Claims:CLAIMS:
I / We Claim:
1. A gesture based activation of smart inhaler system, comprising:
a gesture recognizing means connected to a gyroscope and an accelerometer configured to recognize activation gesture motions and emergency gesture motions from user;
an emergency unlock means configured to generate an emergency unlocking signal by the user even if the system is blocked under certain conditions;
a controlling means configured to receive said activation gesture motions, said emergency gesture motions and said emergency unlocking signal and thereby provide an activation signal;
a motor driver configured to activate a motor connected to the bottom of a canister based on said activation signal received from said controlling means; and
a display means configured to display various activation failure reasons of said inhaler to the user whenever activation of said inhaler fails.
2. The gesture based activation of smart inhaler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said emergency unlock means includes a hidden switch to unlock said inhaler system in case of emergency situations.
3. The gesture based activation of smart inhaler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said certain conditions of the system block include medicine expiry or medicine shortage as per the counts or the like.
4. The gesture based activation of smart inhaler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controlling means includes either a microcontroller or a microprocessor or any other controllers.
5. The gesture based activation of smart inhaler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said motor includes either a servo motor or a DC motor or a stepper motor or the like.
6. The gesture based activation of smart inhaler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said motorized lock mechanism includes either a CAM mechanism or a rack and pinion mechanism or any other generic locking mechanism.
7. The gesture based activation of smart inhaler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said various activation failure reasons of said inhaler include medicine expiry, medicine count, incorrect gesture, terminal count check, device shaken check, and thereof.
8. The gesture based activation of smart inhaler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display means is further configured to send the reasons directly to the patient mobile wirelessly.
9. A method for gesture based activation of smart inhaler system, comprising:
detecting gesture motion of said inhaler system;
identifying whether said gesture motion is correct or else displaying the activation failure reason of said inhaler on display;
identifying sustained gesture motion or else displaying the activation failure reason;
checking the medicine expiry and if the medicine expires displaying the activation failure reason;
checking whether the device is shaken or else displaying the activation failure reason;
checking availability of the medicine if not displaying the activation failure reason;
releasing lock of the canister and waiting for the canister press if the above checking conditions are sustained; and
locking said canister properly after said canister is pressed or time is out.
, Description:DESCRIPTION:
Field of the invention:
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of inhalers, and more particularly relates to the activation of smart inhaler system based on gesture recognition using motorized lock mechanism under certain circumstances and indication of the activation failure reason of the inhaler to the user.
Background of the invention:
[0002] Respiration is a vital process that provides oxygen for producing energy in the human body. The importance of respiration is very high as the life of the individual depends on it. Respiratory illness refers to any type of disease that affects the lungs and other respiratory organs. Respiratory illnesses are widely prevalent. Respiratory illness is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Various types of respiratory illnesses include asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer and thereof.

[0003] An inhaler also known as a puffer, pump or allergy spray is a medical device used for delivering medication into the body via lungs. A metered-dose inhaler (MDI) delivers a specific amount of medication to the lungs in the form of a short burst of aerosolized medicine that is usually self-administered by the patient through inhalation. Metered-dose Inhaler (MDI) is the most commonly used delivery system for treating asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other respiratory diseases. The medication in a metered-dose inhaler is most commonly a bronchodilator, corticosteroid or a combination of both for the treatment of asthma and COPD. Other medications that are administered by MDI but are used rarely include mast cell stabilizers such as cromoglicate or nedocromil.

[0004] Conventional inhaler uses specific gestures to unlock the smart inhaler and displays the status of the inhaler. But the conventional inhaler does not contain any motorized lock which locks the canister on certain conditions thereby leading to wastage, wrong medication administration, expired medicine administration, using the medication when the doses are completed or finished, forgetting to shake the inhaler before using it and thereof.

[0005] Conventionally, an inhalation device is developed which involves an electromechanical mechanism that applies a priming force to the aerosol canister for the activation of inhalation. When the patient presses the button or opens the mouthpiece cover to energize motor, then the rotation of pinion causes rack to be driven down to the stop position of the inhaler. But, the conventional device does not have the ability to indicate the unlocking failure reason of the inhaler and also does not have the emergency activation feature using bypass gestures in emergency cases.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need to provide a smart inhaler system that activates the inhaler based on gesture recognition under certain circumstances. Such an inhaler must have the ability to indicate the activation failure reason of the inhaler to the user i.e., medicine expiry date, medicine count, incorrect gesture, terminal count check, and device shaken check. There is a need to unlock the inhaler in case of emergency even if it is blocked with reasons such as expired medicine, or medicine over as per the counts. A smart inhaler is needed that saves the patient from wrong usage, medication and stops the usage of someone else medication thereby reducing the passing of viruses.

