One-way actuation release mechanism for a system for applying medicament

Abstract

A medicament-dispensing system includes a cartridge for housing and actuating an accordion-like vial-dispenser for dispensing a calibrated amount of medicament by means of a single actuation motion which sequentially loads the vial-dispenser and dispenses the loaded medicament. The vial-dispenser has a front bellows portion, a rear bellows portion, an internal piston mechanism, a medicament storage chamber and a dosage cavity. The cartridge has a trigger mechanism which acts in concert with a notched lever and a wedge-shaped arm internally located in the cartridge to sequentially load the dosage cavity with medicament and discharge it. Depression of the trigger mechanism simultaneously extends, by means of the notched lever, the front bellows portion and compresses the rear bellows portion to load the dosage cavity with medicament. Once the notched lever has extended the front bellows portion a predetermined distance, the notched lever is disengaged from the front bellows portion by the wedge-shaped arm extending from the rear wall of the housing, thereby releasing the front and rear bellows portions, along with the internal piston mechanism, to return to original position and force the medicament from the dosage cavity via a nozzle of the vial-dispenser.

1. A medicament-dispensing system comprising:
 a vial for holding a volume of medicament; 
 a dispenser having an elastic, deformable body portion and a nozzle connected to said deformable body portion, said deformable body portion providing spring action and containing a dosage cavity, wherein said dispenser is actuated to load from said vial a calibrated amount of medicament into said cavity therein by deformation of said elastic, deformable body portion of the dispenser to a first non-ambient position and which is actuated to discharge said calibrated amount of medicament from said nozzle upon subsequent restoration of the deformable body portion to its ambient position; 
 a housing for retaining the dispenser, the housing having an anterior wall with an aperture for receiving the nozzle of the dispenser; 
 a one-way actuation release mechanism operationally coupled to said housing for actuating, by a single actuating motion, said dispenser to sequentially fill said cavity with medicament from said vial and subsequently discharge said medicament from said cavity through said nozzle, said one-way actuation release mechanism having a trigger and a release unit operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said deformable body portion, said release unit deforming said deformable body portion from said ambient position towards said first non-ambient position in a first phase of said actuating motion, said deformation causing flow of medicament from said vial to said cavity to fill said cavity, and said release unit disengaging from said deformable body portion at said first non-ambient position upon continuation of said actuating motion into a second phase, wherein said deformable body portion returns to said ambient position upon disengagement from said release unit to pressurize medicament in said cavity and discharge said medicament through said nozzle portion, and wherein said one-way actuation release mechanism facilitates substantially constant spring force of said deformable body portion over an extended period of time by preventing locking of said deformable body portion in any non-ambient position. 
 
     
     
       2. The medicament-dispensing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said release unit comprises a lever and a release arm, said lever being operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said deformable body portion when said deformable body portion is in said ambient position, and said release arm being positioned to oppose said lever at a predetermined position. 
     
     
       3. The medicament-dispensing system according to  claim 2 , wherein said lever is movable in concert with said deformable body portion in said first phase of said actuating motion, and wherein said release arm is internally positioned within the housing to oppose said lever when said deformable body portion is at said first non-ambient position so as to disengage said lever from said deformable body portion upon continuation of said actuating motion into said second phase. 
     
     
       4. The medicament-dispensing system according to  claim 3 , wherein said deformation of said deformable body portion occurs along its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       5. The medicament-dispensing system according to  claim 4 , wherein said deformable body portion comprises an elastomeric material portion for providing spring action, and wherein said one-way actuation release mechanism substantially prevents creeping of said elastomeric material. 
     
     
       6. A system for dispensing medicament, which comprises:
 a vial holding a volume of medicament; 
 an elastic, deformable body portion in fluid communication with said vial and containing a dosage cavity for collecting a predetermined volume of medicament from said vial, said deformable body portion having an integral elastomeric spring portion for providing spring action; 
 a nozzle portion connected to said deformable body portion for allowing discharge of said medicament collected in said dosage cavity; 
 a housing retaining said deformable body portion and said nozzle portion, said housing having an anterior wall with an aperture for receiving said nozzle portion; and 
 a one-way release-actuation system having a trigger and a release mechanism, said release-actuation system actuating, by a single actuating motion of said trigger, said dispensing system to sequentially fill said dosage cavity with medicament from said vial and subsequently discharge said medicament from said dosage cavity, wherein said release mechanism engages and deforms at least said elastomeric spring portion of said deformable body portion in concert with a first phase of said actuating motion of said trigger, said deformation of said deformable body portion causing flow of medicament from said vial to said dosage cavity to fill said dosage cavity, and wherein said release mechanism disengages itself from said deformable body portion upon continuation of said actuating motion of said trigger into a second phase, said deformable body portion returning to said ambient position by action of said elastomeric spring portion upon disengagement from said release mechanism to pressurize medicament in said dosage cavity and discharge said medicament through said nozzle portion. 
 
     
     
       7. A one-way actuation release mechanism for actuating a medicament dispenser having an elastic, deformable body portion, which comprises:
 a trigger; and 
 a release unit operationally coupled to said trigger and adapted to releasably engage said deformable body portion, said release unit being adapted to deform said deformable body portion from an ambient position towards a first non-ambient position in a first phase of actuation to ready medicament for dispensation, and said release unit being adapted to disengage from said deformable body portion when said body portion has reached said first non-ambient position upon continuation of said actuation into a second phase; 
 wherein said one-way actuation release mechanism facilitates said deformable body portion to return to said ambient position upon disengagement from said release unit to discharge said medicament, and wherein said one-way actuation release mechanism facilitates substantially constant spring force of said deformable body portion over an extended period of time by preventing locking of said deformable body portion in any non-ambient position. 
 
     
     
       8. The one-way actuation release mechanism according to  claim 7 , wherein said release unit comprises a lever and a release arm, said lever being operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said deformable body portion when said body portion is in ambient position, and said release arm being positioned to oppose said lever at a predetermined position. 
     
     
       9. The one-way actuation release mechanism according to  claim 8 , wherein said lever is movable in concert with said deformable body portion in said first phase of actuation, and wherein said release arm is positioned to oppose said lever when said deformable body portion is at said first non-ambient position so as to disengage said lever from said deformable body portion upon continuation of said actuation into said second phase. 
     
     
       10. A method of dispensing medicament from a dispensing system having one-way actuation release mechanism, an elastic, deformable body portion and a dosage cavity therein, said one-way actuation release mechanism having a trigger and a release unit operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said deformable body portion, which method comprises:
 deforming said deformable body portion from an ambient position towards a first non-ambient position by actuating said trigger through a first phase of an actuation motion to move a first component of said release unit is releasably engaged to said deformable body portion, said deformation causing flow of medicament into said cavity to fill said cavity; 
 disengaging said first component of said release unit from said deformable body portion when said deformable body portion has reached said first non-ambient position upon continuation of said actuation motion into a second phase; and 
 biasing said deformable body portion back toward said ambient position upon disengagement from said release unit to pressurize medicament in said cavity and discharge said medicament; 
 wherein said method facilitates maintenance of substantially constant spring force of said deformable body portion over an extended period of time by preventing locking of said deformable body portion in any non-ambient position. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said release unit comprises a release arm and a lever releasably engaging said deformable body portion, and wherein said step of disengaging said first component of said release unit from said deformable body portion at said first non-ambient position comprises opposingly engaging said release arm with said lever to disengage said lever from said deformable body portion. 
     
