Compliance monitoring for asthma inhalers

• US 8,807,131 B1
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Respiri (Israel) Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Isonea Limited
• Inventors: Chan, Johnny Yat Ming, Tunnell, Stephen A., Jacobs, Joshua Aaron Lawrence, Zamora, Edward Anthony, Castillo, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Skorupa, Valerie L
• Application Number:
  US14/054,638
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.12, 128/203.14, 128/203.15, 128/203, 128/21, 128/203.23, 128/203.24
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/003 using capsules, e.g. to be perforated or broken-up
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• 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 16/0003 Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3327 Measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3546 Range
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/58 : Means for facilitating use, e.g. by people with impaired vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 : delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 : relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed for monitoring a patient'"'"'s compliance with an asthma inhaler treatment regimen. The device may monitor an inhaler'"'"'s motion to determine whether the motion is characteristic of typical inhaler use. Additionally, the device may monitor a temperature of the inhaler or in proximity to the mouthpiece to determine whether a patient has used the inhaler. The devices and methods may incorporate a smart phone application that provides notifications and alerts to aid in compliance with the asthma medication regimen.

Claims

1. A low profile system for assisting a user in compliance with an asthma medication dosage regimen, the system comprising:

a compact housing configured to be removably connectable to an asthma inhaler that is configured to enclose and deliver asthma medication to the user;

a controller located within the compact housing;

a memory located within the compact housing and in communication with the controller;

a battery within the compact housing and in electrical communication with the controller and the memory;

an inhaler communication interface within the compact housing and configured to send and receive data, the inhaler communication interface being in electrical communication with the controller and the memory;

a motion sensor within the compact housing and in electrical communication with the controller, the motion sensor configured to detect motion of the compact housing, the motion sensor configured to be coupled to the asthma inhaler such that it can detect signature motions of the inhaler and the enclosed asthma medication, the signature motions comprising at least two movements of the inhaler occurring within a first time window of one another and having an amplitude or magnitude and indicative of preparation by a user for administration of a dose of the asthma medication;

a filter within the housing and in communication with the controller for filtering out movements of the inhaler detected by the motion sensor which are not indicative of preparation by a user for administration of a dose of the asthma medication;

a temperature sensor within the compact housing and in electrical communication with the controller, the temperature sensor configured to be located near but not in the mouth of the user and to be aimed at the mouth of the user, the temperature sensor configured to detect confirming temperatures on or near the asthma inhaler within a second time window of any signature motions, the confirming temperatures indicative of at least one or more of inhalation of the asthma medication, holding the asthma medication within the lungs of the user, and exhalation by the user, the confirming temperatures indicative that the user followed proper procedure for administering a dose of the asthma medication; and

a mobile personal computing device outside the compact housing configured to receive data from the inhaler communication interface, the mobile personal computing device having a processor configured to;

process data output from the motion sensor and compare it to reference parameters from a database to identify signature motions that are tailored to proper medication delivery requirements and indicative of preparation by a user for proper administration of a dose of the asthma medication;

process data output from the temperature sensor to determine confirming temperatures indicative of proximity between the inhaler and the user'"'"'s mouth for proper administration of a dose of the asthma medication;

evaluate timing of any signature motions and confirming temperatures to determine whether a use of the asthma inhaler by the user has occurred to deliver a dose of the asthma medication; and

cause the mobile personal computing device to display information to the user related to compliance with the asthma medication dosage regimen.

2. The system for assisting a user in compliance with an asthma medication dosage regimen of claim 1 wherein the processing of data output from the motion sensor includes analyzing the frequency of the data.

3. The system for assisting a user in compliance with an asthma medication dosage regimen of claim 2 wherein the filter is a band pass filter.

4. The system for assisting a patient in compliance with an asthma medication dosage regimen of claim 3 wherein the band pass filter passes frequencies in the range of 3-7 Hz.

5. The system for assisting a user in compliance with an asthma medication dosage regimen of claim 1 wherein the processing of data output from the motion sensor includes the processing of acceleration data.

6. The system for assisting a user in compliance with an asthma medication dosage regimen of claim 5 wherein the processing of data output from the motion sensor includes determining whether the acceleration data reaches a certain threshold magnitude.

7. The system for assisting a user in compliance with an asthma medication dosage regime of claim 1 wherein the signature motion is a shaking motion.

8. The system for assisting a user in compliance with an asthma medication dosage regimen of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is an infra-red temperature sensor positioned on the housing in order to detect a temperature of a user'"'"'s oral cavity during use of an asthma inhaler by a user.

9. The system for assisting a user in compliance with an asthma medication dosage regimen of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor senses a temperature of a pressurized cartridge of an inhaler.