A device for the assessment of patient compliance to aerosol drug therapy

Summary form only given. A simple electromechanical device for the assessment of aerosol drug therapy usage and consequent patient compliance to this drug regimen is briefly described. A commercially available six-digit counter that has the advantage of a contact closure reset is used. An RC network, ensures that after the initial count, further counts are inhibited for approximately 1 s. The unit is powered by a 3-V lithium manganese dioxide battery. A current consumption of 15 μA gives a life expectancy of the battery of 120 days, far in excess of the time in which the 200 doses in an inhaler are expected to be used under normal circumstances. The device has been successfully tested in the laboratory by discharging a number of metered dose inhalers. Clinical trials are in progress