     
       12. A fluid dispensing system comprising:
 a vial-dispenser having an elastic, deformable body portion and a nozzle connected to said deformable body portion, said deformable body portion providing spring action and containing a dosage cavity, wherein said vial-dispenser further includes a vial for holding a volume of said fluid and is actuated to load from said vial a calibrated amount of fluid into said cavity therein upon deformation of said elastic, deformable body portion to a first non-ambient position and which is actuated to discharge said calibrated amount of fluid from said nozzle upon subsequent restoration of the deformable body portion to its ambient position;   a housing for retaining the vial-dispenser, the housing having an anterior wall with an aperture for receiving the nozzle;   a one-way actuation release mechanism operationally coupled to said housing for actuating, by a single actuating motion, said vial-dispenser to sequentially fill said cavity with fluid from said vial and subsequently discharge said fluid from said cavity through said nozzle, said one-way actuation release mechanism having a trigger and a release unit operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said vial-dispenser, said release unit deforming said deformable body portion from said ambient position towards said first non-ambient position in a first phase of said actuating motion, said deformation causing flow of fluid from said vial to said cavity to fill said cavity, and said release unit disengaging from said vial-dispenser at said first non-ambient position upon continuation of said actuating motion into a second phase, wherein said deformable body portion returns to said ambient position upon disengagement of said release unit from the vial-dispenser to pressurize fluid in said cavity and discharge said fluid through said nozzle, and wherein said one-way actuation release mechanism facilitates substantially constant spring force of said deformable body portion over an extended period of time by preventing locking of said deformable body portion in any non-ambient position.    
     
     
       13. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein said release unit comprises a lever operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said vial-dispenser when in said ambient position.  
     
     
       14. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 13, further comprising a release arm, wherein said lever is movable in concert with said vial-dispenser in said first phase of said actuating motion, and said release arm is internally positioned within the housing to oppose said lever when said vial-dispenser is at said first non-ambient position so as to disengage said lever from said vial-dispenser upon continuation of said actuating motion into said second phase.  
     
     
       15. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein said deformation of said deformable body portion occurs along a longitudinal axis thereof.  
     
     
       16. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 15, wherein said deformable body portion comprises an elastomeric material portion for providing spring action, and wherein said one-way actuation release mechanism substantially prevents creeping of said elastomeric material.  
     
     
       17. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 12, further comprising the fluid and wherein the fluid is a medicament.  
     
     
       18. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 12, further comprising the fluid and wherein the fluid is an ophthalmic liquid.  
     
     
       19. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 12, further comprising a forwardly-projecting finger extending from the housing for lowering an eyelid and applying the fluid to an eye.  
     
     
       20. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein the vial-dispenser defines a longitudinal axis and the actuation motion of the trigger is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
       21. A system for dispensing fluid, which comprises:
 a vial-dispenser including a vial holding a volume of fluid, and an elastic, deformable body portion in fluid communication with said vial and containing a dosage cavity for collecting a predetermined volume of fluid from said vial, said deformable body portion having an integral elastomeric spring portion for providing spring action;   a nozzle portion connected to said deformable body portion for allowing discharge of said fluid collected in said dosage cavity;   a housing retaining said deformable body portion and said nozzle portion, said housing having an anterior wall with an aperture for receiving said nozzle portion; and   a one-way release-actuation system having a trigger and a release mechanism, said release-actuation system actuating, by a single actuating motion of said trigger, said dispensing system to sequentially fill said dosage cavity with fluid from said vial and subsequently discharge said fluid from said dosage cavity, wherein said release mechanism engages said vial-dispenser and deforms at least said elastomeric spring portion of said deformable body portion in concert with a first phase of said actuating motion of said trigger, said deformation of said deformable body portion causing flow of fluid from said vial to said dosage cavity to fill said dosage cavity, and wherein said release mechanism disengages itself from said vial-dispenser upon continuation of said actuating motion of said trigger into a second phase, said deformable body portion returning to said ambient position by action of said elastomeric spring portion to pressurize fluid in said dosage cavity and discharge said fluid through said nozzle portion.    
     
