Respiratory drug delivery apparatus including a feedback and compliance device
First Claim
1. A respiratory drug delivery apparatus, comprising:
- a medication storage and delivery device having an outlet, the medication storage and delivery device being a metered dose inhaler having a canister received in a boot, the outlet being part of the boot; and
a feedback and compliance device coupled to the medication storage and delivery device, and coupled to a valved holding chamber, wherein the valved holding chamber includes a main chamber, an adapter coupled to the main chamber, and an exhalation valve, and wherein;
the feedback and compliance device is structured to be removable attached to the adapter via a connector extending from the feedback and compliance device, the connector being structured to be received and held within a slot provided in the adapter;
the adapter receives and holds the outlet of the boot of the metered dose inhaler, wherein the feedback and compliance device is held and positioned between a portion of the metered dose inhaler and the adapter; and
the feedback and compliance device has an opening, the outlet of the medication storage and delivery device being received through the opening, the feedback and compliance device including;
(i) one or more sensors, individual ones of the one or more sensors being structured to sense a parameter relating to use of the respiratory drug delivery apparatus without modifying or interfering with a flow of medication introduced by actuation of the medication storage and delivery device, wherein the one or more sensors include an infra-red sensor for sensing air temperature moving through the exhalation valve, and an infra-red sensor for sensing a position of the respiratory drug delivery apparatus relative to a face of a patient;
(ii) one or more feedback devices, and(iii) a processing unit programmed to cause the one or more feedback devices to provide feedback information to a patient regarding use of the respiratory drug delivery apparatus based on an output of at least one of the one or more sensors, wherein the processing unit is programmed to cause the one or more feedback devices to provide feedback information in the form of audible instructions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A respiratory drug delivery apparatus (2) includes a medication storage and delivery device (8) having an outlet (30) and a feedback and compliance device (32) coupled thereto. The feedback and compliance device has an opening, and the outlet of the medication storage and delivery device is received through the opening. The feedback and compliance device includes: (i) one or more sensors (46, 52, 54, 56), each of the one or more sensors being structured to sense a parameter relating to use of the respiratory drug delivery apparatus without modifying or interfering with a flow of medication introduced by actuation of the medication storage and delivery device, (ii) one or more feedback devices (48, 50, 62), and (iii) a processing unit (42) programmed to cause the one or more feedback devices to provide feedback information to a patient (4) regarding use of the respiratory drug delivery apparatus based on an output of at least one of the one or more sensors.
61 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A respiratory drug delivery apparatus, comprising:
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a medication storage and delivery device having an outlet, the medication storage and delivery device being a metered dose inhaler having a canister received in a boot, the outlet being part of the boot; and a feedback and compliance device coupled to the medication storage and delivery device, and coupled to a valved holding chamber, wherein the valved holding chamber includes a main chamber, an adapter coupled to the main chamber, and an exhalation valve, and wherein; the feedback and compliance device is structured to be removable attached to the adapter via a connector extending from the feedback and compliance device, the connector being structured to be received and held within a slot provided in the adapter; the adapter receives and holds the outlet of the boot of the metered dose inhaler, wherein the feedback and compliance device is held and positioned between a portion of the metered dose inhaler and the adapter; and the feedback and compliance device has an opening, the outlet of the medication storage and delivery device being received through the opening, the feedback and compliance device including; (i) one or more sensors, individual ones of the one or more sensors being structured to sense a parameter relating to use of the respiratory drug delivery apparatus without modifying or interfering with a flow of medication introduced by actuation of the medication storage and delivery device, wherein the one or more sensors include an infra-red sensor for sensing air temperature moving through the exhalation valve, and an infra-red sensor for sensing a position of the respiratory drug delivery apparatus relative to a face of a patient; (ii) one or more feedback devices, and (iii) a processing unit programmed to cause the one or more feedback devices to provide feedback information to a patient regarding use of the respiratory drug delivery apparatus based on an output of at least one of the one or more sensors, wherein the processing unit is programmed to cause the one or more feedback devices to provide feedback information in the form of audible instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of encouraging proper use of a respiratory drug delivery apparatus including a medication storage and delivery device having an outlet, and a valved holding chamber including a main chamber, an adapter coupled to the main chamber, and an exhalation valve, wherein the medication storage and delivery device is a metered dose inhaler having a canister received in a boot, the outlet being part of the boot, the method comprising:
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providing a feedback and compliance device, the feedback and compliance device including one or more sensors, individual ones of the one or more sensors being structured to sense a parameter relating to use of the respiratory drug delivery apparatus without modifying or interfering with a flow of medication introduced by actuation of the medication storage and delivery device;
wherein the one or more sensors include an infra-red sensor for sensing air temperature moving through the exhalation valve of the valved holding chamber, and an infra-red sensor for sensing a position of the respiratory drug delivery apparatus relative to a face of a patient, the valved holding chamber coupled to the feedback and compliance device;removably attaching the feedback and compliance device to the adapter via a connector extending from the feedback and compliance device, the connector being structured to be received and held within a slot provided in the adapter; coupling the metered dose inhaler to the feedback and compliance device by inserting the outlet through an opening provided in the feedback and compliance device; receiving and holding the outlet of the boot of the metered dose inhaler by the adaptor, wherein the feedback and compliance device is held and positioned between a portion of the metered dose inhaler and the adapter; and providing feedback information to a patient, in the form of audible instructions, regarding use of the respiratory drug delivery apparatus based on an output of at least one of the one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A feedback and compliance device for use with a respiratory medication storage and delivery device, comprising:
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a housing having an opening, the opening being structured to receive an outlet of the medication storage and delivery device, the medication storage and delivery device being a metered dose inhaler having a canister received in a boot, the outlet being part of the boot; one or more sensors, individual ones of the one or more sensors being structured to sense a parameter relating to use of the medication storage and delivery device without modifying or interfering with a flow of medication introduced by actuation of the medication storage and delivery device;
wherein the one or more sensors include an infra-red sensor for sensing air temperature moving through an exhalation valve of a valved holding chamber, and an infra-red sensor for sensing a position of the respiratory drug delivery apparatus relative to a face of a patient, the valved holding chamber coupled to the feedback and compliance device, wherein the valved holding chamber includes a main chamber, an adapter coupled to the main chamber, and wherein;the feedback and compliance device structured to be removably attached to the adapter via a connector extending from the feedback and compliance device, the connector being structured to be received and held within a slot provided in the adapter; the adapter receiving and holding the outlet of the boot of the metered dose inhaler, wherein the feedback and compliance device is held and positioned between a portion of the metered dose inhaler and the adapter; one or more feedback devices; and a processing unit programmed to cause the one or more feedback devices to provide feedback information to a patient regarding use of the medication storage and delivery device based on an output of at least one of the one or more sensors, wherein the processing unit is programmed to cause the one or more feedback devices to provide feedback information in the form of audible instructions. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification