Inhaler Pressure Sensor Extraction for Dosing Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inhalers lack reliable and efficient monitoring systems for user interaction and medicament delivery, particularly in soft-mist inhalers, which require improved detection of inhalation and nebulization processes to ensure accurate dosing and user safety.
Innovation Solution
The inhaler incorporates a pressure sensor for air pressure measurement, a position sensor for detecting movement and orientation, and a sensor switch for low-energy activation, allowing for breath-controlled nebulization and automatic initiation or blocking of the nebulization process, while being easily integratable into existing inhaler designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a flow sensor is used in the mouthpiece to detect inhalation, then inhalation detection is achieved, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressure sensor from the mouthpiece and places it in the lower housing part, separating the detection function from the air flow path. This simplifies the mouthpiece structure while maintaining inhalation detection capability through pressure changes in the housing cavity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses air pressure as an intermediary to detect inhalation. Instead of directly measuring air flow through the mouthpiece, the system measures pressure changes in the lower housing part that occur when the user inhales, providing an indirect but effective detection method.
2Reliability
If the monitoring device is always active to ensure continuous monitoring, then user safety is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring device operates periodically rather than continuously. It activates at specific moments such as when the drive spring is tensioned, when the container reaches a predetermined position, or when the mouthpiece cover is opened, and remains inactive otherwise, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining monitoring effectiveness.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are integrated to detect position, orientation, and acceleration, then monitoring accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-functional sensor system where a single sensor or sensor combination performs multiple detection tasks including position, orientation, and acceleration detection. This approach maintains high monitoring accuracy while avoiding the complexity of separate dedicated sensors for each function.
4Measurement precision
If the pressure sensor is placed in the mouthpiece to directly measure supply air pressure, then inhalation detection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor is extracted from the mouthpiece and relocated to the lower housing part. This extraction simplifies manufacturing by allowing the use of standard sealing practices and reduces the complexity of integrating a pressure sensor into the mouthpiece structure, while still enabling accurate inhalation detection through pressure changes in the connected cavity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the reliability and user safety of inhaler monitoring by accurately detecting inhalation and nebulization, ensuring proper dosing and preventing overdosing, while being cost-effective and compatible with existing inhaler constructions.
Implementation Method 1
The monitoring device comprises a pressure sensor for measuring the air pressure in a housing of the inhaler or the monitoring device, particularly in a mouthpiece of the inhaler, for detecting inhalation
Implementation Method 2
the monitoring device comprises at least one position sensor for detecting a position, orientation and/or acceleration of the inhaler
Implementation Method 3
a pressure generator having a drive spring for conveying and nebulising the medicament preparation. Nebulisation is carried out without the use of a propellant gas, namely by the force of the drive spring
Data Source
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AI summary
Portable inhaler (1) for a fluid (2) having a preferably insertable container (3) containing the fluid (2) and having a monitoring device (24) for detecting use of the inhaler (1), wherein the monitoring device (24) comprises an acceleration sensor (30), the monitoring device (24) is constructed so that it automatically switches off or is deactivated or goes into standby mode, and the monitoring device (24) is adapted to be activated or woken up by detection of movement of the inhaler (1) by means of the acceleration sensor (30).