Acoustic Inhaler Flow Measurement

• US 20090308387A1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bang & Olufsen Medicom A/S (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bang & Olufsen Medicom A/S (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Poulsen, Svend-Erik, Andersen, Bjorn Knud
• Granted Patent: US 9,242,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/666 by detecting noise and sounds generated by the flowing fluid

Abstract

A dry powder or aerosol inhaler having attached thereto, in a detachable manner, a sound/vibration sensor adapted to sense sound/vibration in the interval of 100-3000 Hz and there from derive a parameter of a flow in a flow path of the inhaler. The sensor does not interfere with the flow path of the inhaler.

Claims

1. An inhaler comprising an external surface and:

means for dispensing an aerosol or a dry powder at a dispensing position,

means for defining a flow path between the dispensing position and a gas outlet,

sensing means detachably attached to the external surface, the sensing means being adapted to sense vibrations or sound with a frequency in the interval of 100-3000 Hz and estimate, on the basis of the vibrations/sound sensed in the interval of 100-3000 Hz, a parameter of a flow in the flow path.

2. An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means is adapted to estimate, as the parameter, a volume of gas output from the gas outlet.

3. An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means is adapted to estimate, as the parameter, a maximum flow output from the gas outlet.

4. An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is chosen from the group consisting of:

a microphone, a strain gauge, a piezo element, an accelerometer, a bending sensor, capacitive sensor, a magnetic sensor, a displacement sensor, and an optical sensor.

5. An inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising means for informing a user of one or more estimated parameters.

6. An inhaler according to claim 1, the inhaler comprising a dry powder container or an aerosol container and a first part defining at least part of the flow path.

7. An inhaler according to claim 6, wherein the external surface is an outer surface of the container.

8. An inhaler according to claim 6, wherein the external surface is an outer surface of the first part.

9. A method of operating an inhaler according to claim 1, the method comprising sensing vibration(s) or sound with one or more frequencies within the interval of 100-3000 Hz, and estimating, on the basis of the sensed vibration/sound, a parameter of a flow in the flow path.

10. A method according to claim 9, comprising estimating, as the parameter, a volume of gas output from the gas outlet.

11. A method according to claim 9, comprising estimating, as the parameter, a maximum flow output from the gas outlet.

12. A method according to claim 9, comprising estimating, as the parameter, a period of time during which a predetermined flow has existed.

13. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of informing a user of one or more estimated parameters.

14. A sensing means for use in the inhaler according to claim 1.