     
       22. A system according to claim 21, further comprising the fluid and wherein said fluid is a medicament.  
     
     
       23. A one-way actuation release mechanism for actuating a fluid dispenser having an elastic, deformable body portion, which comprises:
 a trigger; and   a release unit operationally coupled to said trigger and adapted to releasably engage said dispenser, said release unit being adapted to deform said deformable body portion from an ambient position towards a first non-ambient position in a first phase of actuation to ready fluid for dispensation, and said release unit being adapted to disengage from said dispenser when said body portion has reached said first non-ambient position upon continuation of said actuation into a second phase;   wherein said one-way actuation release mechanism facilitates said deformable body portion to return to said ambient position upon disengagement of said release unit from said dispenser to discharge said fluid, and wherein said one-way actuation release mechanism facilitates substantially constant spring force of said deformable body portion over an extended period of time by preventing locking of said deformable body portion in any non-ambient position.    
     
     
       24. A dispenser comprising:
 the one-way actuation and release mechanism according to claim 23;   the fluid dispenser; and   the fluid;   wherein said fluid is a medicament.    
     
     
       25. The one-way actuation release mechanism according to claim 23, wherein said release unit comprises a lever operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said dispenser when said body portion is in ambient position.  
     
     
       26. The one-way actuation release mechanism according to claim 25, further comprising a release arm, wherein said lever is movable in concert with said deformable body portion in said first phase of actuation, and said release arm is positioned to oppose said lever when said deformable body portion is at said first non-ambient position so as to disengage said lever from said dispenser upon continuation of said actuation into said second phase.  
     
     
       27. A method of dispensing fluid from a dispenser having a one-way actuation release mechanism, an elastic, deformable body portion and a dosage cavity therein, said one-way actuation release mechanism having a trigger and a release unit operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said dispenser, which method comprises
 deforming said deformable body portion from an ambient position towards a first non-ambient position by actuating said trigger through a first phase of an actuation motion to move a component of said release unit releasably engaged to said dispenser, said deformation causing flow of fluid into said cavity to fill said cavity;   disengaging said component of said release unit from said dispenser when said deformable body portion has reached said first non-ambient position upon continuation of said actuation motion into a second phase; and   biasing said deformable body portion back toward said ambient position upon disengagement of said component of said release unit to pressurize fluid in said cavity and discharge said fluid;   wherein said method facilitates maintenance of substantially constant spring force of said deformable body portion over an extended period of time by preventing locking of said deformable body portion in any non-ambient position.    
     
     
       28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said release unit comprises a release arm and a lever releasably engaging said dispenser, and wherein said step of disengaging said component of said release unit from said dispenser at said first non-ambient position comprises opposingly engaging said release arm with said lever to disengage said lever from said dispenser.  
     
     
       29. The method according to claim 27, wherein said fluid is a medicament.  
     
     
       30. A medicament-dispensing system comprising:
 a dispenser including a nozzle, a dosage cavity coupled in fluid communication with the nozzle, a storage chamber containing a supply of medicament and coupled in fluid communication with the dosage cavity, an elastic, deformable body portion, and a spring that biases the elastic, deformable body portion toward an ambient position, wherein the dispenser is actuated to load from the storage chamber a predetermined volume of medicament into the dosage cavity upon deformation of the elastic, deformable body portion to a first non-ambient position, and to discharge medicament through the nozzle upon restoration of the deformable body portion to the ambient position;   a housing for retaining the dispenser;   a one-way actuation release mechanism operationally coupled to the housing for actuating, by a single actuating motion, the dispenser to sequentially introduce medicament from the storage chamber into the dosage cavity and subsequently discharge medicament from the dosage cavity through the nozzle, wherein the one-way actuation release mechanism includes a trigger and a release unit operationally coupled to the trigger and releasably engaging the dispenser, wherein the release unit deforms the deformable body portion from the ambient position towards the first non-ambient position in a first phase of the actuating motion, the deformation causes flow of medicament from the storage chamber to the dosage cavity, and the release unit disengages from the dispenser at the first non-ambient position upon continuation of the actuating motion into a second phase, wherein the spring biases the deformable body portion back toward the ambient position upon disengagement of the release unit from the dispenser to pressurize medicament in the dosage cavity and discharge medicament through the nozzle, and wherein the one-way actuation release mechanism prevents locking of the deformable body portion in any non-ambient position.    
     
