Inhalation monitoring system and method

Abstract

An inhalation monitoring system includes an inhaler having a medicament delivery apparatus configured to deliver medicament to a user during an inhalation of the user; inhalation monitoring apparatus, configured to, during the inhalation, gather data for determining a measure of the user's lung function and/or lung health; and a processor configured to receive the data from the inhalation monitoring apparatus and, using the data, determine a measure of the user's lung function and/or lung health.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An inhalation monitoring system comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive inhalation data gathered during a plurality of inhalations of a plurality of different users; 
 identify occurrences of exacerbations of a lung condition for the plurality of different users based on the inhalation data; 
 identify a pattern in changes to the inhalation data that precede the occurrences of exacerbations; and 
 determine that inhalation data of a patient matches the pattern; and 
   a user interface configured to provide an alert for the patient or their medical practitioner based on the determination that the inhalation data matches the pattern.   
     
     
         22 . The inhalation monitoring system of  claim 21 , wherein the alert indicates a suggested change to a treatment regimen of the patient. 
     
     
         23 . The inhalation monitoring system of  claim 21 , wherein the alert indicates an efficacy of the treatment regimen of the patient. 
     
     
         24 . The inhalation monitoring system of  claim 21 , wherein the alert indicates an increased likelihood of an exacerbation of the lung condition for the patient. 
     
     
         25 . The inhalation monitoring system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to receive additional inhalation data of additional inhalations, and refine the identification of the pattern using a self-learning algorithm. 
     
     
         26 . The inhalation monitoring system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to predict future changes to the user's lung function or lung health based on the determination that the inhalation data of the patient matches the pattern. 
     
     
         27 . The inhalation monitoring system of  claim 21 , wherein the future changes comprise exacerbations of an existing respiratory condition, and wherein the existing respiratory condition is asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory syncytial virus, cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or pulmonary embolism. 
     
     
         28 . An inhalation monitoring system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine inspiratory measures based on the inhalation data;   determine expiratory measures based on the inspiratory measures;   identify the occurrences of exacerbations of the lung condition for the plurality of different users;   identify a pattern in changes to the expiratory measures that precede the occurrences of exacerbations; and   determine that expiratory measures for a patient match the pattern; and   wherein the user interface is configured to provide the alert for the patient or their medical practitioner that indicates an increased likelihood of an exacerbation of the lung condition based on the determination that the expiratory measures matches the pattern;   wherein the alert indicates a change to a treatment regimen of the patient, an efficacy of a treatment regimen of the patient, or an increased likelihood of an exacerbation of the lung condition for the patient.   
     
     
         29 . A method comprising:
 determining a plurality of inspiratory measures, wherein each inspiratory measure is based on data gathered during an inhalation of a user;   determining an expiratory measure based on each of the plurality of inspiratory measures, wherein each of the expiratory measures is indicative of a lung function of the user;   identifying a pattern in the expiratory measures or the plurality of inspiratory measures; and   generating an alert, via a user interface, for the user or their medical practitioner that is indicative of a progression of a lung related condition over time based on the identified pattern.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the alert indicates an efficacy of a treatment regimen of the user or a change to the treatment regimen of the user. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the pattern relates to an exacerbation. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the pattern precedes the exacerbation. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 identifying occurrences of exacerbations of a lung condition for the user based on the expiratory measures or the plurality of inspiratory measures;   identifying the pattern based on changes to the expiratory measures or the plurality of inspiratory measures that precede the occurrences of exacerbations.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 predicting a future lung function of the user based on the identified pattern, wherein the future lung function of the user comprises an exacerbation of the lung related condition of the user; and   providing an alert to the user that indicates the future lung function prediction.   
     
     
         35 . An inhalation monitoring system comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 determine a plurality of inspiratory measures, wherein each inspiratory measure is based on data gathered during an inhalation of a user; 
 determine an expiratory measure based on each of the plurality of inspiratory measures, wherein each of the expiratory measures is indicative of a lung function of the user; and 
 identify a pattern in the expiratory measures or the plurality of inspiratory measures; and 
   a user interface configured to provide an alert for the user or their medical practitioner that is indicative of a progression of a lung related condition over time based on the identified pattern.   
     
     
         36 . The inhalation monitoring system of  claim 35 , wherein the alert indicates an efficacy of a treatment regimen of the user or a change to the treatment regimen of the user. 
     
     
         37 . The inhalation monitoring system of  claim 35 , wherein the pattern relates to an exacerbation. 
     
     
         38 . The inhalation monitoring system of  claim 37 , wherein the pattern precedes the exacerbation. 
     
     
         39 . The inhalation monitoring system of  claim 35 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 identify occurrences of exacerbations of a lung condition for the plurality of different users based on the expiratory measures or the plurality of inspiratory measures; and   identify the pattern based on changes to the expiratory measures and/or the plurality of inspiratory measures that precede the occurrences of exacerbations.   
     
     
         40 . The inhalation monitoring system of  claim 35 , wherein the processor is further configured to predict a future lung function of the user based on the identified pattern, wherein the future lung function of the user comprises an exacerbation of the lung related condition of the user; and
 wherein the user interface configured to provide an alert to the user that indicates the future lung function prediction.