Method and Apparatus for Measuring Manual Device Actuation

• US 20100116070A1
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Proveris Scientific Corporation
• Original Assignee: Proveris Scientific Corporation
• Inventors: Swavely, Donald C., Farina, Dino J.
• Application Number:
  US12/686,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20100116070A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/865.900
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/02 operated by air or other gas pressure applied to the liquid or other product to be sprayed or atomised sprayers for horticulture A01G, A01H; killing insects A01M; air humidifying by nozzles F24F6/14, F24F6/18; cooling by spraying F28B, F28C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/02 Equipment for testing the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1052 Actuation means locking means therefor B05B11/1059; the dispensing stroke being affected by the stored energy of a spring B05B11/109

Abstract

An assembly that provides operational information about operation of a device, such as a nasal spray pump or metered dose inhaler. A linkage adapted to extend between a mounting assembly, connected to a stationary part of the device, and an adapter assembly, connected to a movable part of the device, is in operational relationship with a transducer to enable the transducer to indicate a mechanical relationship between the movable and stationary parts of the device corresponding to the operation of the device. A data collection and processing system may be connected to the transducer for determining information that may be used to program an automated actuation system.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an adapter assembly configured to be coupled to a movable part of a device;

a mounting assembly configured to be coupled to a stationary part of the device;

one or more transducers coupled to the mounting assembly or the adapter assembly and operable to indicate a mechanical relationship between the movable part and the stationary part of the device corresponding to operation of the device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one transducer is a position sensor.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the position sensor is a potentiometer.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 further including a linkage, adapted to connect the mounting assembly and the adapter assembly, in operational relationship with the transducer.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the linkage is a spring loaded wire integrally associated with the potentiometer.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one transducer is a force transducer.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transducers include at least one position sensor and at least one force transducer.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the device is a spring or other mechanically resistive element.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including a data processing system coupled to the transducers that captures indications of the mechanical relationship between the movable part and the stationary part.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the data processing system includes program instructions that automatically calculate parameters in position, velocity, force, and/or acceleration corresponding to operation of the device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the instructions include a routine that calculates velocity or acceleration data from position measurements.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the parameters include at least one of the following:

maximum position displacement, hold time, maximum actuation velocity, maximum return velocity, maximum actuation acceleration, maximum return acceleration, and maximum force.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the data processing system includes a signal conditioner, data sampler, and amplifier, wherein the signal conditioner conditions a signal effected by one or more transducers prior to the data sampler and amplifier operating on the signal.

14. An apparatus comprising:

an adapter assembly configured to be coupled to a movable part of a spray device;

a mounting assembly configured to be coupled to a stationary part of the device;

a position sensor, a force transducer, or both a position sensor and force transducer, coupled to the mounting assembly or the adapter assembly and operable to indicate a mechanical relationship between the movable part and the stationary part of the device corresponding to operation of the spray device.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the spray device is any one of a nasal spray bottle;

a Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI), a pharmaceutical spray pump assembly, a glue/caulking gun, a household spray pump, a pressurized spray can, a pharmaceutical nasal syringe, an industrial nozzle, and or a cosmetic spray pump.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 further including a data processing system coupled to the transducer that captures indications of the mechanical relationship between the movable part and the stationary part.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the data processing system includes program instructions that automatically calculate parameters in position, velocity, force, and/or acceleration corresponding to operation of the device.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the instructions include a routine that calculates velocity or acceleration data from position measurements.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the parameters include at least one of the following:

maximum position displacement, hold time, maximum actuation velocity, maximum return velocity, maximum actuation acceleration, maximum return acceleration, and maximum force.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the data processing system includes a signal conditioner, data sampler, and amplifier, wherein the signal conditioner conditions a signal effected by one or more transducers prior to the data sampler and amplifier operating on the signal.