Dose counting device for coupling with a medical container

1. A dose counting device having a central longitudinal axis for coupling with a medical container filled with a number N of doses of a product to be withdrawn therefrom, said medical container being provided with an opening for access to said product, the dose counting device comprising—:

a gripping member for securing the dose counting device to the medical container, said gripping member defining a hole wherein, with the dose counting device coupled to the medical container, the hole is longitudinally aligned with the opening,

a counting ring rotatably mounted with respect to said gripping member, said counting ring being provided with information data corresponding to the number N of doses,

a cover movable between a closed position, in which said cover prevents access to said hole, and an open position, in which the cover does not prevent access to said hole wherein at least a portion of the cover moves radially outward with respect to the central longitudinal axis when the cover is transitioned from the closed position to the open position.

2. The dose counting device of claim 1 , further comprising an incrementing system coupled to said cover and to said counting ring, said incrementing system adapted to automatically rotate the counting ring a predetermined angle about the longitudinal axis upon the cover moving from the open position to the closed position.

3. The dose counting device of claim 2 , wherein said incrementing system comprises an active surface and said counting ring comprises a complementary active surface, said active surface adapted to engage the complementary active surface to rotate the counting ring when the cover moves from the open position to the closed position.

4. The dose counting device of claim 3 , wherein said cover is movable in rotation around an axis with respect to said gripping member when said cover moves from the closed position to the open position and vice-versa, said incrementing system comprises a part of a gear wheel located on said cover, said gear wheel being rotatable around the axis and being provided with a plurality of radial teeth capable of cooperating with a plurality of complementary radial teeth provided on the periphery of the counting ring, when said cover moves back from the open position to the closed position.

5. The dose counting device of claim 3 , wherein said cover is movable in translation with respect to said gripping member, when said cover moves from the closed position to the open position and vice-versa, said incrementing system comprises a flexible leg located on said cover, said flexible leg adapted to escape a sloped surface of the periphery of said counting ring when said cover moves from the closed position to the open position, said flexible leg adapted to engage a radial surface of said periphery of said counting ring when said cover moves back from the open position to the closed position.

6. The dose counting device of claim 1 , further comprising a pierceable elastomeric piece fixed with respect to the gripping member, wherein, with the dose counting device coupled to the medical container, the pierceable elastomeric piece faces the opening of the medical container.

7. The dose counting device of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing means for forcing the cover in the closed position.

8. Assembly comprising a medical container comprising an opening and filled with a number N of doses of a product to be withdrawn therefrom via said opening and a dose counting device according to claim 1 .

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein said opening is closed by a septum.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a pierceable elastomeric piece fixed with respect to the gripping member, wherein, with said dose counting device coupled to said medical container, said pierceable elastomeric piece is in contact with said septum.

11. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein, said opening is a collar closed by a septum, said gripping member comprises a clip adapted to surround said collar.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radial movement of the cover comprises translational movement.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the translational movement of the cover comprises rectilinear movement.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radial movement of the cover comprises rotational movement about a pivot axis spaced a distance apart from the central longitudinal axis.

15. A dose counting device having a longitudinal axis for coupling with a medical container filled with a number N of doses of a product to be withdrawn therefrom, said medical container being provided with an opening for access to said product, the dose counting device comprising:

a gripping member for securing the dose counting device to the medical container, said gripping member defining a hole wherein, with the dose counting device coupled to the medical container, the hole is longitudinally aligned with the opening,

a counting ring rotatably mounted with respect to said gripping member, said counting ring being provided with information data corresponding to the number N of doses,

a cover movable with respect to said hole between a closed position, in which said cover prevents access to said hole, and an open position, in which the cover does not prevent access to said hole, and

an incrementing system coupled to said cover and to said counting ring, said incrementing system adapted to automatically rotate the counting ring a predetermined angle about the longitudinal axis only upon the cover moving from the open position to the closed position.