Abstract:
A system for dispensing medication includes: a medicine canister that contains medicine to be dispensed, an actuator that houses the medicine canister and an adapter assembly that allows for obtaining information. The adapter assembly includes a connector assembly and an electronics module. The connector assembly connects to the medicine canister. The electronics module obtains information related to patient usage of medicine from the medicine canister. In another embodiment, a method for using the same electronics module with first and second medicine dispensing apparatuses, including a first medicine canister and a second medicine canister, is provided. The first medicine canister contains first medicine and the second medicine canister contains second medicine. First information, related to dispensing the first medicine, is stored with the electronics module joined to the first medicine dispensing apparatus. The electronics module is removed from the first medicine dispensing apparatus and joined to the second medicine dispensing apparatus. Second information, related to dispensing the second medicine, is also stored with the electronics module.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to prescribed medication monitoring, and in particular, to an apparatus and method related to a metered dose inhaler which includes an electronics module. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Metered dose inhalers of various configurations are known for dispensing medication into the mouth of a patient. The medication is expelled from an actuator and inhaled by the patient, whereupon, the medication is absorbed in the mouth, throat and lungs. A medicine canister is inserted into the actuator so that the actuator may direct the flow of medication out a mouthpiece. The medicine canister is a small pressurized container with a nozzle. By pressing the nozzle, the contents of the canister are dispensed. 
     Some actuators have integral electronics which monitor various factors related to the dispensing of medication. The timing of the inhalation with respect to the dispensing of medication is important to assure delivery of the medication. The number of times medication is dispensed is also important to monitor. If the actuator is changed, however, the electronics integral to the actuator cannot be reused. 
     Actuators are standard components provided by many different manufacturers which have a variety of geometric configurations. For example, medicine canisters of different sizes require unique actuators. Further, some medicine manufacturers use proprietary actuators of unique configurations. Additionally, other factors dictate different configurations of actuators such that there is no standard actuator which can dispense all medications. 
     Applying a non-dedicated electronics module to a variety of actuators of different configurations is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,997, which is assigned to the same assignee as the present application. With the electronics module adaptable to different actuators, this module can be reused, when a different actuator is utilized. In accordance with this previous design, to measure the timing of inhalation and use the non-dedicated electronics module, the actuator needs to be modified. A hole must be formed in the body of the actuator body to allow insertion of an air flow sensor in the path of the patient&#39;s inspiration and/or expiration. It would be advantageous to provide a combination of an electronics module and actuator hardware that further facilitates their use and interchangeability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus and method related to a metered dose inhaler which includes an electronics module is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for dispensing medication includes: a medicine canister that contains medicine to be dispensed, an actuator that houses the medicine canister and an adapter assembly that allows for obtaining information. The adapter assembly includes a connector assembly and an electronics module. The connector assembly connects to the medicine canister. The electronics module obtains information related to patient usage of medicine in the medicine canister. 
     In another embodiment, a method for using the same electronics module with two different medicine dispensing apparatuses is disclosed. A first medicine dispensing apparatus includes a first medicine canister which contains a first medicine. First information, related to dispensing the first medicine, is stored with an electronics module joined to the first medicine dispensing apparatus. A second medicine dispensing apparatus includes a second medicine canister containing a second medicine. The electronics module is removed from the first medicine dispensing apparatus and joined to the second medicine dispensing apparatus. Second information, related to dispensing the second medicine, is stored with the electronics module. 
     Based upon the foregoing summary, a number of important advantages of the present invention are readily discerned. A single electronics module may be reused even if the actuator changes. Additionally, no modifications are necessary to modify the actuator in order to connect the electronics module thereto. 
    
