cartridge and the dispenser for medicines are used for the consumption of medicines, and especially for the consumption of hormonal preparations and mostly for contraceptive pills or medicines for hormone therapy in the form of tablets.

If the medicine in the cartridge, for example, is a hormonal preparation for the purpose of preventing pregnancy, then it is possible to consume it in the usual way, for example, every 24 hours in a two-phase scheme of consumption. According to this scheme, the first phase of consumption of, for example, 21 days is followed by a period of time in which the tablets are not consumed (break period). For example, the break period can be 7 days, but also 4 days or some other predefined number of days. Instead of the previously mentioned, predefined time periods of, for example, 21 days of consumption and 7 days of break or 24 days of consumption and 4 days of break or instead of some other, predefined mode of consumption, you can, for example, take certain medications to prevent pregnancy and in a flexible schedule consumption, in which case the consumption phase lasts, for example, a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 120 days, while the break phase lasts, for example, 4 days, On this

53243 Β the mode of consumption phases is divided into the first phase of consumption lasting 24 days and the second phase of consumption lasting 0 to 96 days.

The cartridge according to the invention can be inserted and replaced within the drug dispenser according to the invention. The cartridge changes when it is empty. The empty cartridge is then replaced with a full cartridge. The pre-filled cartridge is used to refill the dispenser with tablets. For safe storage and transport of the cartridge, the cartridge can be placed in, above all, a closed container, for example, in a closed bag or in a blister pack made of aluminum foils containing a tablet storage container, until the cartridge is inserted into the drug dispenser. . Generally speaking, the cartridge can be connected to the cartridge so that the cartridge is discarded after the cartridge is emptied.

The cartridge, above all, arranges the tablets in the form of columns with storage for receiving tablets. That is why the cartridge is, above all, cylindrical in shape and has, in the first place, a cylindrical storage.

In order to guarantee the possibility of changing the tablet cartridge according to the invention within the medicament dispenser according to the invention, the medicament dispenser has means for receiving the cartridge, for example, a receiving shaft which extends in the axial direction and into which the cartridge can be inserted. To use the echo dispenser, the cartridge is inserted into the receiving means, for example, into the receiving shaft. In this way, the cartridge and the drug dispenser stand in a simple-body relationship and together form a combination according to the invention consisting of a drug dispenser and a cartridge which may form a separate unit.

According to the present invention, the cartridge is equipped with a release device for the purpose of consuming predefined doses of drugs, and the release device is, in the first place, located at the end of the cartridge. This separation device comprises a movable device for separating a predetermined dose of drugs from the storage space and for dosing from the drug dispenser. The separation device is intended to generate an effective connection with the single dosing separator activation apparatus which

53243 Β is inside the medicine dispenser. The dispensing device is primarily designed so that the tablets come out of the drug dispenser individually, one by one or in a predetermined number, for example, two tablets at the same time. For this purpose, the release device is activated via an effective connection between the release device and one or more activation devices provided on the drug dispenser. Activation devices may include both manual activation means provided on the dispensing drug dispenser (or multiple tablets simultaneously) and devices within the dispenser for drugs used to transmit motion by manually activating the activating means from the activating means to the movable a device located on the provided separation device on the cartridge. Since the separation device in this embodiment of the invention is provided on the cartridge, no such device is provided on the drug dispenser. The actuating device or devices for activating the separating device in this embodiment are housed on the drug dispenser. These activating devices are, in the first place, in mechanical working connection with the separating device. An electromechanical or purely electronic working connection is also possible. For the realization of a mechanical working connection, it is possible, for example, to provide a needle on the cartridge separation device, which can also be marked as a clutch. By activating the appropriate means (activation) on the drug dispenser, in this case, the movement, for example, is transmitted to the fork in the drug dispenser adapted to this clutch and provided with the discharge device ί from this fork to the clutch and then to the separation device . The movement generated by manual activation of the means on the drug dispenser is primarily transmitted to the fork via other mechanical elements involved, such as a transport lever, which are a device for transmitting movement from the activating means to the separating device.

Predicting the separation device on the cartridge has a number of useful features:

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The separation device serves the user / users to remove individual tablets or a predefined number of tablets in the cartridge. In this way, the user is in a position to safely remove the tablets from the cartridge without inadvertently removing more than one tablet (or more than a predetermined number of tablets) at a time.

Furthermore, the separation device closes the storage, and thus protects the tablets in the storage from external influences, so that the tablets inside the storage space cannot be damaged or otherwise exposed to negative influences. First of all, the separating device serves during transport and storage, but also when used by the user as a memorizing element, so that the tablets are protected from external influences.

The design of the separation device on the cartridge, in addition, guarantees that the tablets cannot fall out unintentionally, because the locking element cannot be unintentionally unlocked. The separating device can, above all, be started only in the specified case, and so it is possible to remove the tablets individually (or in a predefined number) from the drug dispenser, only when there is a cartridge in it. Activating means on the drug dispenser are provided for activating the individual dosing separator on the cartridge, because for easy use it is necessary to activate the manual activating means on the drug dispenser to dispense one tablet (predefined number of tablets). In any case, due to the release device, it is not possible to remove more than one tablet (or more than a predetermined number of tablets) from the cartridge, and it is quite incredible to remember that the cartridge element on the release device is manually activated if not dispensed in the medicine dispenser. finds the cartridge.

In addition, the cost of mounting when inserting the cartridge into the dispenser is minimal: For example, it is sufficient to insert the cartridge in the axial direction into the receiving means for the cartridge in the dispenser, without having to remove the cover and without the need for additional mounting measures. . In this way, it is not necessary, for example, to remove the cover, as is the case with the drug dispenser of US invention published under number 5,230,440, to insert the cartridge into the receiving shaft inside

53243 Β medication dispenser. It greatly facilitates the use of dispensers for medicines with a cartridge. This advantage is particularly realized in that the separating device is at the same time memorizing the element and is intended for the cartridge and not for the drug dispenser.

