Medicament dispensing system

• US 20050043674A1
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Blair, Edward Duncan, Yang, Liqun
• Granted Patent: US 7,837,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/66
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A medicament dispensing system for treatment of a disease is disclosed, the system comprising: (i) detecting means for detecting one or more biochemical marker(s) indicative of the disease; (ii) electronic processing means for processing information obtainable from the detecting means; and (iii) medicament dispensing means for dispensing a quantity of medicament determinable by the electronic processing means. The medicament dispensing system is particularly useful for the treatment of respiratory disorders, such as asthma, or for other disorders which may be treated by inhalation, either through the nose or mouth.

Claims

1. A medicament dispensing system for treatment of a disease, the system comprising:

(i) detecting means for detecting one or more biochemical marker(s) indicative of said disease;

(ii) electronic processing means for processing information obtainable from the detecting means; and

(iii) medicament dispensing means for dispensing a quantity of medicament determinable by the electronic processing means.

2. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means, electronic processing means and medicament dispensing means are integrated in a single device.

3. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic processing means and medicament dispensing means are integrated in a single device, and the detecting means is an attachment to the device.

4. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic processing means and medicament dispensing means are integrated in a single device, and the detecting means is remote to the device.

5. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means and medicament dispensing means are integrated in a single device, and wherein the electronic processing means exists as a standalone unit.

6. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means comprises a sensing means.

7. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 6, wherein the sensing means comprises a biosensor.

8. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 7, wherein said biosensor comprises a sensing layer and a transducer layer.

9. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 8, wherein said sensing layer comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of enzymes, receptors, micro-organisms, antibodies, antigens, nucleic acids, cells, peptides, proteins and biochemicals.

10. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 8, wherein the sensing layer comprises one or more artificial or synthetic materials analogous to enzymes, receptors, micro-organism, antibodies, antigens, nucleic acids, cells, peptides, proteins and biochemicals.

11. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 8, wherein the sensing layer comprises a renewable sensing surface.

12. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 7, wherein the sensing layer comprises a non-renewable sensing surface.

13. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein the sensing layer comprises a disposable component incorporating the non-renewable sensing surface.

14. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 8, wherein said transducer layer comprises an optical, electrical, semi-conductor, thermal or acoustic mechanism.

15. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 6, wherein the sensing means is a non-specific bio- or chemosensor.

16. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 15, wherein the detecting means further comprises a pre-separation device.

17. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 16, wherein the pre-separation device comprises a miniaturised gas chromatograph device, a capillary electrophoresis chip or other electrophoresis device, or a lateral flow membrane.

18. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means comprises spectroscopic detecting means for direct spectroscopic detection of one or more biochemical marker(s).

19. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 18, wherein the spectroscopic detection means is suitable for use in infra red and Raman spectroscopic detection methods.

20. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 1, comprising plural detecting means for detecting one or more biochemical marker(s).

21. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 20, wherein said plural detecting means are arranged in array fashion.

22. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 1, further comprising sampling means for sampling a patient'"'"'s breath, wherein the detecting means is located within said sampling means.

23. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic processing means comprises a micro-controller with associated analogue and digital electronics and interfaces.

24. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 23, wherein the electronic processing means further comprises an amplifier for amplifying the signal received from the detecting means.

25. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 1, additionally comprising an electronic data management system in communication with the electronic processing means.

26. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 25, wherein the electronic data management system includes a database and the electronic processing means makes reference to that database in determining the quantity of medicament for dispensing.

27. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the medicament dispensing means comprises a medicament container and a dispensing mechanism.

28. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 27, wherein the dispensing mechanism is automatically set in direct response to the determination of the electronic processing means.

29. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 27, wherein the dispensing mechanism is set manually in response to the determination of the electronic processing means.

30. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the medicament dispensing means is selected from the group consisting of a reservoir dry powder inhaler (RDPI), a multi-dose dry powder inhaler (MDPI), a metered dose inhaler (MDI) and a liquid spray inhaler (LSI).

31. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 1, comprising plural medicament dispensing means, each for use in the delivery of a component part of a combination medicament product.

32. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 31, wherein the dispensing ratio of each component part of the combination medicament product is variable in response to input from the electronic processing means.

33. A medicament dispensing system according to claim 31 comprising:

(a) a first medicament container for containing a first medicament component and first release means for releasing the contents of said first medicament container; and

(b) at least one further medicament container for containing at least one further medicament component and at least one further release means for releasing the contents of each said at least one further medicament container,

wherein the first medicament component is kept separate from the at least one further medicament component until the point of release thereof for delivery in combination.

34. The use of a medicament dispensing system as claimed in claim 1 for the treatment of a disease.

35. The use according to claim 34, wherein the disease to be treated is a respiratory disorder.

36. A method of treating a respiratory disorder, which comprises the use of a medicament dispensing system as claimed in claim 1.

37. The use according to claim 34, wherein the disease to be treated is a condition requiring systemic circulation of a medicament.

38. A method of treating a condition requiring systemic circulation of a medicament, which comprises the use of a medicament dispensing system as claimed in claim 1.