    
     Additional advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following discussion, particularly when taken together with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the medicine dispensing system; 
     FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of an embodiment of the medicine dispensing system; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a patient management system; 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting the medicine dispensing system and the docking station; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the medicine dispensing system; 
     FIG. 6 is a partially exploded view of an embodiment of the medicine dispensing system; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sleeve adapter portion of the medicine dispensing apparatus; 
     FIG. 8 is a back elevational view of the sleeve adapter of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the sleeve adapter of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the sleeve adapter of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 11 is a back perspective view of a heel adapter portion of the medicine dispensing apparatus; 
     FIG. 12 is a back elevational view of the heel adapter of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the heel adapter of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the heel adapter of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 15 is a back elevational view of an electronics module of the medicine dispensing system; 
     FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of the electronics module of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the electronics module of FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of the battery and actuation switch element subassembly; 
     FIG. 19 is a back elevational view of the medicine dispensing apparatus; 
     FIG. 20 is a side sectional view along the I—I cross section of FIG. 19 which also includes the electronics module; 
     FIG. 21 is an enlarged portion II of FIG. 20 which shows the spring member deactivated; 
     FIG. 22 is the enlarged portion II of FIG. 20 which shows the spring member activated; 
     FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the docking station for the medicine dispensing system; 
     FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the docking station of FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 25 is a back elevational view of the docking station of FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 26 is a side elevational view of the docking station of FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the docking station of FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 28 is a hard copy of display from a practitioner&#39;s software program which resides on a medical workstation; 
     FIG. 29 is a flow diagram showing an embodiment of the steps for assembling and programming the medicine dispensing system; 
     FIG. 30 is a flow diagram showing an embodiment of the steps for changing actuators; and 
     FIG. 31 is a flow diagram showing an embodiment of the steps for changing the battery for an embodiment of the medicine dispensing system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, embodiments of the medicine dispensing system  100  are shown in front and back perspective views. The medicine dispensing system  100  includes an actuator  104 , a heel adapter  108 , a sleeve adapter  112 , an electronics module  116 , and a cap member  120 . Included in a medicine dispensing apparatus  124  is the heel adapter  108 , sleeve adapter  112 , electronics module  116 , and cap member  120 . In other words, the medicine dispensing apparatus includes everything in the medicine dispensing system  100  except the canister  500 , actuator  104  and electronics module  116 . To allow monitoring the use of the medicine, the actuator  104  is modified by adding the heel adapter  108 , sleeve adapter  112 , electronics module  116 , and cap member  120 . 
     With reference to FIG. 3, a patient management system  316  is shown in block diagram form. The management system  316  includes the medicine dispensing system  100 , a docking station  300 , an user computer  304 , and a medical workstation  308 . When docked, the medicine dispensing system  100  communicates with the docking station  300  through wired or wireless methods. Preferably, infra-red (IR) transceivers are used to wirelessly communicate between the medicine dispensing system  100  and docking station  300 . The docking station  300  is also coupled a user computer  304  which includes a first modem. Information is relayed between the first modem and a second modem in the medical workstation  308 . The first and second modems may either directly connect through the plain old telephone system (POTS) network  312  or through a general purpose packet network, such as the Internet. Software on the medical workstation  308  communicates with software on the user machine  304  to allow programing of the medicine dispensing system  100  and retrieving data therefrom. The retrieval of data from the medical dispensing system  100  does not necessarily remove those data from -the medical dispensing system  100 . However, commands from the medical workstation  308  can erase those data. 
     Referring next to FIG. 4, a block diagram of the electronics included in the medicine dispensing system  100  and docking station  300  are shown. A first IR transceiver port  400  communicates with a second IR transceiver port  404  by way of a wireless signal  408 . 
     The format of the wireless signal  408  is bi-directional simplex transmission formatted as messages sent a byte at a time. Each message begins with a “wake-up” pulse of 20 μs, includes multiple message bytes and ends with an “end-of-message” pulse. Each message byte contains a start bit, 8 data bits and a stop bit. Bits are narrow 2 μs pulses which are separated from each other by 61 μs. The baud rate of the communication is 9,600. 
     The protocol of the wireless signal  408  is a master and slave protocol where the master initiates all communications by issuing commands, i.e., where the slave will not speak is until spoken to. Since this is a simplex protocol, the master must wait for a complete response from the slave before issuing the next command. The slave generally responds to the commands from the master within one second. If the checksum in the message is bad, the master will issue the command again. In this embodiment, the docking station  300  is the master and the medicine dispensing system  100  is the slave. 
     The general message protocol is one or more characters followed by a checksum and carriage return &lt;CR&gt;. All characters are encoded in ASCII format. Table I shows the commands for this protocol and Table II shows the data dictionary for the messages. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE I 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Command Definitions 
               
             
          
           
               
                 NAME 
                 COMMAND 
                 RESPONSE 
                 PURPOSE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Battery Get 
                 b&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;BAT&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                 To get current battery voltage 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and usage count since last 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 changed. 
               
               
                 Battery Clear 
                 B0&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 To clear the battery usage count 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 after installing a new battery. 
               
               
                 Canister Get 
                 c&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;CAN&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                 To get the current canister 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 usage remaining count. 
               
               
                 Canister set 
                 C&lt;CAN&gt; 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 To preset the correct number of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 doses available in the canister 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 for the current medication. 
               
               
                 Get Record N 
                 d&lt;RECNO&gt; 
                 &lt;RECNO&gt;&lt;RECORD&gt; 
                 To get a data log record 
               
               
                   
                   
                 &lt;EM&gt; 
               
               
                 Set Record N 
                 D&lt;RECNO&gt; 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 Generate a test data record 
               
               
                   
                 &lt;RECORD&gt; 
                   
                 utilizing input record for data. 
               
               
                 Header Set 
                 H&lt;HEADER&gt; 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 Set header which is a text field 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to be used by the display 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 software as desired. 
               
