Electronic medication chronolog device

• US 6,148,815 A
• Filed: 04/10/1998
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westmed Inc. (SunMed Group Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Medtrac Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Wolf, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US09/058,520
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.23, 128/203.12, 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/204.26, 128/205.23
• US Class Current: 128/205.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0005 with means for agitating the medicament
• 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 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• 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 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations

Abstract

An electronic medication chronolog device adapted for attachment to various shapes and sizes of conventional pressurized inhalant packages. The packages include in common an actuator housing with one end having a mouthpiece and an opposite end having an opening for receiving a vial/canister therein. The vial/canister having a valve stem used for dispensing a prescribed dosage of medication inhalant in an aerosol chamber inside the actuator housing. The aerosol chamber is disposed next to an outlet of the mouthpiece for dispensing the medication therethrough. The chronolog device includes computing and recording equipment with audio and visual display mounted in a chronolog housing. The chronolog housing is adapted for attachment to the actuator housing. A strain gauge sensing arm is attached to the computing equipment and extends through a hole in a side of the actuator housing for engaging a portion of the vial/canister next to the valve stem. The sensing arm senses and signals the computing equipment when the valve stem of the vial/canister is properly compressed for release of medication. Also, the sensing arm senses and signals the computing equipment when the vial/canister is engaged and disengaged inside the actuator housing Further, a fast response thermistor is connected to the computing equipment and disposed between the hole in the side of the actuator housing and an opening in the chronolog housing. The thermistor senses and signals each occurrence and amount of inhale air flow and exhale air flow in the actuator housing.

Claims

1. A plurality of electronic medication chronolog devices including a first chronolog device and a second chronolog device, with the first chronolog device for attachment to a first conventional pressurized inhalant package and the second chronolog device for attachment to a second conventional pressurized inhalant package, with each package including an actuator housing with one end having a mouth/piece and an opposite end having an opening for receiving a vial/canister therein, the vial/canister having a valve stem used for dispensing a prescribed dosage of medication inhalant in an aerosol chamber inside the actuator housing, the aerosol chamber being disposed next to an outlet of the mouthpiece, the plurality of chronolog devices comprising:

a first adaptable housing of said first chronolog device having a first structure that depends on a configuration of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package but does not depend on a configuration of the second conventional pressurized inhalant package and in which said first structure joins said first adaptable housing to the first conventional pressurized inhalant package, said first adaptable housing also having a second structure;

a first accessory chronolog apparatus connected to said second structure of said first adaptable housing, said first accessory chronolog apparatus for logging data related to inhalant released from the vial/canister of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package;

a second adaptable housing of said second chronolog device having a first structure that depends on a configuration of the second conventional pressurized inhalant package and said first structure of said second adaptable housing being different from said first structure of said first adaptable housing, said first structure of said second adaptable housing joins said first adaptable housing to the second conventional pressurized inhalant package, said second adaptable housing also having a second structure; and

a second accessory chronolog apparatus connected to said second structure of said second adaptable housing, said second accessory chronolog apparatus for logging data related to inhalant being released from the vial/canister of the second conventional pressurized inhalant package;

wherein said first structure of said second adaptable housing being unable to be properly connected to the first conventional pressurized inhalant package and said first structure of said first adaptable housing being unable to be properly connected to the second conventional pressurized inhalant package, with said first chronolog apparatus being operable with the second conventional pressurized inhalant package and said second accessory chronolog apparatus being operable with the first conventional pressurized inhalant package, and wherein each of said second structures of said first and second adaptable housings have the same configuration.

2. The plurality of chronolog devices of claim 1, wherein each of said accessory chronolog apparatuses is identical.

3. The plurality of chronolog devices of claim 1, wherein said first accessory chronolog apparatus includes a medication mixing sensor, a chronolog housing and processing means, said mixing sensor being in electrical communication with said processing means and said mixing sensor being disposed in said chronolog housing, wherein said mixing sensor senses and signals said processing means when proper mixing of the medication in the vial/canister of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package has occurred.

4. The plurality of chronolog devices of claim 1, wherein said first accessory chronolog apparatus further includes a fast response thermistor and processing means and in which said fast response thermistor senses and signals said processing means when medication is released from the vial/canister of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package.

