Sensor module and method for determining administration rate of aerosol

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sensor module (110) and a method (210) for determining an administration rate of an aerosol of an aerosol stream (112), where the aerosol stream (112) is provided to a patient through an inhalation device, and to an inhalation device. Here, the sensor module (110) comprises:-an adaptive structure (160) designed to attach the sensor module (110) to the suction device; -measuring a volume (114); -a concentration measurement unit (124) designed to generate at least one first measurement signal as a function of an aerosol concentration in the measurement volume (114); a flow measuring unit which is designed to generate at least one second measurement signal as a function of the flow of the aerosol flow (112) through the measurement volume (114), the flow measuring unit comprising a pressure measuring unit (140), the pressure measuring unit (140) comprising a differential pressure sensor (148), the differential pressure sensor (148) being designed to measure the flow of the aerosol flow (112) through the measurement volume (114). Wherein a first port (146) of the differential pressure sensor (148) is designed to determine a first pressure in front of a flow collection structure (152) contained in the measurement volume (114), and wherein a second port (154) of the differential pressure sensor (148) is designed to determine a second pressure behind the flow collection structure (152), wherein the differential pressure sensor (148) is adapted to generate at least one second measurement signal as a function of a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure; and-an evaluation unit (156) designed to determine the administration rate of the aerosol in the inhalation device on the basis of a simultaneous determination of the aerosol concentration from the at least one first measurement signal and the inhalation flow from the at least one second measurement signal. The sensor module (110) and method (210) allow for accurate determination of the administration rate of aerosol actually received by a patient from an aerosol stream (112) when using the inhalation device, the inhalation dose per respiration, and the total inhalation dose per application. The sensor module (110) may be used with existing or novel inhalation devices that benefit from the determination of the actually received aerosol administration rate, while the patient may continue to use a familiar inhalation device.

Description

[0001] field of invention [0002] The present invention relates to a sensor module and a method for determining the dosing rate of an aerosol of an aerosol flow, wherein the aerosol flow is provided to a patient by an inhalation device, and to an inhalation device. The sensor module, method and inhalation device are mainly useful for the treatment of lung or respiratory diseases. Background technique [0003] Pulmonary or respiratory diseases, including but not limited to asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are typically treated by inhaling medications, which are delivered to the patient as liquid or solid particles in an aerosol stream using an inhalation device. For this purpose known medical inhalation devices or "inhalers" (also called "smart inhalers") with electronic aids can be used. In particular, the smart inhaler can employ wireless transmissions to detect patient use of the inhaler, can remind the patient to take medication, and can collect dat...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0007] However, there is a medical need to improve patient compliance, especially dosing accuracy, for which purpose determination of the inhalation flow is not sufficient as it does not allow determination of the dose of aerosol actually received by the patient from the aerosol flow of said inhalation device. drug rate

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