Mobile Inhaler Dosage Control Using Patient Data Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inhalers deliver fixed dosages, making it difficult for patients to adjust medication according to their changing conditions or environment, leading to potential over- or under-medication, and require cumbersome and expensive regular lung function measurements for individualized treatment plans.
Innovation Solution
A computer-controlled dosage system that includes a handheld inhaler and a mobile computer communicating with measuring devices and patient medical records to adjust dosages based on various parameters such as lung function, environmental conditions, and user inputs, ensuring appropriate medication delivery while complying with national health regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed dosage inhaler is used, then the device is simple and easy to manufacture, but the adaptability to patient conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: a simple inhaler device for medication delivery, a mobile computer for data processing and dosage calculation, and measuring devices for parameter monitoring. This segmentation allows the inhaler to remain simple while the overall system provides complex adaptive functionality through the mobile computer that processes patient data and communicates dosage recommendations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile computer acts as an intermediary between the measuring devices and the inhaler. It receives patient parameter data from measuring devices, processes this information according to medical guidelines, and provides dosage recommendations to the patient. This intermediary handles the complexity of dosage adaptation logic, keeping the inhaler device itself simple.
2Measurement precision
If regular lung function measurements are performed at clinics, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables patients to perform lung function measurements themselves at home using portable measuring devices connected to their mobile computers. Patients independently input symptom data and receive dosage recommendations without requiring clinic visits. This self-service approach maintains measurement precision while eliminating time loss associated with scheduled clinic appointments and waiting periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical clinic-based measurement system with an electronic/portable measurement system. Instead of requiring patients to travel to clinics for measurements, portable electronic devices are used that can be operated at home, substituting the clinic infrastructure with personal electronic equipment that provides equivalent or superior measurement capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If dosage is adjusted without professional guidance, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback loops where patient measurements and symptom data are continuously monitored, processed according to medical guidelines stored in the mobile computer, and used to generate dosage recommendations. This feedback mechanism ensures that dosage adjustments are based on objective data and established medical protocols rather than patient guesswork, maintaining reliability while enabling patient autonomy.
Solution Approach 2:
Medical guidelines and dosage adjustment protocols are pre-programmed into the mobile computer before use. The system has already performed the complex medical decision-making logic in advance, storing it as executable algorithms. When patients use the system, they simply follow the pre-prepared guidance rather than needing to make independent medical judgments, ensuring reliability through pre-established medical expertise.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a computer controlled dosage system, for dosage adjustment for a mobile, hand held, inhaler for delivering a dosage of a medicine, is provided. The system comprises at least one measuring device for measuring at least one parameter; and a handheld mobile computer separate from the inhaler, the computer being configured to communicate with the at least one measuring device and with a remote memory for sending and receiving information to and from patient medical records of the remote memory for storage in a memory of the computer, and the computer being configured to receive a manual input for storage in the memory of the computer. The computer is configured to create a data set for setting a plurality of levels of different dosages of medicine based on the medicine used by the inhaler, the information from the patient's medical records of the remote memory, and the manual input; and the computer is further configured to store the data set in the memory of the computer. The computer is further configured to generate an indication indicating a dosage adjustment for the inhaler, based on the at least one parameter and on one of the plurality of levels of dosage of the data set, the indication indicating one of the plurality of levels of dosage of the data set as the dosage adjustment for the inhaler. A dosage regime generated by the computer controlled dosage system is also disclosed.