5. The plurality of chronolog devices of claim 4, wherein when the medication is discharged from the vial/canister of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package, an instantaneous pressure change creates a perturbance in the ambient air, the perturbance of air sensed by said fast response thermistor for signaling said processing means.

6. The plurality of chronolog devices of claim 1, further including a docking station wirelessly communicating with at least said first accessory chronolog apparatus for receiving data from said first accessory chronolog apparatus, said data being related to usage of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package.

7. The plurality of chronolog devices of claim 6, wherein said docking station includes means for connecting to a telephone line.

8. The plurality of chronolog devices of claim 6 further including computer means for transferring information relative to said first accessory chronolog apparatus using said docking station.

9. A plurality of electronic medication chronolog devices including a first chronolog device and a second chronolog device, with the first chronolog device for attachment to a first conventional pressurized inhalant package and the second chronolog device for attachment to a second conventional pressurized inhalant package, with each package including an actuator housing with one end having a mouth/piece and an opposite end having an opening for receiving a vial/canister therein, the vial/canister having a valve stem used for dispensing a prescribed dosage of medication inhalant in an aerosol chamber inside the actuator housing, the aerosol chamber being disposed next to an outlet of the mouthpiece, the plurality of chronolog devices comprising:

a first adaptable housing of said first chronolog device having a first structure that depends on a configuration of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package but does not depend on a configuration of the second conventional pressurized inhalant package and in which said first structure joins said first adaptable housing to the first conventional pressurized inhalant package, said first adaptable housing also having a second structure;

a first accessory chronolog apparatus connected to said second structure of said first adaptable housing, said first accessory chronolog apparatus for logging data related to inhalant released from the vial/canister of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package;

a second adaptable housing of said second chronolog device having a first structure that depends on a configuration of the second conventional pressurized inhalant package and said first structure of said second adaptable housing being different from said first structure of said first adaptable housing, said second structure of said second adaptable housing joins said first adaptable housing to the second conventional pressurized inhalant package, said second adaptable housing having a second structure; and

a second accessory chronolog apparatus connected to said second structure of said second adaptable housing, said second accessory chronolog apparatus for logging data related to inhalant being released from the vial/canister of the second conventional pressurized inhalant package;

wherein said first structure of said second adaptable housing being unable to be properly connected to the first conventional pressurized inhalant package and said first structure of said first adaptable housing being unable to be properly connected to the second conventional pressurized inhalant package, with said first chronolog apparatus being operable with the second conventional pressurized inhalant package and said second accessory chronolog apparatus being operable with the first conventional pressurized inhalant package, wherein said first accessory chronolog apparatus includes a medication mixing sensor, a chronolog housing and processing means, said mixing sensor being in electrical communication with said processing means and said mixing sensor being disposed in said chronolog housing, wherein said mixing sensor senses and signals said processing means when proper mixing of the medication in the vial/canister of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package has occurred, and wherein said mixing sensor includes an accelerometer sensor and reed switch, when the medication in the vial/canister of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package is properly shaken, said accelerometer sensor closes said reed switch and said processing means is signaled that proper mixing has occurred.

10. The plurality of chronolog devices of claim 9, wherein said accelerometer sensor includes a spring biased magnet, when said magnet is compressed against said spring said magnet'"'"'s magnetic field comes in contact with and closes said reed switch.

11. A plurality of electronic medication chronolog devices including a first chronolog device and a second chronolog device, with the first chronolog device for attachment to a first conventional pressurized inhalant package and the second chronolog device for attachment to a second conventional pressurized inhalant package, with each package including an actuator housing with one end having a mouth/piece and an opposite end having an opening for receiving a vial/canister therein, the vial/canister having a valve stem used for dispensing a prescribed dosage of medication inhalant in an aerosol chamber inside the actuator housing, the aerosol chamber being disposed next to an outlet of the mouthpiece, the plurality of chronolog devices comprising:

a first adaptable housing of said first chronolog device having a first structure that depends on a configuration of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package but does not depend on a configuration of the second conventional pressurized inhalant package and in which said first structure joins said first adaptable housing to the first conventional pressurized inhalant package, said first adaptable housing also having a second structure;

