Usage monitoring attachment for medicament dispenser
Inventors
Van Sickle, John David • Tracy, Greg • Gehring, Mark • Hoffman, Eric • Houlihan, Kevin • Hallberg, Chris
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11857720-B2
Publication Date
2024-01-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for monitoring usage of a medicament dispenser—particularly an inhaled medicament dispenser. The usage monitoring device is configured to emit a detection signal responsive to receiving a request to locate the medicament dispenser. The detection signal alerts presence of the medicament dispenser to the user of the medicament dispenser. The usage monitoring device can be embodied as an attachment configured to be selectively coupled to one of a variety of different inhalers including, for example, a Diskus-type inhaler and a Respimat-type inhaler.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a low-power monitoring attachment attachable to a medicament dispenser for monitoring usage of the medicament dispenser. The attachment includes a housing attachable to the medicament dispenser and one or more sensors to detect usage of the medicament dispenser based on signals generated in response to movement and handling of the medicament dispenser after periods of nonuse and in movements associated with dispensing or preparing to dispense medicament.
The monitoring attachment includes a first sensor to detect a first signal generated in response to a first movement associated with the medicament dispenser being handled after a period of nonuse. Power is directed to the first sensor by at least one processor, and the detection of the first signal causes power to be directed to a second sensor, which detects a second signal associated with the medicament dispenser dispensing medicament or preparing to dispense the medicament.
The attachment stores event data associated with the usage of the medicament dispenser as a medication usage event and includes a wireless transceiver configured to transmit the medication usage event to a client device. The attachment also receives, from the client device, a request to locate the medicament dispenser and emits a detection signal responsive to the request to locate the medicament dispenser.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims (apparatus, method, and system). Across these independent claims, the coverage centers on sensor-driven usage detection with staged sensing power, storage of medication usage event data, wireless transmission to a client device, and a locate workflow in which a detection signal is emitted in response to a locate request.
Monitoring attachment for medicament usage and locate signaling
A monitoring attachment attachable to a medicament dispenser for monitoring usage of the medicament dispenser, comprising a housing attachable to a medicament dispenser; one or more sensors to detect usage of the medicament dispenser; a storage medium to store event data associated with the usage of the medicament dispenser as a medication usage event; a wireless transceiver configured to transmit, to a client device, the medication usage event detected by the sensors and receive, from the client device, a request to locate the medicament dispenser; and an output device configured to emit a detection signal responsive to the request to locate the medicament dispenser.
Two-stage sensor power directed usage detection
A first sensor to detect a first signal generated in response to a first movement of the medicament dispenser, wherein power is directed to the first sensor by at least one processor, and wherein the first movement is associated with the medicament dispenser being handled after a period of nonuse; and a second sensor to detect a second signal generated in response to a second movement of the medicament dispenser, wherein power is directed to the second sensor by the at least one processor upon the first sensor detecting the first signal, and wherein the second movement is associated with the medicament dispenser dispensing a medicament or preparing to dispense the medicament.
Client-requested locating via wireless transceiver
A wireless transceiver configured to transmit, to a client device, the medication usage event detected by the sensors, and receive, from the client device, a request to locate the medicament dispenser, wherein the output device is configured to emit a detection signal responsive to the request to locate the medicament dispenser.
Method of locating request, usage detection, and transmitting usage events
A method comprising receiving, from a client device via a wireless transceiver of a monitoring attachment attached to a medicament dispenser, a request to locate the medicament dispenser; emitting, via an output device on the monitoring attachment, a detection signal; detecting, via one or more sensors on the monitoring attachment, usage of the medicament dispenser as a medication usage event, wherein the detection comprises detecting a first signal with a first sensor in response to a first movement associated with being handled after a period of nonuse with power directed to the first sensor by at least one processor, and detecting a second signal with a second sensor in response to a second movement associated with dispensing or preparing to dispense with power directed upon the first sensor detecting the first signal; and transmitting, via the wireless transceiver to the client device, the medication usage event.
System including client-side locate request workflow
A system comprising a monitoring attachment attachable to a medicament dispenser for monitoring usage of the medicament dispenser, including a housing attachable to the medicament dispenser; one or more sensors comprising a first sensor and a second sensor with power directed as in the staged usage detection; a storage medium to store event data associated with the usage as a medication usage event; a wireless transceiver configured to transmit the medication usage event to a client device and receive, from the client device, a request to locate the medicament dispenser; and an output device configured to emit a detection signal responsive to the request to locate the medicament dispenser, and a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of the client device, cause the at least one processor to receive the medication usage event from a wireless transmitter, receive a user input to locate the medicament dispenser, and provide to the wireless transmitter the request to locate medicament dispenser.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive coverage is defined by a monitoring attachment that detects medicament dispenser usage with staged sensor activation, stores medication usage events, transmits those events to a client device via a wireless transceiver, and supports a locate dispenser request by emitting a detection signal and coordinating a client-device locate request workflow.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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