Abstract: An aerosol delivery system (e.g., MDI or nebulizer for delivering aerosolized medication to a patient) includes a temperature sensor (10) in an aerosol output pathway of the system. A controller (600) determines that an aerosol generator of the system has released aerosol when the sensor senses a predetermined temperature change in the pathway. The temperature sensor may also comprise a thermal flow sensor that includes a heater and upstream and downstream temperature sensors. The controller compares the upstream and downstream temperatures to determine the presence, direction, and/or magnitude of fluid flow in the pathway. The controller may use the aerosol detection and/or flow detection to monitor compliance with desired use of the system and/or provide real-time instructions to a user for proper use of the system. The controller may record the aerosolization and flow data for later analysis.

Abstract: A server is configured to be communicatively linked with drug delivery devices used by a plurality of different subjects to receive aerosolized medicament as part of a therapy regime. The server provides a user with a user interface that enables the user to access therapy information related to the therapy of a plurality of different subjects. This may facilitate the monitoring of therapy received by the plurality of subjects.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery system (e.g., MDI or nebulizer for delivering aerosolized medication to a patient) includes a temperature sensor in an aerosol output pathway of the system. A controller determines that an aerosol generator of the system has released aerosol when the sensor senses a predetermined temperature change in the pathway. The temperature sensor may also comprise a thermal flow sensor that includes a heater and upstream and downstream temperature sensors. The controller compares the upstream and downstream temperatures to determine the presence, direction, and/or magnitude of fluid flow in the pathway. The controller may use the aerosol detection and/or flow detection to monitor compliance with desired use of the system and/or provide real-time instructions to a user for proper use of the system. The controller may record the aerosolization and flow data for later analysis.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery system (e.g., MDI or nebulizer for delivering aerosolized medication to a patient) includes a temperature sensor in an aerosol output pathway of the system. A controller determines that an aerosol generator of the system has released aerosol when the sensor senses a predetermined temperature change in the pathway. The temperature sensor may also comprise a thermal flow sensor that includes a heater and upstream and downstream temperature sensors. The controller compares the upstream and downstream temperatures to determine the presence, direction, and/or magnitude of fluid flow in the pathway. The controller may use the aerosol detection and/or flow detection to monitor compliance with desired use of the system and/or provide real-time instructions to a user for proper use of the system. The controller may record the aerosolization and flow data for later analysis.

Abstract: A nebulizer (1) comprises one or more removable components (5,7,9,13), for example a mesh assembly (9), mouthpiece, plunger assembly (7) and medication chamber (13), each having an associated data carrier (5a, 7a, 9a). The data carrier (5a, 7a, 9a) can be used to store information indicating the type of removable component (5,7,9,13) that is fitted to the nebulizer (1). A removable component (5,7,9,13) may be from a set of such removable components. For example, a mouthpiece (5) fitted to the nebulizer (1) may be from a set of mouthpieces having different flow rates. The data carrier (5a, 7a, 9a) may also be used to control operation of the nebulizer (1). A data carrier (9a) attached to a mesh (9) may be used to prevent the nebulizer (1) from being used when the mesh (9) has been used a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: A monitoring device includes a housing that is constructed and arranged to be removably attached to a drug delivery device for an inhaled drug. A color detector is operatively associated with the housing and constructed and arranged to detect an identifying color of at least a portion of the drug delivery device when the housing is attached to the drug delivery device and to output color information for use by a processor to, based on the detected color, identify information about the inhaled drug.

Abstract: An aerosol drug delivery apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a reservoir constructed to contain a predetermined dose of a liquid drug, an aerosol generator in communication with the reservoir, and a power source arranged to deliver power to the aerosol generator in order to produce an aerosolized form of the dose that can be administered to a patient. The apparatus may maintain consistent aerosol drug delivery treatments, for example, by way of a breath measuring mechanism that monitors the patient's breathing pattern during the administration of the dose and a controller configured to vary the power level at which the power source during the administration of the dose based on the monitored breathing pattern.

Abstract: A medication delivery apparatus (5) includes a reservoir for holding a liquid medication and a metering device (25) coupled to the reservoir for supplying a dose of the liquid medication to the reservoir. The metering device includes an upper chamber, a lower chamber coupled to the upper chamber, a piston selectively moveable within the upper chamber and the lower chamber and a valve providing selective fluid communication between the lower chamber and the reservoir in response to movement of the piston.