     
       31. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 30, wherein the elastic, deformable body portion forms the spring.  
     
     
       32. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 31, wherein the spring is formed by a bellows-shaped portion of the elastic, deformable body portion.  
     
     
       33. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 30, wherein the dispenser includes a wing, and the release unit releasably engages the wing when in the ambient position.  
     
     
       34. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 33, wherein the release unit comprises a lever operationally coupled to the trigger and releasably engaging the wing when in the ambient position.  
     
     
       35. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 30, further comprising a forwardly-projecting finger extending from the housing for lowering an eyelid and applying medicament to an eye.  
     
     
       36. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 30, wherein the dispenser defines a longitudinal axis and the actuation motion of the trigger is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
       37. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 30, further comprising a piston movable in the dosage cavity upon the deformable body portion moving back toward the ambient position to pressurize medicament in the dosage cavity and discharge medicament through the nozzle.  
     
     
       38. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 30, wherein the housing is in the form of a cartridge.  
     
     
       39. A medicament-dispensing system comprising:
 a dispenser including a nozzle, a dosage cavity coupled in fluid communication with the nozzle, a storage chamber containing a supply of medicament and coupled in fluid communication with the dosage cavity, an elastic, deformable body portion, and first means for biasing the deformable body portion toward an ambient position;   a housing for retaining the dispenser;   second means for actuating, by a single actuating motion, the dispenser to sequentially introduce medicament from the storage chamber into the dosage cavity and subsequently discharge medicament from the dosage cavity through the nozzle, by releasably engaging the dispenser and deforming the deformable body portion from the ambient position towards a first non-ambient position in a first phase of the actuating motion, causing flow of medicament from the storage chamber to the dosage cavity, and then disengaging from the dispenser at the first non-ambient position upon continuation of the actuating motion into a second phase;   wherein the first means biases the deformable body portion back toward the ambient position upon disengagement of the second means from the dispenser to pressurize medicament in the dosage cavity and discharge medicament through the nozzle, and the second means prevents locking of the deformable body portion in any non-ambient position.    
     
     
       40. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 39, wherein the second means includes a trigger and a release unit operationally coupled to the trigger and releasably engaging the dispenser, wherein the release unit deforms the deformable body portion from the ambient position towards the first non-ambient position in a first phase of the actuating motion, the deformation causes flow of medicament from the storage chamber to the dosage cavity, and the release unit disengages from the dispenser at the first non-ambient position upon continuation of the actuating motion into a second phase.  
     
     
       41. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 39, wherein the first means includes a spring that biases the deformable body portion back toward the ambient position upon disengagement of the release unit from the dispenser to pressurize medicament in the dosage cavity and discharge medicament through the nozzle.  
     
     
       42. A medicament-dispensing system comprising:
 a vial for holding a volume of medicament;   a dispenser having a movable portion, a spring and a nozzle, said spring providing spring action, wherein said dispenser is actuated to load from said vial a calibrated amount of medicament into a dosage cavity by movement of said movable portion of the dispenser to a first non-ambient position and which is actuated to discharge said calibrated amount of medicament from said nozzle upon subsequent restoration of the movable portion to its ambient position;   a one-way actuation release mechanism operationally coupled to said dispenser for actuating, by a single actuating motion, said dispenser to sequentially fill said cavity with medicament from said vial and subsequently discharge said medicament from said cavity through said nozzle, said one-way actuation release mechanism having a trigger and a release unit operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said dispenser, said release unit causing movement of said movable portion from said ambient position towards said first non-ambient position in a first phase of said actuating motion, said movement causing to fill said cavity, and said release unit disengaging from said dispenser at said first non-ambient position upon continuation of said actuating motion into a second phase, wherein bias from the spring causes said movable portion to return to said ambient position upon disengagement of said release unit to pressurize medicament in said cavity and discharge said medicament through said nozzle, and wherein said one-way actuation release mechanism facilitates substantially constant spring force of said spring over an extended period of time by preventing locking of said movable portion in any non-ambient position.    
     
     
       43. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 42, wherein said release unit comprises a lever and a release arm, said lever being operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said movable portion when said movable portion is in said ambient position, and said release arm being positioned to oppose said lever at a predetermined position.  
     
     
       44. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 43, wherein said lever is movable in concert with said movable portion in said first phase of said actuating motion, and wherein said release arm is internally positioned within the housing to oppose said lever when said movable portion is at said first non-ambient position so as to disengage said lever from said movable portion upon continuation of said actuating motion into said second phase.  
     
     
       45. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 44, wherein said movement of said movable portion occurs along its longitudinal axis.  
     
     
       46. A fluid-dispensing system comprising:
 a vial-dispenser having a movable portion, a nozzle, and a spring providing spring action, wherein said vial-dispenser further includes a vial for holding a volume of said fluid and is actuated to load from said vial a calibrated amount of fluid into said cavity therein upon movement of said movable portion to a first non-ambient position and which is actuated to discharge said calibrated amount of fluid from said nozzle upon subsequent restoration of the movable portion to its ambient position; and   a one-way actuation release mechanism operationally coupled to said vial-dispenser for actuating, by a single actuating motion, said vial-dispenser to sequentially fill said cavity with fluid from said vial and subsequently discharge said fluid from said cavity through said nozzle, said one-way actuation release mechanism having a trigger and a release unit operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said vial-dispenser, said release unit causing movement of said movable portion from said ambient position towards said first non-ambient position in a first phase of said actuating motion, said movement causing flow of fluid from said vial to said cavity to fill said cavity, and said release unit disengaging from said vial-dispenser at said first non-ambient position upon continuation of said actuating motion into a second phase, wherein bias from the spring causes said movable portion to return to said ambient position upon disengagement of said release unit from the vial-dispenser to pressurize fluid in said cavity and discharge said fluid through said nozzle, and wherein said one-way actuation release mechanism facilitates substantially constant spring force of said spring over an extended period of time by preventing locking of said movable portion in any non-ambient position.    
     
     
       47. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 46, wherein said release unit comprises a lever operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said vial-dispenser when in said ambient position.  
     
     
       48. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 47, further comprising a release arm, wherein said lever is movable in concert with said vial-dispenser in said first phase of said actuating motion, and said release arm is internally positioned within the housing to oppose said lever when said vial-dispenser is at said first non-ambient position so as to disengage said lever from said vial-dispenser upon continuation of said actuating motion into said second phase.  
     
     
       49. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 46, wherein said movement of said portion occurs along a longitudinal axis thereof.  
     
     
       50. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 46, further comprising the fluid and wherein the fluid is a medicament.  
     
     
       51. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 46, further comprising the fluid and wherein the fluid is an ophthalmic liquid.  
     
     
       52. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 46, further comprising a forwardly-projecting finger extending from the housing for lowering an eyelid and applying the fluid to an eye.  
     
     
       53. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 46, wherein the vial-dispenser defines a longitudinal axis and the actuation motion of the trigger is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
       54. A one-way actuation release mechanism for actuating a fluid dispenser having a movable portion and a spring providing a spring force to bias the movable portion, which comprises:
 a trigger; and   a release unit operationally coupled to said trigger and adapted to releasably engage said dispenser, said release unit being adapted to cause movement of said movable portion from an ambient position towards a first non-ambient position in a first phase of actuation to ready fluid for dispensation, and said release unit being adapted to disengage from said dispenser when said portion has reached said first non-ambient position upon continuation of said actuation into a second phase;   wherein said one-way actuation release mechanism facilitates said movable portion to return to said ambient position upon disengagement of said release unit from said dispenser to discharge said fluid, and wherein said one-way actuation release mechanism facilitates substantially constant spring force of said spring over an extended period of time by preventing locking of said movable portion in any non-ambient position.    
     
     
       55. A dispenser comprising:
 the one-way actuation and release mechanism according to claim 54;   the fluid dispenser; and   the fluid;   wherein said fluid is a medicament.    
     
