Medical device notification system

Abstract

A system and method for communicating data from a medical device to a lighting device is provided. The system may include the medical device, the lighting device, and/or one or more interface devices. The medical device may be configured to transmit data to the lighting device, which for example, may include information relating to the medical device, dosage information, diagnostic data, medical device training feedback, health monitoring information, and/or air quality information. The lighting device may be configured to receive data from the medical device and control one or more lighting characteristics based on the received data. A characteristic of the light may include one or more of color, color temperature, intensity, flashing or steady-state, on or off, and/or the like. The system may provide for a home based adherence and/or compliance monitoring system, in which a patient's interaction with a medical device may be monitored and an alert/indication provided.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An interface device for communicating with an inhaler, the interface device comprising:
 a wireless communication circuit configured to receive patient inhalation data from the inhaler; and   a processor configured to:
 compare the patient inhalation data to target inhalation data, wherein the target inhalation data is representative of a target use of the inhaler by a user; 
 provide feedback to the user based on the comparison of the patient inhalation data to the target inhalation data. 
   
     
     
         22 . The interface device of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to control a characteristic of light emitted by a lighting load based on the comparison of the patient inhalation data to the target inhalation data to provide the feedback to the user. 
     
     
         23 . The interface device of  claim 22 , wherein controlling the characteristic of the light emitted by the lighting load further comprises controlling a color temperature of the light, whether the light is flashing or in a steady-state, or whether the light is on or off. 
     
     
         24 . The interface device of  claim 22 , wherein the processor of the interface device is further configured to:
 control the light to a first color in response to a determination that a result of the comparison is within a threshold indicative of the target use of the inhaler; and   control the light to a second color or to flash the light in response to a determination that the result of the comparison is not within the threshold indicative of the target use of the inhaler.   
     
     
         25 . The interface device of  claim 22 , wherein the patient inhalation data comprises an inhalation flow rate of the user of the inhaler, and the target inhalation data comprises a flow rate window, and wherein the processor of the interface device is further configured to:
 control the light to a first color in response to a determination that the inhalation flow rate is within the flow rate window;   control the light to a second color in response to a determination that the inhalation flow rate is greater than the flow rate window; and   control the light to a third color in response to a determination that the inhalation flow rate is below the flow rate window.   
     
     
         26 . The interface device of  claim 22 , wherein the patient inhalation data is an inhalation flow rate of the user of the inhaler, and wherein the processor of the interface device is further configured to:
 control the light to a first intensity of the light in response to a first inhalation flow rate of the user of the inhaler; and   control the light to a second intensity of the light in response to a second inhalation flow rate of the user of the inhaler, wherein the first inhalation flow rate is greater than the second inhalation flow rate, and the first intensity of the light is greater than the second intensity of the light.   
     
     
         27 . The interface device of  claim 22 , further comprising a memory;
 wherein the processor of the interface device is further configured to:
 store the patient inhalation data in the memory; 
 analyze the patient inhalation data periodically to determine whether a lung function of the user of the inhaler has deteriorated over time; and 
 send, to the lighting load, data configured to control the light to flash in response to a determination that the lung function of the user of the inhaler has deteriorated over time. 
   
     
     
         28 . An inhaler comprising:
 a sensor configured to measure airflow through the inhaler;   a lighting device; and   a processor configured to:
 receive patient inhalation data from the sensor; 
 compare the patient inhalation data to target inhalation data, wherein the target inhalation data is representative of a target use of the inhaler by a user; and 
 control a characteristic of light emitted by the lighting device based on the comparison of the patient inhalation data to the target inhalation data. 
   
     
     
         29 . The inhaler of  claim 28 , wherein controlling the characteristic of the light emitted by the lighting device further comprises controlling a color temperature of the light, whether the light is flashing or in a steady-state, or whether the light is on or off. 
     
     
         30 . The inhaler of  claim 28 , wherein the processor of the inhaler is further configured to:
 control the light to a first color in response to a determination that a result of the comparison is within a threshold indicative of the target use of the inhaler; and   control the light to a second color or to flash the light in response to a determination that the result of the comparison is not within the threshold indicative of the target use of the inhaler.   
     
     
         31 . The inhaler of  claim 28 , wherein the patient inhalation data comprises an inhalation flow rate of the user of the inhaler, and the target inhalation data comprises a flow rate window, and wherein the processor of the inhaler is further configured to:
 control the light to a first color in response to a determination that the inhalation flow rate is within the flow rate window;   control the light to a second color in response to a determination that the inhalation flow rate is greater than the flow rate window; and   control the light to a third color in response to a determination that the inhalation flow rate is below the flow rate window.   
     
     
         32 . The inhaler of  claim 28 , wherein the patient inhalation data is an inhalation flow rate of the user of the inhaler, and wherein the processor of the inhaler is further configured to:
 control the light to a first intensity of the light in response to a first inhalation flow rate of the user of the inhaler; and   control the light to a second intensity of the light in response to a second inhalation flow rate of the user of the inhaler, wherein the first inhalation flow rate is greater than the second inhalation flow rate, and the first intensity of the light is greater than the second intensity of the light.   
     
     
         33 . The inhaler of  claim 28 , further comprising a memory;
 wherein the processor of the inhaler is further configured to:   store the patient inhalation data in the memory;   analyze the patient inhalation data periodically to determine whether a lung function of the user of the inhaler has deteriorated over time; and   send, to the lighting device, data configured to control the light to flash in response to a determination that the lung function of the user of the inhaler has deteriorated over time.   
     
     
         34 . A method for providing feedback to a user of an inhaler, comprising:
 receiving patient inhalation data from the inhaler;   comparing the patient inhalation data to target inhalation data, wherein the target inhalation data is representative of a target use of the inhaler by the user; and   providing the feedback to the user based on the comparison of the patient inhalation data to the target inhalation data.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising controlling a characteristic of light emitted by a lighting load based on the comparison of the patient inhalation data to the target inhalation data to provide the feedback to the user. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein controlling the characteristic of the light emitted by the lighting load further comprises controlling a color temperature of the light, whether the light is flashing or in a steady-state, or whether the light is on or off. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 controlling the light to a first color in response to a determination that a result of the comparison is within a threshold indicative of the target use of the inhaler; and   controlling the light to a second color or to flash the light in response to a determination that the result of the comparison is not within the threshold indicative of the target use of the inhaler.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the patient inhalation data comprises an inhalation flow rate of the user of the inhaler, and the target inhalation data comprises a flow rate window, the method further comprising:
 controlling the light to a first color in response to a determination that the inhalation flow rate is within the flow rate window;   controlling the light to a second color in response to a determination that the inhalation flow rate is greater than the flow rate window; and   controlling the light to a third color in response to a determination that the inhalation flow rate is below the flow rate window.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the patient inhalation data is an inhalation flow rate of the user of the inhaler, further comprising:
 controlling the light to a first intensity of the light in response to a first inhalation flow rate of the user of the inhaler; and   controlling the light to a second intensity of the light in response to a second inhalation flow rate of the user of the inhaler, wherein the first inhalation flow rate is greater than the second inhalation flow rate, and the first intensity of the light is greater than the second intensity of the light.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 storing the patient inhalation data in a memory;   analyzing the patient inhalation data periodically to determine whether a lung function of the user of the inhaler has deteriorated over time; and   sending, to the lighting load, data configured to control the light to flash in response to a determination that the lung function of the user of the inhaler has deteriorated over time.