INHALER MODULE AND RELATED SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for monitoring compliance with medication treatment regimen comprising:
- an inhaler module that collects information related to the use of an inhaler, the inhaler including a medication canister,an attachment element joined with the inhaler module, the attachment element including an attachment projection defining a recess between an attachment element base and a flange member,a mounting element that removably mounts the inhaler module in a spatial location on the inhaler, wherein the mounting element includes an elastic body havinga first mounting portion that
1) defines an internal chamber adapted to receive the first inhaler portion and
2) exerts a gripping force on the first inhaler portion, anda second mounting portion adapted to join the mounting element with the attachment element,wherein the first mounting portion of the elastic body is stretchable from a relaxed mode to a stretched mode so that the inhaler can be installed in the elastic body in the stretched mode,wherein the second mounting portion of the elastic body defines a hole having a periphery, wherein the flange member of the attachment element is adapted to fit through the hole when the periphery is stretched and is adapted to return to a relaxed mode so that it surrounds the attachment element base.
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Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for mounting an inhaler module to an inhaler, indicating compliance with a treatment regiment, shaking an inhaler and indicating mixing status, and reminding a user to prime the inhaler. The mounting element can have an elastic body adapted to interchangeably join both an inhaler and an inhaler module. Compliance can be indicated at a glance for a caregiver by providing an indication of the level of asthma medication treatment compliance. An accelerometer can be used to track mixing status of the medication canister and timestamped accelerometer data can be used to provide appropriate reminders to prime the inhaler.
91 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring compliance with medication treatment regimen comprising:
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an inhaler module that collects information related to the use of an inhaler, the inhaler including a medication canister, an attachment element joined with the inhaler module, the attachment element including an attachment projection defining a recess between an attachment element base and a flange member, a mounting element that removably mounts the inhaler module in a spatial location on the inhaler, wherein the mounting element includes an elastic body having a first mounting portion that
1) defines an internal chamber adapted to receive the first inhaler portion and
2) exerts a gripping force on the first inhaler portion, anda second mounting portion adapted to join the mounting element with the attachment element, wherein the first mounting portion of the elastic body is stretchable from a relaxed mode to a stretched mode so that the inhaler can be installed in the elastic body in the stretched mode, wherein the second mounting portion of the elastic body defines a hole having a periphery, wherein the flange member of the attachment element is adapted to fit through the hole when the periphery is stretched and is adapted to return to a relaxed mode so that it surrounds the attachment element base. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of indicating a compliance level related to a medication treatment regimen comprising:
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providing an inhaler module that mounts piggyback to an inhaler with a mounting element; storing asthma medication treatment compliance data related to the dispensing of medication from the inhaler with the inhaler module; downloading the asthma medication treatment compliance data from the inhaler module to a docking station; comparing the asthma medication treatment compliance data to pre-selected values for the asthma medication treatment compliance data; outputting a first signal via an indicator joined with the dock, wherein the signal is indicative of the level of asthma medication treatment compliance by a user of the inhaler. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for indicating mixing status of contents of a medication canister for an inhaler, the apparatus comprising:
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an inhaler module that collects information related to use of the inhaler, an accelerometer that generates accelerometer output signals in response to shaking; a mounting element that removably mounts the inhaler module in a spatial location on the inhaler, wherein, when mounted, shaking the apparatus simultaneously shakes the contents of the medication canister and shakes the accelerometer; an indicator for communicating information to a user of the apparatus; a microprocessor in communication with the accelerometer, the microprocessor programmed to
1) determine a mixing status of the contents of the medication canister based on the accelerometer output signals and
2) control the indicator to indicate the mixing status to the user of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for operating an apparatus for monitoring compliance with a medication treatment regimen, the apparatus being attached to an inhaler including an medication canister including inhaler medication, the method comprising:
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pairing an inhaler module with the inhaler, including configuring the inhaler module as a function of the inhaler medication; shaking the inhaler to mix the inhaler medication in the medication canister before each use; recording a timestamp in response to the shaking before each use; determining whether the inhaler needs to be primed based on the recorded timestamps and the inhaler medication; and in response to determining that the inhaler needs to primed, prompting the user to prime the inhaler. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification