COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND REFILLS FOR INHALERS

摘要

Devices and methods are disclosed for monitoring a patient's compliance with an inhaler treatment regimen and assisting in prescription refills. The device may monitor an inhaler's motion to determine whether the motion is characteristic of typical inhaler use. Additionally, the device may monitor a temperature of the inhaler or in proximity to the mouthpiece to determine whether a patient has used the inhaler. The devices and methods may incorporate a smart phone application that provides notifications and alerts to aid in compliance with the medication regimen, as well as facilitating prescription refills.

主权项

1. A monitor system for detecting usage of an inhaler to facilitate prescription refills, the monitor system comprising:
a housing configured to be removably connectable to an inhaler that is configured to periodically deliver inhalable medication to a user; a controller located within the housing; an inhaler communication interface within the housing in electronic communication with the controller and configured to send and receive data; a memory and a battery in electrical communication with the controller and contained within the housing; at least two sensors in electrical communication with the controller that output data indicative of periodic physical occurrences at the housing, the sensors configured to report data from and timing of the physical occurrences for transmission to a remote processor to offload processing requirements from any components in the housing; a mobile personal computing device remote from the housing and configured to receive data from the at least two sensors through the inhaler communication interface, the computing device having:
a processor configured to process data output from the two sensors to determine whether that data comprises signature data, indicating inhaler use and therefore incremental depletion of medication, the processor further configured to evaluate timing of any signature data to confirm whether a use of the inhaler has occurred and determine when medication refills are needed;a memory configured to record confirmed signature data as indicated by the processor assist the processor in tracking usage for assessment of refills needed;a wireless communication interface configured to transmit the information regarding refills; andan application on the mobile personal computing device having a user interface that allows the user to visualize medication amounts and refill timing, and be aware of refill transmissions by the wireless communication interface.