Methods and systems for metered dose inhalation monitoring and communication

An inhalation monitoring device comprising:

• an elastomeric coupling removeably coupleable to a first end of a pressurized canister of medicine, the pressurized canister removeably coupleable to a metered dose inhaler at a second end of the pressurized canister opposite the first end;
• a visual transducer, an audio transducer, a haptic transducer, or any combination thereof;
• a first housing including the elastomeric coupling configured to be coupled to the pressurized container;
• a second housing moveable with respect to the first housing in a direction aligned with a central axis of the pressurized canister, wherein a user applying a compressive force acting on the inhalation monitoring device causes a displacement between the first and second housings;
• a displacement sensor coupled to the first and second housings, wherein the displacement sensor provides an electrical signal indicating that the user of the inhalation monitoring device is attempting to dispense a dose of medicine from the pressurized canister by applying the compressive force;
• a battery removeably coupled to the first housing;
• a plurality of electrical conductors that transmit electrical energy from the battery to one or more elements mounted to the second housing;
• a computing system communicatively coupled to a mobile computing device over a communications link, the computing system configured to:
• receive a dosage regimen plan from the mobile computing system, the dosage regimen plan including a time sequence of steps to self-administer a dosage of the medicine from the pressurized canister, the time sequence of steps including a first inhalation step, a deep breathing step, a waiting step, and a second inhalation step;
• receive the electrical signal indicating that the user is attempting to dispense ache dose of medicine from the pressurized canister;
• communicate a time sequence of signals to the visual transducer, the audio transducer, the haptic transducer, or any combination thereof that causes the visual transducer, the audio transducer, the haptic transducer, or any combination thereof, to communicate a time sequence of indications that mark each transition to each subsequent step of the dosage regimen plan.

A method comprising:

• measuring an acceleration of an inhalation monitoring device in one or more directions while a user of the inhalation monitoring device shakes the inhalation monitoring device, a pressurized canister of medicine coupled to the inhalation monitoring device, and a metered dose inhaler coupled to the pressurized canister before the user self-administers a dose of a medicine from the pressurized canister;
• determining whether the pressurized canister of medicine is shaken by the user for at least a first predetermined period of time;
• communicating a signal to a visual transducer, an audio transducer, a haptic transducer, or any combination thereof, that causes the visual transducer, the audio transducer, the haptic transducer, or any combination thereof, to communicate an indication to the user that the pressurized canister of medicine is prepared for dosage if the pressurized canister of medicine is shaken by the user for at least the first predetermined period of time;
• receiving a dosage regimen plan from the mobile computing system, the dosage regimen plan including a time sequence of steps to self-administer a dosage of the medicine from the pressurized canister, the time sequence of steps including a first inhalation step, a deep breathing step, a waiting step, and a second inhalation step;
• receiving an electrical signal from a displacement sensor, the displacement sensor coupled to a first housing and a second housing moveable with respect to the first housing in a direction aligned with a central axis of the pressurized canister, the first housing including an elastomeric coupling coupled to the pressurized canister, wherein a user applying a compressive force acting on the inhalation monitoring device causes a displacement between the first and second housings, the electrical signal indicating that the user is attempting to dispense a dose of medicine from the pressurized canister by applying the compressive force;
• transmitting electrical energy from a battery removeably coupled to the first housing to one or more elements mounted to the second housing through a plurality of electrical conductors;
• and
• communicating a time sequence of signals to the visual transducer, the audio transducer, the haptic transducer, or any combination thereof that causes the visual transducer, the audio transducer, the haptic transducer, or any combination thereof, to communicate to the user a time sequence of indications that mark each transition to each subsequent step of the dosage regimen plan.