Single dose inhaler monitoring attachment
Inventors
Koblenski, Samuel A. • Tracy, Gregory F. • Hubanks, David • Markey, Amber Michelle • Kopp, Benjamin J. • Krosschell, Justin Conrad • Morrell, Leah J.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12502492-B2
Publication Date
2025-12-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
A medicament device sensor (Sensor) comprises a body, a front wall, a back wall, an audio sensor, and a plurality of pressure sensors. The body includes a bottom surface on which the various sensors are coupled. The front wall and the back wall provide mirror symmetry in at most one plane, thereby defining a single orientation in which the Sensor attaches to the medicament device. The front wall includes a securement clip that attaches to a ledge on the medicament device. To detect secure attachment of the Sensor to the medicament device, one pressure sensor detects pressure when the Sensor is secured to the medicament device. Another one or more pressure sensors detect depression of one or more dosing buttons confirming priming of the medicament device. The audio sensor detects an inhalation confirming dispensing of medicament. In effect, the Sensor determines a dispensing event has occurred.
Core Innovation
The described medicament device sensor is removably attached to a medicament device in a fixed orientation by a securement clip engaging a ledge. A release tab rotates the clip so the device can slide relative to the sensor. The sensor detects pressure from a dosing-button depression representing priming and acoustically detects capsule motion, including the acoustic intensity of a capsule spinning within the device.
The sensor records use events, and the described processor stores event records, including time and optionally location, for wireless transmission to a client and analytics system. The partial content also describes an inhaler monitoring attachment and figures showing its placement, sensor arrangement, and clip-release mechanism. The background section is not included in the provided content, so the problem being solved is not explicitly described in patent.
Claims Coverage
The two independent claims are claim 1, directed to a removable medicament device sensor, and claim 8, directed to a medicament system comprising a rescue-medication device and the sensor. Their main inventive features are summarized below.
Removable medicament device sensor
Claim 1 covers a sensor with a bottom surface that mates to the medicament device and a wall with a securement clip that attaches to a ledge in a fixed orientation. A release tab rotates the clip to permit relative sliding. The sensor detects capsule motion acoustically, including the acoustic intensity of a spinning capsule, and detects pressure from dosing-button depression representing priming.
Rescue medication system with a removable sensor
Claim 8 covers a medicament device configured to dispense rescue medication to a patient together with a removably attached sensor. The sensor uses the claimed clip, ledge, and release-tab arrangement and detects capsule motion acoustically and pressure from dosing-button depression representing priming.
The independent claims cover a removable sensor attachment that detects capsule motion and dosing-button pressure, and a rescue-medication system incorporating that sensor.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Monitoring use of a medicament device, including a single-dose dry powder inhaler, by detecting capsule motion and dosing-button depression.
A medicament system in which a medicament device dispenses rescue medication to a patient.
Wireless transmission of stored use-event records to a client and analytics system.
Interested in licensing this patent?