               
                 Header Get 
                 h&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;HEADER&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                 Get header which is a text field 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to be used by the display 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 sofware as desired. 
               
               
                 Product ID Get 
                 i&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;ID&gt;&lt;FIRM&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                 Get product id string with 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 model and serial number and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 software revision (from ROM). 
               
               
                 Product ID Set 
                 I0&lt;ID&gt; 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 Set product id string with model 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and serial number. Needs 0 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 validate the command. Note 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 firmware &lt;FIRM&gt; is not set 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with this command. 
               
               
                 Canister Reset 
                 K&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 Initiate canister replacement re- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 setting counts. 
               
               
                 Calibration Set 
                 LO&lt;HRES&gt; 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 Set inhalation threshold and 
               
               
                   
                 &lt;VOLT&gt; 
                   
                 new battery voltage baseline. 
               
               
                 Calibration Get 
                 I&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;THRESHOLD&gt; 
                 Get inhalation threshold and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 &lt;VOLTAGE&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                 new battery voltage baseline 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 settings. 
               
               
                 Medication Set 
                 M&lt;MEDNAME&gt; 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 Set patient medication text for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 display and number for flow 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 calibration. 
               
               
                 Medication 
                 m&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;MEDNAME&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                 Get patient medication text for 
               
               
                 Get 
                   
                   
                 display and number for flow 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 calibration. 
               
               
                 Options Set 
                 O&lt;OPTIONS&gt; 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 Set training and display options 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 according to &lt;options&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 definition. Generally used for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 display and alarm control. 
               
               
                 Options Get 
                 o&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;OPTIONS&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                 Get training and display options 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 according to &lt;options&gt; 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 definition. Generally used for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 display and alarm control. 
               
               
                 Patient Set 
                 P&lt;NAME&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 Set patient name text for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 display. 
               
               
                 Patient Get 
                 p&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;NAME&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                 Get patient name text. 
               
               
                 Reminder Set 
                 R&lt;REMINDERS&gt; 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 Set reminders for usage and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 docking. 
               
               
                 Reminder Get 
                 r&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;REMINDERS&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                 Get current reminders. 
               
               
                 Status 
                 s&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;DEVTYPE&gt;&lt;STATUS&gt; 
                 Provide a handshake and to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 &lt;EM&gt; 
                 provide the interpreter or 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 application program with device 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 battery level data information 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 on operational errors 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 encountered since last query. 
               
               
                 Time Set 
                 T&lt;YR&gt;&lt;DATE/ 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 Set GMT time/date and time 
               
               
                   
                 TIME&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                   
                 zone of device relative to GMT. 
               
               
                 Time Get 
                 t&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;YR&gt;&lt;DATE/TIME&gt; 
                 Get GMT time/date and time 
               
               
                   
                   
                 &lt;EM&gt; 
                 zone of device relative to GMT 
               
               
                 Get Usage 
                 u&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;USE&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                 Get usage count since last 
               
               
                 Count 
                   
                   
                 clearing of log. 
               
               
                 Set Usage 
                 UO&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 Clear usage count and data log. 
               
               
                 Count 
                   
                   
                 0 is utilized as verification of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 command. 
               
               
                 Variable Set 
                 V&lt;VN&gt; 
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 Set header number N which is a 
               
               
                   
                 &lt;HEADER&gt; 
                   
                 text field to be used by the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 display software as desired. 
               
               
                 Variable Get 
                 v&lt;VN&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;HEADER&gt;&lt;EM&gt; 
                 Get header number N which is a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 text field to be used by the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 display software as desired. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE II 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Data Dictionary 
               
             
          
           
               
                 FIELD 
                 DETAIL 
                 EXPLANATION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 &lt;ACK&gt; 
                 &lt;CR&gt; or 
                 no error response 
               
               
                   
                 &lt;ERR&gt;&lt;CR&gt; 
                 error response 
               
               
                 &lt;BAT&gt; 
                 VVUUUU 
                 VV: 2 character voltage range 0.0-3.5. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 UUUU: 4 character usage count. 
               
               
                 &lt;CAN&gt; 
                 NNNN 
                 4 digit count of current canister contents. 
               
               
                 &lt;DATA&gt; 
                 &lt;XX&gt; 
                 2 digits hexadecimal event data 
               
               
                   
                 Bit. # 
                 Desc. 
               
