BE PRODUCTive

Our second meeting took place the night of Wednesday the 18th. We sat to discuss what we had each compiled so far and to come to several conclusions. Below are some notes of what was discussed during the meeting. Following is a preliminary list of detailed specs.

· MDI idea

· 200-dose capacity, large capacity

· how to change medication: bag, more hygienic/sterile

o vacuumed liquid in bag, 2 jets of water collide à mist

§ bag constricts around liquid as it is used up

§ safer than using CFCs

o powered by mechanical energy from spring twisted by patient?

o Piston? Syringe?

· About 10 inches? Ipod touch sized screen?

· Butorphanol vs. morphine, vicodin

o Butorphanol can be administered as a mist

http://www.respimat.com/com/Main/functions/howitworks/index.jsp

· Dosage button -> yes can take another, ready, administer

o If no, time left until next available dose

· Nice for gozinto diagram, credible article on MDI’s:

o http://www.rcjournal.com/contents/09.05/09.05.1177.pdf

Inhaler Specifications

Intended Users

• Anyone who can use an inhaler (children, adults, elderly)
• Must have the physical capabilities to coordinate the user interface (read/respond to the screen, press buttons) and to learn how and when to breathe in at the right time in order to receive a dose
• Ages six and up (unless otherwise authorized by a doctor)
• Exceptions: if too old to take a deep breath, etc.

Functions/Performance

• Similar to MDI
• Mist of medication inhaled into the lungs
• Absorption of medication via alveoli
• Medication stored in liquid form in a vacuumed bag
• Roughly 100mL needed for the specified 200 doses (variable depending on the medication and dosage)
• Any medication that can be prescribed as a mist/aerosol works
• Butorphanol (analgesic)
• Inhaler mouthpiece + iPod touch + water bottle (size of bottle depends on medication used and dosage)
• Screen + buttons = iPod touch
• User interface acts as control of dosage by patient/doctor

Performance

• Medication administered as a mist
• Two jets of liquid colliding to form a mist
• Battery powered; rechargeable

Ease of Use/Size/Weight

• Weight of above 3 items
• Roughly 10 inches x 2.5 inches x 2.5 inches
• Portable: use anywhere; can be carried in a purse/bag

Maintenance/Repair/Reliability/Safety

• Time interval of dosage determined by doctor specific to each patient
• User interface locks dosages
• One dose every set number of hours
• Displays Yes/No to patient attempting to overdose

Lifetime

• Bag of liquid medication needs regular replacement
• Mouthpiece regularly cleaned

At the end of the meeting, we divided up further research for the following week:

David: user interface, mechanism of drug delivery

Julie: drugs (what can be delivered as a mist, dosage in mist), absorption through lungs, how effective

Connie: blogs, both David and Julie's areas of research

All three members will also try to think of a company name throughout the next few weeks. Several diagrams of various models/user interfaces were sketched through our discussions during the meeting (beginning with a large boxy device and advancing to smaller, more compact designs). These drawings will be scanned and posted in following posts.