Dry powder inhalant device with dosage and air flow monitor

• US 5,505,195 A
• Filed: 09/16/1993
• Issued: 04/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westmed Inc. (SunMed Group Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Medtrac Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Sallis, Daniel V., Wolf, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Asher, Kimberly L.
• Application Number:
  US08/122,126
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.23, 128/203.15, 128/203.19, 128/203.21, 128/203.24, 128/203.14, 128/203.12
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0048 the dosages being arranged in a plane, e.g. on diskettes
• 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 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder

Abstract

A dry powder inhalant device adapted for mounting on a conventional medication dry powder dispenser having a mouthpiece incorporated in one end of the dispenser. The device designed for monitoring prescribed dosages of dry powder medication received through the mouthpiece, the lips and into the mouth, throat, and respiratory system of a user of the device. The device includes an electronic housing mounted on the dispenser for computing and recording when a proper amount of dry powder is released inside the dispenser, when a proper amount of air flow is inhaled through the dispenser for mixing with the dry powder, and when each dispenser or dry powder container is removed and replaced on the electronic housing. The dispenser, in one embodiment, includes an activation sheath received around and secured to a portion of the dispenser. A lower end of the sheath abuts the electronic housing with the mouthpiece extending upwardly and through an upper end of the sheath. The electronic housing includes a first and second proximity reed switch for recording when a proper dosage of dry powder is released inside the dispenser by properly rotating the sheath and dispenser a fixed distance in one direction on the electronic housing and rotating the sheath and dispenser a fixed distance in an opposite direction. The electronic housing also includes a fast response thermistor for measuring when sufficient air flow is being drawn into the housing, into the dispenser and mixed with the dry powder and out the mouthpiece when using the device.

Claims

1. A dry powder inhalant device adapted for mounting on a conventional medication dry powder dispenser having a mouthpiece incorporated in one end of the dispenser, the device designed for monitoring prescribed dosages of dry powder received through a mouthpiece of a dispenser, through the lips and into the mouth, throat, and respiratory system of a user of the device, the device comprising:

dry powder sensing means mounted inside an electronic housing, said electronic housing adapted for attachment to a dispenser, said dry powder sensing means for sensing the release of dry powder in a dispenser;

dry powder signal generating means connected to said dry powder sensing means, said dry powder signal generating means for electrically signaling when dry powder is released in a dispenser;

air flow sensing means mounted inside said electronic housing and disposed adjacent an air inlet in said electronic housing, said air flow sensing means for determining the flow rate of air through the air inlet, said air flow sensing means also for determining the air flow rate through a mouthpiece of a dispenser and sensing the duration of the air flow therethrough;

air flow signal generating means connected to said air flow sensing means, said air flow signal generating means for electrically signaling the rate and duration of the air flow; and

display means connected to said dry powder signal generating means, said display means for displaying each occurrence of the release of dry powder in a dispenser, further said display means connected to said air flow signal generating means, said display means for displaying each occurrence of air flow from said air inlet in said electronic housing, an air flow rate through a mouthpiece of a dispenser and the duration of an air flow through a mouthpiece in a dispenser;

computing and recording means mounted in said electronic housing for logging positively when dry powder is released, when the air flow is received in said electronic housing and through a mouthpiece and the rate of airflow; and

a dry powder dispenser sensing means for sensing when a dry powder dispenser is received and removed from said electronic housing, said dry powder dispenser sensing means connected to said computing and recording means for logging when a dry powder dispenser is received and removed.

2. The device as described in claim 1 further including a remote retrieval and data processing means electrically connected to said computing and recording means for retrieval of chronology stored data such as determination of and duration of the dry powder dosages of medication positively dispensed over a period of time and patient related data for analysis by a doctor.

3. A dry powder inhalant device adapted for mounting on a conventional medication dry powder dispenser having a first end and a second end with a mouthpiece incorporated in the first end of the dispenser, the dispenser having an activation sheath received around and secured to a portion of the dispenser, the device designed for monitoring prescribed dosage of dry powder received through a mouthpiece of a dispenser, through the lips and into the mouth, throat, and respiratory system of a user of the device, the device comprising:

an electronic housing adapted for releasable attachment to a second end of a dispenser;

a first and second proximity reed switch disposed inside said electronic housing and responsive to rotation of a sheath and dispenser a fixed distance in one direction on said electronic housing, and rotation of a sheath and dispenser a fixed distance in an opposite direction, said first and second proximity switches sensing the release of dry powder in a dispenser;

dry powder signal generating means connected to said first and second proximity reed switches, said dry powder signal generating means for electrically signaling when dry powder is released in a dispenser;

a fast response temperature thermistor mounted inside said electronic housing and in an air flow path from an air inlet in said electronic housing to a mouthpiece of a dispenser, said fast response temperature thermistor for sensing the rate and duration of air flow introduced and mixed with released dry powder;

an air flow signal generating means connected to said fast response temperature thermistor, said air flow signal generating means for electrically signaling the rate and duration of the air flow through a mouthpiece of a dispenser; and

computing and recording means mounted in said electronic housing for logging positively when dry powder is released, when an air flow is received in said electronic housing and through a mouthpiece, and the airflow rate.

4. The device as described in claim 3 further including an electronically operated proximity reed switch disposed in said electronic housing for sensing when a dispenser is received on and removed from said electronic housing.

5. The device as described in claim 3 further including programmable display means for displaying the number of dry powder dosages taken, the number of dry powder dosages remaining in a dispenser, the determination of each dry powder dosage received from a dispenser, the air flow rate received through said housing and a mouthpiece of a dispenser and mixed with the dry powder dosage, said programmable display means connected to said computing and recording means.

6. A dry powder inhalant device adapted for mounting on a conventional medication dry powder dispenser having a mouthpiece incorporated in one end of the dispenser, the device designed for monitoring prescribed dosages of dry powder received through a mouthpiece of a dispenser, through the lips and into the mouth, throat, and respiratory system of a user of the device, the device comprising:

dry powder sensing means mounted inside an electronic housing, said electronic housing adapted for attachment to the dispenser, said dry powder sensing means for sensing the release of dry powder in a dispenser;

dry powder signal generating means connected to said dry powder sensing means, said dry powder signal generating means for electrically signaling when dry powder is released in a dispenser;

a fast response temperature thermistor mounted inside said electronic housing and in an air flow path from an air inlet in said electronic housing to a mouthpiece of a dispenser, said fast response temperature thermistor for sensing the rate and duration of air flow introduced and mixed with released dry powder;

an air flow signal generating means connected to said fast response temperature thermistor, said air flow signal generating means for electrically signaling the rate and duration of air flow through a mouthpiece of a dispenser; and

computing and recording means mounted in said electronic housing for logging positively when dry powder is released, when an air flow is received in said electronic housing and through a mouthpiece of a dispenser and the airflow rate.

7. The device as described in claim 6 further including a remote retrieval and data processing means electrically connected to said computing and recording means for retrieval of chronology stored data such as determination of and duration of the dry powder dosages of medication positively dispensed over a period of time and patient related data for analysis by a doctor.

8. The device as described in claim 6 further including display means connected to said dry powder signal generating means, said display means for displaying each occurrence of the release of dry powder in a dispenser, further said display means connected to said air flow signal generating means, said display means for displaying each occurrence of air flow from said air inlet in said electronic housing, an air flow rate through a mouthpiece in a dispenser and the duration of the air flow through a mouthpiece in a dispenser.