Furthermore, when the dosing device is used, the release device is always reactivated to remove the tablets. Since the separation device is provided on the cartridge and not on the drug dispenser, the wear of the separation device due to the above does not have the same negative consequences for the user as when the separation device would be provided on the drug dispenser, because the separation device changes with the cartridge, when there are no more tablets in the cartridge. If the separation device were on the drug dispenser and not on the cartridge, then its service life should be extended by selecting suitable materials and suitable construction. Furthermore, crumbs of tablets that can be collected, in particular, inside the separation device, can be removed with the cartridge and they are collected in the drug dispenser during the entire service life of the drug dispenser. However, these crumbs in combination with humidity (air) form a fertile ground for nucleation and growth of particles.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the tablet separation and removal device has a slider that moves substantially horizontally or substantially horizontally relative to the axis of the cartridge. The slider serves as an integral part, with which the tablets are separated. The slider can accept one tablet and slide it out of the crowd. First of all, the tablets in the cartridge are arranged in a pile that forms a column and is located in the cartridge container. The slider can be positioned at the end of the cup and then the tablets can be separated from the cup one after the other.

In this case, the slider may, in particular, have a receiving compartment open on both sides in the axial direction for a predefined dose of medication, for example, for one or two tablets at the same time, or

53243 Β for more, that is, more than two tablets. When receiving the tablet from the cup, this receiving compartment is closed on the side opposite to the one on which the pile is located. First of all, the receiving compartment is dimensioned so that there is room for (only) a single tablet (or a predefined number of tablets). For separation to be effective and repeatable, the height of this compartment may be equal to or lower than the height of one tablet (or the height of the cup of a predetermined number of tablets). Therefore, in this case, only a single tablet (or a predefined number of tablets) is separated into the receiving compartment and then separated from the pile by a sliding motion.

The separating device may additionally contain a lower container. In addition, you can move the slider towards the cartridge storage between two sliding positions generally perpendicular to the cartridge axis. The lower container, inter alia, can be used to close the receiving compartment on the side opposite to that in which the storage in the cartridge is located, when the receiving compartment cannot be adjusted to one of the sliding positions (dear sliding position) in the storage. In this case, the tablet reaches the receiving compartment and is kept there in the lower container. The slider is then moved to the second of the two sliding positions (the first sliding position) from which the tablet can be removed.

In a preferred embodiment, the lower container may comprise a tablet ejection opening moved towards the cartridge with the open receiving compartment, when the slider is in one of the two sliding positions, and in particular in the first sliding position. In this case, the tablet falls out through the tablet drain hole and you can take it that way. In this case, the tablet is taken on the side of the separation device that lies opposite the storage space. In an alternative embodiment, the first sliding position can be selected for dropping the tablet, so that the tablet is dispensed on the side of the separating device on which the storage is located. Here you would have to raise the slider above the medication dispenser and the first sliding position of the receiving compartment should be in the side protruding part of the slider. Furthermore, the tablets can also be dispensed from the side, that is, in the plane in which the slider moves the tablets during its own movement. In all these cases,

53243 Β You can store and separate the tablets in any position where they are arranged next to each other with their main surfaces or in a position where the tablets are arranged side by side with their side surfaces.

The separating device fits, in the first place, between two sliding positions. One of the two sliding positions may be the rest position, while the remaining sliding position may be the second position from which the disconnecting device always returns to the rest position because in the other position it is under spring tension, which returns it to the rest position. It is possible that the second sliding position in which the receiving compartment in the slider aligns with the cartridge storage is the rest position or that the first position, in which the slider is aligned with the tablet discharge opening in the lower container, is the rest position.

In particular, the lower container of the cartridge may be closely connected to the outer coating of the drug dispenser. In this way, it is possible to prevent the user from manipulating the cartridge from the drug dispenser before the cartridge is completely empty. Furthermore, the cartridge is placed in the drug dispenser so that the tablets, and thus the medical catalysts in the tablets, do not touch the drug dispenser or its parts during separation and discharge, ie release from the drug dispenser. This embodiment of the invention is particularly useful for medical reasons.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cartridge and the drug dispenser are designed so that the cartridge can only be inserted in the (axial) rotational direction, so that one of the two halves of the cartridge adjacent to the storage in which the tablets are located is directed towards the front, and the other towards the back of the drug dispenser. This allows both halves of the cartridge to be used in different ways. For example, information about the tablets in the cartridge can be printed on one half, and the other half can be transparent so that the tablets can be seen from the outside.

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According to one embodiment of the invention, the cartridge is designed so that the tablets can be dispensed in the axial direction. This means that the tablets are not dispensed from the drug dispenser laterally, but on the front of the drug dispenser and in a direction coinciding with the axial direction, ie along the axis of the cartridge or parallel to this axis and / or along the axis of the drug dispenser or parallel to it.

In this way, the user can easily take the tablets to be dispensed by holding the drug dispenser in one hand, whereby the person can also activate the tablet release activating means provided on the drug dispenser with that hand, and then the tablet is discharged into the other hand of the person. In this example, it is quite sufficient for the user to hold the drug dispenser on the side where the cartridge is inserted into the drug dispenser above the other hand and thus activate the drug dispenser to release the tablet. In this example, further orientation of the drug dispenser relative to the hand holding the drug dispenser is not required, so that the tablet safely falls into the user's hand and the user can safely receive the tablet. Misuse, in which the tablet does not fall and does not fall into the hands of the user, is practically excluded. In this way, the use of drug dispensers is safer and more reliable than the use of known drug dispensers.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cartridge comprises a balancing closure within the reservoir which is, above all, resistant to friction and can be moved in the axial direction. This balance cap is inserted into the storage before filling the tablet cartridge and after filling the tablet cartridge on the pile of tablets, so that it is pressed firmly.

