Inhaler with orientation sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11033694-B2
Application number	US-201514798560-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2015
Priority date	Sep 22, 2014
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

Various embodiments include an inhaler for oral delivery of medication that includes an actuation detector configured to provide an actuation signal in response to release of the medication from the inhaler, and an accelerometer configured to measure an orientation of the inhaler. The inhaler may include a processor, coupled to the actuation detector and the accelerometer, configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to determine a quality of use of the inhaler based on the actuation signal provided by the actuation detector and the orientation of the inhaler measured by the accelerometer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An inhaler for oral delivery of medication, the inhaler comprising:
an actuation detector configured to provide an actuation signal in response to release of the medication from the inhaler;
an accelerometer configured to measure an orientation angle of the inhaler;
a processor coupled to the actuation detector and the accelerometer, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to:
determine whether the orientation angle of the inhaler measured by the accelerometer departs from a preferred orientation angle by an amount that exceeds a predetermined proper orientation threshold; and
determine a quality of use of the inhaler based on the actuation signal provided by the actuation detector and the orientation of the inhaler measured by the accelerometer, wherein the quality of use comprises an improper orientation angle in response to determining that the orientation angle of the inhaler departs from the preferred orientation angle by the amount that exceeds the predetermined proper orientation threshold;

an inhibiter configured to prevent the inhaler from dispensing the medication, wherein the inhibiter is a restrictive mechanical device that prevents the release of the medication from the inhaler, and wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to activate the inhibiter based on the quality of use of the inhaler reflecting the improper orientation angle; and
an indicator configured to alert a user regarding the quality of use, wherein the alert comprises information about the determined improper orientation angle.

2. The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to:
receive from the accelerometer an accelerometer measurement indicating movement information of the inhaler; and
determine whether the movement information is contextual information associated with activity performed by a user carrying the inhaler.

3. The inhaler of claim 2 , wherein the contextual information includes a predetermined type of activity by the user.

4. The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to:
determine an activation duration based on a total period in which the medication is released; and
determine an improper usage duration, wherein the improper usage duration is a period during the activation duration in which the orientation angle of the inhaler deviates from the preferred orientation angle by an amount that exceeds a predetermined proper orientation threshold, wherein determining the quality of use of the inhaler includes discounting the activation duration by the improper usage duration.

5. The inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to:
determine whether the inhaler has been agitated a predetermined amount, wherein the quality of use reflects an improper agitation in response to determining that the inhaler has not been agitated the predetermined amount before the medication is released.

6. The inhaler of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wireless signal transmitter coupled to the processor, wherein the wireless signal transmitter is configured to transmit data to a computing device remote from the inhaler to enable the computing device to determine the quality of use of the inhaler.

7. The inhaler of claim 1 , further comprising:
a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store data indicating the quality of use of the inhaler.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to activate the indicator based on the quality of use of the inhaler determined.

Assignees

• Philips Healthcare Informatics Inc
• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Ballam Robert Scott
• Ganton Robert Bruce

Classifications

• A61M2205/3592

  using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission · CPC title

• A61M16/024

  including calculation means, e.g. using a processor · CPC title

• A61M16/0051

  with alarm devices · CPC title

• A61M15/0065 Primary

  Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices (A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52) · CPC title

• A61M2205/50

  with microprocessors or computers · CPC title