RELEASABLE MONITOR WITH OPTICAL DOSE COUNTER FOR A MEDICAMENT INHALER

• US 20140000598A1
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adherium (NZ) Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nexus6 Limited
• Inventors: SUTHERLAND, Garth Campbell, Gormack, Michael James, Bezmayernykh, Pavel
• Granted Patent: US 9,468,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.12
• 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 15/0068 Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• 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 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3313 used specific wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• 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 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients

Abstract

A device for monitoring patient usage of a medicament inhaler, the medicament inhaler being adapted to deliver doses of medicament, and the medicament inhaler including parts which move during the dispensing of a dose of medicament. The device includes a housing, for releasable attachable to the medicament inhaler, and an optical dose counter, associated with said housing, the optical dose counter being adapted to determine when a dose of medicament has been dispensed by transmitting optical signals through the medicament inhaler. The device is attachable to the medicament inhaler, and is subsequently operable, without any modifications being required to be marks to the medicament inhaler. The device may also include an electronic control module which is in communication with the optical dose counter, the electronic control module being adapted to monitor and/or store data relating to patient usage of the medicament inhaler.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring patient usage of a medicament inhaler, said medicament inhaler being adapted to deliver doses of medicament, and wherein said medicament inhaler includes parts which move during the dispensing of a dose of medicament,

wherein said device includes:

a) a housing, said housing being releasably attachable to said medicament inhaler,

b) an optical dose counter associated with said housing, said optical dose counter being adapted to determine when a dose of medicament has been dispensed by transmitting optical signals through the medicament inhaler, said optical dose counter including;

a) at least one light transmitter able to transmit an optical signal, from a position outside of the medicament inhaler,

b) at least one light receiver able to receive the optical signal, from a position outside of the medicament inhaler,

the arrangement and construction being such that the movement of said part(s) within the medicament inhaler during the delivery of a dose of medicament alters the optical signal(s) whereby the optical dose counter is able to determine that said dose has been dispensed,

c) an electronic control module associated with said housing, said electronic control module including, or being in communication with, said optical dose counter,

d) said electronic control module being adapted to monitor and/or store data relating to patient usage of said medicament inhaler,

the arrangement and construction being such that said device is attachable to said medicament inhaler, and subsequently operable, without any modifications being required to be made to said medicament inhaler.

2. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic control module further includes processing means to enable the electronic control module to perform operations on said data.

3. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is adapted to fully encircle the medicament inhaler.

4. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said housing is provided with a hinged portion which, when open, allows the medicament inhaler to be placed within the housing, and which, when closed, serves to retain the medicament inhaler within the housing.

5. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said hinged portion is provided with closure and release means, to secure said hinged portion in a closed position, and release said hinged portion from said closed position, respectively.

7. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optical dose counter utilises infrared light.

8. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optical dose counter utilises visible spectrum light.

9. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optical dose counter includes:

c) at least one light transmitter able to transmit an optical signal,

d) at least one light receiver able to receive an optical signal,

the arrangement and construction being such that the movement of said part(s) within the medicament inhaler during the delivery of a dose of medicament alters the optical signal(s) whereby the optical dose counter is able to determine that said dose has been dispensed.

10. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic control module includes, or is in communication with, a dose counter display for viewing by the patient.

12. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said dose counter display is adapted to serve as a non-absolute dose counter.

13. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said dose counter display is adapted to serve as an absolute dose counter.

18. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic control module includes, or is in communication with, a wireless transmitter to enable the wireless transmitting of data relating to patient usage of said medicament inhaler.

20. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 18, wherein the wireless transmitter is able to transmit said data in real time.

21. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 18, wherein the wireless transmitter is able to transmit said data at predetermined intervals and/or as a result of a predetermined event(s).

22. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 18, wherein said electronic control module further includes, or is in communication with, a wireless receiver to enable the wireless receipt of data or instructions from a third party.

23. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optical dose counter includes means to determine deterioration in the inner surfaces of the medicament inhaler, due to changes in the light levels reflected from the inner surfaces of the medicament inhaler over time.

26. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medicament inhaler is a pressurized Metered Dose Inhaler.

27. A device for monitoring patient usage of the medicament inhaler, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medicament inhaler is a Dry Powder Inhaler.

6. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (Canceled)

28. In combination, a medicament inhaler, said medicament inhaler being adapted to deliver doses of medicament to a patient, and wherein said medicament inhaler includes parts which move during the dispensing of a dose of medicament;

and a device for monitoring patient usage of said medicament inhaler, said device including;

a) a housing, said housing being releasably attachable to said medicament inhaler,

b) an optical dose counter associated with said housing, said optical dose counter being adapted to determine when a dose of medicament has been dispensed by transmitting optical signals through the medicament inhaler, and from a position outside of the medicament inhaler,

c) an electronic control module associated with said housing, said electronic control module including, or being in communication with, said optical dose counter,

d) said electronic control module being adapted to monitor and/or store data relating to patient usage of said medicament inhaler,

the arrangement and construction being such that said device is attachable to said medicament inhaler, and subsequently operable, without any modifications being required to be made to said medicament inhaler.

29. A method of treating a respiratory disease, said method including the step of utilising said medicament inhaler and said device, as claimed in claim 28.