Training in dispensing a medicament

Abstract

A medicament-free device (e.g., a smartphone device) for simulating a medicament dispenser may include a sensing device and a processor. The sensing device may sense a user action performed upon the medicament-free device and may output sense data. The processor may receive the sense data, compare the sense data with predefined data, and provide feedback based on how the sense data compares to the predefined data. The predefined data may be indicative of a model user action associated with the medicament dispenser.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A mobile smartphone device for simulating a medicament dispenser, comprising:
 a microphone;   a display; and   a processor configured to:
 cause the display to display a representation of a type of oral inhaler; 
 receive a signal from the microphone indicative of a user's airflow; 
 determine, based on the signal, whether the airflow is sufficient for dispensing medicament from the type of oral inhaler represented; and 
 provide feedback to a user based on the determination. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile smartphone device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the spatial orientating of the mobile smartphone device and to provide feedback to the user based on the spatial orientation of the mobile smartphone device. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile smartphone device of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback includes an outcome of a game represented on the display. 
     
     
         4 . A medicament-free device for simulating a medicament dispenser, comprising:
 a sensing device configured to sense a user action performed upon the medicament-free device and to output sense data; and   a processor configured to:
 receive the sense data; 
 compare the sense data with predefined data indicative of a model user action associated with the medicament dispenser; and 
 provide feedback based on how the sense data compares to the predefined data. 
   
     
     
         5 . The medicament-free device of  claim 4 , wherein the user action is any of a spatial orientating of the medicament-free device and an acceleration applied to the medicament-free device. 
     
     
         6 . The medicament-free device of  claim 4 , wherein the sensing device is any of an acoustic sensor, a pressure sensor, a biological sensor, and an accelerometer. 
     
     
         7 . The medicament-free device of  claim 4 , wherein the medicament-free device includes a housing that simulates an oral inhaler. 
     
     
         8 . The medicament-free device of  claim 7 , wherein the medicament-free device includes a wireless communications device configured to communicate to a mobile smartphone device, and wherein the processor provides feedback via the wireless communications device. 
     
     
         9 . The medicament-free device of  claim 8 , wherein the feedback provided to the user is such that in response to the feedback the mobile smartphone device displays a representation of the sensed user action. 
     
     
         10 . The medicament-free device of  claim 9 , wherein the representation of the sensed user action includes an outcome of a game. 
     
     
         11 . The medicament-free device of  claim 4 , wherein the medicament-free device is any of a mobile smartphone device and a tablet. 
     
     
         12 . The medicament-free device of  claim 11 , further comprising a display for indicating the medicament dispenser to be simulated. 
     
     
         13 . The medicament-free device of  claim 12 , wherein the feedback provided to the user is such that in response to the feedback the display displays a representation of the sensed user action. 
     
     
         14 . The medicament-free device of  claim 13 , wherein the representation of the sensed user action includes an outcome of a game. 
     
     
         15 . The medicament-free device of  claim 4 , further comprising an external sensing device, wherein the external sensing device provides sensing functionality to the medicament-free device. 
     
     
         16 . A system for simulating a medicament dispenser, comprising:
 a medicament dispenser configured to dispense a medicament; and   a medicament-free device for simulating the medicament dispenser, comprising:
 a sensing device configured to sense a user action performed upon the medicament-free device and to output sense data; and 
 a processor configured to:
 receive the sense data; 
 compare the sense data with predefined data indicative of a model user action associated with the medicament dispenser; and 
 provide feedback based on how the sense data compares to the predefined data. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the user action is any of a spatial orientating of the medicament-free device and an acceleration applied to the medicament-free device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the sensing device is any of an acoustic sensor, a pressure sensor, a biological sensor, and an accelerometer. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the medicament dispenser comprises a first oral inhaler housing and the medicament-free device comprises a second oral inhaler housing. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a mobile smartphone device, wherein any of the medicament dispenser and the medicament-free device communicate to the mobile device.