US 12,239,781 B2
Releasable monitor with optical dose counter for a medicament inhaler
Garth Campbell Sutherland, Auckland (NZ); Michael James Gormack, Auckland (NZ); and Pavel Bezmaternykh, Auckland (NZ)
Assigned to Adherium (NZ) Limited, Auckland (NZ)
Filed by Adherium (NZ) Limited, Auckland (NZ)
Filed on Apr. 21, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/854,863.
Application 16/854,863 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/247,776, filed on Aug. 25, 2016, granted, now 10,668,232, issued on Jun. 2, 2020.
Application 15/247,776 is a continuation of application No. 13/705,813, filed on Dec. 5, 2012, granted, now 9,468,729, issued on Oct. 18, 2016.
Application 13/705,813 is a continuation of application No. 12/381,145, filed on Mar. 6, 2009, abandoned.
Claims priority of application No. 574666 (NZ), filed on Feb. 5, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2020/0316321 A1, Oct. 8, 2020
Int. Cl. A61M 15/00 (2006.01); G16H 20/10 (2018.01)
CPC A61M 15/008 (2014.02) [A61M 15/0065 (2013.01); A61M 15/0068 (2014.02); A61M 15/009 (2013.01); G16H 20/10 (2018.01); A61M 15/0083 (2014.02); A61M 2202/064 (2013.01); A61M 2205/18 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3313 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3375 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3553 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3584 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3592 (2013.01); A61M 2205/502 (2013.01); A61M 2205/52 (2013.01); A61M 2205/581 (2013.01); A61M 2205/583 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for monitoring usage of a disk-shaped, dry powder medicament inhaler that has a structure sufficient in itself to deliver doses of medicament, the medicament inhaler including: a medicament container configured for housing medicament, where said medicament container defines a mouthpiece; an exterior surface; and a lever that is configured for movement to thereby enable delivery of each dose of medicament into the mouthpiece so as to be user accessible via an airflow path, the device comprising:
a housing that:
includes first and second sides that are connected by a hinge and configured to move between an open position to enable insertion of the medicament inhaler and a closed position to retain the medicament inhaler,
is at least in part U-shaped in cross-section, and
defines an outer surface, and is configured to receive at least a portion of the medicament inhaler therein,
the housing being configured to be releasably attachable to the exterior surface of the medicament inhaler so as to enable repeated attachment to and removal from the medicament inhaler,
the housing defining a retaining portion that is configured to engage with at least a portion of the exterior surface of the of the medicament inhaler so as to retain the medicament inhaler in the housing,
wherein the at least a portion of the exterior surface of the medicament inhaler includes a mouthpiece opening that defines the mouthpiece, and the housing, in the closed position, includes a housing opening that is configured to surround at least a portion of the mouthpiece opening so as to allow a user to access the mouthpiece, so as to suck on the mouthpiece and inhale the medicament;
a sensor that is supported by the housing and configured to determine if a dose of medicament has been dispensed from the medicament inhaler, the sensor being configured to identify dispensation of the medicament without requiring any structural alterations to the medicament inhaler, the sensor including at least one electromagnetic signal transmitter located on one of the first side or the second side of the housing and configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal through the exterior surface of the medicament inhaler and through the medicament inhaler, and at least one electromagnetic signal receiver located on the other of the first side or the second side of the housing and configured to receive the electromagnetic signal after it is transmitted through the exterior surface of the medicament inhaler and through the medicament inhaler; and
the housing including a user interface that is integrated into and supported by the housing, and the user interface configured to enable user interaction with the device;
wherein the housing and sensor are disposed outside of the medicament inhaler airflow path to avoid impeding airflow characteristics within the medicament inhaler.