Directional flow sensor inhaler

• US 8,474,452 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MicroDose Therapeutx, Inc. (Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: MicroDose Therapeutx, Inc. (Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Gumaste, Anand V., Bowers, John
• Primary Examiner(s): MATTER, KRISTEN CLARETTE
• Application Number:
  US11/064,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20050183725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,051 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.21, 128/203.12, 128/204.23, 128/204.26, 128/203.25, 128/203.14, 128/203.19, 128/203.21, 600/529, 600/533, 600/537, 600/538, 600/586, 600/587
• US Class Current: 128/203.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0091 mechanically breath-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/02 with activated or ionised fluids, e.g. electrohydrodynamic [EHD] or electrostatic devices; Ozone-inhalators with radioactive tagged particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means

Abstract

An fluid sensor to activate and control various components of an inhalation device. The fluid sensor includes an acoustic element, such as a microphone, positioned within said inhalation device to detect fluid within the device and output signals representative of the frequency, direction and/or amplitude of the fluid. These signals control and activate an electrostatic plate and/or a high frequency vibrator.

Claims

1. An air inhalation device for delivering medicament from a container to a user, said device comprising:

an acoustic controller, said acoustic controller including an acoustic sensing element configured to detect noise from free air flow into and through the device and to generate signals based on said detected noise, and a circuit for processing said signals to identify a direction and amplitude of said airflow; and

a high frequency vibrator separate from said acoustic sensing element and coupled to said container for inducing said medicament from said container into said air flow when said processed signals identify inhalation by said user, wherein a direction of said airflow is identified by said circuit by measuring an instantaneous voltage offset generated by said acoustic sensing element.

2. An inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said acoustic controller is adapted to stop the vibration of said high frequency vibrator when said signals indicate inhalation has stopped.

3. An inhalation device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said high frequency vibrator is adapted to turn off and on with amplitude of airflow.

4. An inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said signals control activation of a timer, and said timer tracks cumulative inhalation time.

5. An inhalation device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said timer is adapted to provide feedback to said user when cumulative inhalation time exceeds a predetermined level.

6. An inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said acoustic sensing element comprises an acoustic microphone element.

7. An inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said acoustic sensing element comprises an air pressure transducer.

8. An inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medicament is delivered from a container.

9. An inhalation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inhalation device is a dry powder inhaler.