IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,629,488
Granted Patent B2
US 12,629,488 · App. 17/860,454 · Granted May 19, 2026

Nebulizer monitoring device, system and method

Inventors: Michael Segal (Marlborough, MA); Nathan Arian Abel (Minneapolis, MN); Spencer Brown (Providence, RI); Everett Crosland (Marlborough, MA); Francisco Javier de Ana Arbeloa (Saint Paul, MN); Thomas Goodin (Marlborough, MA); Joseph Gordon (Mansfield, MA); Michael Metz (Minneapolis, MN); Daniel James Nelson (Ramsey, MN); Jae Hong Park (Providence, RI); Sean Scanlon (Minneapolis, MN); Janis Paulis Skujins (Minneapolis, MN); Jennet Toyjanova (Mansfield, MA)
Assignee: PARI Pharma GmbH
A61M15/0021A61B5/01A61B5/0816A61B5/087A61B5/091A61M11/00A61M16/024A61M16/14G01F1/34G01K13/20G16H20/13A61M2016/0027A61M2016/0039A61M16/161A61M2205/13A61M2205/3368A61M2205/3553A61M2205/3584A61M2205/583A61M2205/587A61M2205/8206A61M2205/8243A61M2230/40A61M2230/42A61M2230/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,629,488
App. No.
17/860,454
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described herein are devices, systems and methods for monitoring the use of a nebulized medication, such as can be administered using a nebulizer. These can be used for monitoring a patient undergoing treatment for COPD and improve compliance to the recommended therapy. Monitored parameters include flow, humidity and acceleration and provide data as to the quantity and quality of nebulizer use.

Claims (42)

1 . A nebulizer system comprising:

a nebulizer monitoring device comprising one or more sensors; and

a device controller and/or a remote system, wherein the one or more sensors are operably coupled to the device controller and/or remote system,

wherein:

the device is configured to engage a nebulizer and configured to be used by a subject to receive nebulized medication;

the nebulizer system is configured to collect data from the one or more sensors while the subject receives the nebulized medication and to determine, via the device controller and/or the remote system, a respiration rate of the subject or a temperature of the subject, together with a tidal volume of the subject;

the nebulizer system, via the device controller and/or the remote system, is configured to compare the determined respiration rate of the subject with a previously determined respiration rate of the subject or to compare the determined temperature of the subject with a previously determined temperature of the subject, and to compare the determined tidal volume of the subject with a previously determined tidal volume of the subject; and

based on the comparison, the nebulizer system, via the remote system and/or one or more transceivers, is configured to send a signal to at least one of the subject and a provider.

2 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 wherein the nebulizer comprises a COPD medication.

3 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer system, based on the comparison, sends the signal to at least one of the subject and the provider if the respiration rate is less than the previously determined respiration rate or the respiration rate is greater than the previously determined respiration rate.

4 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer system, based on the comparison, sends the signal to at least one of the subject and the provider if the respiration rate is less than the previously determined respiration rate by a first predefined amount or the respiration rate is greater than the previously determined respiration rate by a second predefined amount.

5 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer system, based on the comparison, sends the signal to at least one of the subject and the provider if the tidal volume is less than the previously determined tidal volume or the tidal volume is greater than the previously determined tidal volume.

6 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer system, based on the comparison, sends the signal to at least one of the subject and the provider if the tidal volume is less than the previously determined tidal volume by a first predefined amount or the tidal volume is greater than the previously determined tidal volume by a second predefined amount.

7 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer system, based on the comparison, sends the signal to at least one of the subject and the provider if the temperature is less than the previously determined temperature or the temperature is greater than the previously determined temperature.

8 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer system, based on the comparison, sends the signal to at least one of the subject and the provider if the temperature is less than the previously determined temperature by a first predefined amount or the temperature is greater than the previously determined temperature by a second predefined amount.

9 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 , wherein the previously determined respiration rate is one of the subject's normal, baseline, mean, average or threshold respiration rate.

10 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 wherein the previously determined tidal volume is one of the subject's normal, baseline, mean, average or threshold tidal volume.