               
                   
                 7 
                 Test event 
               
               
                   
                 6 
                 medication dispensed 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 inhale true 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 shake true 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 multiple dose 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 late inhale 
               
               
                   
                 1,0 
                 # tics to inhale 
               
               
                 &lt;DATE/TIME&gt; 
                 MMDDHHMMSS 
                 Date/time format 
               
               
                 &lt;DEVTYPE&gt; 
                 C 
                 Indicates Device Type 
               
               
                 &lt;DISPSTAT&gt; 
                 &lt;XX&gt; 
                 2 digits hexadecimal internal Electronics 
               
               
                   
                 Bit. # 
                 Module status 
               
               
                   
                 7 
                 Desc. 
               
               
                   
                 6 
                 disable logging 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 inhale delay warm-up 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 inhale delay 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 dispense check in-process 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 arm check 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 inhale check in process 
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 armed 
               
               
                 &lt;EM&gt; 
                 &lt;optional checksum&gt;&lt;CR&gt; 
                 end of message 
               
               
                 &lt;ERR&gt; 
                 0 
                 no error same as only &lt;CR&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 not understood 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 checksum error 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 format error 
               
               
                 &lt;FIRM&gt; 
                 C4 
                 4 character Firmware revision from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Processor ROM i.e. 0F00 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Byte 1 is a variation code 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Byte 2 is Firmware revision 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Bytes 3-4 intermediate engineering release # 
               
               
                 &lt;HEADER&gt; 
                 &lt;C28&gt; 
                 28 character display program specific info. 
               
               
                 &lt;ID&gt; 
                 &lt;C12&gt; 
                 12 character product id and serial number 
               
               
                   
                   
                 “rr” is the circuit board assembly revision 
               
               
                   
                   
                 number, “bbbb” is the four digit circuit board 
               
               
                   
                   
                 batch number, “§” is the circuit board 
               
               
                   
                   
                 assembly serial number. 
               
               
                 &lt;MDISTAT&gt; 
                 &lt;XX&gt; 
                 2 digits hexadecimal internal electronics 
               
               
                   
                 Big. # 
                 module status 
               
               
                   
                 7 
                 Desc. 
               
               
                   
                 6 
                 Time to Log 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 shake 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 inhale correct 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 inhaled late 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 medication delivery 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 multiple 
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 advance 
               
               
                   
                   
                 reminder time 
               
               
                 &lt;MDISTAT_E&gt; 
                 &lt;XX&gt; 
                 2 digits hexadecimal internal electronics 
               
               
                   
                 Bit. # 
                 module status 
               
               
                   
                 7 
                 Desc. 
               
               
                   
                 6 
                 no start bit 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 log full 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 QC time 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 battery low 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 canister empty 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 beep high 
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 menus enabled 
               
               
                   
                   
                 diagnostic mode 
               
               
                 &lt;MEDNAME&gt; 
                 &lt;C16&gt; 
                 16 character name 
               
               
                 &lt;NAME&gt; 
                 &lt;C16&gt; 
                 16 character name 
               
               
                 &lt;OPTIONS&gt; 
                 &lt;XX&gt; 
                 2 digits hexadecimal mask 
               
               
                   
                 Bit. # 
                 Feature. 
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 Display level 0 Basic 
               
               
                   
                 1 
                 Display level 1 Enhanced Time/Canister 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 Display level 2 patient info submenu 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 Display level 3 device info submenu 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 Patient info feedback 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 Audible reminders 
               
               
                   
                 6,7 
                 00 - Standard MDT 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 - Autohaler logic 
               
               
                   
                   
                 11 - Non MDI device no inhale test 
               
               
                   
                   
                 NOTE: Level 1 must include level 0 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Level 2 must include level 0 
               
               
                 &lt;RANGE&gt; 
                 &lt;BBBBEEEE&gt; 
                 BBBB: 4 digit hex begin address 
               
               
                   
                   
                 EEEE: 4 digit hex ending address 
               
               
                 &lt;RECNO&gt; 
                 NNNN 
                 4 digit decimal record number 
               
               
                 &lt;RECORD&gt; 
                 &lt;DATE/TIME&gt;&lt;DATA&gt; 
                 Month/day etc. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Data record 
               
               
                 &lt;REMINDERS&gt; 
                 &lt;HHMMHHMMHHMM 
                 HH: 2 digit hour 
               
               
                   
                 HHMMHHMMHHMM&gt; 
                 MM: 2 digit minute of hour 
               
               
                   
                   
                 item 1-5 dose reminders 
               
               
                   
                   
                 item 6 docking reminder 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Unset alarms must be set to 9999 as 0000 is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 midnight in 24 hour format. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 &lt;STATUS&gt; 
                 &lt;MDISTAT&gt;&lt;MDISTAT_E&gt;&lt;DTSP_STAT&gt; 
               
               
                   
                 &lt;NOTDEFINED&gt;&lt;NOTDEFINED&gt;&lt;NOTDEFINED&gt;&lt;NOTDEFINED&gt; 
               
             
          
           
               
                 &lt;USE&gt; 
                 NNNNLLLL 
                 NNNN: 4 digit count number of uses 
               
               
                   
                   
                 LLLL: 4 digit count of uses available (left in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 memory) 
               
