Patents by Inventor Darren Hodson

Darren Hodson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8616196
    Abstract: An inhalation device for delivering doses of medicament to a user comprising: —a canister (5), said canister being adapted to accommodate the medicament to be dispensed to a user, and —a counter (15) which is connected to the canister (5). According to the invention —the canister (5) is adapted to receive the counter (15) on a base end (6a), —the counter and/or the canister further having contact parts (18, 20) for their attachment having means for increasing the friction and thereby allowing the counter to fixedly be attached onto the canister in a range of different positions in the lengthwise direction, —the counter further being adapted to during the process to assemble the counter to the canister, be urged onto the canister until the length of the counter and canister together is within a predefined tolerance of a predefined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, William Treneman
  • Patent number: 8584668
    Abstract: Actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation. The actuator comprises a main body comprising a tubular member for receiving a canister containing medicament and having a valve stem extending therefrom, and an outlet assembly, as a part formed separately of the main body, comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user and a nozzle block for receiving the valve stem of the canister and delivering medicament from the canister into the mouthpiece. At least a part of the outlet assembly is configured so as to deform and optionally break on withdrawal of the outlet assembly from the main body so as to prevent re-use of the outlet assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, Jorgen Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8528545
    Abstract: Inhaler device (10) comprising an actuator body (20) and an inhaler canister assembly (70), the inhaler canister assembly (70) is comprised of a canister (30) with a metering valve at a valve end and a dose counter unit (60) attached to a base end thereof. Further, the inhaler canister assembly (70) comprises first position ensuring means (110, 230), the actuator body comprises second position ensuring means (120,210), wherein the first and second position ensuring means being complementary mating means, and the first and second position ensuring means being so arranged that the inhaler device (10) cannot be fired, nor the counter unit (60) count unless the first and second position ensuring means are in a mating relationship. There is also provided an inhaler canister assembly (70) and an actuator body (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, William Treneman
  • Patent number: 7967011
    Abstract: Actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, having a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user; and a removable protection cap for the mouthpiece. The cap is secured to the mouthpiece by a cap retaining member that engages a mating recess in the mouthpiece outer periphery. The cap includes at least one release button arranged to provide an elastic deformation of the cap inner periphery that disengages the cap retaining member from the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, Jorgen Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 7743765
    Abstract: Actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, having a main body with a tubular member for receiving a canister containing medicament and having a valve stem extending therefrom; and an outlet assembly, as a part formed separately of the main body, including a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user and a nozzle block for receiving the valve stem of the canister and delivering medicament from the canister into the mouthpiece. The actuator belongs to a range of inhaler actuators where the outlet assembly is a common part for the range of actuators, and the members of the range of actuators differ by the physical appearance of the main body. The outlet assembly is formed such that it has all parts of the actuator that come into contact with the medicament during normal use, and the main body and the outlet assembly are configured so as to snap-fit together and are provided with complementary snap catch members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Astrazeneca AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, Jorgen Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20090093785
    Abstract: An environmental sensor device for detecting environmental conditions within a pharmaceutical product package is described. The sensor device is a stand alone device that includes: a housing defining the outer dimensions of the sensor device, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a control circuit, a memory circuit, a power source and a communications interface. The housing has outer dimensions that allow it to fit inside a pharmaceutical product package. A system and method for evaluating best before date for pharmaceutical products are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: ASTRAZENECA AB
    Inventors: Helen Brown, Darren Hodson, Rachel Jury, Simon Newey, Aziz-ur Rehman
  • Patent number: 7367333
    Abstract: Actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation. The actuator includes a main body having a tubular member for receiving a canister containing medicament and having a valve stem extending therefrom, and an outlet assembly, as a part formed separately of the main body, having a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user and a nozzle block for receiving the valve stem of the canister and delivering medicament from the canister into the mouthpiece. At least a part of the outlet assembly is configured so as to deform and optionally break on withdrawal of the outlet assembly from the main body so as to prevent re-use of the outlet assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: AstraZeneċa AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, Jorgen Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20080083408
    Abstract: An inhalation device for delivering doses of medicament to a user comprising:—a canister (5), said canister being adapted to accommodate the medicament to be dispensed to a user, and—a counter (15) which is connected to the canister (5). According to the invention—the canister (5) is adapted to receive the counter (15) on a base end (6a),—the counter and/or the canister further having contact parts (18, 20) for their attachment having means for increasing the friction and thereby allowing the counter to fixedly be attached onto the canister in a range of different positions in the lengthwise direction,—the counter further being adapted to during the process to assemble the counter to the canister, be urged onto the canister until the length of the counter and canister together is within a predefined tolerance of a predefined length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, William Treneman
  • Publication number: 20080066742
    Abstract: Inhaler device counter (20) for displaying the number of remaining doses in an inhaler device (10). The counter (20) comprises a counter mechanism and a display arrangement (60), wherein the display arrangement (60) is of pointer-gauge type with a static display section (90) provided as an integrated part of a transparent display containing part (150, 300) of a counter housing (70). There is also provided a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: ASTRAZENECA AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, William Treneman, Martin Bunce
  • Publication number: 20080060643
    Abstract: Inhaler device (10) comprising an actuator body (20) and an inhaler canister assembly (70), the inhaler canister assembly (70) is comprised of a canister (30) with a metering valve at a valve end and a dose counter unit (60) attached to a base end thereof. Further, the inhaler canister assembly (70) comprises first position ensuring means (110, 230), the actuator body comprises second position ensuring means (120,210), wherein the first and second position ensuring means being complementary mating means, and the first and second position ensuring means being so arranged that the inhaler device (10) cannot be fired, nor the counter unit (60) count unless the first and second position ensuring means are in a mating relationship. There is also provided an inhaler canister assembly (70) and an actuator body (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: ASTRAZENECA AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, William Treneman
