Respiratory drug delivery apparatus which provides audio instructions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9555202-B2
Application number	US-200913060319-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2009
Priority date	Aug 25, 2008
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

A respiratory drug delivery apparatus that includes a housing for holding a source of a medication, wherein the housing has a patient interface portion for delivering one or more doses of the medication to an airway of a patient, and a sound generator coupled to the housing. The sound generator is adapted to generate one or more audible instructions in response to an actuation signal. The actuation signal may generated in response to a manual actuation performed by the patient, or in response to the detection of an event relating to operation of the apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A respiratory drug delivery apparatus, comprising:
a housing for holding a source of a medication, said housing having a patient interface portion for delivering one or more doses of said medication to an airway of a patient, wherein the housing includes an inhalation valve configured to enable a patient to inhale through the inhalation valve during delivery of said medication;
a sound generator coupled to said housing, said sound generator, in response to an actuation signal, being adapted to generate one or more audible instructions, wherein the one or more audible instructions include recorded voice instructions to remedy an improper breathing technique;
a noisemaker configured to generate a sound in response to airflow caused by inhalation by the patient exceeding a predetermined level;
a first sensor for sensing an occurrence of an event relating to actuation of said respiratory drug delivery apparatus; and
a second sensor that includes a microphone, wherein the second sensor is configured to detect the sound generated by the noisemaker, wherein detection by the second sensor indicates that the inhalation by the patient exceeds the predetermined level of airflow;
wherein said actuation signal is generated in response to an indication of the improper breathing technique for delivery of said medication, wherein the indication is based on the occurrence of the event being sensed by the first sensor and the detection of the sound by the second sensor, wherein the one or more audible instructions instruct the patient to inhale slower, and wherein, when airflow caused by inhalation is below the predetermined level, the noisemaker does not generate a sound.

2. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said actuation signal is generated in response to a manual actuation performed by said patient.

3. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said sound generator is operatively coupled to a manual actuator, and wherein said manual actuation comprises a manual actuation of said manual actuator.

4. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said manual actuator is a button, and wherein said manual actuation comprises a press of said button.

5. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a cap structured to be removeably attached to a portion of said housing, wherein said manual actuation comprises a removal of said cap from said housing.

6. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising means for detecting that said cap has been removed from said housing and in response thereto causing said actuation signal to be generated.

7. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said manual actuation comprises causing said source of a medication to be held by said housing.

8. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said source of a medication is adapted to be inserted at least partially within said housing, and wherein said causing said source of a medication to be held by said housing comprises inserting said source of medication at least partially within said housing.

9. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising means for detecting that said source of a medication has been caused to be held by said housing and in response thereto causing said actuation signal to be generated.

10. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said one or more audible instructions comprises a set of audible instructions for proper use of said respiratory drug delivery apparatus.

11. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said respiratory drug delivery apparatus is an MDI, wherein said housing comprises a canister holder, wherein said patient interface portion is an outlet of said canister holder, wherein said source of a medication is a canister holding said medication, and wherein said set of audible instructions include instructions relating to shaking the MDI, actuating the MDI, inhaling, and breath holding.

12. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said set of audible instructions include an instruction instructing the patient to shake the MDI, an instruction instructing the patient to actuate the MDI, an instruction instructing the patient to inhale slowly, and an instruction instructing the patient to hold his or her breath for a predetermined period of time.

13. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said respiratory drug delivery apparatus comprises a valved holding chamber, wherein said patient interface portion is a mouthpiece, wherein said source of a medication is an MDI, and wherein said set of audible instructions include instructions relating to shaking the MDI, actuating the MDI, inhaling, and breath holding.

14. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said set of audible instructions include an instruction instructing the patient to shake the MDI, an instruction instructing the patient to actuate the MDI, an instruction instructing the patient to inhale slowly, and an instruction instructing the patient to hold his or her breath for a predetermined period of time.

15. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said housing includes a chamber housing, an end cap attached to a first end of said chamber housing for receiving and holding said MDI, and a mouthpiece assembly including said mouthpiece attached to a second end of said chamber housing opposite said first end.

16. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said respiratory drug delivery apparatus comprises a valved holding chamber, wherein said patient interface portion is a mouthpiece, wherein said source of a medication is an MDI, and wherein said set of audible instructions include instructions relating to shaking the MDI, actuating the MDI, and taking and counting a certain number of breaths.

17. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said respiratory drug delivery apparatus comprises a valved holding chamber, wherein said patient interface portion is a mouthpiece, wherein said source of a medication is an MDI, and wherein said set of audible instructions include instructions relating to shaking the MDI, actuating the MDI, and inhaling for a particular period of time.

18. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the recorded voice instructions include a command directed to correcting or preventing the improper breathing technique in addition to the instruction to inhale slower.

19. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the recorded voice instructions include a command directed to reinforcing a positive behavior relating to use of said respiratory drug delivery apparatus.

20. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said respiratory drug delivery apparatus comprises a valved holding chamber, wherein said patient interface portion is a mouthpiece, and wherein said source of a medication is an MDI.

21. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein said first sensor senses a spray of medication resulting from the actuation of said MDI.

22. The respiratory drug delivery apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein sai

Assignees

• Von Hollen Dirk
• Koshinskie Robert
• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Von Hollen Dirk
• Koshinskie Robert

Classifications

• A61M2016/0039

  in the inspiratory circuit · CPC title

• A61M2205/581

  by audible feedback · CPC title

• A61M2205/183

  the sound being generated pneumatically · CPC title

• A61M2205/44

  making noise when used incorrectly · 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