Breath-Actuated Inhaler with Vibratory Dosing and Flow Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inhalation devices, such as metered dose inhalers and dry powder inhalers, face challenges in delivering a full dose of medication due to user error in timing inhalation with device activation and limited lung capacity, while jet nebulizers are inefficient in delivering medication during a single inspiratory effort.
Innovation Solution
An inhalation device equipped with a mouthpiece, dosing chamber, and flow channel, featuring an electronically driven vibratory element and sensor system that uses pressure signals to detect and confirm inhalation patterns, activating medication release only when sufficient airflow is detected, ensuring efficient delivery during natural breathing cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user employs a metered dose inhaler requiring timed inhalation with canister depression, then medication can be delivered, but the device is susceptible to misoperation if the user cannot properly time their inhalation
Solution Approach 1:
The breath-actuated inhaler automatically detects the user's inhalation through a flow sensor and triggers medication release without requiring manual coordination. The device serves itself by using the user's own breath to activate the dosing mechanism, eliminating the need for timed canister depression and significantly reducing user error.
2Ease of operation
If a breath-actuated inhaler relies on user-generated airflow to activate drug delivery, then operation is simplified, but the device may not aerosolize a full dose if the user has limited lung capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The vibratory element operates dynamically by detecting the user's breath flow and adjusting medication release in real-time. The system adapts to varying inhalation strengths, ensuring that even weak breaths from users with limited lung capacity can trigger complete dose aerosolization through the powered vibratory mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical breath-activation system with an electronically controlled vibratory element that uses sensor feedback to trigger medication release. This substitution ensures consistent dose delivery by using electronic detection and controlled vibration rather than relying solely on user-generated airflow pressure.
3Ease of operation
If a jet nebulizer allows normal breathing patterns, then user effort is minimized, but the device nebulizes more medication than can be inhaled during a single inspiratory effort
Solution Approach 1:
The inhaler uses periodic action by detecting complete breath cycles (inhalation followed by exhalation) and triggering medication release at the optimal moment. The flow sensor identifies the start of inhalation, and the vibratory element releases medication during the inspiratory phase, ensuring medication is delivered only when the user is inhaling and not wasted during exhalation.
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
The device effectively delivers medication during inhalation, reducing user errors and ensuring efficient delivery of medication, even in users with limited lung capacity, by timing medication release with the user's inhalation pattern, thereby minimizing waste and optimizing dosing.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor system configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of air flow through the flow channel
Implementation Method 2
an electronically driven vibratory element... generate a trigger signal to control timing of operation of the electronically driven vibratory element to release medication into the dosing chamber
Data Source
Figure 1A
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Figure 2
AI summary
An inhalation device for delivering medication to a user may include a mouthpiece, a dosing chamber, and a flow channel connecting the mouthpiece to the dosing chamber. The dosing chamber may be configured to deliver the medication to the user via the mouthpiece. The inhalation device may include an electronically driven vibratory element, a sensor system configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of air flow through the flow channel, and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive the pressure signal from the sensor system (e.g., a micro-electrical mechanical (MEMS) pressure sensor). The controller may be configured to perform an inhalation detection procedure to determine a plurality of successful inhalations. For example, the controller may be configured to generate a trigger signal to control timing of operation of the electronically driven vibratory element to release medication into the dosing chamber based on the plurality of successful inhalations.