  • Publication number: 20080011291
    Abstract: Inhaler valve (30) comprising a gathering ring (70) comprised of a non-elastomeric polymer-material, wherein at least one annular section (110, 140, 160, 180) of the gathering ring (70) is formed to be deformable in the radial direction in order to absorb over compression of the ring outer periphery when crimping the valve (30) onto a container (20). There is also provided an inhaler container (10) with such an inhaler valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Ian Fletcher, Stephen Metcalf, Darren Hodson
  • Publication number: 20060213504
    Abstract: An actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, comprising: a main body comprising a tubular member for receiving a canister containing medicament and having a valve stem extending therefrom; and an outlet assembly, as a part formed separately of the main body, comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user and a nozzle block for receiving the valve stem of the canister and delivering medicament from the canister into the mouthpiece; wherein the actuator belongs to a range of inhaler actuators, the outlet assembly is a common part for the range of actuators and the members of the range of actuators differs by the physical appearance of the main body. There is also disclosed an inhaler comprising the above-described actuator and a canister containing medicament, a main body, and an outlet assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, Jorgen Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20060213510
    Abstract: An actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user; and a removable protection cap for the mouthpiece, wherein the cap is secured to the mouthpiece by a cap retaining member that engages a mating recess in the mouthpiece outer periphery, and wherein the cap comprises at least one release button arranged to provide an elastic deformation of the cap inner periphery that disengage the cap retaining member from the recess. There is also disclosed an inhaler comprising the above-described actuator and a canister containing medicament.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, Jorgen Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20060213505
    Abstract: An actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, comprising: a main body comprising a tubular member for receiving a canister containing medicament and having a valve stem extending therefrom, a bottom surface at one end of the tubular member; a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user; and a nozzle block located in the bottom region of the tubular member for receiving the valve stem of the canister and delivering medicament from the canister into the mouthpiece; wherein the bottom surface is formed as a foot which is configured such that, with a canister fitted therein, the actuator will stand unsupported with the tubular member extending generally vertically. There is also disclosed an inhaler comprising the above-described actuator and a canister containing medicament.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, Jorgen Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20060213506
    Abstract: An actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, comprising: a main body comprising a tubular member for receiving a canister containing medicament and having a valve stem extending therefrom; and an outlet assembly, as a part formed separately of the main body, comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user and a nozzle block for receiving the valve stem of the canister and delivering medicament from the canister into the mouthpiece; wherein the main body is provided with an outlet opening for receiving the outlet assembly in a position wherein the mouthpiece extends outside the outlet opening and the nozzle block is inserted through the outlet opening and arranged in position for receiving the valve stem of the canister. There is also disclosed an inhaler comprising the above-described actuator and a canister containing medicament, a main body and an outlet assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, Jorgen Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6805116
    Abstract: An actuator for an inhaler for administering medicament by inhalation, comprising: a main body (102) comprising an elongate tubular member (108) for receiving a canister (107) containing medicament and having a valve stem (111) extending therefrom, the tubular member (108) including a lateral opening (114) at one end thereof; and an outlet assembly (104) comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user and a nozzle block (120) for receiving the valve stem (111) of the canister (107) and delivering medicament from the canister (107) into the mouthpiece, the outlet assembly (104) being detachably mounted, through the lateral opening (114), to the main body (102) at an angle transverse to the length of the tubular member (108); characterized in that one of the main body (102) and the outlet assembly (104) further comprises at least one resiliently biased member, which is configured to engage with at least one part of the other of the main body (102) and the outlet assembly (104) and thereby
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, Jørgen Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20040139967
    Abstract: An actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, comprising: a main body (2) comprising a tubular member (8) for receiving a canister (7) containing medicament and having a valve stem (11) extending therefrom; and an outlet assembly (4), as a part formed separately of the main body (2), comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user and a nozzle block (20) for receiving the valve stem (11) of the canister (7) and delivering medicament from the canister (7) into the mouthpiece; wherein at least a part of at least one of the main body (2) and the outlet assembly (4) is configured so as to deform or break on separating the outlet assembly (4) from the main body (2) so as to prevent re-use of the actuator; characterized in that the main body (2) and the outlet assembly (4) are composed of materials having different constitution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: Astra AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, Jorgen Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20030098024
    Abstract: An actuator for an inhaler for administering medicament by inhalation, comprising: a main body (102) comprising an elongate tubular member (108) for receiving a canister (107) containing medicament and having a valve stem (111) extending therefrom, the tubular member (108) including a lateral opening (114) at one end thereof; and an outlet assembly (104) comprising a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user and a nozzle block (120) for receiving the valve stem (111) of the canister (107) and delivering medicament from the canister (107) into the mouthpiece, the outlet assembly (104) being detachably mounted, through the lateral opening (114), to the main body (102) at an angle transverse to the length of the tubular member (108); characterized in that one of the main body (102) and the outlet assembly (104) further comprises at least one resiliently biased member, which is configured to engage with at least one part of the other of the main body (102) and the outlet assembly (104) and thereby
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Darren Hodson, Jorgen Rasmussen
  • Patent number: D515203
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Laurence Huxham, Darren Hodson, William Treneman, Nick Harrison, Martin Bunce, William Davis
  • Patent number: D529605
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Laurence Huxham, Darren Hodson, William Treneman, Nick Harrison, Martin Bunce, William Davis