Because the balance closure is friction in the storage compartment, it can keep the tablet pile tightly packed when the cartridge is not in the medicine dispenser or when the cartridge is used separately, for example during storage or transport. A tight connection of the tablet pile is mandatory to prevent the possibility of free movement in the storage, so that the tablets cannot tip over and thus deform at the edges and to prevent the tablets from falling out. In addition, the tablets may be subject to unwanted friction with constant movement. In this case

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It is necessary to take into account that the tablets have a thickness tolerance that leads to variations in the height of the tablet pile. If the thickness tolerance of a 3 mm thick tablet is ± 150 pm, the pile height variation of 30 tablets is about ± 4.5 mm. The balance cap firmly holds the pile of tablets independent of its actual height and storage, that is, even when the cartridge has not yet been inserted into the medication dispenser. For example, a balancing closure, in relation to a compression spring that would press and thus fix the tablets in the storage, has the advantage that the tablets are packed on top of each other during transport and storage and do not stand - as with a compression spring, in depending on the variable spring stress regardless of the height of the tablet pile. In this way, the tablets are stored more carefully than in the case of a well-known warehouse.

To allow a dark connection of the balance shutter in the cartridge storage, the balance shutter has at least one locking means which has a profile extending in the axial direction on the inner wall of the cartridge storage. For example, it is possible to construct this profile as a transverse profile with transverse grooves, consisting of mutually parallel transverse grooves. For example, a profile with transverse grooves may form at least one strip that is sewn axially on the wall of the insert or the profile can be provided on the entire inner circumference of the inner wall of the insert. By shaping the profile in the form of a retaining strip profile, a shape-shaped connection is achieved in one direction (towards the tablet discharge opening) and in the other a friction joint of the balance shutter.

It is possible to form at least one locking stop means on the balance shutter in particular by means of at least one spring element acting outwards and connecting to the profile. For example, two spring elements with stop hooks can be provided on opposite sides of the base part of the balance shutter, the spring elements being primarily axially spaced apart and outwardly elastic spring arms, which have in profile, for example, between two opposite strips for retention, gripping stop hooks. The balance closure can first be introduced into the cartridge storage with the spring elements so that at least one locking stop means standing upwards and thus prevents falling out.

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In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cartridge comprises a movable tablet weight which can be moved in the axial direction within the container and which passes through at least one axial slot in the cartridge and which serves to capture the shear means inside the drug dispenser, for example, shear stirrup which, likewise, can be moved primarily in the axial direction, but which also serves to transmit an axially directed elastic force which primarily acts externally on the columns of the arrangement of the tablets contained in the cartridge; thus, this moving tablet weight also serves to hold the tablets in columns in one place with the help of a shear.

Through the shear means, for example the shear stirrup, a force is applied to the pile of tablets in the reservoir originating from the springs engaging the shear means, for example from the springs for constant tension, so that the pile of tablets is constantly under force in the axial direction. there is a cartridge in the medicine dispenser. In this way, the tablets cannot be moved freely in the storage. This force acts by pressing the pile of tablets towards the receiving compartment inside the separating device, so that one tablet always reaches the receiving compartment when the slider is in the first shear position. In order for this to be possible at all, the shear means, which slides on the outside against the cartridge, for example the shear stirrup, can be in contact with the moving tablet weight by means of a mold. In this case, the moving tablet weight, which moves freely in the axial direction and is located in the cartridge storage, can engage through at least one axial slot on the cartridge, for example, with one arm or also with two arms (in this case through each axial slit), so that the shear through this arm or some other shoot can exert force on the moving weight for the tablets, and thus on the pile of tablets. In this way, the axial force acts on the pile of tablets, when the cartridge is in the medicine dispenser; the axial force acts in the direction of the separation device. In this way, the pile of tablets is constantly pressed downwards, so that the tablet can reach the receiving compartment, when the receiving compartment in the separating device slides with the storage.

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Instead of a moving weight for tablets with one or more arms passing through a slot in the cartridge housing or through several slots and as a result of which an external force is transmitted to the pile of tablets via the moving weight for tablets, it is possible to choose another non-intended embodiment. a slot in the cartridge housing. In the latter case, the force on the pile of tablets needs to be exerted in some other way from the outside, for example, via an axial transmission means which is loaded by an external force at only one or both ends of the cartridge housing; this results in an axial force load on the pile of tablets. This embodiment can be realized by inserting a strip on the lower part of the cartridge housing and passing it over a pile of tablets. When pulling this strip, an axial force is applied which acts downwards on the pile of tablets. For example, a strip that stretches a pile of tablets can be reported from the cartridge housing on both sides. Or the tape can only be made on one side and fastened to the base of the cartridge housing on the other. Alternatively, a rod that moves in the axial direction, which is placed on a pile of tablets and exerts an axial force on the pile, can be used.

Generally speaking, when inserting the filled cartridge into the medicament dispenser, a shear means, for example, a shear stirrup, can also be introduced in the direction of introduction, so that the shear means is guided upwards above the moving weight for the tablets. In this case, it is possible for this shear to lock the cartridge over at least one suitable snap means, so that the introduced shear slides along the friction surface of the locking lever located in the upper region of the drug dispenser and thus locks the cartridge inside the drug dispenser. When the cartridge is gradually emptied, this shear can be gradually moved downwards, so that above its position in the dispenser for drugs the coding state of the cartridge is coded. When this shear agent finally reaches the (lower) end position, which is defined by the empty cartridge, it can then be released by means of a lock so that the cartridge can be removed from the drug dispenser. For example, this can be done by bringing the shear means in the lowest position to bring the locking lever into the unlocked position and, if necessary, unlocking additional suitable ejection means for the cartridge.

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In order for the cartridge to remain fixed after insertion into the receiving shaft or, more generally, after inserting the cartridge into the receiving means within the drug dispenser, at least one snap-in means for locking the cartridge inside the drug dispenser is provided. This snap-on locking device is primarily shaped in such a way that the cartridge is locked after insertion into the drug dispenser, that is, it can no longer be removed without releasing the lock as long as the cartridge contains tablets. Only after the cartridge has been emptied can the lock be unlocked so that the cartridge can be removed from the medicine dispenser and a new cartridge filled with tablets can be inserted.

