Acoustic inhaler flow measurement

• US 9,242,056 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bang & Olufsen Medicom A/S (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bang & Olufsen Medicom A/S (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Andersen, Bjrn Knud, Poulsen, Svend-Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stuart, Colin W
• Application Number:
  US12/224,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20090308387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,254 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.15, 128/203.12, 128/200.14, 128/200.24, 128/202.22, 128/204.21, 128/204.22, 128/200.23
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• 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 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/666 by detecting noise and sounds generated by the flowing fluid

Abstract

A dry powder or aerosol inhaler having attached thereto, in a detachable manner, a sound/vibration sensor adapted to sense sound/vibration in the interval of 100-3000 Hz and there from derive a parameter of a flow in a flow path of the inhaler. The sensor does not interfere with the flow path of the inhaler.

Claims

1. An inhaler, comprising:

an external surface;

a dispenser configured to dispense an aerosol or a dry powder at a dispensing position;

a channel defining a flow path between the dispensing position and a gas outlet;

a sensor detachably attached to the external surface, the sensor being adapted to sense vibrations or sound with a frequency in an interval of 100-3000 Hz;

a processor adapted to estimate, on the basis of the vibrations/sound sensed in the interval of 100-3000 Hz, at least one parameter of a flow velocity of gas in the flow path; and

a casing enclosing the sensor, wherein a front of the sensor is in direct contact with the external surface and a rear side of the sensor is in direct acoustic contact with surroundings of the inhaler via a port in the casing.

2. An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is adapted to further estimate a volume of gas output from the gas outlet.

3. An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is adapted to further estimate, as the at least one parameter, a maximum flow output from the gas outlet.

4. An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is chosen from the group consisting of:

a microphone, a strain gauge, a piezo element, an accelerometer, a bending sensor, capacitive sensor, a magnetic sensor, a displacement sensor, and an optical sensor.

5. An inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising a display device for informing a user of the at least one estimated parameter.

6. A method of operating an inhaler according to claim 1, the method comprising,

sensing the vibrations or sound with at least one frequency within the interval of 100-3000 Hz;

and

estimating, on the basis of the sensed vibration/sound, the at least one parameter of the flow velocity of gas in the flow path.

7. A method according to claim 6, comprising estimating a volume of gas output from the gas outlet.

8. A method according to claim 6, comprising estimating, as the at least one parameter, a maximum flow output from the gas outlet.

9. A method according to claim 6, comprising estimating a period of time of the flow velocity of gas in the flow path.

10. A method according to claim 6, further comprising informing a user of the at least one estimated parameter via a display device.

11. A method according to claim 6, further comprising estimating a period of time during which the flow velocity was within a given flow velocity interval or above a given flow velocity limit.

12. A method according to claim 6, further comprising sensing ambient noise using a second acoustical sensor in communication with surroundings of the inhaler and eliminating ambient noise or handling noise on the basis of a signal from the second sensor.

13. An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is adapted to further estimate a period of time of the flow velocity of gas in the flow path.

14. An inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is adapted to further estimate a period of time during which the flow velocity was within a given flow velocity interval or above a given flow velocity limit.

15. An inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising a second acoustical sensor in communication with surroundings of the inhaler and operative to sense ambient noise, the processor being adapted to receive a signal from the second acoustical sensor and eliminate ambient noise or handling noise from the signal from the second acoustical sensor.

16. A sensor for determining a flow velocity of gas in a flow path of a channel, the sensor comprising:

a processor adapted to estimate, on a basis of a vibrations/sound sensed in an interval of 100-3000 Hz, at least one parameter of the flow velocity of gas in the flow path of the channel,

wherein the sensor is configured to detachably attach to an external surface of an inhaler;

the sensor being enclosed in a casing, wherein a front of the sensor is in direct contact with the external surface of the inhaler and a rear side of the sensor is in direct acoustic contact with surroundings of the inhaler via a port in the casing.