Powder Inhaler Sensor Attachment for Low-Resistance Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inhaler systems face challenges in reliably detecting inhalation without compromising user comfort by increasing airflow resistance due to the addition of sensor units.
Innovation Solution
An inhaler set comprising a powder inhaler with a sensor unit that covers some air inlet openings while allowing airflow through others, utilizing a flow sensor to detect inhalation without significantly increasing resistance, and incorporating a metering mechanism with a rotatable actuator for precise powder delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor unit is attached to the inhaler to detect inhalation, then inhalation detection reliability is improved, but airflow resistance increases and inhalation comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet openings are divided into two groups: some are covered by the sensor unit while others remain uncovered. This segmentation allows the system to obtain sufficient airflow for detection while maintaining overall breathability. The sensor unit covers only a portion of the air inlet openings, creating a balanced configuration between detection accuracy and user comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit is positioned to cover specific air inlet openings rather than all of them. This local coverage strategy ensures that the sensor unit can detect inhalation through the covered openings while leaving other openings available to maintain low overall flow resistance. The selective coverage creates different functional zones within the inhaler structure.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor unit covers air inlet openings to enable detection, then measurement precision is improved, but flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit covers only a partial portion of the air inlet openings rather than all of them. This partial coverage provides sufficient airflow for reliable inhalation detection while avoiding the excessive resistance that would result from covering all openings. The fraction of covered openings is optimized to achieve detection precision without significant flow resistance increase.
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
Ensures reliable inhalation detection with minimal airflow resistance, maintaining user comfort, while providing accurate tracking of inhalation events and user compliance through integrated sensors and wireless connectivity.
Implementation Method 1
an inhalation sensor of the sensor unit is able to detect the air flow through said first air inlet opening
Implementation Method 2
The dose of powder to be inhaled is atomized by the air flow caused by the user's inhalation and transported to the delivery opening
Data Source
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AI summary
An inhaler set is described comprising an inhaler (10) and a sensor unit (40), which can be exchangeably attached to the inhaler (10) for detecting the use of the inhaler (10). The inhaler (10) is designed as a powder inhaler and has a housing (12) with a delivery opening (14) designed as a mouthpiece and with a plurality of air inlet openings (20, 22), wherein powder to be inhaled is stored inside the inhaler (10) prior to discharge, said powder being atomized and being transported to the delivery opening (14) by means of an air flow caused by the inhalation from the air inlet openings (20, 22) to the delivery opening (14). The sensor unit (40) is provided for attachment to the inhaler (10), wherein the sensor unit can be attached to the inhaler (10) in such a way that at least one first air inlet opening (20) is covered by the sensor unit (40) in the attached state and at least one second air inlet opening (22) is not covered by the sensor unit (40) in the attached state. The sensor unit (40) comprises at least one inhalation sensor (82) for detecting the air flow through the first air inlet opening (20).