Objectives of the invention:
[0007] The primary objective of the invention is to provide a smart inhaler system that activates the inhaler based on gesture recognition using motorized lock mechanism under certain conditions.

[0008] Another objective of the invention is to indicate the activate failure reason of the inhaler to the user i.e., medicine expiry date, medicine count, incorrect gesture, terminal count check, and device shaken check on the display.

[0009] Further objective of the invention is to unlock the inhaler in case of emergency with a bypass gesture or hidden switch even if it is blocked with reasons such as expired medicine, or medicine over as per the counts.

[0010] The other objective of the invention is to provide a smart inhaler system that saves the patient from the wrong usage and medication.

[0011] Another objective of the invention is to stop the usage of someone else medication to thereby reduces the passing of viruses.

[0012] Further objective of the invention is to save people from visiting the hospital multiple times.

Summary of the invention:
[0013] The present disclosure proposes a gesture based activation of a smart inhaler system. The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the claimed subject matter. This summary is not an extensive overview. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of the claimed subject matter. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0014] In order to overcome the above deficiencies of the prior art, the present disclosure is to solve the technical problem to provide an activation of smart inhaler system that unlocks the inhaler based on gesture recognition using motorized lock mechanism under certain circumstances and indicates the activation failure reason of the inhaler to the user and unlocks the inhaler in case of emergency.

[0015] According to an aspect, the invention provides a gesture based activation of a smart inhaler system. The gesture based activation of a smart inhaler system comprises a gesture recognizing means, an accelerometer, an emergency unlock means, a controlling means, a motor drive, and a display means.

[0016] The gesture recognizing means connected to a gyroscope and an accelerometer is configured to recognize activation gesture motions and emergency gesture motions from the user. The emergency unlock means is configured to generate an emergency unlocking signal by the user even if the system is blocked under certain conditions. Specifically, gyroscope recognizes the activation gestures motions based on the orientation of the inhaler and the accelerometer recognizes the motions based on the accelerometer force, speed and direction. The emergency unlock means includes a hidden switch to unlock the inhaler system in case of emergency situations. The certain conditions of the system block include medicine expiry or medicine shortage as per the counts or the like.

[0017] The controlling means is configured to receive the activation gesture motions and the emergency gesture motions and the emergency unlocking signal and thereby provide an activation signal. The controlling means includes a microcontroller or a microprocessor or any other controllers. The motor driver is configured to activate a motor connected to the bottom of a canister based on the activation signal received from the controlling means. The motor includes either a servo motor or a DC motor or a stepper motor or the like. The motorized lock mechanism includes either a CAM mechanism or a rack and pinion mechanism or any other generic locking mechanism.

[0018] The display means is configured to display various activation failure reasons of the inhaler to the user whenever activation of the inhaler fails. The various activation failure reasons of the inhaler include medicine expiry, medicine count, incorrect gesture, terminal count check, device shaken check, and thereof. The display means is further configured to send the reasons directly to the patient mobile wirelessly.

[0019] According to another aspect, the method for gesture based activation of a smart inhaler system includes the steps comprising of detecting gesture motion of the inhaler system. Later, identifying whether the gesture motion is correct or else displaying the activation failure reason of the inhaler on display. Then, identifying the sustained gesture motion or else displaying the activation failure reason. Later, checking the medicine expiry and if the medicine expires displaying the activation failure reason. Later, checking whether the device is shaken or else displaying the activation failure reason. Then, checks the availability of the medicine is present if not displaying the activation failure reason. Later, releasing the lock of the canister and waiting for the canister press if the above checking conditions are sustained. Further, locking the canister properly after the canister is pressed or time is out.

[0020] Further, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a study of the following portion of the specification, the claims, and the attached drawings.

Detailed description of drawings:
[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary block diagram model of a gesture based activation of smart inhaler system in accordance to an embodiment of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method for gesture based activation of smart inhaler system in accordance to an embodiment of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates a front and isometric views of a gesture based activation of smart inhaler system with rack and pinion lock mechanism in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a front and isometric views of a gesture based activation of smart inhaler system with CAM lock mechanism in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Detailed invention disclosure:
[0026] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps.

[0027] The present disclosure has been made with a view towards solving the problem with the prior art described above, and it is an object of the present disclosure to provide an activation of smart inhaler system that unlocks the inhaler based on gesture recognition using motorized lock mechanism under certain circumstances and indicates the activation failure reason of the inhaler to the user and unlocks the inhaler in case of emergency.

[0028] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 refers to a block diagram of a gesture based activation of a smart inhaler system 100. The gesture based activation of smart inhaler system 100 comprises a gesture recognizing means 101, an accelerometer 102, an emergency unlock means 103, a controlling means 104, a motor driver 105, and a display means 106.

