Adaptors for inhalers to improve performance

Abstract

A child-sized adaptor for a DPI or MDI is provided. Also provided is a patient feedback mechanism for signaling and/or teaching proper inhaler use.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An inhaler for delivering medication to the respiratory tract comprising a flow sensor for sensing the rate of inhalation and a feedback mechanism to transmit this information to the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The inhaler according to  claim 16 , wherein the patient feedback mechanism is acoustic, visual or light in nature. 
     
     
         18 . The inhaler according to  claim 16 , wherein the patient feedback mechanism includes a noise generator operatively connected to said flow sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The inhaler according to  claim 16 , wherein the patient feedback mechanism includes one or more lights operatively connected to said flow sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The inhaler according to  claim 16 , wherein said inhaler is a dry powder inhaler. 
     
     
         21 . The inhaler according to  claim 16 , wherein said inhaler is a metered dose inhaler. 
     
     
         22 . A dry powder inhaler for delivering medication to the respiratory tract of a patient, comprising:
 a power source,   an actuation controller including a flow sensor for sensing when inhalation is occurring, for determining strength and frequency of inhalation and for supplying power from said power source to a signaling device, carried on the inhaler, for providing real time feedback to the patient to teach the patient proper inhalation techniques.   
     
     
         23 . The dry powder inhaler according to  claim 22 , wherein said actuation controller comprising said first electronic signals to a protocol and generates second electronic signals based on said comparison. 
     
     
         24 . The inhaler according to  claim 22 , wherein the signaling device comprises a sound generator. 
     
     
         25 . The inhaler according to  claim 22 , wherein the signaling device comprises one or more lights. 
     
     
         26 . The inhaler according to  claim 25 , wherein the signaling device comprises at least two lights of a different color. 
     
     
         27 . The inhaler according to  claim 22 , further comprising a mouthpiece adapter, wherein one or more of the power source, flow sensor, actuation controller and signaling device are carried on the adapter. 
     
     
         28 . A dry powder inhaler for delivering medication to the respiratory tract of a patient, comprising:
 a power source;   a sensor for determining strength and frequency of inhalations;   an actuation controller tied to said sensor for generating a signal upon a value of the determined strength and frequency of inhalations; and   a signaling device, controlled by said actuation controller, for providing real time feedback to a patient to teach the patient proper inhalation techniques.   
     
     
         29 . The inhaler according to  claim 28 , wherein the signaling device comprises a sound generator. 
     
     
         30 . The inhaler according to  claim 28 , wherein the signaling device comprises one or more lights. 
     
     
         31 . The inhaler according to  claim 30 , wherein the signaling device comprises at least two lights of different color. 
     
     
         32 . The inhaler according to  claim 28 , further compromising a mouthpiece adapter, wherein one or more of the power source, flow sensor, actuation controller and signaling device are carried on the adapter.