Inhaler System with Encrypted Usage Data Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a reliable and convenient system to monitor the administration of multiple inhaled medicaments used by patients with respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD, as current methods lack efficiency and accuracy in tracking usage.
Innovation Solution
The system comprises multiple inhalers, each equipped with a use determination system and a transmission module that encrypts usage data, which is then transmitted and processed to distinguish between different medicaments, ensuring accurate tracking and communication of usage information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple inhalers delivering different medicaments are monitored separately, then measurement precision of each medicament usage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments usage data by associating each inhaler with a unique identifier (ID). The processing module receives encrypted data from multiple inhalers and separates them based on these IDs, allowing precise tracking of each medicament while managing complexity through structured data organization rather than physically separate processing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
A single processing module serves multiple inhalers universally. The module can handle encrypted usage data from any number of different inhalers, distinguish between them using their IDs, and process their respective usage information. This multi-functional approach maintains measurement precision while avoiding the need for dedicated processing systems for each inhaler.
2Productivity
If usage data from multiple inhalers is transmitted and processed together, then productivity of data collection is improved, but reliability of distinguishing between different medicaments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses unique identifiers (IDs) associated with each inhaler as a feedback mechanism to distinguish data sources. When the processing module receives encrypted usage data, it uses these IDs to reliably determine which inhaler (and thus which medicament) each data point refers to, even when processing multiple inhalers' data simultaneously through a single module.
3Reliability
If encrypted data is transmitted from each inhaler, then reliability of data security is improved, but loss of information increases due to encryption overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential usage information from each inhaler event and transmits it in encrypted form. Rather than transmitting all possible data or requiring extensive decryption and re-encryption processes, the system focuses on extracting and transmitting only the necessary usage parameters, minimizing overhead while maintaining security through encryption of the essential data points.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a system including a plurality of inhalers that each include a processor configured to determine a value of a usage parameter relating to use of the respective first inhaler, encrypt data based on the value, and transmit the encrypted data. At least two of the inhalers include different medicament, such as a rescue medicament and a maintenance medicament. The system includes an external device that includes a processor configured to distinguish between the encrypted data of each respective inhaler, determine respective usage information relating to each of the distinct types of medicament based on the respective encrypted data, and control a user interface (e.g., of the external device) to communicate the usage information related to each inhaler and/or each respective type of medicament.