Medicament dispenser

1. A medicament dispenser comprising a body, a medicament container having a dose-liberating means for liberating a dose of medicament from the container, a mechanical mechanism actuable to cause the dose-liberating means to liberate a dose of medicament from the container, and reset means for resetting the mechanical mechanism after actuation thereof, wherein the reset means comprises a reset coupling comprising at least one wire, strip, coil or tube which is reversibly contractible in response to electrical current flow therethrough.

2. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical mechanism is a trigger means.

3. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the dose-liberating means takes the form of a valve.

4. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling comprises multiple wires, strips, coils or tubes.

5. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling comprises one or more wires which contract in response to electrical current flow therethrough.

6. A medicament dispenser according to claim 5 , wherein the one or more wires exhibit(s) a degree of contraction of from 2% to 8% on electrical current flow therethrough.

7. A medicament dispenser according to claim 6 , wherein the one or more wires comprise(s) an alloy which undergoes a phase transition on electrical current flow therethrough.

8. A medicament dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein said alloy is a nickel-titanium alloy.

9. A medicament dispenser according to claim 8 , wherein said nickel-titanium alloy comprises from 5% to 95% nickel by weight and from 95% to 5% titanium by weight.

10. A medicament dispenser according to claim 8 , wherein said nickel-titanium alloy additionally comprises copper, niobium or any mixtures thereof.

11. A medicament dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein the alloy is a copper-zinc-aluminium alloy or a copper-aluminium-nickel alloy.

12. A medicament dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein the alloy has the composition defined as Ni 65-x-y Mn 20 +xGa 15 +y, where x is between 3 atomic % and 15 atomic % and y is between 3 atomic % and 12 atomic %.

13. A medicament dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein the alloy has the composition defined as (Ni a Fe b Co c ) 65-x-y (Mn d Fe e Co f ) 20 +x(Ga g Si h Al i ) 15 +y, where x is between 3 atomic % and 15 atomic % and y is between 3 atomic % and 12 atomic %, and where a+b+c=1, where d+e+f=1, and g+h+i=1.

14. A medicament dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein the alloy comprises an ion-exchange polymer composite.

15. A medicament dispenser according to claim 7 , wherein the alloy comprises a contractile polymer.

16. A medicament dispenser according to claim 5 , wherein said one or more wires have a diameter from 30 to 400 micrometers.

17. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling is contractible in response to heating arising from electrical current flow in the range from 100A to 0.01A.

18. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1 , additionally comprising an electrical energy source.

19. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1 , in the form of an inhaler for the delivery of inhalable medicament.

20. A medicament dispenser according to claim 19 , wherein heating arising from flow of electrical current through the coupling and hence, actuation of the reset means is responsive to a patient-actuable mechanism comprising a sensor which senses the breath of a patient.

21. A medicament dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the medicament container comprises medicament in solution or suspension form.

22. A medicament dispenser according to claim 21 wherein the medicament container comprises a suspension of a medicament in a propellant.

23. A medicament dispenser according to claim 21 wherein the medicament container comprises a solution of a medicament in a solvent.