Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Howgill

Stephen J. Howgill 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).

  • Publication number: 20230233777
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a metered dose inhaler that includes a metering valve are disclosed. The inhaler includes a reservoir containing a pressurized formulation of medicament and carbon dioxide. The metering valve includes a metering chamber, a metering valve stem, and a metering valve stem seal having an opening through which the metering valve stem passes to form a dynamic seal between the metering valve stem and outside atmosphere. The metering valve stem seal has a Shore D hardness of 45 to 80 and its opening is adapted to be stretched wider by the metering valve stem passing through it than it would be absent the valve stem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: KINDEVA DRUG DELIVERY L.P.
    Inventors: John P. Bunting, Lee M. Hodges, Peter D. Hodson, Stephen J. Howgill, Adam J. Stuart, Kerry Ward
  • Patent number: 11707584
    Abstract: An inhaler (60) has a breath actuated trigger mechanism (100) reactive to an inhalation flow to trigger the release of a substance to be inhaled. The inhaler (60) has an inspiration flow which is subject to a higher degree of flow governing post-triggering than pre-triggering. This allows the triggering flow rate to be closer to, or even higher than, the governing flow rate of the inhaler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Kindeva Drug Delivery L.P.
    Inventors: Peter D. Hodson, Stephen J. Howgill
  • Patent number: 11497866
    Abstract: A breath-responsive metered dose inhaler having a trigger mechanism for triggering delivery of a medicament and a trigger mechanism chassis for locating the trigger mechanism within the inhaler, the trigger mechanism including a breath responsive member moveable upon inhalation of the user from a primed position in which the inhaler is prevented from delivering medicament, to a triggered position in which the medicament is delivered to the user, a spring which is flexible along its longitudinal axis, wherein the spring is configured to bias the breath responsive member from its triggered position to its primed position by flexure along its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Kindeva Drug Delivery L.P.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Howgill
  • Publication number: 20210016025
    Abstract: A dose indicator or dose counter is disclosed which includes an indexable first display unit indexable about a first display axis, an indexable second display unit indexable about a second display axis, the second display axis being transverse to the first display axis, and a chassis comprising a chassis frame, a displacement portion comprising a drive means to engage the first display unit, and at least one hinge means directly or indirectly connecting the displacement portion and chassis frame. The drive means is preferably configured to index the dose indicator. The dose indicator/counter has a small number of components yet is effective, reliable and compact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Adam J. Stuart, Stephen J. Howgill
  • Patent number: 10806872
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dose indicator comprising, a chassis comprising a chassis frame and a displacement portion comprising a drive part to engage an indexable first display unit indexable about a first display axis, the indexable first display unit comprising a drive tooth to drive an indexable second display unit indexable about a second display axis, the second display axis being non-coaxial with the first display axis, the indexable second display unit comprising two or more second display unit indexing teeth, wherein the drive tooth and each of the second display unit indexing teeth comprise lips on their respective engagement surfaces, the drive tooth lip and second display unit indexing tooth lip each being adapted to engage at an engagement angle that produces a resultant force acting to pull the first display unit and second display unit together. The present disclosure further relates to an actuator for an inhaler, wherein the actuator comprises a dose indicator as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: KINDEVA DRUG DELIVERY L.P.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Howgill
  • Patent number: 10792444
    Abstract: A dose indicator or dose counter is disclosed which includes an indexable first display unit indexable about a first display axis, an indexable second display unit indexable about a second display axis, the second display axis being transverse to the first display axis, and a chassis comprising a chassis frame, a displacement portion comprising a drive means to engage the first display unit, and at least one hinge means directly or indirectly connecting the displacement portion and chassis frame. The drive means is preferably configured to index the dose indicator. The dose indicator/counter has a small number of components yet is effective, reliable and compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Kindeva Drug Delivery L.P.
    Inventors: Adam J Stuart, Stephen J Howgill
  • Patent number: 10596333
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dose indicator comprising, a chassis comprising a chassis frame and a displacement portion, an indexable first display unit, mountable on the chassis, the first display unit being indexable about a first display axis, the indexable first display unit comprising a plurality of indexing teeth, a first display non-return arm, and a drive pawl connected at its proximal part to the displacement portion, the drive pawl comprising a socket at its distal part, the socket being adapted to engage an indexing tooth of the first display unit during indexing. The disclosure further relates to an actuator for an inhaler, wherein the actuator comprises a dose indicator as described above. The present disclosure is also directed to an inhaler comprising such actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Stephen J. Howgill
  • Publication number: 20200069897
    Abstract: An inhaler (60) has a breath actuated trigger mechanism (100) reactive to an inhalation flow to trigger the release of a substance to be inhaled. The inhaler (60) has an inspiration flow which is subject to a higher degree of flow governing post-triggering than pre-triggering. This allows the triggering flow rate to be closer to, or even higher than, the governing flow rate of the inhaler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Peter D. Hodson, Stephen J. Howgill
  • Publication number: 20190298943
    Abstract: An inhaler has a housing having a patient port and a cover rotatable about a cover axis between a closed position in which the cover covers the patient port, and an open position in which the patient port is accessible, a spring surrounding a medicament container in which the cover axis intersects the container, and in which the cover is configured to drive the resilient structure to store energy therein upon rotation from the closed position towards the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Adam J. Stuart, Stephen J. Howgill
  • Publication number: 20190275271
    Abstract: A breath-responsive metered dose inhaler having a trigger mechanism for triggering delivery of a medicament and a trigger mechanism chassis for locating the trigger mechanism within the inhaler, the trigger mechanism including a breath responsive member moveable upon inhalation of the user from a primed position in which the inhaler is prevented from delivering medicament, to a triggered position in which the medicament is delivered to the user, a spring which is flexible along its longitudinal axis, wherein the spring is configured to bias the breath responsive member from its triggered position to its primed position by flexure along its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen J. Howgill
  • Publication number: 20170173280
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dose indicator comprising, a chassis comprising a 42 chassis frame and a displacement portion, an indexable first display unit, mountable on the chassis, the first display unit being indexable about a first display axis, the indexable first display unit comprising a plurality of indexing teeth, a first display non-return arm, and a drive pawl connected at its proximal part to the displacement portion, the drive pawl comprising a socket at its distal part, the socket being adapted to engage an indexing tooth of the first display unit during indexing. The disclosure further relates to an actuator for an inhaler, wherein the actuator comprises a dose indicator as described above. The present disclosure is also directed to an inhaler comprising such actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventor: Stephen J. Howgill
  • Publication number: 20170021117
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dose indicator comprising, a chassis comprising a chassis frame and a displacement portion comprising a drive part to engage an indexable first display unit indexable about a first display axis, the indexable first display unit comprising a drive tooth to drive an indexable second display unit indexable about a second display axis, the second display axis being non-coaxial with the first display axis, the indexable second display unit comprising two or more second display unit indexing teeth, wherein the drive tooth and each of the second display unit indexing teeth comprise lips on their respective engagement surfaces, the drive tooth lip and second display unit indexing tooth lip each being adapted to engage at an engagement angle that produces a resultant force acting to pull the first display unit and second display unit together. The present disclosure further relates to an actuator for an inhaler, wherein the actuator comprises a dose indicator as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventor: Stephen J. HOWGILL
  • Publication number: 20160136365
    Abstract: A dose indicator or dose counter is disclosed which includes an indexable first display unit indexable about a first display axis, an indexable second display unit indexable about a second display axis, the second display axis being transverse to the first display axis, and a chassis comprising a chassis frame, a displacement portion comprising a drive means to engage the first display unit, and at least one hinge means directly or indirectly connecting the displacement portion and chassis frame. The drive means is preferably configured to index the dose indicator. The dose indicator/counter has a small number of components yet is effective, reliable and compact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: ADAM J STUART, STEPHEN J HOWGILL
  • Patent number: 9089661
    Abstract: A dose counter for use in connection with a device adapted for metered dispensing of a medication is described. The dose counter has a first count indicator that has a first indicia bearing surface, with the first count indicator being rotatable about a first axis. The dose counter also has a second count indicator that has a second indicia bearing surface, with the second count indicator being rotatable about a second axis. The second axis is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to the first axis, and the first and second indicia bearing surfaces align at a common viewing area to collectively present at least a portion of a medication dosage count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam J. Stuart, Graham R. Purkins, Rachel V. Striebig, Stephen J. Howgill, Peter D. Hodson, Richard D. Brewer, Benjamin J. Holden
  • Publication number: 20150136122
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a metered dose dispensing valve for dispensing metered volumes of an aerosol formulation from an aerosol container. The valves described herein are particularly suitable for use with metered dose inhalers for the oral delivery of medicaments. By combining the compliant biasing member and the second valve body into an integral single component it is possible to provide a desirable metered dose dispensing valve for use in inhalation devices or for use in the provision of canisters targeted for use in inhalation devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Adam J. Stuart, Peter D. Hodson, Stephen J. Howgill, Matthew A. Oakley, David J. Greenleaf
  • Patent number: 8814009
    Abstract: An aerosol metering valve comprising: (a) a valve stem movable between a rest position and a firing position comprising: a body portion comprising a circumferential sealing surface (b) a valve body comprising: a body wall, and an internal chamber defined at least in part by the body wall; and (c) a metering gasket having an inner periphery defining an aperture, being disposed near the most interior end of the internal chamber and being configured to be able to form a transient, substantially fluid-tight face seal against the circumferential sealing surface of the valve stem, where at the rest position of the valve stem, the body portion of the valve stem is located within the internal chamber and as the valve stem is moved from its rest position towards its firing position the circumferential sealing surface of the valve stem contacts the metering gasket to form a face seal thereby closing a metering chamber and thereafter further movement of the valve stem towards its firing position causes the metering gask
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Peter D. Hodson, Matthew A. Goring, Stephen J. Howgill, John Fielding, Richard D. Brewer, Rachael V. Shaw, Paul A. Charnock, Stuart A. McGlasson, Stephen D. Helm, Graham V. Jackson, Anthony W. Balkwill, Jason A. Graves
  • Publication number: 20130291861
    Abstract: A dose counter for use in connection with a device adapted for metered dispensing of a medication is described. The dose counter has a first count indicator that has a first indicia bearing surface, with the first count indicator being rotatable about a first axis. The dose counter also has a second count indicator that has a second indicia bearing surface, with the second count indicator being rotatable about a second axis. The second axis is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to the first axis, and the first and second indicia bearing surfaces align at a common viewing area to collectively present at least a portion of a medication dosage count.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: ADAM J. STUART, GRAHAM R. PURKINS, RACHEL V. STRIEBIG, STEPHEN J. HOWGILL, PETER D. HODSON, RICHARD D. BREWER, BENJAMIN J. HOLDEN
  • Patent number: D840020
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen J Howgill
  • Patent number: D872853
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Adam J. Stuart, Stephen J. Howgill, Peter D. Hodson
  • Patent number: D878544
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Adam J. Stuart, Stephen J. Howgill, Peter D. Hodson