Drug delivery apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A nebulizer comprising:
- a first removable component comprising a first data carrier, wherein the first removable component is a mouthpiece and the first data carrier stores information about the mouthpiece;
a second removable component comprising a second data carrier, wherein the second removable component is a mesh assembly that is attached to a medication chamber such that the second data carrier stores information related to both the mesh assembly and the medication chamber;
a third removable component comprising a third data carrier, wherein the third removable component is a plunger assembly, the plunger assembly including a medication metering chamber, the third data carrier storing information related to the plunger assembly; and
at least one data reader for communicating with the first data carrier of the first removable component, the second data carrier of the second removable component, and the third data carrier of the third removable component, wherein the first removable component, the second removable component, and the third removable component are useable as part of the nebulizer at the same time.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A nebulizer (1) comprises one or more removable components (5,7,9,13), for example a mesh assembly (9), mouthpiece, plunger assembly (7) and medication chamber (13), each having an associated data carrier (5a, 7a, 9a). The data carrier (5a, 7a, 9a) can be used to store information indicating the type of removable component (5,7,9,13) that is fitted to the nebulizer (1). A removable component (5,7,9,13) may be from a set of such removable components. For example, a mouthpiece (5) fitted to the nebulizer (1) may be from a set of mouthpieces having different flow rates. The data carrier (5a, 7a, 9a) may also be used to control operation of the nebulizer (1). A data carrier (9a) attached to a mesh (9) may be used to prevent the nebulizer (1) from being used when the mesh (9) has been used a predetermined number of times.
33 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A nebulizer comprising:
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a first removable component comprising a first data carrier, wherein the first removable component is a mouthpiece and the first data carrier stores information about the mouthpiece; a second removable component comprising a second data carrier, wherein the second removable component is a mesh assembly that is attached to a medication chamber such that the second data carrier stores information related to both the mesh assembly and the medication chamber; a third removable component comprising a third data carrier, wherein the third removable component is a plunger assembly, the plunger assembly including a medication metering chamber, the third data carrier storing information related to the plunger assembly; and at least one data reader for communicating with the first data carrier of the first removable component, the second data carrier of the second removable component, and the third data carrier of the third removable component, wherein the first removable component, the second removable component, and the third removable component are useable as part of the nebulizer at the same time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A nebulizer, the nebulizer comprising:
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a removable mouthpiece comprising an associated first data carrier for communicating, in use, with a data reader provided in the nebulizer, the first data carrier forming part of the mouthpiece such that removal of the mouthpiece removes the first data carrier therewith; a removable mesh assembly that is attached to a medication chamber such that a second data carrier stores information related to both the mesh assembly and the medication chamber, the removable mesh assembly comprising the second data carrier that communicates, in use, with the data reader; and a removable plunger assembly comprising a third data carrier, the plunger assembly including a medication metering chamber, the third data carrier storing information related to the plunger assembly. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of operating a nebulizer, the method being implemented in a computer system including one or more processors configured to execute software, the method comprising:
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receiving information from a first data carrier associated with a removable mouthpiece of the nebulizer, the first data carrier storing information about the mouthpiece; receiving information from a second data carrier associated with a removable mesh assembly of the nebulizer, which is attached to a medication chamber such that the second data carrier stores information related to both the mesh assembly and the medication chamber; receiving information from a third data carrier associated with a removable plunger assembly, the plunger assembly including a medication metering chamber, the third data carrier storing information related to the plunger assembly; operating a data reader to receive the information from the first data carrier, the information from the second data carrier, and the information from the third data carrier; and controlling an operation of the nebulizer based on the information received from the first data carrier, the second data carrier, and the third data carrier. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification