MedTech Outlook | Monday, May 30, 2022

The Cutting-Edge Digital Devices remind users how often they've used the device, assess inspiratory flow rates, determine if the inhaling technique needs improvement, and share patient data with doctors.

FREMONT, CA: Cutting-edge treatments have long been used to diagnose, manage, and cure respiratory and pulmonary diseases. The impact of Covid-19, combined with increased awareness of breathing problems and other health complications, has resulted in a growth in the number of cutting-edge digital equipment and systems for respiratory and pulmonary care. Many people with asthma find it challenging to manage their condition since some symptoms are difficult to regulate, and the timing and severity of episodes frequently appear to be completely unpredictable. Healthcare providers generally struggle to pinpoint which variables or stressors trigger attacks, and they are often unable to confirm whether patients are taking their medications correctly, if at all.

Smart inhalers 

Inhalers are used to treat COPD and asthma by directly delivering bronchodilator medicine to the airway, bypassing the bloodstream. To obtain the best symptom control, patients must regularly adhere to a carefully developed drug schedule, with dosage and timing altered. Many inhaler users either forget or ignore the schedule or fail to purchase refills on time. Smart inhalers, of which there is an increasing number on the market, are likely to enhance how patients and clinicians manage COPD therapy. These inhalers with additional digital features, such as Bluetooth connectivity, connect to an app.

Enhanced algorithms 

A wide spectrum of chronic respiratory disorders can be efficiently diagnosed and managed with the help of digital health technologies. While asthma is still treated as a single disease, it is widely acknowledged that current diagnostic techniques need to be improved. Artificial intelligence (AI) can be helpful in this situation. It can run its algorithms on off-the-shelf cellphones without any additional hardware or accessories. These algorithms are included in smartphone apps that have been certified as medical devices and are utilized by telehealth firms, clinics, and pharmaceutical companies worldwide.

Next-level imaging 

Fluidda, a Belgian startup, has created a proprietary technology known as Functional Respiratory Imaging (FRI), which blends low-dose CT scans with artificial intelligence and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Compared to a routine visual interpretation of CT scans and conventional lung function testing, this technique delivers significantly greater information about lung disorders and therapies.

Wearable wonders

Computational solutions and sensory innovation are also helping respiratory care. For example, the Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) service from San Francisco-based Spire Health uses breakthrough respiratory sensing technology to monitor patient health. The user's respiration data, pulse rate, and activity are continuously gathered and shared with a team of therapists working under the supervision of the patient's doctor as long as they are wearing sensor-enabled clothing.



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