               
                 &lt;VN&gt; 
                 N 
                 Single digit variable number 
               
               
                 &lt;YR&gt; 
                 YY 
                 2 digit year 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In this embodiment, the electronics in the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  are divided between the sleeve adapter  112  and the electronics module  116 . The sleeve adapter  112  houses a battery  412  (for example, a 3 V DC  coin-shaped battery) and an actuation switch element  416 . The electronics module  116  includes the first IR port  400 , an air flow sensor  420 , a shake sensor  424 , a first controller  428 , memory  432 , menu buttons  436 , a first display  440 , and a speaker  444 . 
     The first controller  428  manages the operation of the electronics through embedded software or firmware. The time and date of activation of the actuator  104  is recorded in the memory  432 . The memory  432  may be volatile or non-volatile and may serve as the exclusive storage device or be supplemented by other memory in the first controller  428 . In this embodiment, the memory  432  is 4 Kbytes and stores 1,320 actuation events. 
     The actuation switch element  416  detects dispensing of medication. During use, the mouth of the actuator is placed in the mouth of the patient, whereafter, the sleeve adapter  112  is pressed toward the mouthpiece to activate a dispensing valve in the medicine canister. When the sleeve adapter  112  is pressed, the actuation switch element  416  integral to the sleeve adapter  112  detects the dispensing of medication. The time of dispensing is recorded by the first controller  428 . The actuation switch element  416  has a spring member which completes a circuit when the sleeve adapter  112  slides toward the heel adapter  108  so that dispensing may be recorded. In this embodiment, up to two dispensing per second can be recorded in this way. 
     The air flow sensor  420  measures the inspiration which pulls the medication aerosol into the mouth of the patient. In this embodiment, a heated thermistor is used to measure air flow. The heated thermistor in the air flow sensor  420  is cooled by the air flow. The time and amount of cooling may be measured and recorded by the first controller  428 . To conserve memory space, a flag may be used to indicate the presence of sufficient inspiration proximate in time to the dispensing of medication instead of recording time and amount. Fifteen liters per minute of inhalation or more can be detected with this sensor. 
     Shaking of the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  is recorded by the shake sensor  424 . Prior to dispensing, shaking of the medicine canister mixes the contents to assure efficacy of some medications. In one embodiment, the shake sensor  424  includes a sliding magnet which moves when the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  is shaken to produce a signal indicative of the movement. Other types of sensors, such as accelerometers, could also be used to record the shaking. To record this event, a flag is stored which indicates a successful shaking before dispensing medication. Shaking which is not followed by actuation of the dispenser  100 , is not recorded to conserve memory. 
     The first display  440  provides status information and prompts to the patient. In one embodiment, the display is a liquid crystal display (LCD) with two lines where each has eight characters. The first display  440  provides information such as the patient&#39;s name, medication name, dose count, current time and date, number of remaining doses, time of last use, time of next use, low medication reminder, low battery reminder, battery level, device identifier or serial number, and memory capacity remaining. Menu buttons  436  allow scrolling through menu options and selecting features. In this embodiment, the menu buttons  436  are membrane switches. 
     A speaker  444  is provided to allow auditory feedback from the electronics module  116 . The speaker  444  could produce an alarm when a dose of medication were required. Other interactions between the patient and electronics module  116  could be enhanced with auditory feedback from the speaker  444 . 
     The docking station  300  serves as a conduit of the medical workstation  308 . Once the medication delivery system  100  is placed in the docking station  300 , the data stored in memory is retrieved and any programming or reprogramming of the medication delivery system  100  takes place. Programming is needed for a newly issued electronics module  116  and reprogramming is required when the electronics module  116  is attached to a different actuator  104 . The docking station  300  includes the second IR port  404 , a second controller  448 , a communication port  452 , a second display  456 , menu buttons  460 , and a power supply  464 . The second IR port  404  communicates with the first IR port  400  when the medicine dispensing system  100  is docked by way of the wireless signal  408 . 
     The operation of the docking station is managed by the second controller  448 . Firmware in the controller  448  receives and processes information from the communication port  452 , second IR port  404  and menu buttons  460 . Additionally, output for the display  456 , second IR port  404  and communication port  452  is prepared by the controller  448 . 
     The communication port  452  provides a conduit to the user computer  304  and, ultimately, the medical workstation  308 . In one embodiment, the communication port  452  is a standard serial port (i.e., RS-232) commonly found on computers. Software on the user machine  304  allows interaction with the communication port  452  so that programming information and data may pass therethrough. 
