Systems and methods for determining a minimum effective dose of an inhaled drug for an individual patient at a given time

• US 7,185,650 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arie Huber, Eli Toister, Paltiel Weiner, Yakov Reznikov
• Original Assignee: Arie Huber, Eli Toister, Paltiel Weiner, Yakov Reznikov
• Inventors: Weiner, Paltiel, Reznikov, Yakov, Toister, Eli, Huber, Arie
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell; Teena
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIXON, ANNETTE FREDRICKA
• Application Number:
  US10/322,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20040118398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.22, 128/200.23, 128/203.12, 128/203.14, 128/203.15, 128/204.23, 128/204.26, 128/920, 600/533, 600/538
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• 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 15/0066 with means for varying the dose size
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• 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 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for determining a minimum effective dose of an inhaled drug for an individual patient at a given time. The system includes an apparatus to measure a performance measurement of the patient and a data processor capable of communication with the apparatus. The data processor provides a computed minimum effective dose for the individual patient by applying a predetermined rule the performance measurement. The method includes measuring a performance measurement of the patient, communicating the performance measurement to a data processor and computing a minimum effective dose for the patient by applying a predetermined rule to the performance measurement within the data processor.

Claims

1. A system for determining a minimum effective dose of an inhaled drug for an individual patient at a given time, the system comprising:

(a) a measuring apparatus designed and constructed to measure at least one pulmonary performance indicator measurement of the individual patient; and

(b) a data processor capable of communication with said measuring apparatus, said data processor designed and configured to provide a computed minimum effective dose for the individual patient by applying a predetermined rule to said pulmonary performance indicator measurement; and

(c) an adjustable delivery mechanism capable of communicating with said data processor and receiving said computed minimum effective dose, said delivery mechanism designed and constructed to deliver said computed minimum effective dose of the inhaled drug to the individual patient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said measuring apparatus is selected from a group consisting of a spirometer and a peak flow meter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said pulmonary performance indicator is selected from a group consisting of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (PEF).

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said computed minimum effective dose is presented in a format selected from a group consisting of actual quantitative units and arbitrary units.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said pulmonary performance indicator measurement is forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) wherein said predetermined rule includes a linear relationship between the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the computed minimum effective dose.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said adjustable delivery mechanism includes at least one item selected from a group consisting of a mechanical dispenser, an electromechanical dispenser and a piezo-electric dispenser.

7. A system for determining a minimum effective dose of an inhaled drug for an individual patient at a given time, the system comprising:

(a) a measuring apparatus designed and constructed to measure at least one pulmonary performance indicator measurement of the individual patient; and

(b) a data processor capable of communication with said measuring apparatus, said data processor designed and configured to provide a computed minimum effective dose for the individual patient by applying a predetermined rule to said pulmonary performance indicator measurement; and

(c) an adjustable delivery mechanism designed and constructed to receive said computed minimum effective dose as a manual data input, said delivery mechanism designed and constructed to deliver said computed minimum effective dose of the inhaled drug to the individual patient.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said adjustable delivery mechanism includes at least one item selected from a group consisting of a mechanical dispenser, an electromechanical dispenser and a piezo-electric dispenser.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said measuring apparatus is selected from a group consisting of a spirometer and a peak flow meter.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said pulmonary performance indicator is selected from a group consisting of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (PEF).

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said pulmonary performance indicator measurement is forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) wherein said predetermined rule includes a linear relationship between the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the computed minimum effective dose.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said adjustable delivery mechanism includes at least one item selected from a group consisting of a mechanical dispenser, an electromechanical dispenser and a piezo-electric dispenser.