Device and method to monitor, track, map, and analyze usage of metered-dose inhalers in real-time

Abstract

A system and method for accurately and reliably determining and recording the time, date and location where a medication is used, and a system and method for transmitting, collecting, and using that data to improve clinical care, disease management, and public health surveillance. The device allows information concerning drug usage, including the time, date and location of use, to be transmitted to a remote network computer system so that the data can be evaluated to determine current impairment and future risk, and to identify changes in the frequency, timing, or location of medication usage indicative of change in disease control or management, and to examine spatial, temporal or demographic patterns of medication use or absence of use among individuals and groups. In addition, the device may further be configured to transmit signals indicative of its status, condition or other results to the remote network computer system.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An inhaler monitoring system comprising:
 a medicament device configured to removably mount to an exterior surface of a metered dose inhaler, wherein the medicament device comprises:
 a switch mechanism configured to close an electrical circuit in response to an actuation of the metered dose inhaler to dispense medication, the closing of the electrical circuit causing the transmission of an electrical signal representing the dispensing of the medication; 
 a communication device configured to receive the electrical signal transmitted by the switch mechanism; and 
 a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 record the actuation of the metered dose inhaler as an inhaler usage event; 
 determine a time and date of the recorded inhaler usage event; 
 transmit the determined time and data via the communication device; and 
 
   a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by a processor of a terminal device, cause the processor of the terminal device to:
 receive the transmitted time and date of the recorded inhaler usage event; and 
 update a record of inhaler usage by the patient with the received time and date. 
   
     
     
         3 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 2 , wherein the switch mechanism is configured to removably mount to a medicament canister of the metered dose inhaler at an exposed end of the medicament canister and the communication device and the processor are integrated into a medicament package configured to removably mount to a side of the metered dose inhaler. 
     
     
         4 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 3 , wherein the switch mechanism, the communication device, and the processor are integrated into a medicament package configured to removably mount to the side of the metered dose inhaler. 
     
     
         5 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 3 , wherein the switch mechanism, the communication device, and the processor are integrated into a medicament packaged configured to removably mount to the exposed end of the medicament canister. 
     
     
         6 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 3 , wherein the switch mechanism is configured to mechanically depress in response to a downward movement of the medicament canister, the mechanical depression representing the depression of the medication. 
     
     
         7 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 3 , wherein the switch mechanism comprises an optical sensor that monitors a tag or a label mounted to the medicament canister, the optical sensor recording a pattern of optical sensor images characterizing actuations of the metered dose inhaler. 
     
     
         8 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 3 , wherein the switch mechanism comprises:
 a lever extending out of the side of the metered dose inhaler into an area above the exposed end of the medicament canister; and   a cap removably mounted to the exposed end of the medicament canister, wherein actuation of the medicament canister causes the cap to contact the lever, the contact representing the dispensing of the medication.   
     
     
         9 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 8 , wherein the lever extends internally through the metered dose inhaler and is configured to move when the medicament canister is actuated downwards, the movement of the lever activating a micro-switch to communicate a signal representing the dispensing of the medication. 
     
     
         10 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 2 , wherein the medicament device is removably mounted to the metered dose inhaler by one of the following:
 a grip mechanism;   a snap-fit mechanism;   a strap;   a clamp; and   adhesive fixing.   
     
     
         11 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 2 , wherein the switch mechanism is a thermistor configured to measure a change in temperature of the metered dose inhaler resulting from a dispensing of the medication, the change in temperature causing the transmission of a signal representing the dispensing of the medication. 
     
     
         12 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 2 , wherein the switch mechanism comprises:
 a magnet removably mounted to the exterior surface of the metered dose inhaler; and   a magnetic field sensor integrated into a body of the metered dose inhaler;   wherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to record a change in voltage output in the sensor when actuation of the metered dose inhaler moves the magnet in proximity to the magnetic field sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 2 , wherein the communication device is further configured to receive information from the terminal device. 
     
     
         14 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 2 , wherein the terminal device is a mobile device operated by one of the following:
 a user actuating the metered dose inhaler to dispense the medication; and   a health professional associated with a user actuating the metered dose inhaler.   
     
     
         15 . An inhaler monitoring system comprising:
 A metered dose inhaler configured to dispense medication when actuated by a user;   a medicament device configured to removably mount to an exterior surface of the metered dose inhaler, wherein the medicament device comprises:
 a switch mechanism configured to close an electrical circuit in response to an actuation of the metered dose inhaler to dispense medication, the closing of the electrical circuit causing the transmission of an electrical signal representing the dispensing of the medication; 
 a communication device configured to receive the electrical signal transmitted by the switch mechanism; and 
 a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 record the actuation of the medicament canister as an inhaler usage event; 
 determine a time and date of the recorded inhaler usage event; 
 transmit the determined time and data via the communication device; and 
 
   a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by a processor of a terminal device, cause the processor of the terminal device to:
 receive the transmitted time and date of the recorded inhaler usage event; and 
 update a record of inhaler usage by the patient with the received time and date. 
   
     
     
         16 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 15 , wherein the switch mechanism is configured to removably mount to an medicament canister of the metered dose inhaler at an exposed end of the medicament canister and the communication device and the processor are integrated into a medicament package configured to removably mount to a side of the metered dose inhaler. 
     
     
         17 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 16 , wherein the switch mechanism is configured to mechanically depress in response to a downward movement of the medicament canister, the mechanical depression representing the depression of the medication. 
     
     
         18 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 15 , wherein the switch mechanism comprises:
 a magnet removably mounted to the exterior surface of the metered dose inhaler; and   a magnetic field sensor integrated into a body of the metered dose inhaler;   wherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to record a change in voltage output in the sensor when actuation of the metered dose inhaler moves the magnet in proximity to the magnetic field sensor.   
     
     
         19 . An inhaler monitoring system comprising:
 monitoring means for removably mounting to an exterior surface of a metered dose inhaler, wherein the monitoring means comprises:
 switching means for closing an electrical circuit in response to an actuation of the metered dose inhaler to dispense medication, the closing of the electrical circuit causing the transmission of an electrical signal representing the dispensing of the medication; 
 communicating means for receiving the electrical signal transmitted by the switch mechanism, recording the actuation of the metered dose inhaler as an inhaler usage event, determining a time and date of the recorded inhaler usage event, and transmitting the determined time and data; and 
   receiving means for receiving the transmitted time and date of the recorded inhaler usage event, and updating a record of inhaler usage by the patient with the received time and date.   
     
     
         20 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 19 , wherein the switching means is configured to removably mount to a medicament canister of the metered dose inhaler at an exposed end of the medicament canister and the communicating means is integrated into a medicament package configured to removably mount to a side of the metered dose inhaler. 
     
     
         21 . The inhaler monitoring system of  claim 20 , wherein the switching means is configured to mechanically depress in response to a downward movement of the medicament canister, the mechanical depression representing the depression of the medication.