     
       56. The one-way actuation release mechanism according to claim 54, wherein said release unit comprises a lever operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said dispenser when said movable portion is in ambient position.  
     
     
       57. The one-way actuation release mechanism according to claim 56, further comprising a release arm, wherein said lever is movable in concert with said movable portion in said first phase of actuation, and said release arm is positioned to oppose said lever when said movable portion is at said first non-ambient position so as to disengage said lever from said dispenser upon continuation of said actuation into said second phase.  
     
     
       58. A method of dispensing fluid from a dispenser having a one-way actuation release mechanism and a movable portion, said one-way actuation release mechanism having a trigger and a release unit operationally coupled to said trigger and releasably engaging said dispenser, which method comprises:
 moving said movable portion from an ambient position towards a first non-ambient position by actuating said trigger through a first phase of an actuation motion to move a component of said release unit releasably engaged to said dispenser, said movement causing flow of fluid into a dosage cavity to fill said cavity;   disengaging said component of said release unit from said dispenser when said movable portion has reached said first non-ambient position upon continuation of said actuation motion into a second phase; and   biasing said movable portion back toward said ambient position upon disengagement of said component of said release unit to pressurize fluid in said cavity and discharge said fluid, wherein said biasing comprises applying a spring force to said movable body;   wherein said method facilitates maintenance of said spring force as a substantially constant spring force over an extended period of time by preventing locking of said movable portion in any non-ambient position.    
     
     
       59. The method according to claim 58, wherein said release unit comprises a release arm and a lever releasably engaging said dispenser, and wherein said step of disengaging said component of said release unit from said dispenser at said first non-ambient position comprises opposingly engaging said release arm with said lever to disengage said lever from said dispenser.  
     
     
       60. The method according to claim 58, wherein said fluid is a medicament.  
     
     
       61. A medicament-dispensing system comprising:
 a dispenser defining a nozzle, a dosage cavity coupled in fluid communication with the nozzle, a storage chamber containing a supply of medicament and coupled in fluid communication with the dosage cavity, a movable portion, and a spring that biases the movable portion toward an ambient position, wherein the dispenser is actuated to load from the storage chamber a predetermined volume of medicament into the dosage cavity upon movement of the movable portion to a first non-ambient position, and to discharge medicament through the nozzle upon restoration of the movable portion to the ambient position;   a one-way actuation release mechanism operationally coupled to the vial-dispenser for actuating, by a single actuating motion, the dispenser to sequentially introduce medicament from the storage chamber into the dosage cavity and subsequently discharge medicament from the dosage cavity through the nozzle, wherein the one-way actuation release mechanism includes a trigger and a release unit operationally coupled to the trigger and releasably engaging the dispenser, wherein the release unit causes movement of the movable portion from the ambient position towards the first non-ambient position in a first phase of the actuating motion, the movement causes flow of medicament from the storage chamber to the dosage cavity, and the release unit disengages from the dispenser at the first non-ambient position upon continuation of the actuating motion into a second phase, wherein the spring biases the movable portion back toward the ambient position upon disengagement of the release unit from the dispenser to pressurize medicament in the dosage cavity and discharge medicament through the nozzle, and wherein the one-way actuation release mechanism prevents locking of the movable portion in any non-ambient position.    
     
     
       62. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 61, wherein the dispenser includes a wing, and the release unit releasably engages the wing when in the ambient position.  
     
     
       63. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 62, wherein the release unit comprises a lever operationally coupled to the trigger and releasably engaging the wing when in the ambient position.  
     
     
       64. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 61, further comprising a forwardly-projecting finger extending from the housing for lowering an eyelid and applying medicament to an eye.  
     
     
       65. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 61, wherein the dispenser defines a longitudinal axis and the actuation motion of the trigger is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
       66. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 61, wherein the movable portion comprises a piston movable back toward the ambient position to pressurize medicament in the dosage cavity and discharge medicament through the nozzle.  
     
     
       67. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 61, further comprising a housing for retaining the dispenser.  
     