a first accessory chronolog apparatus connected to said second structure of said first adaptable housing, said first accessory chronolog apparatus for logging data related to inhalant released from the vial/canister of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package;

a second adaptable housing of said second chronolog device having a first structure that depends on a configuration of the second conventional pressurized inhalant package and said first structure of said second adaptable housing being different from said first structure of said first adaptable housing, said second structure of said second adaptable housing joins said first adaptable housing to the second conventional pressurized inhalant package, said second adaptable housing having a second structure; and

a second accessory chronolog apparatus connected to said second structure of said second adaptable housing, said second accessory chronolog apparatus for logging data related to inhalant being released from the vial/canister of the second conventional pressurized inhalant package;

wherein said first structure of said second adaptable housing being unable to be properly connected to the first conventional pressurized inhalant package and said first structure of said first adaptable housing being unable to be properly connected to the second conventional pressurized inhalant package, with said first chronolog apparatus being operable with the second conventional pressurized inhalant package and said second accessory chronolog apparatus being operable with the first conventional pressurized inhalant package, and wherein said first accessory chronolog apparatus includes a chronolog housing, processing means and display means, with said display means in electrical communication with said processing means and being disposed on said chronolog housing, said display means for displaying when the vial/canister of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package is engaged and disengaged inside the actuator housing of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package, for displaying when the inhalant is released from the vial/canister, for displaying the amount of inhalant dispensed from the vial/canister and the duration of the inhalant dispensed, for displaying each occurrence of inhale flow in the actuator housing and for displaying the amount of inhale flow in the actuator housing.

12. A plurality of electronic medication chronolog devices including a first chronolog device and a second chronolog device, with the first chronolog device for attachment to a first conventional pressurized inhalant package and the second chronolog device for attachment to a second conventional pressurized inhalant package, with each package including an actuator housing with one end having a mouth/piece and an opposite end having an opening for receiving a vial/canister therein, the vial/canister having a valve stem used for dispensing a prescribed dosage of medication inhalant in an aerosol chamber inside the actuator housing, the aerosol chamber being disposed next to an outlet of the mouthpiece, the plurality of chronolog devices comprising:

a first adaptable housing of said first chronolog device having a first structure that depends on a configuration of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package but does not depend on a configuration of the second conventional pressurized inhalant package and in which said first structure joins said first adaptable housing to the first conventional pressurized inhalant package, said first adaptable housing also having a second structure;

a first accessory chronolog apparatus connected to said second structure of said first adaptable housing, said first accessory chronolog apparatus for logging data related to inhalant released from the vial/canister of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package;

a second adaptable housing of said second chronolog device having a first structure that depends on a configuration of the second conventional pressurized inhalant package and said first structure of said second adaptable housing being different from said first structure of said first adaptable housing, said second structure of said second adaptable housing joins said first adaptable housing to the second conventional pressurized inhalant package, said second adaptable housing having a second structure; and

a second accessory chronolog apparatus connected to said second structure of said second adaptable housing, said second accessory chronolog apparatus for logging data related to inhalant being released from the vial/canister of the second conventional pressurized inhalant package;

wherein said first structure of said second adaptable housing being unable to be properly connected to the first conventional pressurized inhalant package and said first structure of said first adaptable housing being unable to be properly connected to the second conventional pressurized inhalant package, with said first chronolog apparatus being operable with the second conventional pressurized inhalant package and said second accessory chronolog apparatus being operable with the first conventional pressurized inhalant package, the plurality of chronolog devices further including a docking station wirelessly communicating with at least said first accessory chronolog apparatus for receiving data from said first accessory chronolog apparatus, said data being related to usage of the first conventional pressurized inhalant package, with the plurality of chronolog devices further including computer means for transferring information relative to said first accessory chronolog apparatus using said docking station, and wherein said docking station includes identification means for determining that information from said computer means is to be transferred to said first accessory chronolog apparatus.

13. The plurality of chronolog devices of claim 12, wherein said information received from said computer means includes information related to the dispensing of the medication.