For locking it is possible to use such a snap-in stop means, for example, through one or more snap hooks on the cartridge or one or more snap-in profiles, for example, eyelets on the dispenser for drugs locked in or with snap hooks or the reverse principle can be used: through one or more snap hooks on the drug dispenser and one or more snap profiles, for example, snap lugs, on the cartridge. Basically, of course, other snap-in means are also possible, such as snap-in hooks reaching behind the shoots or two snap-in profiles entering each other or the like. For example, at least one snap-in stop means can be rotated. It can be formed primarily through rotary locking levers which generally have two arms and have snap-in locking hooks. Snap-in stop hooks are located mainly on the lower part of the locking lever. The blocking agents are in the medicine dispenser. Each snap-in locking hook is locked, in the first place, on locking levers via a snap-in eye provided on the insert or the like. Instead of a snap-in eye, it is possible to provide, for example, a shoot bordering the snap-on stop hook or an opening into which the snap-in stop hook engages. To further guarantee the locking, a pressure point can be provided on the locking levers, where no snap-in stop hook or shoot is provided, which jumps into the drug dispenser housing behind the corresponding snap-in stop hook or shoot.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the locking levers can be raised with snap-on stop hooks in the area adjacent to the area in which the cartridge is inserted into the drug dispenser, in the front area of ​​the drug dispenser adjacent

53243 Β with means for receiving the cartridge in the medicine dispenser, for example in the receiving shaft. Then, on the insert, in the border area, it is necessary to provide loops for reception, in which the snap hooks of the locking lever will be inserted. This boundary area may, for example, be located in the lower container of the cartridge.

Additionally, it is possible to provide an ejection lock which, for example, may comprise a release lever. The ejection lock blocks external, manually activated ejection means for ejecting the cartridge, for example, the ejection button, so that only the ejection of the cartridge is possible when the cartridge no longer contains tablets. This barrier blocks the activation of the external ejection means and releases them again when the cartridge is empty. This lock can be deactivated, in the first place, by a means of unlocking the lock. For this purpose, an ejection slider can be provided which can be activated via the ejection means, the release and locking lever locking the ejection slider, and thus the ejection button, if the cartridge contains at least one more dose of medicament.

If at least one snap stop means blocking the cartridge inside the drug dispenser, that is, if at least one snap stop can no longer be released without a separate release of this block, then it is necessary to provide at least one additional lock release means. . This lock release means is designed so that the lock of the lock is possible only when there are no more doses of drugs in the cartridge. Without the lock, the engagement could be unlocked easily, by manually overcoming the snap force of at least one snap-in stop means. This would only be possible if at least one snap-in stop means is designed so that the parts forming the snap joint slide side by side when a snap stop release force is applied and thus unlock the engagement.

If the blocking occurs when at least one snap-in stop is locked, because the snap-on hooks and snap-in profiles are designed so that the lock cannot be removed without destroying at least one snap-in stop when the lock is not removed at the same time, then at least one

53243 Β a means of unlocking the lock or a mechanism located in the drug dispenser or it is necessary to combine these means. Here, at least one release agent can be provided in the drug dispenser that unlocks the snap-on stop hooks of the locking lever depending on the state of charge of the tablet cartridge, in the first instance, only when the cartridge is empty. In this case, at least one locked snap stop means is released by means of at least one release means, so that at least one snap stop means is moved from the locked to the unlocked position without external manual activation. This unlocking means can, in particular, be the shear means described above which places the locking of the cartridge in the unlocked position when inserted into the locked position and after emptying it. For the purpose of locking, the snap-in stop means engage and the shear means presses one or more upper parts of the locking lever. Furthermore, the shear agent can also act on the ejection block and unblock it, if there are no more tablets in the cartridge. For this purpose, the shear means can be activated to release the ejector lever so as to unlock the ejector slider and thus the ejector. First of all, the ejection slider, by activating the ejection means, presses one or more lower parts of the ejection means, primarily the locking levers, and in this way unlocks the cartridge blocked by the snap stop means.

Unlocking can be activated, for example, by a suitable agent in a medicament dispenser whose position depends on the state of charge of the cartridge. For example, a shear stirrup which can be moved in the axial direction on the cartridge or another movable shear means which, for example, is located at the height of the tablet which is in the furthest position inside the cartridge can be overlooked here. So when there are no more tablets in the cartridge, the shear stirrup or other shear means are in the lowest position and in this case unlock the lock.

In order to be able to unlock the external manual ejection means for ejecting the cartridge, that is, to be able to remove the ejection lock, the same means for unlocking the lock can again be provided, for example, the aforementioned shear stirrup or some other shear means whose position depends on the state of charge of the cartridge.

53243 Β

In another embodiment of the invention, at least one elastic means can be provided which, when inserting the cartridge into the drug dispenser, will exert an elastic force on the cartridge in the axial direction opposite to the direction in which the cartridge is inserted into the drug dispenser (insertion direction). In this way, it is achieved that the cartridge in the drug dispenser is under stress, primarily under spring stress. The spring force acting on the cartridge causes the tablets in the cartridge to press against each other, so that they cannot fall out when the dispenser in the cartridge container is moved. Due to the fact that the tablets are constantly under spring stress, once placed, the arrangement of the tablets in the pile can no longer be changed.

The spring force is primarily exerted via two elastic means in the form of at least one spring for constant tension, and in particular in the form of two springs for constant tension. This can always be loaded with the same force on a pile of tablets in the cartridge storage, regardless of the actual weight, ie the state of filling of the cartridge, without having to give up the benefits of loading on a pile of tablets, when it is very small, for example , when it contains two or three tablets. It is possible to form at least one elastic means, for example, over at least one strip of spring steel.

