Inhaler With Orientation Sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016082208-A1
Application number	US-201514798560-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 14, 2015
Priority date	Sep 22, 2014
Publication date	Mar 24, 2016
Grant date	—

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 of the inhaler; and a processor coupled to the actuation detector and the accelerometer, wherein the processor is 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.

2 . 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 of the inhaler deviates from a preferred orientation 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.

3 . The inhaler of claim 1 , further comprising an inhibitor configured to prevent the inhaler from dispensing the medication, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to activate the inhibitor based on the quality of use of the inhaler determined.

4 . The inhaler of claim 3 , 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.

5 . The inhaler of claim 3 , wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations to:
determine whether the orientation of the inhaler departs from a preferred orientation by an amount that exceeds a predetermined proper orientation threshold, wherein the quality of use reflects an improper orientation in response to determining that the orientation of the inhaler departs from the preferred orientation by the amount that exceeds the predetermined proper orientation threshold.

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 an indicator configured to alert a user regarding the quality of use, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to activate the indicator based on the quality of use of the inhaler determined.

8 . 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.

9 . 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.

10 . The inhaler of claim 9 , wherein the contextual information includes a predetermined type of activity by the user.

11 . A method of oral delivery of a medication to a user's lungs with an inhaler, the method comprising:
receiving an actuation signal in response to release of the medication from the inhaler; receiving a first accelerometer measurement indicating an orientation of the inhaler; storing the actuation signal and the first accelerometer measurement in a memory; determining whether the orientation of the inhaler exceeds a predetermined proper orientation threshold; and determining a quality of use of the inhaler based on the actuation signal and the first accelerometer measurement.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining an activation duration based on a total period in which the medication is released; and determining an improper usage duration, wherein the improper usage duration is a period during the activation duration in which the orientation of the inhaler deviates from a preferred orientation by an amount that exceeds the predetermined proper orientation threshold, wherein determining the quality of use of the inhaler includes discounting the activation duration by the improper usage duration.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising activating an inhibitor, configured to prevent the inhaler from dispensing the medication, based on the quality of use of the inhaler determined.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining 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.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining whether the orientation of the inhaler departs from a preferred orientation by an amount that exceeds the predetermined proper orientation threshold, wherein the quality of use reflects an improper orientation in response to determining that the orientation of the inhaler departs from the preferred orientation by the amount that exceeds the predetermined proper orientation threshold.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
transmitting, from a wireless signal transmitter of the inhaler, data to a computing device remote from the inhaler to enable the computing device to determine the quality of use of the inhaler.

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
activating an indicator, included in the inhaler, based on the quality of use of the inhaler determined.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving a second accelerometer measurement indicating movement information of the inhaler; determining whether the movement information is contextual information associated with associated with activity performed by a user carrying the inhaler.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the contextual information includes a predetermined type of activity by the user.

20 . A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of an inhaler to perform operations comprising:
receiving an actuation signal in response to release of medication from the inhaler; receiving a first accelerometer measurement indicating an orientation of the inhaler; determining whether the orientation of the inhaler exceeds a predetermined proper orientation threshold; and determining a quality of use of the inhaler based on the actuation signal and the first accelerometer measurement.

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Ballam Robert Scott
• Ganton Robert Bruce

Classifications

• A61M2205/3576

  with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver · CPC title

• A61M15/009 Primary

  using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08) · CPC title

• A61M2205/215

  Tilt detection, e.g. for warning or shut-off · CPC title

• A61M16/0003

  Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure · CPC title

• A61M2205/3592

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