Inhalant dispensing system and apparatus

Abstract

An inhalant dispensing system is provided, comprising an inhalant delivery apparatus having a main body, a lower body coupled to the main body and comprising a mouthpiece, and an inhalant delivery mechanism disposed within the main body and configured to deliver an aerosolized solution to the mouthpiece for user inhalation; and a lock out system configured to selectively prevent delivery of the aerosolized solution to the mouthpiece. The inhalant delivery apparatus may be assembled by inserting a portion of the inhalant delivery mechanism into the main body. The lower body may be rotatably coupled to the main body and moveable between a dispensing position and a storage position. The system may be used to control and monitor dosages of a solution contained within a smart canister and administered from the canister via an inhaler, to prevent accidental or unwanted usage of the canister and/or over-dosing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inhalant dispensing system, comprising:
 an inhalant delivery apparatus comprising a main body, an inhalant delivery mechanism disposed within the main body and configured to dispense an amount of solution as an aerosol, and a mouthpiece coupled to the main body and configured to deliver the aerosol to a user;   a moveable component coupled to the inhalant delivery apparatus and configured to prevent the delivery of the aerosol to the mouthpiece when in a first position and permit the delivery of the aerosol to the mouthpiece when in a second position; and   an electronics module disposed in the inhalant delivery apparatus and configured to receive cartridge information associated with a cartridge disposed in the main body, the cartridge information used to control operation of the moveable component.   
     
     
         2 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge information includes content information identifying a solution stored in the cartridge, the electronics module being configured to shift the moveable component to the first position based on the content information. 
     
     
         3 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge information includes dosage information indicating a dosage limitation, the electronics module being configured to shift the moveable component to the first position when the dosage information indicates delivery of additional aerosol would exceed the dosage limitation. 
     
     
         4 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge information includes usage information indicating at least one of a number of administered doses and a number of remaining doses. 
     
     
         5 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 4 , further comprising a counter communicatively coupled to the electronics module and configured to display the usage information to a user. 
     
     
         6 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless data receiver communicatively coupled to the electronics module and configured to receive the cartridge information from a data storage device associated with the cartridge. 
     
     
         7 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 6 , wherein the data storage device is a memory device attached to the cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 6 , wherein the data storage device is attached to an outer sleeve configured to house the cartridge, the outer sleeve being further configured for insertion into the main body. 
     
     
         9 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronics module comprises a wireless transceiver configured to receive the cartridge information from a data storage device associated with the cartridge, transmit the received cartridge information to an external user device, and receive, from the external user device, usage prohibition information determined based on the cartridge information, the electronics module controlling operation of the movable component based on said usage prohibition information. 
     
     
         10 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge information includes preparation information indicating a minimum mixing threshold for preparing the solution. 
     
     
         11 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 10 , further comprising an accelerometer configured to measure a mixing movement of the cartridge, the electronics module being configured to dispose the moveable component in the second position upon determining that the mixing movement meets the minimum mixing threshold. 
     
     
         12 . An inhalant dispensing system, comprising:
 an inhalant delivery apparatus comprising a main body, an inhalant delivery mechanism disposed within the main body and configured to dispense an amount of solution as an aerosol, and a mouthpiece coupled to the main body and configured to deliver the aerosol to a user;   a wireless data receiver configured to receive data from a data storage device, the data comprising at least one of user information and cartridge information; and   an electronics module disposed in the inhalant delivery apparatus and configured to receive the data from the wireless data receiver and control operation of the inhalant delivery mechanism based on the received data.   
     
     
         13 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 12 , wherein the received data comprises the cartridge information, the cartridge information identifying a solution stored in a cartridge disposed in the main body. 
     
     
         14 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 12 , wherein the data storage device is a memory device attached to a cartridge disposed in the main body. 
     
     
         15 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 12 , further comprising an outer sleeve configured for insertion into the main body and for housing a cartridge, the outer sleeve comprising the data storage device. 
     
     
         16 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 12 , wherein the received data comprises the cartridge information, and the electronics module includes a memory comprising user information associated with the user of the inhalant delivery apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 12 , further comprising a counter communicatively coupled to the electronics module, wherein the received data comprises the cartridge information, and the electronics module is configured to determine a remaining number of doses based on the cartridge information, and update the counter based on said determination. 
     
     
         18 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an accelerometer communicatively coupled to the electronics module and configured to measure a mixing movement of a cartridge disposed in the main body, and   an indicator communicatively coupled to the electronics module and configured to indicate when a solution stored in the cartridge is sufficiently mixed.   
     
     
         19 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 12 , wherein the wireless data receiver is a short range wireless communication receiver. 
     
     
         20 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 12 , wherein the electronics module comprises a wireless transceiver configured to receive the data from the wireless data receiver, transmit the received data to an external user device, and receive, from the external user device, usage permission information determined based on the received data.