[0029] The gesture recognizing means 101 connected to a gyroscope and an accelerometer 102 is configured to recognize activation gesture motions and emergency gesture motions from the user. The emergency unlock means 103 is configured to generate an emergency unlocking signal by the user even if the system 100 is blocked under certain conditions to provide an unlocking signal.

[0030] The recognition of activation gesture motions from the user may include gestures, touch, movement, and proximity of the inhalation system. The gesture motions may comprise any one or more of the following instances i.e., a finger tap on the inhaler, a shake of the inhaler, tapping the inhaler system on a surface, drawing a finder and/or thumb along the inhaler, a rolling action of the inhaler, waving, pointing, sweeping and/or rotating of the inhaler, upward and/or downward tilting of the inhalation system 100 and thereof.

[0031] Specifically, gyroscope recognizes the activation gestures motions based on the orientation of the inhaler and the accelerometer 102 recognizes the motions based on the accelerometer force, speed, and direction. The emergency unlock means 103 includes a hidden switch to unlock the inhaler system 100 in case of emergencies. The certain conditions of the system block include medicine expiry or medicine shortage as per the counts or the like.

[0032] The controlling means 104 is configured to receive the activation gesture motions and the emergency gesture motions and the emergency unlocking signal and thereby provide an activation signal. The controlling means 104 includes either a microcontroller or a microprocessor or any other controllers. The motor driver 105 is configured to activate a motor connected to the bottom of a canister based on the activation signal received from the controlling means. The motor includes either a servo motor or a DC motor or a stepper motor or the like. The motorized lock mechanism includes either a CAM mechanism or a rack and pinion mechanism or any other generic locking mechanism.

[0033] The display means 106 is configured to display various activation failure reasons of the inhaler to the user whenever activation of the inhaler fails. The various activation failure reasons of the inhaler include medicine expiry, medicine count, incorrect gesture, terminal count check, device shaken check, and thereof. The display means 106 is further configured to send the reasons directly to the patient mobile wirelessly.

[0034] The display means 106 utilizes either Bluetooth or NFC or Wi-Fi or the like communication to send the reasons to the patient mobile. The display means 106 may include any LEDs or LCD or e-ink or OLED or alternative technology display to display the activation failure reasons of the inhaler to the user. The display means 106 can display the time when the last dosage was taken, and when the drug has expired.

[0035] According to another aspect, method 200 for gesture based activation of a smart inhaler system includes the steps comprising of detecting gesture motion of the inhaler system at step 201. Later at step 202, identifying whether the gesture motion is correct. If the gesture motion is incorrect, then the inhaler system does not get activated and displays the activation failure reason of the inhaler on display. Later at step 203, the sustained gesture motion is identified. If the sustained gesture motion is incorrect, then the inhaler system does not get activated and displays the activation failure reason of the inhaler on display. Later at step 204, the medicine expiry is checked. If the medicine is expired, then the inhaler system does not get activated and displays the activation failure reason of the inhaler on display.

[0036] Later at step 205, checking whether the device is shaken. If the device is shaken, then the inhaler system does not get activated and displays the activation failure reason of the inhaler on display. Later at step 206, checks whether the availability of the medicine is present, if the medicine is not present then the inhaler system does not get activated and displays the activation failure reason of the inhaler on display. Later, releasing the lock of the canister and waiting for the canister press if the above checking conditions are sustained at step 207. Finally, locking the canister properly after the canister is pressed or time is out at step 208.

[0037] According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 refers to a front and isometric views of a gesture based activation of a smart inhaler system 300 with rack and pinion lock mechanism.

[0038] The system 300 comprises a canister 301, a motor 302, and a display means 303. The motor 302 is configured to activate a motor connected to the bottom of a canister based on the unlocking signal received from the controlling means. In specific, the motor 302 can be placed either left side or right side bottom of a canister in the inhaler system.

[0039] According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, Fig. 4 refers to a front and isometric views of a gesture based activation of a smart inhaler system 300 with a CAM lock mechanism.

[0040] Thus, the proposed disclosure provides a smart inhaler system that activates the inhaler based on gesture recognition using a motorized lock mechanism under certain conditions. The system indicates the activation failure reason of the inhaler to the user i.e., medicine expiry date, medicine count, incorrect gesture, terminal count check, and device shaken check on the display. The system aids to unlock the inhaler in case of emergency with a bypass gesture or hidden switch even if it was blocked with reasons such as expired medicine, or medicine over as per the counts.

[0041] The smart inhaler system helps the patient from taking the wrong usage and medication. The inhaler system aids to stop the usage of someone else medication to thereby reduces the passing of viruses and saves the people from visiting the hospital multiple times.

[0042] It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations can be made to the processes described in the foregoing examples without departing from the principles underlying the invention, and all such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.