Medication delivery system with mask
A medication delivery system having a holding chamber capable of delivering dosages of medicament from a metered dose inhaler. The holding chamber includes an actuator detector, a flow detector, and a display. In another embodiment, a medication delivery system includes a holding chamber having an input end and an output end, a metered dose inhaler operably coupled to the input end of the holding chamber, and a metered dose inhaler identifier associated with the holding chamber and operable to identify the metered dose inhaler coupled to the holding chamber.
1. A medication delivery system comprising:
a medication delivery device having an input end and an output end;
a mask coupled to the output end, wherein the mask is moveable along a longitudinal axis to an engaged position with a user's face and is configured for forming a seal between the mask and the user's face;
a force sensor mounted on the medication delivery device and disposed between the mask and the input end of the medication delivery device, wherein the force sensor is configured to sense a force applied to the medication delivery device and is responsive to a force being applied along the longitudinal axis to the mask by the medication delivery device; and
an indicator configured to provide feedback to the user or a caregiver regarding an amount of contact made between the user's face and the mask and/or the force being applied along the longitudinal axis to the mask by the medication delivery device.
2. The medication delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the medication delivery device comprises a body portion defining the input end and a valve assembly coupled to the body portion and defining the output end, wherein the mask is coupled to the valve assembly.
3. The medication delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the force sensor is disposed between the mask and the valve assembly.
4. The medication delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the force sensor is disposed between the valve assembly and the body portion.
5. The medication delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the mask comprises a contact sensor configured to sense engagement of the mask with the user's face.
6. The medication delivery system of claim 5 , wherein the contact sensor is configured to monitor, sense and signal appropriate contact with the user's face.
7. The medication delivery system of claim 5 , wherein the contact sensor is coupled to a sealing portion of the mask and distributed around a periphery of the mask.
8. The medication delivery system of claim 7 , wherein the contact sensor comprises a continuous strip extending around the sealing portion of the mask.
9. The medication delivery system of claim 7 , wherein the contact sensor comprises a plurality of spaced apart contact sensors positioned around the periphery of the mask.
10. The medication delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the indicator comprises a plurality of indicators associated with the plurality of contact sensors respectively.
11. The medication delivery system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of indicators comprises a plurality of lights.
12. The medication delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator.
13. The medication delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises an auditory indicator.
14. The medication delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises a vibratory indicator.
15. The medication delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to analyze an output of the force sensor and estimate a quality of the seal.
16. The medication delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the medication delivery device comprises one of a valved holding chamber, a nebulizer or an oscillating positive expiratory pressure device.
17. The medication delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is configured to provide the feedback to the user or the caregiver about a desirable seal when the force being applied along the longitudinal axis to the mask is between 1.5 and 7.0 lbs.
18. The medication delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is disposed on the medication delivery device.
19. A medication delivery system comprising:
a medication delivery device having an input end and an output end;
a mask coupled to the output end, wherein the mask is moveable along a longitudinal axis to an engaged position with a user's face and is configured for forming a seal between the mask and the user's face;
a force sensor mounted on the medication delivery device and disposed between the mask and the input end of the medication delivery device, wherein the force sensor is configured to sense a force applied to the medication delivery device and is responsive to a force being applied along the longitudinal axis to the mask by the medication delivery device;
a contact sensor configured to sense engagement of the mask with the user's face; and
an indicator configured to provide feedback to the user or a caregiver regarding an amount of contact made between the user's face and the mask and/or the force being applied along the longitudinal axis to the mask by the medication delivery device.
20. The medication delivery system of claim 19 , wherein the medication delivery device comprises a body portion defining the input end and a valve assembly coupled to the body portion and defining the output end, wherein the mask is coupled to the valve assembly.
21. The medication delivery system of claim 20 , wherein the force sensor is disposed between the mask and the valve assembly.
22. The medication delivery system of claim 20 , wherein the force sensor is disposed between the valve assembly and the body portion.
23. The medication delivery system of claim 19 , wherein the contact sensor is coupled to a sealing portion of the mask and distributed around a periphery of the mask.
24. The medication delivery system of claim 19 , wherein the indicator is disposed on the mask.
25. The medication delivery system of claim 19 , wherein the indicator is disposed on the medication delivery device.