The above-mentioned shear means, for example, the above-mentioned shear stirrup which preferably moves along the receiving shaft, can also be used to transmit the elastic force to the tablets which are in columns inside the cartridge. This shear can. among other things, to have the function of transmitting external elastic force to a pile of tablets. This occurs, for example, by attaching a spring or even two springs to the shear, as well as to the counterweight inside the drug dispenser. Preferably, two constant tension springs are provided, one of which is fixed at one end of the shear means, for example at one end of the shear stirrup, and the other at the other end of the shear means, so that a symmetrical force is transmitted to the shear means. Alternatively, only one spring can be provided to engage the shear. In this case, the asymmetric forces should be equalized.

53243 Β

As already explained above, the shear means can - among other things - serve to unlock the locks for ejecting the cartridge, as well as to unlock the ejection lock, that is, the shear can at least be part of the means for unlocking the lock .

The drug dispenser according to the invention which does not contain a cartridge and which is constructed and designed to receive a changeable cartridge located in the drug dose container as well as to receive a dispensing device for dispensing predefined drug doses, comprising at least one activating device separation devices, as well as means for establishing an active connection between the at least one activating device and one moving device on the separating device which serves to separate the predefined dose of the drug from the storage and to dispense the dose from the drug dispenser.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one activating device comprises at least one means for activating the release of predetermined doses of drugs on at least one narrow side of the drug dispenser. These activating agents are used to release individual tablets from the cartridge by manual activation. In this case, the activating means may be in mechanical, electromechanical or electronic active connection with the separating device via suitable transport means for the purpose of individually dispensing the tablets from the cartridge. can be easily activated, when the user handles the medication dispenser with only one hand, in such a way that the user holds the drug dispenser in one hand and puts pressure on the narrower sides of the drug dispenser and thus activates the activation means. Instead of being placed on one or both narrower sides of the drug dispenser, the activating agents may be placed elsewhere in the drug dispenser, for example, on the front or back of the drug dispenser or on one or both front sides.

53243 Β

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, transmission means are formed, through which the actuating means stand in a mechanically active connection with the separating device, through the devices for transmitting the movement of the activating means to the separating device provided on the cartridge. Here, for example, transport levers can be used which can synchronize the slightly toothed poles with the gear. For example, the transport levers may be in direct mechanical active connection with the separating device, for example by means of a shape, in which one gripper is provided on the separating device and one groove is actively connected to the gripper on at least one transport lever. or vice versa.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a small window can be provided on the outside of the housing inside the drug dispenser, so that the tablets, which are in the cartridge, can be seen from the outside. In this way, it is possible to visually control the filling status of the cartridge. In addition, the moving tcg for tablets may be colored with a contrasting color relative to the tablets and, for example, against the background of the cartridge and / or components that are otherwise visible through the small window located on the drug dispenser. This simplifies the visual inspection of the state of filling of the cartridge through a small window located on the medicine dispenser. Here, the cartridge may, at least in part, consist of a transparent material. But basically, the insole can at least partially consist of a breathable material. The transparent or breathable material may consist in particular of that part of the cartridge which is visible through a small shaft located on the housing of the dispenser for medicaments, so that the tablets contained in the cartridge are also visible.

In addition, the drug dispenser may include an electronic display to show the number of tablets taken and / or tablets still to be taken and / or the number of tablets still in the cartridge. Each of this information can be displayed alternatively, by manual selection. in addition, the electronic display can be designed to display alarm signals, for example, the time period within which the tablet needs to be taken, as well as the charging status of the battery used inside the drug dispenser. In addition, the status of the different phases of taking the tablets can be shown on the display,

53243 Β such as showing whether the user is in the first, second, third or nth phase, where the first phase can, for example, include a constant 24 days, the second phase arbitrarily from 0 to 96 days and the third phase will again include consecutive 4 days.

In order for the above data to be able to be displayed on an electronic display, an electronic connection is provided, primarily in the form of a platinum with a semiconductor circuit integrated into the display. Switches can be further mounted on the platinum, primarily electric activation buttons, and they can be connected to enter the necessary data, such as selecting the display mode (number of tablets taken, number of tablets still in the cartridge). In addition, electrical switches can be provided in the drug dispenser in order to automatically determine the operating states of the drug dispenser with the cartridge, such as the first commissioning of the drug dispenser by first inserting the cartridge into the drug dispenser, thereby activating batteries that power supply circuits and an electronic display of electricity, that is, which are connected to the connection and the display; such as dropping the tablet, ejecting the cartridge and / or detecting a certain number of tablets in the cartridge to show the exact number of tablets still in the cartridge. For the last function, it is sufficient to calculate - starting from the number of tablets in a fully filled cartridge - how many tablets are still in the cartridge after detecting the discharge of the tablet. Generally speaking, this electronic display can show inaccurate information if the number of tablets decreases due to the inevitable tolerance of tablet thickness within a fully filled cartridge. This error can be ruled out if it is detected that there are, for example, four more tablets in the cartridge.

In the following, the present invention is explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary examples which are schematically shown in the figures. However, the invention is not limited to examples. Other embodiments with different variants of the individual features of the invention are also possible. The same reference numbers in different figures denote identical or functionally identical elements in terms of their respective functions. Single image display:

53243 Β

Figure ΙΑ: perspective view of a drug dispenser according to the invention with a cartridge inserted from the front;

Figure IB: as Figure 1A from the rear;

Figure 2: perspective view of the interior of the drug dispenser with the cartridge inserted, in which the drug dispenser is shown from the rear;

Figure 3: a perspective view of the lower part of the inner structure of the housing with the parts of the separating device required for discharging the tablets; the inner construction of the housing is shown from the front of the drug dispenser;

Figure 4: cross-section of a cartridge filled with tablets with a release device, seen from the front;

Figure 4 A: cross-section of the cartridge head, seen from the front;

Figure 5: perspective view of a drug dispenser without an outer coating with an inserted and filled cartridge (open), seen from the back;

Figure 5A: as Figure 1, section of the pressure point on the left locking lever;

Figure 6: perspective view of the internal structure of the housing of the drug dispenser with shear stirrup and springs for constant tension, seen from the rear of the drug dispenser;

