# US 10,245,395 B2 · Metering system and method for aerosol delivery

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- Number: US 10,245,395 B2
- Document ID: US10245395B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/968,710
- Filed: 2013-08-16
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2003-09-25
- Assignees: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
- Applicants: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
- Inventors: David E. Altobelli; Russell H. Beavis; Larry B. Gray; Derek G. Kane
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245395B2

## CPC

- A61M 15/008: {Electronic counters}
- A61M 15/0003: {with means for dispensing more than one drug}
- A61M 15/002: {with air flow regulating means}
- A61M 15/0045: {using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters}
- A61M 15/0048: {the dosages being arranged in a plane, e.g. on diskettes}
- A61M 15/0065: {Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices (A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52)}
- A61M 15/0066: {with means for varying the dose size}
- A61M 15/0068: {Indicating or counting the number of dispensed doses or of remaining doses}
- A61M 15/0085: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)}
- A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)}
- B05B 12/006: {Pressure or flow rate sensors}
- B05B 12/085: {responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged (B05B1/3006, B05B1/323 take precedence; spray pistols designed to control volume of flow with the controlling means being fluid actuated B05B7/1254)}
- G01F 1/007: {by measuring the level variations of storage tanks relative to the time}
- G01F 17/00: Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies (measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B)
- G01F 22/00: Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
- G01F 23/14: by measurement of pressure
- G10K 9/04: by compressed gases, e.g. compressed air
- A61M 2016/0021: {with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor}
- A61M 2016/0039: {in the inspiratory circuit}
- A61M 2202/03: Gases in liquid phase, e.g. cryogenic liquids
- A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means
- A61M 2205/3368: Temperature
- A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
- A61M 2205/3379: Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
- A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers
- A61M 2205/52: with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
- G01H 3/00: Measuring {characteristics of} vibrations by using a detector in a fluid (G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES

## Abstract

An apparatus for metering the delivery of an aerosol. The apparatus has a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus may also include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region. An atomizer, coupled to the fluid region, is configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the fluid.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for determining the volume of a fluid, the apparatus comprising:
a printed circuit board wherein the printed circuit board separates a first volume and a second volume including a gas region and a fluid region, the printed circuit board comprising:
an acoustic source;
a first microphone disposed within the first volume; and
a second microphone disposed within the second volume; and
a processor configured to calculate a change in volume of the gas region wherein the processor determines an amount of fluid output from the fluid region.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing configured to be in communication with a valve.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board further comprising the processor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board includes an inner layer configured to pass electrical signals.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second volume is an air region that is separated from a fluid region by a diaphragm, and wherein the air region and the fluid region form a fixed volume.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive a signal from the first microphone;
receive a signal from the second microphone; and
output a control signal to the valve, the control signal being associated with the signal received from the first microphone and the signal received from the second microphone.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the control signal comprising information associated with releasing a volume of fluid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the control signal is further associated with a volume of fluid in aerosolized form.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board includes a means for pressure equalization between the first volume and the second volume.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic source is a piezoelectric speaker.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, where the fluid is an aerosolized fluid.