Control device for aerosol nebulizer system
Inventors
FINKE, Matthias • Fuchs, Carola • Eschrich, Björn • Osswald, Edgard • Kroneberg, Philipp • Hahn, Michael • Schraut, Ingo • Roeder, Sascha
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11610473-B2
Publication Date
2023-03-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a control device for controlling an operation of an aerosol nebulizer system (30), said aerosol nebulizer system (30) comprising an aerosol generator (31) for nebulizing a liquid and a plurality of sensor units (38a, 38b, 38c, 38d, 38e), said control device (20) comprising: a communication unit (21), configured to establish a wireless communication connection and to perform data transmission with the aerosol nebulizer system (30), a sensor data control unit (22), configured to trigger a selection of sensor data related to the sensor units (38a, 38b, 38c, 38d, 38e) to be wirelessly transmitted to the control device (20).
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a wireless external control device for controlling an operation of an aerosol nebulizer system. The aerosol nebulizer system comprises an aerosol generator for nebulizing a liquid and a plurality of sensor units, and the control device establishes a wireless communication connection and performs data transmission with the aerosol nebulizer system using a communication unit.
A sensor data control unit triggers, by transmitting an indication, a selection of sensor data related to the sensor units to be wirelessly transmitted to the control device. During inhalation, only a selected and prioritized subset of sensor data is transmitted to the control device, while remaining sensor data are temporarily stored at the aerosol nebulizer system for a subsequent transfer.
The described selection and prioritization are coupled to evaluation of therapy-related and diagnostic protocol-related behavior. The control device can generate emergency call or alert functions based on evaluated sensor data and/or additional sensor data, and it can indicate deviation from a predetermined therapy and diagnostic protocol by more than a predetermined threshold.
The invention further supports sensor-driven operation management by selecting among multiple sensor modalities for evaluation and feedback, including generator state, aerosol presence/density, environmental conditions, breathing flow or maneuver, mouthpiece contact, battery or state of charge, user recognition, generator and medication identification, and other sensor units.
Claims Coverage
The document contains one independent claim (clm-00001). It includes 2 inventive features covering wireless communication and, during inhalation, trigger-based selection and prioritization of only a subset of sensor data for transmission to the control device while temporarily storing remaining sensor data at the aerosol nebulizer system for subsequent transfer.
Wireless communication and data transmission
A communication unit configured to establish a wireless communication connection and to perform data transmission with the aerosol nebulizer system.
Trigger-based selection of prioritized sensor data during inhalation
A sensor data control unit configured to trigger, by transmitting an indication, a selection of sensor data related to the sensor units to be wirelessly transmitted to the control device, such that, during inhalation, only a selected and prioritized subset of sensor data are transmitted to the control device while remaining sensor data are temporarily stored at the aerosol nebulizer system for a subsequent transfer.
Independent claim coverage centers on enabling real-time control and feedback by triggering selection and prioritization of sensor data for wireless transmission during inhalation, while buffering the remaining sensor data at the aerosol nebulizer system for later transfer.
Stated Advantages
Overcomes wireless bandwidth limits by transmitting only a selected and prioritized subset of sensor data during inhalation while temporarily storing remaining sensor data for later transfer.
Enables real-time feedback at the control device using the selected sensor data.
Indicates deviation from a predetermined therapy and diagnostic protocol by more than a predetermined threshold.
Generates an emergency call or alert function based on evaluated sensor data.
Supports deposition simulation feedback and protocol adherence management via local/cloud storage and scheduling/notifications.
Documented Applications
Aerosol nebulizer therapy with real-time feedback during inhalation using sensor data transmitted from an aerosol nebulizer system to a control device.
Therapy/diagnostic protocol adherence determination and management, including deviation indication and emergency call or alert based on evaluated sensor data.
Integration with a spirometer system and a respiratory gas analysis system for evaluation using respiratory-related information and deposition simulation feedback.
Maintenance/replacement and error/usage-condition notifications derived from evaluated sensor data and additional sensor data.
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