The inhaler, unveiled by UK based company Cambridge Consultants, is using a wireless platform called "Vena", which employs two emerging wireless standards, including the Infrared-based IEEE11073 and the Bluetooth Medical Device Profile.  Vena embeds the two into a single chip as the combination of them ensures compatibility of data exchanged between different types of devices and the security in the transmitting of medical data. 

This ‘connected patient’ technology can allow healthcare specialists to monitor medication compliance, reduce long-term treatment costs, and improve patient access to, and interaction with, healthcare providers. 

The demo inhalers connect to an online personal health care application via a Smartphone or a computer.  The inhaler then can both remind patients to take their treatment and send compliance information to the relevant personal healthcare location online.

Both patient and health care specialist can access the secure information to monitor progress and connect with one another.

Aside from the inhalers; other Vena-enabled medical devices, which are unspecified at this time, will be designed to connect similarly.  Further manufacture of wireless technology based medical devices is expected to encourage electronic medical data usage by both physicians and patients.