Abstract: Therapy regimes of a plurality of subjects are remotely monitored and/or managed, wherein the therapy regimes include reception of aerosolized medicament. This enables users such as medical care providers, researchers, clinic administrators, and/or other users to monitor and/or manage the therapy regimes of the plurality of subjects through a centralized access point. This reduces physical requirements of proximity for the users and/or the subjects, alleviates the administrative the burden placed on the users to manage and/or monitor individual therapy regimes, and/or provides other enhancements over convention systems.

Abstract: An aerosol drug delivery apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a reservoir constructed to contain a predetermined dose of a liquid drug, an aerosol generator in communication with the reservoir, and a power source arranged to deliver power to the aerosol generator in order to produce an aerosolized form of the dose that can be administered to a patient. The apparatus may maintain consistent aerosol drug delivery treatments, for example, by way of a breath measuring mechanism that monitors the patient's breathing pattern during the administration of the dose and a controller configured to vary the power level at which the power source during the administration of the dose based on the monitored breathing pattern.

Abstract: A drug package comprising a plurality of drug vials containing drugs for delivery to a patient in a drug delivery device; and a data carrier including drug treatment information for use by the drug delivery apparatus.

Abstract: A drug package comprising a plurality of drug vials containing drugs for delivery to a patient in a drug delivery device; and a data carrier including drug treatment information for use by the drug delivery apparatus.

Abstract: A drug delivery apparatus of the type which releases a drug in aerosolized form into the inhaled airstream of a person, programmed to release the drug in a pulse which ends a pre-set time before the person is expected to stop inhaling. In doing so, a minimum residence time within the lungs is created, and drug treatment time can be reduced. A corresponding method of controlling a drug delivery apparatus comprises the step of controlling the apparatus to release the drug in aerosolized form into the inhaled airstream of a person in a pulse which ends a pre-set time before the person is expected to stop inhaling.

Abstract: A drug package comprising a plurality of drug vials containing drugs for delivery to a patient in a drug delivery device; and a data carrier including drug treatment information for use by the drug delivery apparatus.

Abstract: A nebulizer includes nebulization device for nebulizing a substance and a reservoir having a metering chamber arranged so as to feed a substance to be nebulized to the nebulization device and a second chamber arranged to hold and retain any of this substance in excess of the volume held in the metering chamber.

Abstract: A nebulizer has structure for determining the duration of a pulse of atomization during inspiration, the determination structure including components for measuring the tidal volume of a patient, measuring the duration of inspiration, for storing estimates of the volume of a patient's upper airway, and for calculating the duration of the pulse. The duration of the pulse is calculated on the basis of the tidal volume, the duration of inspiration, and the stored estimated volume of patient's upper airway.

Abstract: A nebuliser having elements for determining the duration of a pulse of atomisation during inspiration, including elements for measuring the tidal volume of a patient timing elements for measuring the duration of inspiration, elements for storing estimates of the volume of a patient's upper airway, and elements for calculating the duration of the pulse. The duration of the pulse is calculated on the basis of the tidal volume measured by the tidal volume measuring elements; the duration of inspiration measured by the timing elements, and the stored estimated volume of patient's upper airway from the storage elements.

Abstract: A drug package comprising a plurality of drug vials containing drugs for delivery to a patient in a drug delivery device; and a data carrier including drug treatment information for use by the drug delivery apparatus.

Abstract: A product dispensing system comprises a calibrated nebulizer having a nebulizer jet, mouthpiece, means for sourcing compressed air, a manifold for distributing the source of compressed air in at least one direction, a nebulizer accommodation means which is accessed by port, and a valve means for controlling the manifold and thereby the flow of compressed air to the port. The manifold and the port are linked by a length of tube, wherein the internal volume of the tube from the manifold outlet to the nebulizer jet is less than 0.7 ml.

Abstract: A nebulizer comprises a gas exit, at least one outlet adjacent to the gas exit, and a deflector for deflecting a stream of gas issuing from the gas exit over the at least one outlet for drawing a substance to be atomized from it, and for atomizing the substance in the gas. The deflector defines first and second profiles, and the atomizer has an atomizing configuration in which the first profile of the deflector lies in the stream of gas for atomization, and non-atomizing configuration in which the second profile of the deflector lies in the stream of gas without atomization of the substance.