Medical device turns traditional inhaler for asthmatics into a “smart”, connectable inhaler

eBreathie, developed by the startup of the same name, won a BfK Award, a distinction awarded by ANI as part of the HINTT Prize, an initiative that aims to recognise and disseminate best practices in the adoption of ICT in healthcare. In addition to the BfK Awards, eBreathie also won the Startup Innovation category.

It’s a smart-inhaler, i.e. a “smart” inhaler, which, through a sensor fitted to the inhaler the patient is already using, is able to transmit useful and reliable information to a mobile application, which will help not only the patient to have a better quality of life, but also their doctor to better manage the disease and the medication. The device also has a feature that sets it apart from the competition: it indicates to asthma patients in real time whether they are using the inhaler correctly. The data collected is then made available to the treating doctor, which guarantees more personalised and closer healthcare.

At this stage, the project is carrying out usability tests on both prototypes – the hardware (medical device) and the mobile application, which are fully integrated – in a laboratory environment.

The eBreathie mentors also claim that there is validated scientific evidence on the impact of using smart-inhalers in general. It shows that its use increases the number of days without any symptoms by 23% after one year of use; decreases the use of reliever medication by 39% in the same period; and that 62% of users with uncontrolled asthma had fewer visits to the emergency room and fewer hospitalisations.

This year, ANI joined the HINTT Prize for the first time, which aims to recognise and disseminate best practices in the adoption of information and communication technologies, through the BfK Awards, which aim to distinguish projects that are “born of knowledge” and companies that stand out in R&D activities.