Controlling drug delivery apparatus

• US 20010022279A1
• Filed: 02/12/2001
• Published: 09/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Profile Respiratory Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Profile Respiratory Systems Limited
• Inventors: Denyer, Jonathan Stanley Harold, Dyche, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,967,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/438
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/065 Rigid ampoules, e.g. glass ampoules
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/067 Flexible ampoules, the contents of which are expelled by squeezing
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/14 Details; Accessories therefor A61J7/00 takes precedence; openers B65D, B67B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/50 using icons or symbolic figures, e.g. by a graphical representation symbolising the type of pathology or the organ by an image
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• 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 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A drug package comprising a plurality of drug vials containing drugs for delivery to a patient in a drug delivery device; and a data carrier including drug treatment information for use by the drug delivery apparatus.

Claims

1. A drug package comprising:

a plurality of drug vials containing drugs for delivery to a patient in a drug delivery device; and

a data carrier including drug treatment information for use by the drug delivery apparatus

2. A drug package according to

claim 1

, wherein the data carrier is arranged to include at least one of the following items of treatment information:

a. the dose of drug to be delivered;

b. the identity of the drug which is to be delivered;

c. the expiry date of the drug to be delivered; and

d. the number of treatments available from the drug package.

3. A drug package according to

claim 1

, wherein the drug vials contain drugs adapted for delivery in air inhaled by a patient to their lungs.

4. A drug package according to

claim 3

, wherein the drug vials are arranged to be used in conjunction with a drug delivery device for delivering the drug in the inhaled airstream of a patient.

5. A drug package according to

claim 1

, wherein the data carrier is an electronic data carrier.

6. A drug package according to

claim 1

, wherein the data carrier is arranged to transfer treatment information to a drug delivery apparatus when it is moved to a receptive surface or region of the drug delivery apparatus.

7. A drug package according to

claim 1

, wherein the data carrier is arranged to supply drug treatment information to a drug delivery apparatus a number of times corresponding to the number of treatments available from the drug package, or to the number of vials included in the drug package.

8. A drug package according to

claim 1

, wherein a single data carrier is included which includes the drug treatment information for each drug vial.

9. A drug package according to

claim 1

, wherein the data carrier is a radio frequency device.

10. A drug package according to

claim 9

, wherein the data carrier is arranged to be powered inductively from a radio frequency signal transmitted from or associated with the drug delivery apparatus.

11. A drug package according to

claim 10

, wherein the data carrier is arranged to generate a radio-frequency signal bearing the treatment information.

12. A drug package according to

claim 1

, wherein the data carrier includes a memory for recording information concerning treatments received from the drug delivery device.

33. A method according to

claim 3

1, wherein the electronic ordering is done via a modem connection to a telephone line.

35. A method according to

claim 3

1, wherein the analysing of the use of the drug treatments includes counting the number of drug treatments delivered.

36. A method according to

claim 35

, wherein the analysing includes the comparing of the number of drug treatments delivered with the total number of treatments supplied.

13. A drug delivery apparatus comprising:

a delivery portion for delivering a drug to a patient;

an input for receiving treatment information for each treatment to be delivered to a patient; and

a delivery controller for controlling the amount of drug delivered to a patient on the basis of the received treatment information.

14. A drug delivery apparatus according to

claim 13

, wherein the input is an electronic input which receives the treatment information from an electronic data carrier.

15. A drug delivery apparatus according to

claim 13

, wherein the input is a radio frequency input which receives the treatment information from a data carrier at radio frequency.

16. A drug delivery apparatus according to

claim 14

, wherein the input is additionally arranged to transmit completed treatment information to the data carrier for recordal.

17. A drug delivery apparatus according to

claim 13

, wherein the drug delivery apparatus includes an authorization portion which prevents delivery if any of the treatment information indicates that the drug is unsuitable for delivery.

18. A drug delivery apparatus according to

claim 13

, wherein the drug delivery apparatus is one of a pneumatic nebulizer, a piezo-electric nebulizer and an ultrasonic nebulizer.

19. An electronic data carrier for use with a drug delivery apparatus comprising a memory for holding treatment information concerning the use of the drug delivery apparatus in delivering a specified drug, and an output for transmitting treatment information to the drug delivery apparatus.

20. A drug delivery system comprising:

a drug delivery apparatus for delivering a specified drug; and

an electronic data carrier containing treatment information relating to the specified drug, the data carrier including an output for transmitting treatment information to the drug delivery apparatus before each treatment with the specified drug, whereby the drug delivery apparatus delivers the specified drug in conformity with the treatment information.

21. A method of operating a drug delivery apparatus comprising:

supplying a plurality of vials of a drug for use with the drug delivery apparatus;

supplying a data carrier including treatment information;

transmitting treatment information from the data carrier to the drug delivery apparatus;

placing an amount of the drug from a vial in the drug delivery apparatus; and

delivery the drug in accordance with the treatment information from the data carrier.

22. A drug delivery device comprising:

a delivery portion for delivering a drug to a patient;

a drug use analyser which analyses to amount of a drug delivered over a number of treatments and which identifies when only a certain proportion of the prescribed drug remains; and

a repeat prescription ordering portion which operates to electronically order a repeat prescription once the drug use analyser identifies that less than the certain proportion of the prescribed drug remains.

23. A drug delivery device according to

claim 22

, wherein the repeat prescribed ordering portion includes a modem which automatically connects to a telephone system to elctronically order a repeat prescription.

24. A drug delivery device according to

claim 22

, wherein the repeat prescription ordering portion includes a connection to an electronic network through which the repeat prescription is ordered.

25. A drug delivery device according to any one of claims 22, wherein the drug use analyser includes a counter for counting the number of drug treatments delivered.

26. A drug delivery device according to

claim 25

, wherein the drug use analyser includes a memory for holding the total number of drug treatments that are possible from an existing course of drug treatments.

27. A drug delivery device according to

claim 26

, wherein the drug use analyser includes a comparitor which compares the number of drug treatments that are possible from the memory with the number of drug treatments delivered from the counter, and generates a re-order signed when only a certain proportion of the prescribed drug remains.

28. A drug delivery device according to

claim 27

, wherein the repeat prescription reordering portion orders a repeat prescription once it received a re-order signed from the drug use analyser.

29. A drug delivery device according to any one of

claim 22

, wherein the drug use analyser includes a data carrier, including drug treatment information including the total number of drug treatments that are possible from an existing course of drug treatments.

30. A drug delivery device according to

claim 29

, wherein the memory for holding the total number of drug treatments is located in the data carrier.

31. A method of prescribing a drug, comprising:

supplying a patient with a course of a number of drug treatments for administering using a drug delivery device;

analysing the use of the drug treatments;

identifying when only a certain proportion of the drug treatments remain; and

electronically ordering a repeat prescription once it has been identified that only a certain proportion of the drug treatments remain.

32. A method according to

claim 31

, further comprising:

issuing a course of drug treatments or a prescription for the course of treatments in response to the electronic order.

34. A method according to

claim 31

, wherein the electronic ordering is done via a connection to an electronic network.

37. A method according to

claim 31

, further including the step of generating a re-order signal when it is identified that only a certain proportion of the drug treatments remain.

38. A method according to

claim 31

, further comprising the supply of a data carrier with the course of a number of drug treatments, the data carrier bearing drug treatment information including the total number of drug treatments that are possible from the existing course of drug treatments.