11 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 , wherein the previously determined temperature is a previously determined temperature value of the subject or a temperature threshold.

12 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more transceivers of the nebulizer monitoring device are configured to transmit the sensor data to the remote system; wherein the remote system is configured to:

perform the determining, comparing and sending operations of the nebulizer system.

13 . The nebulizer system according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more transceivers of the nebulizer monitoring device is configured to transmit the sensor data to a smart device and the smart device is configured to transmit the sensor data to the remote system.

14 . The nebulizer system according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more transceivers of the nebulizer monitoring device is configured to transmit the sensor data to a base station and the base station is configured to transmit the sensor data to the system.

15 . The nebulizer system according to claim 14 , wherein the nebulizer monitoring device further comprises a battery and the base station is configured to transfer electrical energy to the nebulizer monitoring device to charge the battery.

16 . The nebulizer system according to claim 14 , wherein the base station comprises at least one indicator configured to provide information based on the data from the one or more sensors.

17 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer monitoring device further comprises a mouthpiece and the one or more sensors comprises a temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor is disposed at a first end of the mouthpiece such that when the subject inserts the mouthpiece into their mouth, the temperature sensor is positioned to measure the temperature of at least a portion of the subject's lip.

18 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises a flow sensor that is configured to measure a flow of the nebulized medication from the nebulizer to the subject.

19 . The nebulizer system according to claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer monitoring device further comprises at least one indicator configured to provide information based on the data from the one or more sensors.

20 . The nebulizer system according to claim 19 , wherein the information relates to an exacerbation condition of the subject.

21 . The nebulizer system according to claim 19 , wherein the information relates to inhalation and/or exhalation of the subject.

22 . The nebulizer system according to claim 19 , wherein the information relates to treatment of the subject by the nebulizer.

23 . The nebulizer system according to claim 19 , wherein the information relates to dosage of a medicament delivered to the subject by the nebulizer.

24 . The nebulizer system according to claim 19 , wherein the information relates to use of the nebulizer by the subject.

25 . The nebulizer system according to claim 19 , wherein the information relates to a flow rate.

26 . The nebulizer system according to claim 19 , wherein the information relates to the tidal volume, the temperature and/or the respiration rate of the subject.

27 . The nebulizer system according to claim 19 , wherein the indicator comprises one or more of a visual indicator, an audible indicator, a vibrating element and a tactile indicator.

28 . A method of treating a subject comprising:

providing a nebulizer system, the nebulizer system including a nebulizer monitoring device adapted to be connected to a nebulizer;

connecting the nebulizer monitoring device to the nebulizer;

the nebulizer monitoring device including one or more sensors and measuring a respiration rate of the subject or a temperature of the subject, together with a tidal volume of the subject; and

the nebulizer system storing and processing the respiration rate of the subject or the temperature of the subject, together with the tidal volume of the subject;

wherein:

the nebulizer system comparing the measured respiration rate of the subject with a previously determined respiration rate of the subject or comparing the measured temperature of the subject with a previously determined temperature of the subject, and comparing the measured tidal volume of the subject with a previously determined tidal volume of the subject, and, based on the comparisons, sending a signal to at least one of the subject and a provider.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2023
From: SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
To: PARI PHARMA GMBH
Reel/Frame 064951/0016 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2022
From: SEGAL, MICHAEL; GOODIN, THOMAS; CROSLAND, EVERETT
To: SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Reel/Frame 061591/0744 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2022
From: BROWN, SPENCER; PARK, JAE HONG; GORDON, JOSEPH; SKUJINS, JANIS; SCANLON, SEAN; NELSON, DANIEL; METZ, MICHAEL; ABEL, NATHAN; DE ANA ARBELOA, FRANCISCO JAVIER
To: SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Reel/Frame 061592/0063 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2022
From: TOYJANOVA, JENNET
To: SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Reel/Frame 061592/0103 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16390908 · Apr 22, 2019
Related Publication 20220339392A1 · Oct 27, 2022
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