US20250352741
2025-11-20
Human necessities
A61M15/0001
The Smart Inhaler (SI) is a fully integrated device designed to enhance asthma management by providing real-time monitoring and objective measurements. It measures spirometry, peak inspiratory flow rate, and breath NOx levels without requiring any additional devices. This innovation aims to address the prevalent issues of poor treatment adherence and suboptimal inhaler techniques among asthma patients, which contribute significantly to hospitalizations and healthcare costs.
Asthma management faces challenges primarily due to poor adherence to medication and incorrect inhaler use. These issues affect up to 80% of asthma patients, leading to ineffective treatment and increased healthcare expenses. Nonadherence is a common problem in chronic diseases requiring long-term medication, with adherence rates in the US ranging from 30% to 70%. Current smart inhalers offer limited improvements by reminding patients about medication schedules but fail to address interoperability and patient engagement effectively.
The invention leverages smart technology to improve asthma treatment adherence through patient-centered approaches such as gamification and behavioral economics. By incorporating these frameworks, the SI provides incentives for patients to adhere to their medication regimens. Gamified incentives leverage the tendency for present-bias, motivating patients through immediate rewards for adherence behaviors, while choice architecture helps alter patient environments to support better decision-making.
The SI features seamless integration with mobile devices via a wireless interface, allowing data transmission through Bluetooth. This connectivity supports the exchange of vital health information between the inhaler, smartphones, and external databases, facilitating better communication among patients, physicians, and researchers. The system also includes an app that empowers patients by providing real-time feedback on inhaler use and disease management.
Through gamification methods, the SI encourages patients to create their own adherence pathways using goals, challenges, interactions, and rewards. This approach not only improves inhaler technique but also enhances patient autonomy in managing their health. By collecting comprehensive data on each patient's asthma profile, the SI enables personalized treatment plans that align with individual needs and expectations in a digital healthcare landscape.