Detection system and method for aerosol delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9927275-B2
Application number	US-201715469827-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2017
Priority date	Sep 25, 2003
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a detector, a pressure sensor and a processor. The detector is operable to detect light that is scattered by an aerosol that is associated with a pressure. The pressure sensor is operable to measure the pressure. The processor is coupled to the detector and to the pressure sensor, and is configured to receive at least a signal from the detector and the pressure sensor. The processor is further configured to use the received signals to calculate a volume of the first aerosol, and to output an output signal associated with the calculated volume. The various measurements can be repeated and compared, and the output signal can be a feedback signal for metering subsequent amounts of the aerosol, based on the comparison.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a sensor; and
a processor coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to:
receive a signal associated with the sensor that is associated with a first therapeutic agent introduced into a flow path;
calculate a volume of the first therapeutic agent when the processor receives a signal associated with the sensor, the calculation based on the signal representing the sensor;
receive a signal associated with the sensor from a second therapeutic agent introduced into a flow path;
calculate a volume of the second therapeutic agent when the processor receives a signal associated with the sensor, the calculation based on the signal representing the sensor; and
output a signal associated with a comparison of the volume of the first therapeutic agent and the volume of the second therapeutic agent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising dose-selection means coupled to the processor, and wherein the output signal is received by the dose-selection means, and wherein the output signal includes information useful for metering a third therapeutic agent.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output signal comprising information for metering a third therapeutic agent.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a light source.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a detector operable to detect light.

6. An apparatus comprising:
a sensor;
a light source located within a flow path; and
a processor coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to:
receive a signal associated with the sensor that is associated with a first therapeutic agent introduced into the flow path;
calculate a volume of the first therapeutic agent when the processor receives a signal associated with the sensor, the calculation based on the signal representing the sensor;
receive a signal associated with the sensor from a second therapeutic agent introduced into a flow path;
calculate a volume of the second therapeutic agent when the processor receives a signal associated with the sensor, the calculation based on the signal representing the sensor; and
output a signal associated with a comparison of the volume of the first therapeutic agent and the volume of the second therapeutic agent.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a detector operable to detect light.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising dose-selection means coupled to the processor, and wherein the output signal is received by the dose-selection means, and wherein the output signal includes information useful for metering a third therapeutic agent.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the output signal comprising information for metering a third therapeutic agent.

10. An apparatus comprising:
a sensor;
a light source located within a flow path;
a detector operable to detect light; and
a processor coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to:
receive a signal associated with the sensor that is associated with a first therapeutic agent introduced into a flow path;
calculate a volume of the first therapeutic agent when the processor receives a signal associated with the sensor, the calculation based on the signal representing the sensor;
receive a signal associated with the sensor from a second therapeutic agent introduced into a flow path;
calculate a volume of the second therapeutic agent when the processor receives a signal associated with the sensor, the calculation based on the signal representing the sensor; and
output a signal associated with a comparison of the volume of the first therapeutic agent and the volume of the second therapeutic agent.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising dose-selection means coupled to the processor, and wherein the output signal is received by the dose-selection means, and wherein the output signal includes information useful for metering a third therapeutic agent.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the output signal comprising information for metering a third therapeutic agent.

Assignees

• Deka Products Lp

Inventors

• Altobelli David E
• Gray Larry B
• Kane Derek G

Classifications

• G01N21/53

  within a flowing fluid, e.g. smoke · CPC title

• A61M2205/3379

  Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates · CPC title

• A61M2205/3306

  Optical measuring means · CPC title

• A61M15/0003

  with means for dispensing more than one drug · CPC title

• G01N1/2202

  involving separation of sample components during sampling · CPC title