     The docking station  300  also contains a second display  456  and menu buttons  460 . The second display  456  could be a LCD, or other type of display. Status information and user prompts could be displayed to assist the patient. For example, error messages could be displayed instructing the patient to reseat the medicine dispensing system  100  in order to allow for better IR communication. The menu buttons  460  allow interaction between the docking station  300  and patient. In one embodiment, the menu buttons  460  are membrane switches. 
     Power is supplied to the docking station  300  from a power supply  464 . Either an external transformer or internal batteries provide energy to the power supply  464 . Further conditioning of these two power sources is provided by the power supply  464  to produce, for example, 5 V DC  for the circuitry within the docking station  300 . 
     With reference to FIG. 5, an exploded view of the medicine dispensing system  100  is shown. Included in the medicine dispensing apparatus  100  is a connector assembly, the electronics module  116 , the medicine canister  500 , and the actuator  104 . The connector assembly includes the cap member  120 , a double-sided tape  504 , the sleeve adapter  112 , and the heel adapter  108 . The cap member  120 , double-sided tape  504 , and sleeve adapter  112  move with the medicine canister  500  to dispense the medicine through a mouthpiece  524 . In this embodiment, the cap member  120 , sleeve adapter  112  and heel adapter  108  are made of molded plastic. 
     The cap member  120  is attached to the canister  500  with a double-sided tape  504 . The cap member  120  has the double-sided tape  504  pre-attached. A liner covers the side of the tape  504  which will eventually attach to the canister  500 . A release tab  508  is included in the double-sided tape  504  which eases removal of the liner to expose the adhesive tape  504  beneath. Upon removal of the liner, the canister  500  is pressed against the double-sided tape  504  to affix the cap member  120  to the canister  500 . Once the double-sided tape  504  is affixed between the cap member  120  and medicine canister  500 , the whole assembly may be slid into an opening  520  in the sleeve adapter  112 . Snaps  528  around the periphery of the cap member  120  snap into the sleeve adapter  112  to affix the two together. In other embodiments however, the cap member  120  could screw into the sleeve adapter  112  to interconnect the two. 
     The sleeve adapter  112  has a window  512  for viewing a medication label and connectors  516  for attaching the electronics module  116 . The window  512 , integral to the sleeve adapter  112 , allows reading any prescription information on the medicine canister  500  by rotating the cap member  120 . The electronics module  116 , in this embodiment, also includes the actuation switch element  416  and battery  412 . The connectors  516  removably attach the electronics module to the sleeve adapter  112 . A tool such as a flat-head screw driver can be used to pry the connectors  516  away from the electronics module  116 . When the battery  412  is depleted in one embodiment, the battery  412  and all other components, except for the electronics module  116 , are replaced since such components are disposable and for sanitary reasons this is preferred. In another embodiment, the battery only could be replaced when its charge is depleted and is not rechargeable. 
     The heel adapter  108  is attached to the body of the actuator  104 . Snaps on the heel adapter  108  attach around the back and bottom of the actuator  104 . After installation of the heel adapter  108 , a mouthpiece of the actuator is not obstructed in any way. In this embodiment, no modification of the actuator is necessary for attaching the heel adapter  108  and sleeve adapter  112 . The heel adapter  108  guides the sleeve adapter  112  and provides a back-stop for the spring member which senses actuation of the medicine dispensing system  100 . 
     With reference to FIG. 6, an embodiment of the medicine dispensing system  100  is shown in an exploded view. The medicine canister  500  is engaged with the cap member  120 . In this embodiment, the battery  412  and actuation switch element  416  are integral to the sleeve adapter  112 . Electrical contacts  600  allow coupling the battery  412  and spring member to the electronics module  116 . The menu buttons  436  and the first display  440  are shown on the electronics module  116 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 7-10, the sleeve adapter  112  is respectively shown in perspective, back, side and top views. The cap member  120  is shown attached to the sleeve adapter  112 . In this embodiment, the battery  412  and actuation switch element  416  are integral to the sleeve adapter  112 . When the battery  412  expires, the whole sleeve adapter  112  is removed and replaced, and it is recommended, everything but the electronics module  116  also be replaced. The sleeve adapter surrounds at least a majority of a perimeter of the actuator. 
     With reference to FIGS. 11-14, the heel adapter  108  is respectively shown in perspective, back, side and top views. Included in the heel adapter  108  are vertical connectors  1300 , horizontal connectors  1400  and a switch engaging member  1404 . The vertical connectors  1300  wrap around the bottom of the actuator  104  and the horizontal connectors  1400  wrap around the front of the actuator  104 . When the sleeve adapter  112  is compressed to dispense medication, the switch engaging member  1404  presses against the spring member to close the actuation switch  416 . In this way, the dispensing of medication is recorded. The sleeve adapter  124  snaps together with the heel adapter  108 . 
