METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INDICATING DOSES IN A DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20110031038A1
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sagatulo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sagatulo, Inc.
• Inventors: PAGE, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/853,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20110031038A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• 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 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3393 by weighing the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/584 having a color code
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/04 Tools for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/06 having means for controlling the supply or discharge
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/42 for counting by weighing G01G19/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network

Abstract

A method and apparatus for measuring and displaying the remaining doses in a metered-dose inhaler is made up of a housing having a weigh scale and load cell, a display screen in hinged relation to the housing, and a calculator associated with the load cell for subtracting the measured weight of the inhaler, after one or more doses have been expelled from the inhaler, from its original gross weight to determine the net weight of the contents of the inhaler, and dividing the net weight of the contents by the per dose weight followed by displaying the resultant number of doses remaining in the inhaler on the display screen.

Claims

1. A medication dosage measuring and display device, comprising;

a scale unit with a weigh pan housed within a base member, said scale unit operative to accept input and provide output based on load cell members;

means for powering said device;

a display unit associated with said scale unit; and

means for converting weight data from said scale unit to dosage information to be displayed on said display unit.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said device is color coded with a matching brand of medication.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said output is converted to dosage information for a selected brand of medication.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein said converting means includes data values programmed into said device using a software program with or without a graphical user interface.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said device includes a data member insertable into a port on said device.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said display unit includes a visual or audible indicator of fractional doses remaining.

7. A dosage measuring and display device comprising a scale unit having a base plate, a cover plate and a recloseable lid member;

said base plate and said cover plate are joined along a common edge and house at least one battery and load cells;

said unit having a dosage level display screen and a USB port connected to a target computer.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein said USB port uploads all of the calibration information along with user and medical information to an internal non-volatile memory of said device.

9. The device according to claim 7 wherein an erasable/reprogrammable memory chip is integrated on a circuit board of said device.

10. The device according to claim 7 wherein said unit includes a data card reader port.

11. Apparatus for measuring and displaying the number of doses remaining in a metered-dose inhaler comprising:

a hand-held unit having a weigh scale with electronic sensing means and a display screen;

first means for storing the gross weight of said inhaler in said sensing means;

second means for storing the original number of doses contained within said inhaler in said sensing means;

said sensing means being operative to record the weight of said inhaler after one or more doses have been expelled from said inhaler and subtracting said measured weight from said gross weight to determine the net weight of the contents of said inhaler;

and means for dividing the net weight of said contents by the per dose weight and displaying the resultant number of doses remaining in said inhaler on said display screen.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said scale includes a serial port connector.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said unit includes fourth means for selecting a brand of medicament including a generic brand and validation of said brand.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said scale includes a data card port for accessing stored information on a data card.

15. A method of determining the number of doses contained in a hand-held metered-dose inhaler comprising the steps of:

storing the tare weight of said metered-dose inhaler;

storing the gross weight of said metered-dose inhaler and subtracting said tare weight from said gross weight to determine the net weight of the contents of said inhaler;

placing the metered-dose inhaler on a weigh sale and recording its actual weight after one or more doses have been expelled; and

converting the net weight of said contents into the doses remaining in said medicated-dose inhaler.

16. The method according to claim 15 including the step of displaying on a screen associated with said weigh scale, the number of doses remaining in said inhaler.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein medication data is transferred to and from said device and allows for the configuration of multiple medication brands for multiple users on the same device scale.

18. The method according to claim 15 including the step of providing color coded references to indicate the percentage of doses remaining in said inhaler on said screen.

19. The method according to claim 15 wherein said method includes validation of expected specifications of a selected medication.

20. The method according to claim 15 wherein a generic data file may be created by entering information regarding the published manufacturer name, medication name, published weight of medication and maximum published doses.

21. The method according to claim 15 including the step of providing an audible alert when the number of doses remaining reaches a predetermined level.

22. A measuring and display system for use in displaying data related to medicinal dosing, the display system having a weight system to determine the amount of therapeutic substance present in a storage container and a display board adapted to display information generated from said weight system.

23. The measuring and display system according to claim 22 wherein said weight system includes a signal mode for detecting an event indicative of weight being placed on the weight system.

24. The measuring and display system according to claim 22 wherein said display board being operative to display user data history and medication compliance.

25. The measuring and display system according to claim 23 wherein said signal mode transmits a signal resulting in conversion to preselected data.

26. A method of measuring dosage levels in a pressurized container, having a scale member with a display feature and power unit, the steps comprising;

a first event detecting the weight of said pressurized container when placed on the said scale member, a second event whereby a load cell system sends a signal to a microprocessor based on said first event;

a third event based on application of an equation to the second event resulting in data conversion; and

a fourth event displaying the converted data on said data display.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein said scale member includes a serial port connector.