Figure 7: detailed view of the drug dispenser without the outer coating, seen from the back, with locks for the cartridge;

Figure 7 A: view as in Figure 7, a detailed perspective view of the left part of the dispenser for drugs with a locked cartridge;

Figure 7B: as Figure 7A, with the cartridge unlocked

Figure 8 A: partial perspective view of the lower part of the drug dispenser without the side part of the housing with the eject button and the release button at the full cartridge, seen from the right side;

Figure 8B: as Figure 8A, with empty cartridge

Figure 8C: perspective view of the release button with arm spring and ejector slider; seen from the back;

Figure 8D: as Figure 8C, at cartridge ejection;

Figure 8 E: cross-section through the drug dispenser without front and back of the housing, seen from the back;

Figure 9: Detailed view of the drug dispenser, viewed from the rear

53243 Β

The dispenser for drugs 1 shown in Figures ,Α, 1B serves to release T tablets which, for example, are taken in order to prevent pregnancy. The drug dispenser is particularly suitable for dosing contraceptives (tablets) taken on a daily basis under the so-called flexible regimen, that is, in the first phase of administration lasting 24 days, then in the second phase of administration lasting from 0 to 96 days, so the first and second phases can last up to 120 days. In this case, the user decides, after the expiration of the first phase of taking, when to stop taking and start the phase of stopping taking. While the dear phase of taking is followed by the phase of a break from taking for 4 days, the first phase of taking is continued again.

It is understood that the tablet dispenser may also be used to release other T tablets, for example drugs used in hormone therapy, diuretics and antihypertensives.

The drug dispenser 1 comprises a drug dispenser housing 10, a front housing container 11.1 (Figure 1 A) and a rear housing container 11.2 (Figure 1 B), as well as a housing portion 12 that connects both housing containers and includes a drug dispenser on three narrow sides and consists of several parts, and in the lower field on each side it is formed as a joystick 14, 15. The housing part is made of a composite material to guarantee a rigid design of the front part in area 13, while both service keys located on the side narrow sides of the drug dispenser are movable so that the keys can be moved up to drug dispenser bodies (see arrows). Part of the housing can also be designed as a hard deformable container that can be pressed inwards in the lower part and thus form activation buttons.

In the front housing container 11.1. an electronic display 16 is provided, as well as a control button 17,18. The control of taking T tablets is done via the electronic display. The operation keys 14, 15 are used to select the menu item shown on the display, for example, to control the battery or the day of taking the tablet, the day of pause and the number of tablets still inside the cartridge as well as to select the option to stop taking tablets.

In fig. 1 B shows the back of the dispenser. The back side has a shaft 20, which expands in the axial direction and enables the recognition of the T tablets contained in the cartridge. For that

53243 Β the rear container of the cartridge housing 11.2 in the shaft area as well as the cartridge housing must be transparent at least in the part visible through the shaft.

In the lower part of the dispenser 1, a part of the cartridge can be seen, namely, the lower container of the cartridge 920, which rests in the same plane on the dispenser housing. An outlet 922 for T tablets can be seen in the lower container of the cartridge (Fig. 1A). An ejection button from the cartridge 19 is inserted in the front container of the housing 11.1, which is pushed in the direction of the arrow so that the cartridge, when empty, is ejected from the dispenser.

In fig. 2, seen from the rear, shows a part of the dispenser 1 (without the outer cover) as well as a cartridge 900 inserted in the dispenser. The cartridge is inserted into the dispenser from below (see arrow), where the cartridge has a separation device 910, part of which is the lower container of the cartridge 920 and which rests over the cartridge in the lower part of the dispenser on the dispenser housing (Fig. 1A). The cartridge encloses the housing of the cartridge 930, which contains the T tablets. The housing is formed by the front container of the cartridge 933 and the rear container of the cartridge (not shown), which for use in the dispenser consists primarily of a transparent material so that tablets can be recognized through the shaft 20 on the back of the dispenser (Fig. 1B).

The dispenser 1 has an internal housing structure 100 inside, which basically takes over all the static functions of the dispenser. The inner construction of the housing shows, for example, a middle clamp 110 (hidden) which is cylindrically curved on one side to accept the cartridge housing 930 (the front half of the cartridge housing is only partially visible). The curvature of this clamp forms, together with the other (not shown here) components of the dispenser, a receiving shaft (indicated by reference numeral 150), into which the cartridge insert can be inserted from below. The receiving shaft is indicated here only intermittently and marked with a cavity.

In fig. 3 shows, viewed from the front, the lower part of the inner structure of the housing 100 of the dispenser 1 without the outer coating. On the lower narrow side of the dispenser is shown a device for separating the cartridge 910, in this case without the lower vessel 920. In order to activate the movement, the following components are provided:

53243 Β

The activation keypads 14, 15 on the dispenser housing 10 are pressed inwards to activate the dispenser 1 (Fig. IA; see arrow). They act on two transport levers, the right transport lever 210 and the left transport lever 220. These common transport levers have toothed racks 212 and 222, respectively, and through these toothed racks are in active connection with the gear 230. The gear is located on the inner housing structure 100. The right transport lever is supported by a compression spring 240 on the bearing 102, so that this transport lever and thus the left transport lever return to the home position (first position) after activating the activation keyboards, ie to the position where both levers are extended towards van. A protruding arm 224, having a recess 226, is further formed on the right transport lever.

In fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, viewed from the front, of a cartridge 900 filled with tablets. The cartridge has a separating device 910 with a lower cartridge container 930 visible here, consisting of a front cartridge container (not shown) and a rear cartridge container 932. A cylindrical storage is created through the front cartridge container and the lower cartridge container, in which the stacked tablets are located. . There is a slot on both sides (right) between the two vessels of the insert, which expands axially.

The cartridge 900 can be handled separately in the form shown, i.e. it can be used to replenish the dispenser 1, so that the cartridge is inserted from the front into the substantially cylindrical receiving compartment 150 in the dispenser and locked there. For transporting and storing separate cartridges, they are specially sealed in a second package that is impermeable to water and air, for example in a bag or blister.

