Nicotine Replacement Therapy Smart Device

Abstract

A device for providing nicotine replacement therapy may be provided. The device may comprise a dispenser for dispensing a nicotine formulation. The device may comprise an actuating member mounted to actuate the dispenser. The device may comprise a lockout mechanism that may be movable between an operative position that may allow the actuating member to move so as to actuate the dispenser, and a non-operative position that may prevent the actuating member from moving. The device may comprise a processor. The processor may be configured to determine an amount of nicotine that was previously consumed by a user. The processor may be configured to send a lockout mechanism signal to the lockout mechanism that causes the lockout mechanism to move to the non-operative position.

1 . A device for providing nicotine replacement therapy, the device comprising:
 a dispenser for dispensing a nicotine formulation;   an actuating member mounted to actuate the dispenser;   a lockout mechanism that is movable between an operative position that allows the actuating member to move so as to actuate the dispenser, and a non-operative position that prevents the actuating member from moving; and   a processor configured to:
 determine an amount of nicotine that was previously consumed by a user, and 
 send a lockout mechanism signal to the lockout mechanism that causes the lockout mechanism to move to the non-operative position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine a nicotine threshold for the user, wherein the nicotine threshold accounts for nicotine consumption from one or more sources; and   determine whether the amount of nicotine that was previously consumed by the user exceeds the nicotine threshold, wherein the lockout mechanism signal that causes the lockout mechanism to move to the non-operative position was sent on a condition that the amount of nicotine that was previously consumed by the user exceeds the nicotine threshold.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises:
 a transmitter for sending a nicotine amount signal indicating the amount of nicotine that was previously consumed by the user;   a receiver for receiving a locking signal indicating that the lockout mechanism is to be moved to the non-operative position.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a sensor for measuring a physiological parameter. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the device further comprises a transmitter, and wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a sensor signal from the sensor for measuring a first physiological parameter that indicates a value of the first physiological parameter of the user;   determine the value of the first physiological parameter of the user based on the sensor signal; and   instruct the transmitter to send the value of the first physiological parameter of the user.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine a number of actuations of the dispenser associated with a period of time;   obtain a concentration of the nicotine formulation; and   determine an amount of nicotine consumed by the user during the period of time based on the number of actuations and the concentration of the nicotine formulation, wherein the amount of nicotine that was previously consumed by the user is determined based on the amount of nicotine consumed by the user during the period of time.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the user is experiencing a nicotine craving and that a condition indicates that the user should not receive a dose of the nicotine formulation, wherein the lockout mechanism signal to the lockout mechanism that causes the lockout mechanism to move to the non-operative position was sent upon determining that the user is experiencing the nicotine craving. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a motion sensor, and the processor is further configured to:
 receive a motion signal from the motion sensor;   determine, from the motion signal, that the user is fidgeting for a period of time; and   send an indication of the user fidgeting.   
     
     
         9 . A device for providing nicotine replacement therapy, the device comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor configured to:
 determining that a user is experiencing a nicotine craving; 
 determine an amount of nicotine that was previously consumed by the user; 
 determine a nicotine threshold for the user; 
 determine that the amount of nicotine that was previously consumed by the user is below the nicotine threshold; and 
 send a message to advise the user to dispense a dose of nicotine to reduce the nicotine craving. 
   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the message is a first message, and the processor is further configured to send a second message to a nicotine delivery device instructing the nicotine delivery device to allow the dose of nicotine to be dispensed. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the user is experiencing a nicotine craving using at least one of a detected motion, a physical location, a time of day, a scheduled activity, a calendar of the user, social media data, and a biometric measurement. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to determine that the user is experiencing a nicotine craving using a resting heart rate associated with the user or using a perceived change in a heart rate for the user. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the amount of nicotine that was previously consumed by the user by:
 determining one or more tobacco products consumed by the user within a time period; and   determining a level of nicotine associated with the one or more tobacco products.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a nicotine threshold for the user by:
 determining one or more smoking behaviors for the user; and   determining a smoking cessation program for the user based on the one or more smoking behaviors for the user.   
     
     
         15 . A device for providing nicotine replacement therapy, the device comprising:
 a dispenser body;   a dispenser for dispensing a dosage of a nicotine formulation;   an actuating member mounted to actuate the dispenser;   a carriage mounted to move relative to the dispenser body when contacted by the actuating member;   a sensor configured to sense a movement of the carriage; and   a processor, the processor configured to:
 determine a dosage of the nicotine formulation was dispensed based on a signal from the sensor, and 
 send an indication of the dosage of the nicotine formulation. 
   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the carriage is a magnetic carriage, and the sensor is a magnetic sensor that is able to detect when the magnetic carriage is within a range. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine a time that the dosage of the nicotine formulation was dispensed, wherein the indication of the dosage further indicates the time.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the dosage of the nicotine formulation is a first dosage, and the processor is further configured to:
 determine an amount of nicotine that was previously consumed by a user;   determine an anticipated craving time using the time that the first dosage of the nicotine formulation was dispensed and the amount of nicotine that was previously consumed by the user; and   provide a notification suggesting a second dosage of the nicotine formulation at the anticipated craving time.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive heart rate data associated with a user;   determine a heart rate trend and/or a change in heart rate trend for the user by using the received heart rate data;   determine an expected time of occurrence of a smoking lapse event and instruct the actuating member to actuate the dispenser such that the dispenser dispenses an amount of nicotine formulation at the expected time of occurrence of a smoking lapse event or prior thereto.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive data including one or more of a heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, temperature, respiration rate, oxygen saturation, carboxyhemoglobin, carbon monoxide, galvanic skin response, and accelerometer data from a wearable device associated with a user; and   modify a personalized nicotine replacement or reduction therapy program for the user based on the received data from the wearable device.   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine a total amount of nicotine consumed, wherein the total amount of nicotine consumed indicates the amount of nicotine that was previously consumed by a user;   determine an amount of nicotine to be dispensed; and   instruct the actuating member to actuate the dispenser such that the dispenser dispenses the amount of nicotine when the total amount of nicotine consumed and the amount of nicotine to be dispensed is less than a maximum nicotine dosage for a day.