Apparatus and visual display method for training in the power use of aerosol pharmaceutical inhalers

An improved system for maximizing the delivery of an airborne medication, or the like to target sites in a patient's lungs, including airways and alveoli comprising:

• inhaler means including a canister of airborne medication for delivery to the patient's lungs;
• flow measuring means coupled with said inhaler means for measuring the flow of air through said inhaler means;
• at least one microprocessor means coupled with said flow measurement means for recording measured values of flow and volume, including means for storing quantifiable parameters relating to patient lung function and for projecting patterns of medication deposition at the receptor sites within the patient's bronchial tree based on said parameters of lung function;
• visual display means coupled with said microprocessor means for providing at least at two-dimensional graphic portrayal of the movement of said medication to the target sites.

An inhalation training system for facilitating maximized delivery of an airborne medication to receptor sites in a patient's lungs comprising:

• inhaler means for providing a quantity of said medication or the like to a patient's lungs;
• flow measurement means coupled with said inhaler means for measuring a patient's breathing through said inhaler;
• microprocessor means responsive to said flow measurement means and including means for modulating quantifiable physiologic parameters indicative of a patient's lung function to provide a projected target envelope representative of maximized medication distribution in the lungs of a patient based on said physiologic parameters;
• display means for displaying said projected target envelope including means for measuring a patient's actual breathing performance with said target envelope for providing an improved inhalation response to said patient.

A system for training a patient in the use of an aerosol inhaler, or the like comprising:

• an inhaler means containing a quantity of medication for application to a target site in a patient's lungs;
• flow measurement means coupled with said inhaler means for providing an output signal representative of the flow of air into the patient's lungs upon inhalation from said inhaler means;
• microprocessor means responsive to said output signal, including means for providing a measure of the volume of medication inhaled, said microprocessor means further comprising means for computing a projected delivery pattern of said medication to ad target site within the patient's lungs based upon measured parameters of the patient's inhalation and breath-hold maneuver;
• storage means coupled with said microprocessor means for receiving a plurality of values representative of said measured parameters of the patient's inhalation and breath-hold maneuver;
• display means coupled with said microprocessor means for providing a visual display of a projected pattern of medication distribution at the target site of the patient's lungs based upon said measured parameters of the patient's
• inhalation and breath-hold maneuver.

An inhaler training device for maximizing the delivery of an airborne medication to receptor sites in a patient's lungs comprising:

• an inhaler means including a source of airborne medication for inhalation by a patient;
• a flow measurement means coupled with said inhaler means for measuring the flow of air through said inhaler means;
• a microprocessor means coupled with said flow measurement means for integrating the flow of air over time to produce a measure of volume inhaled;
• storage means, coupled with said microprocessor means, for storing said measured flow and volume values and for storing additional quantifiable diagnostic parameters relating to projected patterns of medication distribution to receptor sites in a patient's lungs;
• a three dimensional display means for portrayal of a patient's lungs and airways and for showing the projected deposition of medication therein.