Method to deliver medication

• US 9,550,035 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Beavis, Russell H., Gray, Larry B., Kane, Derek G.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US14/870,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20160022932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.18, 128/200.21, 128/200.22, 128/203.12, 128/203.14, 128/205.23, 128/205.24, 128/203.26, 128/200.16, 731/49, 736/49, 732/90.B, 137/565.01, 137/565.34, 261/27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0048 the dosages being arranged in a plane, e.g. on diskettes
• 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 15/0068 Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• 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 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/03 Gases in liquid phase, e.g. cryogenic liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/006 Pressure or flow rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/085 : responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged B05B1/3006, B05B1/323, B05B7/1254 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/007 : by measuring the level variations of storage tanks relative to the time
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 : Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 22/00 : Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/14 : by measurement of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/00 : Measuring characteristics of vibrations by using a detector in a fluid G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/04 : by compressed gases, e.g. compressed air

Abstract

A method to deliver medication. The apparatus has an acoustic volume sensor that acoustically excites a reference volume and variable-volume chamber with an acoustic source and measures the acoustic response with microphones acoustically coupled to the reference and the variable-volume chamber. A disposable drug cassette is coupled to the acoustic volume sensor and includes a drug reservoir and valve. The method includes receiving a volume signal and inputs from a user input or a second sensor and controlling the valve based on these inputs.

Claims

1. A method to deliver medication comprising:

providing an acoustic volume sensor, the acoustic volume sensor including a variable-volume chamber, a reference volume, an enclosure, a printed circuit board, and a processor, the reference volume being defined by the printed circuit board within the enclosure, the printed circuit board including an acoustic source, a first microphone and a second microphone;

the variable-volume and the reference volume forming at least part of an acoustic system;

coupling a disposable drug cassette to the acoustic volume sensor, the disposable drug cassette including a drug reservoir and a valve, the valve in fluid communication with the drug reservoir;

determining the volume of the variable-volume chamber in a first instance;

controlling the valve to release an amount of drug;

determining the volume of the variable-volume chamber in a second instance; and

determining the amount of drug to output from the drug reservoir associated with a change in the volume of the variable-volume chamber.

2. The method to deliver medication according to claim 1 further comprising:

exciting the acoustic system at a pre-determined frequency with the acoustic source;

receiving a first signal from the first microphone associated with an acoustic response of the variable-volume chamber to excitement at the pre-determined frequency;

receiving a second signal from the second microphone associated with an acoustic response of the reference volume to excitement at the pre-determined frequency;

determining a resonant frequency of the acoustic system associated with the first signal and second signal; and

determining the volume of the variable volume chamber associated with the resonant frequency.

3. The method to deliver medication according to claim 1 wherein the acoustic volume sensor comprises a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor being attached to the printed circuit board.

4. The method to deliver medication according to claim 2 further comprising:

the acoustic volume sensor further comprises a temperature sensor;

measuring the temperature of the acoustic system;

providing a temperature signal;

receiving a temperature signal; and

further determining the volume of the variable volume chamber based on the signal from the temperature sensor.

5. The method to deliver medication according to claim 1 further comprising equalizing a pressure between the reference volume and the variable-volume chamber through a hole in the printed circuit board.

6. A method to deliver medication comprising:

providing an acoustic volume sensor, the acoustic volume sensor including a variable-volume chamber, a reference volume, an enclosure, a printed circuit board, and a processor, the reference volume being defined by the printed circuit board within the enclosure, the printed circuit board including an acoustic source, a first microphone and a second microphone;

the variable-volume and reference volume forming at least part of an acoustic system, the processor configured to output a volume signal based on signals from the first and second microphone responding to the acoustic source;

coupling a disposable drug cassette to the acoustic volume sensor, the disposable drug cassette including a drug reservoir and a valve, the valve being in fluid communication with the drug reservoir;

receiving the volume signal;

receiving a user signal, the user signal being associated with a user interface;

determining an amount of drug to output from drug reservoir associated with the volume signal and the user signal; and

controlling the valve to output the amount of drug.

7. A method to deliver medication comprising:

providing an acoustic volume sensor, the acoustic volume sensor including a variable-volume chamber, a reference volume, an enclosure, a printed circuit board, and a processor, the reference volume being defined by the printed circuit board within the enclosure, the printed circuit board including an acoustic source, a first microphone and a second microphone;

the variable-volume and reference volume forming at least part of an acoustic system, the processor configured to output a volume signal based on signals from the first and second microphone responding to the acoustic source;

coupling a disposable drug cassette to the acoustic volume sensor, the disposable drug cassette includes a drug reservoir, a valve and an output, the valve being in fluid communication with the drug reservoir, the output being in fluid communication with the valve;

coupling the output to a second fluid;

measuring a property of the second fluid with a second sensor;

outputting a fluid signal associated with the measured property;

receiving the volume signal;

receiving the fluid signal;

determining an amount of drug to output from drug reservoir associated with the volume signal and the fluid signal; and

controlling the valve to output the amount of drug.