How a Droplet Device Delivers Medicine When You Breathe In
This patent describes an electronic device that sprays a fine mist of liquid, like medicine, into your mouth or nose automatically when it detects you are inhaling at a specific speed.
Original patent title: “Droplet device actuation from inhalation sensing”
This patent describes an electronic device that sprays a fine mist of liquid, like medicine, into your mouth or nose automatically when it detects you are inhaling at a specific speed. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This electronic droplet delivery device includes a main body, called a housing, with a mouthpiece for air to exit. It holds liquid in a removable fluid reservoir. Inside, an aperture plate with many small openings receives fluid from this reservoir. An electronic actuator then vibrates this aperture plate very quickly, which creates a stream of tiny droplets. A sensor in the device is connected to this actuator and is designed to trigger the droplet stream only when it senses a specific, pre-set breathing speed, or "predetermined inhalation flow rate," from the user.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover devices that are triggered by a manual button press or a timer, rather than by sensing inhalation.
- Does not cover devices that use propellants or heat to create a mist, as it specifies an "electronic actuator that oscillates the aperture plate."
- Does not cover devices that deliver a continuous stream of liquid instead of an "ejected stream of droplets."
- Does not cover devices that deliver liquid without first detecting a "predetermined inhalation flow rate."
- Does not cover devices that do not include a "removable fluid reservoir" or an "aperture plate."
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The innovation lies in precisely coordinating the release of medicine with the user's breathing, specifically by detecting a "predetermined inhalation flow rate." This ensures the droplets are delivered deep into the lungs or nasal passages at the most effective time, overcoming common challenges with user coordination in traditional inhalers.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Smart inhalers for asthma and COPD
Electronic nebulizers with breath-actuated features
Connected drug delivery devices for respiratory therapy
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology aims to improve how effectively people receive inhaled medicines by ensuring the medicine is delivered at the optimal moment during breathing. By automatically triggering droplet delivery only when a user inhales correctly, it can help patients, especially children or those with coordination difficulties, get the full benefit of their medication. This can lead to better health outcomes and more consistent treatment adherence for respiratory conditions.
Filed
February 13, 2025
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies in the respiratory drug delivery space, such as AstraZeneca, GSK, and Philips, are actively developing and marketing smart inhaler technologies. Startups like Propeller Health also focus on connected health solutions for respiratory conditions, often integrating sensors to monitor and improve medication adherence and technique.
Market impact
This type of technology contributes to the growing market for 'smart' medical devices, particularly in respiratory care. It enables more precise and effective drug delivery, potentially reducing medication waste and improving patient outcomes. The focus on inhalation sensing supports the development of devices that can collect data on patient usage, which can be valuable for healthcare providers in managing chronic conditions.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This electronic droplet delivery device includes a main body, called a housing, with a mouthpiece for air to exit. It holds liquid in a removable fluid reservoir. Inside, an aperture plate with many small openings receives fluid from this reservoir. An electronic actuator then vibrates this aperture plate very quickly, which creates a stream of tiny droplets. A sensor in the device is connected to this actuator and is designed to trigger the droplet stream only when it senses a specific, pre-set breathing speed, or "predetermined inhalation flow rate," from the user.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in precisely coordinating the release of medicine with the user's breathing, specifically by detecting a "predetermined inhalation flow rate." This ensures the droplets are delivered deep into the lungs or nasal passages at the most effective time, overcoming common challenges with user coordination in traditional inhalers.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover devices that are triggered by a manual button press or a timer, rather than by sensing inhalation.
- Does not cover devices that use propellants or heat to create a mist, as it specifies an "electronic actuator that oscillates the aperture plate."
- Does not cover devices that deliver a continuous stream of liquid instead of an "ejected stream of droplets."
- Does not cover devices that deliver liquid without first detecting a "predetermined inhalation flow rate."
- Does not cover devices that do not include a "removable fluid reservoir" or an "aperture plate."
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 18.4 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How a Droplet Device Delivers Medicine When You Breathe In (U.S. Patent No. 12,734,312). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734312/droplet-device-actuation-from-inhalation-sensing
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a Droplet Device Delivers Medicine When You Breathe In cover?
This patent describes an electronic device that sprays a fine mist of liquid, like medicine, into your mouth or nose automatically when it detects you are inhaling at a specific speed.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology aims to improve how effectively people receive inhaled medicines by ensuring the medicine is delivered at the optimal moment during breathing. By automatically triggering droplet delivery only when a user inhales correctly, it can help patients, especially children or those with coordination difficulties, get the full benefit of their medication. This can lead to better health outcomes and more consistent treatment adherence for respiratory conditions.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover devices that are triggered by a manual button press or a timer, rather than by sensing inhalation.
Patent monitoring