INHALER WITH TWO MICROPHONES FOR DETECTION OF INHALATION FLOW

摘要

An inhaler with a housing (H) comprising an air-inlet (A_I) and a an air-outlet (A_O). Inside the housing (H) a flow path (FP) is defined between air-inlet (A_I) and air-outlet (A_O) where a dispenser (DP) is arranged to dispense an aerosol or a dry powder in the flow path (FP). Two sensors (S1, S2), e.g. microphones, are positioned spaced apart at external surfaces of the housing (H) to sense sound or vibrations resulting from a flow in the flow path (FP) at two different positions. This allows a precise detection of flow velocity during inhalation based on the sound or vibrations sensed by the two sensors (S1, S2), thus allowing examination of correct use of the inhaler. Further, the use of two spaced apart sensors (S1, S2) facilitates identification of priming and firing events in the sensed sound or vibrations which may also be used in evaluating the use of the inhaler. Preferably, a noise reduction algorithm is used that exploits the differences in the captured sound or vibrations from the two sensors (S1, S2), so at to allow precise flow measurements even in noisy environments.

主权项

1. A system comprising
an inhaler for dispensing aerosol or a dry powder, the inhaler comprising
a housing (H) comprising an air-inlet (A_I) and a an air-outlet (A_O), wherein the housing (H) defines a flow path (FP) between the air-inlet (A_I) and the air-outlet (A_O), anda first sensor (S1) arranged at a first position of an external surface of the housing (H), and a second sensor (S2) arranged at a second position of the external surface of the housing (H), wherein the first and second positions are spaced apart, wherein the first position is selected to have a shorter distance to the air-inlet (A_I) than the second position, and wherein the first and second sensors (S1, S2) are arranged to sense sound or vibrations resulting from a flow in the flow path (FP), anda processor (P) arranged to process output signals from the first and second sensors (S1, S2) according to an algorithm (A1, A2), so as to generate a measure of flow (FR) in the flow path, wherein said algorithm (A1, A2) comprises an event classification part arranged to analyse the sound or vibrations sensed by the first and second sensors (S1, S2), so as to allow identification of at least one event.