     Referring next to FIGS. 15-17, an embodiment of the electronics module  116  is respectfully shown in backs front and side views. A scroll button  1500  and a select button  1504  comprise the two menu buttons  436 . The scroll button  1500  allows cycling through the various menus and options and the select button  1504  allows selection of those options. To allow the IR communication of the first IR port  400 , an IR transmitter and receiver  1512 ,  1516  are provided. When docked, the IR elements  1512 ,  1516  face a conjugate pair of IR elements to allow communication. Latches  1508  are provided which mate with connectors  516  on the sleeve adapter  122 . The latches allow removably attaching the electronics module  116  to the sleeve adapter  122 . Although not shown in FIG. 16, the front of the electronics module  116  includes connectors which mate to the electrical contacts  600  on the battery and actuation switch element subassembly. Removal of the electronics module  116  renders portions of the medicine dispensing system  100  functionally inoperable. 
     With reference to FIG. 18, a perspective view of a battery and actuation switch element assembly  1800  is shown. In this embodiment, the battery and actuation switch element assembly  1800  is installed integrally to the sleeve adapter  112 . The battery and actuation switch element assembly  1800  includes a spring member  1804 , a circuit board  1808 , and the battery  412 . Electrical contacts  600 , on the side of the circuit board  1808  away from the spring member  1804 , couple the battery and actuation switch element assembly  1800  to the electronics module  116 . When the sleeve adapter  112  is pressed toward the heel adapter  108 , the spring member  1804  is temporarily bent by the switch engaging member  1404  to complete an electrical loop. In this way, dispensing of the medication is detected. 
     Referring to FIG. 19, a back view of the medicine dispensing apparatus is shown. The battery and actuation switch element assembly  1800  is shown installed in the sleeve adapter  112 . In one embodiment, two fasteners  1900  are threaded through the circuit board  1808  to affix the battery and actuation switch element assembly  1800 . Alternatively, the circuit board  1808  could be ultrasonically staked to the sleeve adapter  112 . It is noted, other embodiments integrate the battery and actuation switch element assembly  1800  into the electronics module  116 . 
     FIGS. 20-22 detail the operation of the actuation switch element  416 . FIG. 20 shows a side sectional view along the I—I cross section of FIG. 19 which also includes the electronics module. Section II of FIG. 20 is enlarged in FIGS. 21 and 22 to show the action of the spring member  1804  in greater detail. FIG. 21 illustrates the spring member  1804  in an uncompressed position. Alternatively, FIG. 22 illustrates the spring member  1804  in a compressed position which corresponds to the dispensing of medicine. 
     With reference to FIGS. 23-26, an enclosure  2300  of the docking station  300  is respectively shown in perspective, top, back, and side views. The enclosure  2300  includes a docking cradle  2304 , an IR window  2308 , a communication cable  2312 , the second display  456 , the menu buttons  460 , a communication port  2500 , a direct current power input  2504 , and a reset button  2508 . The docking cradle  2304  is shaped to receive the electronics module  116  in a such a way that the IR window  2308  is proximate to the IR transmitter and receiver  1512 ,  1516  on the electronics module  116 . Behind the IR window  2308  is another IR transmitter and receiver which are used to couple the docketing station  300  to the electronics module  116 . The display  456  presents information to the patient and the menu buttons  460  allow interaction with any displayed information. To allow serial communication with the user computer  304 , the communication cable  2312  is plugged into the communication port  2500 . The direct current power input  2504  receives power from an external transformer which is coupled to an alternating current wall outlet. In order to recover from firmware crashes in the controller  448 , the reset button is able to reset the circuitry within the docking station  300 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 27, an exploded view of the docking station  300  is shown. The enclosure  2300  is comprised of a bottom  2708 , top  2724 , front panel  2720 , back panel  2716  and guide plate  2728 . Included within the enclosure are an electronics printed circuit board (PCB)  2700 , batteries  2704  and a battery holder  2712 . The electronics PCB  2700  includes the battery holder  2712 , communication port  2500 , direct current power input  2504 , and reset button  2508  and further includes the circuitry for the communications port  452 , second IR port  404 , controller  448 , and power supply  464 . To provide redundant power, batteries  2704  may be inserted into a battery holder  2712 . Battery power is used when there is no power applied to the direct current power input  2504 . 
     With reference to FIG. 28, a hard-copy of a display from the practitioner&#39;s software is shown. The practitioner&#39;s software is updated with data from the medicine dispensing system  100 . The data is updated by the patient management system  316  when the medicine dispensing system is docked. The data may be charted and otherwise analyzed with the practitioner&#39;s software. The medical practitioner can manage a number of patients with this software. 
     Additionally, the practitioner&#39;s software allows programming and reprogramming of the medicine dispensing system  100 . The medicine type, number of doses, puffs per dose and timing of doses can be programmed into the medicine dispensing system  100  by the practitioner&#39;s software. Reminders can also be programed into the medicine dispensing system  100  which notify the patient when medication is needed by way of the speaker  444  or first display  440 . Upon receiving a new medicine dispensing system  100 , the patient docks the system  100  to have the programming performed. If the electronics module  116  is ever transferred to another medicine dispensing apparatus, the electronics module  116  is reprogrammed in a similar way. 
