Compliance Monitor

• US 20140182584A1
• Filed: 09/20/2012
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adherium (NZ) Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nexus6 Limited
• Inventors: Sutherland, Garth Campbell, Gormack, Michael James
• Granted Patent: US 11,684,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0071 having a display or indicator
• 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 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 Temperature

Abstract

This invention relates to a compliance monitor for monitoring patient usage of a medicament delivery device, where the medicament delivery device includes a store of medicament and a medicament dispensing means. The compliance monitor includes a housing adapted to enclose the medicament delivery device, and a dose counter, associated with the housing, for recording the delivery of a dose of medicament to the patient from the medicament delivery device. The arrangement and construction is such that the housing is loosely coupled to the medicament delivery device, whereby the housing is able to move relative to the medicament delivery device during the delivery of the dose of medicament, and it is this movement which actuates the dose counter, either directly or indirectly, in order to record the delivery of the dose of medicament.

Claims

1. A compliance monitor for monitoring patient usage of a medicament delivery device, said medicament delivery device including a store of medicament and a medicament dispensing means, and said compliance monitor including:

a) a housing adapted to enclose said medicament delivery device,

b) a dose counter, associated with said housing, for recording the delivery of a dose of medicament to the patient from the medicament delivery device,

the arrangement and construction being such that said housing is loosely coupled to said medicament delivery device, whereby said housing is able to move relative to said medicament delivery device during the delivery of the dose of medicament, and it is this movement which actuates the dose counter, either directly or indirectly, in order to record the delivery of said dose of medicament.

2. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing is releasably attachable to said medicament delivery device.

3. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compliance monitor is adapted to be attached to said medicament delivery device, and subsequently operable, without any modifications being required to be made to said medicament delivery device.

4. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substantially loose fit of said housing with respect to said medicament delivery device serves to ensure that said dose counter records every dose of medicament dispensed by the medicament delivery device, regardless of how the patient holds and/or operates and/or manipulates the medicament delivery device during the dispensing of a dose of medicament.

5. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compliance monitor is adapted to partially enclose said medicament delivery device.

6. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compliance monitor is adapted to fully enclose said medicament delivery device.

7. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement of said housing relative to said medicament delivery device, during the delivery of the dose of medicament, is primarily in a longitudinal direction with respect to said medicament delivery device.

8. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement of said housing relative to said medicament delivery device, during the delivery of the dose of medicament, is primarily in a transverse direction with respect to said medicament delivery device.

9. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement of said housing relative to said medicament delivery device, during the delivery of the dose of medicament, is in both a longitudinal and transverse direction with respect to said medicament delivery device.

10. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein dose counter includes an electronic switch.

11. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dose counter is an optical dose counter.

12. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compliance monitor further includes detection means for detecting when the store of medicament is inserted into, and/or removed from, said medicament delivery device.

13. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing further includes an electronics control module (ECM), said ECM being in electronic communication with said dose counter.

14. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 13, wherein said ECM is adapted to monitor and/or store patient usage data relating to the patient usage of said medicament delivery device.

15. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 14, wherein said housing includes an output for transferring said patient usage data to an electronic device.

16. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said housing is provided with a hinged portion, which, when open, allows the medicament delivery device to be placed within the housing, and which, when closed, serves to retain and/or enclose the medicament delivery device within the housing.

17. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 16, wherein said hinged portion is provided with closure and release means, to secure said hinged portion, and release said hinged portion, respectively.

18. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said compliance monitor is reusable across a range of medicament delivery devices.

19. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing is substantially transparent or translucent.

20. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dose counter is able to record the delivery of a dose of medicament from a position outside of the medicament delivery device.

21. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medicament delivery device is a medicament inhaler.

22. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 21, wherein said medicament inhaler is a pMDI.

23. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 21, wherein said medicament inhaler is a DPI.

24. A compliance monitor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said compliance monitor is adapted to be attached to said medicament delivery device, and subsequently operable, without any modifications being required to be made to said medicament delivery device.