     
       68. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 67, wherein the housing is in the form of a cartridge.  
     
     
       69. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 61, wherein the spring is formed separate from the movable portion.  
     
     
       70. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 61, wherein the movable portion comprises a pump piston.  
     
     
       71. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 61, further comprising a portion disposed circumferentially about the movable portion.  
     
     
       72. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 71, wherein the spring is formed integral with the portion that is disposed circumferentially about the movable portion.  
     
     
       73. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 71, wherein the spring is formed separate from the movable portion and formed separate from the portion disposed circumferentially about the movable portion.  
     
     
       74. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 42, further comprising a housing for retaining the dispenser, the housing having an anterior wall with an aperture for receiving the nozzle of the dispenser.  
     
     
       75. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 42, wherein the spring is formed separate from the movable portion.  
     
     
       76. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 42, wherein the movable portion comprises a pump piston.  
     
     
       77. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 42, further comprising a portion disposed circumferentially about the movable portion.  
     
     
       78. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 77, wherein the spring is formed integral with the portion that is disposed circumferentially about the movable portion.  
     
     
       79. The medicament-dispensing system according to claim 77, wherein the spring is formed separate from the movable portion and formed separate from the portion disposed circumferentially about the movable portion.  
     
     
       80. The fluid-dispensing system according to claim 46, further comprising a housing for retaining the vial-dispenser, the housing having an anterior wall with an aperture for receiving the nozzle.  
     
     
       81. A nasal instill dispenser comprising:
 a vial including a body, a storage chamber containing a fluid, and a channel;   a housing for retaining the vial;   a pump in fluid communication with the channel;   a nozzle in fluid communication with the pump, wherein the nozzle, the pump and the vial define a longitudinal axis; and   a side actuator mounted on at least one of the body and the housing and is movable between first and second positions to actuate the pump and discharge the fluid in the direction of the longitudinal axis and into a nose.    
     
     
       82. A nasal instill dispenser as defined in claim 81, wherein the side actuator is operationally coupled to a lever that releasably engages the pump when the side actuator is in the second position.  
     
     
       83. A nasal instill dispenser as defined in claim 81, wherein the side actuator is pivotally mounted on at least one of the body and the housing and is movable laterally relative to the longitudinal axis between the first and second positions.  
     
     
       84. A nasal instill dispenser comprising:
 a vial including a body, a storage chamber containing a fluid, and a channel;   a housing for retaining the vial;   a nozzle, wherein the nozzle and the vial define a longitudinal axis;   first means for discharging fluid along the longitudinal axis from the storage chamber, through the nozzle, and into a nose; and   second means for actuating the first means, wherein the second means is movable laterally relative to the longitudinal axis between first and second positions.    
     
     
       85. A nasal instill dispenser as defined in claim 83, wherein the first means is a pump.  
     
     
       86. A nasal instill dispenser as defined in claim 83, wherein the second means is a side actuator.  
     
     
       87. A method of dispensing fluid from a dispenser having a side actuator into a nose comprising:
 using a nasal instill dispenser comprising a vial including a body, a storage chamber containing a fluid, and a channel, a housing for retaining the vial, a pump in fluid communication with the channel, a nozzle in fluid communication with the pump, wherein the nozzle, pump and vial define a longitudinal axis, and a side actuator that is mounted on at least one of the body and the housing and is movable between first and second positions;   wherein the using step comprises:   moving the side actuator from the first position to the second position, causing the fluid to flow from the storage chamber in the direction of the longitudinal axis and into a nose; and   releasing the side actuator from the second position into the first position.    
     
     
       88. A method as defined in claim 87, wherein the side actuator is pivotally mounted on at least one of the body and the housing and is movable laterally relative to the longitudinal axis between the first and second positions.  
     
     
       89. A method as defined in claim 87, wherein the side actuator is operationally coupled to a lever that releasably engages the pump when the side actuator is in the second position, and wherein the step of moving the side actuator from the first position to the second position comprises operationally engaging the pump to cause the fluid to flow from the storage chamber and into the nozzle.