     Referring to FIG. 29, a flow diagram of the steps for assembling the medicine dispensing system  100  for one embodiment are shown. In step  2900 , the heel adapter  108  is attached to the actuator  104 . The vertical connectors  1300  snap around the bottom of the actuator  104  and the horizontal connectors  1400  snap around the front of the actuator  104 . In step  2904 , the cap member  120  is attached to the medicine canister  500 . The double-sided tape  504  is used to affix the cap member  120  and medicine canister  500  together. In steps  2908  and  2912  the cap member  120  is affixed to the sleeve adapter  112 . The medication canister  500  is inserted into the sleeve adapter  112  and the cap member is  120  snapped together with the sleeve adapter  112 . In alternative embodiments, the cap member  120  could screw into with the sleeve adapter  112 . In step  2916 , the electronics module  116  is attached to the sleeve adapter  112 . Connectors  516  retain the electronics module  116  to the sleeve adapter  112 . After the assembly of the electronics module  116 , cap member  120 , medicine canister  500  and sleeve adapter  112  is complete, the sleeve adapter  124  is slid over the heel adapter  108  in step  2920  until the two snap together. The shape of the heel adapter  108  forces the window  512  of the sleeve adapter  124  to face forward. To view a medication label on the canister  500 , the sleeve adapter  124  with attached cap member  120  and canister  500  are removed from the remainder of the medicine dispensing system  100 . Then, the cap member  120  is turned to rotate the label on canister  500  into view through the window  512 . 
     If the actuator  104  is new to the user, the electronics module  116  receives new programming. The actuator  104  could be entirely new to the patient and require programming, or the actuator  104  could merely be a change in medication and require reprogramming only. If the actuator  104  is the same or a replacement having the same configuration as the old actuator  104 , no programming is required and the medicine dispensing system  100  is complete. A determination is made in step  2924  as to whether the actuator  104  is new to this patient and would need programming or reprogramming. In step  2928 , programing or reprogramming of the electronics module  116  is performed by mating the medicine dispensing system  100  to the docking station  300 , as described above. 
     With reference to FIG. 30, a flow diagram of the steps for changing to a different actuator  104  is shown. Changing to a different actuator  104  requires reprogramming the electronics module  116  accordingly for any new dosage regiment. In step  3000 , the medicine dispensing apparatus is built. The first medicine canister is installed in step  3004 . Next, the electronics module  116  is attached to the sleeve adapter  112  in step  3008 . Once the building of the medicine dispensing system  100  is complete, the system is programmed the first time in step  3012 . In between steps  3012  and  3014 , a different medication and/or actuator  104  are provided to the patient. In step  3014 , the electronics module  116  is salvaged from the first medicine dispensing system  100 . Removal of the electronics module  116  typically damages the connectors  516  which retain the module  116 . Accordingly, the damaged connectors render the sleeve adapter  112  unusable which is desirable for sanitation reasons. In steps  3016 ,  3020 , and  3024 , the second medicine dispensing apparatus is built. In this embodiment, the first medicine dispensing apparatus has a different mechanical configuration than the second medicine dispensing apparatus. Different heel and sleeve adapters  108 ,  112  are shaped to accommodate the different mechanical configuration. The heel and sleeve adapters  108 ,  112  from the first actuator have a geometric configuration which generally prevents them from being properly installed on the second actuator. The electronics module  116  is reprogrammed in step  3028  to accommodate the new dosage guidelines. In this way, a single electronics module  116  may be interchanged between a variety of actuators  104 . 
     Referring to FIG. 31, the steps for replacing the battery  412  for one embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the battery  412  is integral to the sleeve adapter  112  so that the whole sleeve adapter  112  is disposed of to replace the battery  412 . In steps  3100 ,  3104 , and  3108 , the cap member  120  and medicine canister  500 , the electronics module  116  and sleeve adapter  112  are successively removed. A new sleeve adapter  112  with a new battery  412  is installed in step  3112 . The electronics module  116  and cap member  120  and medicine canister  500  are reinstalled in steps  3116  and  3120  to complete the battery  412  replacement process. However, in embodiments where the cap member  120  snaps into the sleeve adapter  112 , an assembly of the cap member  120 , sleeve adapter  112  and medicine canister  500  are removed together in a single step. 
     The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Further, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, within the skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. By way of example only, the invention need not be limited to dispensing liquid aerosol medications. Other applications can be implemented incorporating the principles of the present invention including dispensing dry powder medications. The embodiments discussed hereinabove are further intended to explain the best mode known of practicing the inventions and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the inventions in such, or in other embodiments and with the various modifications required by their particular application or uses of the Inventions. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.