In the housing of the cartridge 930 on the pile of tablets T there is a movable weight for tablets 960, which in principle can freely move in the axial direction in the cartridge case (Fig. 4A). By moving the weight, it penetrates with one arm 961 through a slot that expands in the axial direction between the front container of the cartridge 933 (not shown) and the rear container of the cartridge 932. The moving weight stands on a pile of tablets. The axial movement of the tablet weight is, however, limited upwards by means of the balance shutter 970. This closure is placed in the storage before filling the cartridge 900 with T tablets and after filling the cartridge is inserted into the pile of tablets and pressed by moving the weight. Since the balance shutter is in storage

53243 Β slides by friction, while pressing the cartridge out of the dispenser, it presses the pile of tablets and holds the pile together, so that the individual tablets cannot slip together, that is, they cannot move with each other. In this way, abrasion of the tablets is avoided on the one hand and, on the other hand, the tablets can also be arranged vertically or obliquely when moved freely. This prevents the tablets from tipping over and tilting in storage. To achieve sliding by friction of the balance shutter, it has a base body 971 as well as two spring elements with hooks 972, 972 ', which rest on the wall of the cartridge housing. In order to make the friction connection effective, there are opposite stop lines 975 on the inner walls in the areas where the hooks touch the inner walls, into which the opposite hooks engage (see detailed illustration of Fig. 4A). These stop lines are made only at a length of approx. 2 cm since the balance closure should only keep the tablets tightly packed when handling when the cartridge is fully filled, so the closure must close only in the joint area by friction with the inner wall of the cartridge housing, where it must only equalize the height of the cup due to individual tablet thickness tolerance .

In fig. 5 shows a dispenser without an outer coating, viewed from the rear, having a cartridge 900 filled with tablets T. The cartridge comprises a movable tablet weight 960 seated on a tablet pile, having an arm 961 protruding from the cartridge housing 930. of the tablet there is a balance closure 970, which comprises spring elements with hooks 972 (one of the spring elements is shown here). The hooks of the spring elements engage in the stop lines 975.

The dispenser 1 has, in addition, a shear slider 300, which engages around the center clamp 110 of the inner housing structure 100 around and along this clamp can move in the axial direction and is guided on this, for example through a dovetail guide. through the side surfaces of the clamps and the U-arms 311,312 of the stirrups or through the notch stop of these U-arms with the side surfaces of the clamps (Fig. 6).

In fig. 6 shows the inner skeleton of the housing 100 with the shear stirrup 300, looking from the rear of the dispenser 1. The shear stirrup has two supports 315,316, which are formed on them approximately in the right corner towards the U-arms 311, 312. On

53243 Β at the ends of the supports there are fastenings for springs for constant tension 320, 330 at one end of them. The constant tension springs are fixed and wound there with their one end in the lower part of the inner structure of the housing 100. In this way, one movement of the shear stirrup in the axial direction upwards can be achieved only against the force of the constant tension springs. But also, alternatively, the constant tension springs can be kept wound on a shear stirrup in suitable holders, for example on their supports, and their other ends being fixed downwards on the inner structure of the housing.

When inserting the cartridge from below into the receiving compartment 150 (not shown here) in the dispenser 1 (arrow), the arm of the movable weight 961 (Fig. 5) on the underside of the U-arm 311 of the shear stirrup 300 engages through the axial slot between the lower container of the cartridge. ) and the front bowl of the cartridge 933 cartridge and when inserting the cartridge pushes the shear stirrup upwards. Since moving the tablet weight 960 sits on the flight tab pile and the cartridge is full when inserted, the sliding slider is also pushed up to the upper end of the middle clamp. In this way both constant tension springs 320, 330 are tensioned so that the shear stirrup is below the downward spring tension. This stress is transmitted via a moving weight to a pile of tablets.

When inserting the cartridge 900 into the receiving vessel 150 of the dispenser 1, the cartridge is blocked in the dispenser. For this purpose, one left locking lever 420 and one right locking lever 410 are provided for the insert. , 422 (Figs. 7, 7A, 7B). They engage the corresponding lugs 981, 982 on the front bowl of the cartridge housing 932 (Figs. 7A, 7B) when the lower arms of the locking lever and thus the snap-on stop hooks of the locking lever are pulled inwards (Fig. 5; see inward-facing arrow). ). This inclination is acted upon so that the shear stirrup 300 when inserting the cartridge into the dispenser on the middle clamp 110 of the inner structure of the tire housing upwards and then in the upper region slides along the dark surfaces 416, 426 of the locking levers and thus presses the levers upwards. to block. This rotates the upper arms of the locking levers inwards and the outer arms in this way. At the same time spring

53243 Β the arms 417, 427, which are formed above the respective pivot points on the locking levers, are closed by snapping over the respective pressure points 418, 428 behind the corresponding shoots 419, 429 on the inner housing trough, so that the locking levers can be fixed. keep in this position (Fig. 5A). Therefore, the locking levers sit in the locking position after inserting the full cartridge, so that the cartridge can no longer be removed without an additional aid. This ensures that the cartridge can no longer be removed after insertion and sitting in place in the dispenser, if the cartridge is fully charged during insertion, since the shear stirrup is pushed up to the friction surfaces of the locking levers when inserting a full cartridge, and thus translates to the blocking position. This lock is maintained until the cartridge is completely empty.

In order for the emptied cartridge to be ejected from the dispenser, an ejection mechanism is provided, which again suspends the lock, which is acted upon by the locking lever. Details of this ejection mechanism are shown in FIG. 8L, 8B, 8C, 8D and 8E:

In order for the cartridge to be ejected, a release lever 500 is provided, located immediately behind the ejection button 19 (hidden) of the ejection slider 600 shown. The release lever is fixed by means of an arm spring 510 (Figs. 8C, 8D) in one main vertical position. Therefore, the release lever is located above the axis 520, 520 'on the front housing container 11.1 in the jaws 121, 122, which are formed on the front housing container. The release lever can be rotated in the jaw bearing (arrow in Fig. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D), although only against the spring force of the arm spring.

