ADAPTORS FOR INHALERS TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE
A child-sized adaptor for a DPI or MDI is provided. Also provided is a patient feedback mechanism for signaling and/or teaching proper inhaler use.
1 - 15 . (canceled)
16 . An inhaler for delivering medication to the respiratory tract comprising a flow sensor for sensing the rate of inhalation and a feedback mechanism to transmit this information to the patient.
17 . The inhaler according to claim 16 , wherein the patient feedback mechanism is acoustic, visual or light in nature.
18 . The inhaler according to claim 16 , wherein the patient feedback mechanism includes a noise generator operatively connected to said flow sensor.
19 . The inhaler according to claim 16 , wherein the patient feedback mechanism includes one or more lights operatively connected to said flow sensor.
20 . The inhaler according to claim 16 , wherein said inhaler is a dry powder inhaler.
21 . The inhaler according to claim 16 , wherein said inhaler is a metered dose inhaler.
22 . A dry powder inhaler for delivering medication to the respiratory tract of a patient, comprising:
a power source,
an actuation controller including a flow sensor for sensing when inhalation is occurring, for determining strength and frequency of inhalation and for supplying power from said power source to a signaling device, carried on the inhaler, for providing real time feedback to the patient to teach the patient proper inhalation techniques.
23 . The dry powder inhaler according to claim 22 , wherein said actuation controller comprising said first electronic signals to a protocol and generates second electronic signals based on said comparison.
24 . The inhaler according to claim 22 , wherein the signaling device comprises a sound generator.
25 . The inhaler according to claim 22 , wherein the signaling device comprises one or more lights.
26 . The inhaler according to claim 25 , wherein the signaling device comprises at least two lights of a different color.
27 . The inhaler according to claim 22 , further comprising a mouthpiece adapter, wherein one or more of the power source, flow sensor, actuation controller and signaling device are carried on the adapter.
28 . A dry powder inhaler for delivering medication to the respiratory tract of a patient, comprising:
a power source;
a sensor for determining strength and frequency of inhalations;
an actuation controller tied to said sensor for generating a signal upon a value of the determined strength and frequency of inhalations; and
a signaling device, controlled by said actuation controller, for providing real time feedback to a patient to teach the patient proper inhalation techniques.
29 . The inhaler according to claim 28 , wherein the signaling device comprises a sound generator.
30 . The inhaler according to claim 28 , wherein the signaling device comprises one or more lights.
31 . The inhaler according to claim 30 , wherein the signaling device comprises at least two lights of different color.
32 . The inhaler according to claim 28 , further compromising a mouthpiece adapter, wherein one or more of the power source, flow sensor, actuation controller and signaling device are carried on the adapter.