The release lever 500 locks the ejection slider 600 and thus the ejection button 19, such as the locking hooks 531, 532 (or alternatively also a single hook block) is in the off position of the release lever before the corresponding shoots 611, 612 (alternatively I am also in front of a single shoot) of the ejection slider and block the translatome downward movement of the slider (ejection block). In fig. 8C shows the ejection slider blocked by the release lever, while in FIG. 8D the ejection slider is unlocked and already pushed down.

53243 Β

When the cartridge 900 is emptied by dropping the tablets T, the shear stirrup 300 in the dispenser 1 slides downwards (Fig. 8B). When the shear stirrup reaches the lowest position for the last tablet in the cartridge during lifting, it grips the lever 540 of the release lever 500 and overturns the latter with its lower end against the spring force of the arm of the arm 510 forward (Fig. 8B; arrow). In this way, the release lever releases the ejection slider 600, so that the locking hooks 531, 532 move away from the corresponding protrusions 611,612 of the ejection slider.

The function of the locking levers 410, 420 when unlocking the cartridge 900 is shown in FIG. 8E: The cartridge lock is disengaged in such a way that the ejection slider 600 tires for approx. 2 mm down (arrow). In this case, the ejection slider with its friction surfaces 551, 552 comes into contact with the lower arms of the locking levers 410, 420, so that they are pressed outwards (arrow). In this way, the snap hooks 412, 422 of the locking lever are pressed outwards and pushed out of the lugs 981,982 of the cartridge. This unlocks the cartridge. By further moving the ejector slider down, the cartridge can now be ejected down. Here, the ejection slider locking extensions simultaneously act as ejection extensions, since they engage the edge of the upper side of the lower vessel of the cartridge 920 and press this downward by moving in the opposite direction. You can grasp the cartridge by hand and remove it from the receiving shaft 150 located on the medicine dispenser.

1. After activation, the ejection slider returns to its original position due to the action of the spring force. An arm spring 510 is used for this purpose.

The drug dispenser 1 has an electronic display 16, as well as two electronic service buttons 17, 18 (Fig. 1A). The electronic display is used to show the number of T tablets in the cartridge 900, as well as to show the status of taking the tablets, ie whether the first phase of taking for 24 days has already expired or not, and, if this is the case. , the number of days that have already passed in the second flexible phase of taking the tablets. Furthermore, information may be displayed if the tablet has not been taken within a certain period of time. The display can also show how many days have elapsed in one optionally introduced phase of not taking tablets. The display can also show the battery status. With the service keyboards, you can select the transition to the tablet-free phase as well as select different menu items.

53243 Β

The drug dispenser 1 contains batteries 1010, 1020 (Fig. 2.5), (alternatively it may also contain only one battery), which should maintain the functionality of the tablet dispenser 1 for as long as possible without having to changes. For this reason, the drug dispenser has for initial commissioning, when inserting the cartridge 900 into the dispenser, an initial switch 710, which is located on the inner structure of the housing (Fig. 9). This switch is a continuation of the switch arm 430 of the left locking lever 420 on its upper arm. When inserting the insert, it pushes the upper arm of the left locking lever outwards because the shear stirrup 300 slides along the friction surface 426 on the upper arm of this locking lever and consequently pushes the arm outwards (Fig. 5). Due to the above process, the extension of the switch arm on the left locking lever presses the initial switch and activates it. By activating this switch, the electronics are initialized, which until then was in the idle position without energy consumption and remains on thanks to the special construction of the initial switch even after removing the cartridge.

Simultaneously with the initialization of the electronics, when the cartridge 900 is first inserted into the dispenser 1, a second switch is activated, located next to the initialization switch 710 (not shown), which remains on until the upper right lock arm is pressed outwards. the cartridge remains in the dispenser. After removing the cartridge, this second switch is turned off again by turning inward the upper arm of the locking lever 420. This second switch sends a signal to the electronics that the cartridge is in the dispenser. In this way, the number of T tablets in the dispenser can be calculated by pre-transmitting the set value, so that in a full cartridge there is always a certain number of T tablets, for example 30 tablets, as well as by another signal transmitted to the electronics, with which it is registered. each taking a tablet from the dispenser. The electronics also receive information of a further signal from the second switch when removing the empty cartridge from the dispenser and re-inserting the filled cartridge, that the dispenser now has a fully charged cartridge.

A further signal, which registers the taking of tablet T from the dispenser 1, is caused by a third switch (not shown), which is located in the part of one of the transport levers 210,

53243 Β

220 and which is activated each time the conveyor lever is activated and produces this further signal.

Furthermore, the dispenser 1 has a fourth switch (not shown) in the lower part of the receiving vessel 150, by which the sliding next to the movable stirrup 300 is registered and forwarded to the electronics as an additional signal. This fourth switch serves to signal the electronically existing number of tablets in the cartridge shortly before the cartridge 900 is finally emptied, for example if there are only five more T tablets left in the cartridge. This is determined by the exact simple positioning of this fourth switch on the receiving shaft, whereby the fourth switch is activated only when the tablet is taken, if there is a predetermined number of tablets in the cartridge. Namely, this control counting may be necessary in order to be able to correctly show the user (s) how many more tablets are in the cartridge, when there are only a few left. This ensures that there is no misconception about the number of tablets left, as it could be critical if the user is not warned in time that the cartridge is empty. This precaution is suitable when the amount of filling of one cartridge with tablets cannot be safely maintained and with all control measures in the sequence of filling the cartridges. Because the height of an individual tablet has a tolerance, so the height of a pile of tablets can also vary. In any case, the user can still see if there are more tablets in the cartridge through the window 20 in the back container of the housing 1 1.2.

It is to be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustration purposes only and that various modifications and variations of the examples and embodiments are contained in the disclosure of the invention described herein.