Newly developed patch facilitates asthma management in everyday life

New patch can detect breathlessness and respiratory inflammation
An Australian industrial design graduate was the first to develop wearable technology for improved asthma management. The patch called Respia is able to recognize breathlessness and respiratory inflammation. The expert was awarded an international prize for her development.

Australian designer Katherine Kawecki wanted to make it easier for people with asthma to deal with their illness. For this, she developed a patch that can detect breathlessness and respiratory inflammation. For this reason, the designer was awarded the James Dyson Award.

People with asthma suffer from problems with their breathing. These can lead to seizures and breathlessness, which put those affected in mortal danger. However, a newly developed system of inhaler and patch greatly simplifies monitoring in asthma. (Image: zlikovec / fotolia.com)

Patch and new inhaler can also monitor the drugs used
The Respia patch is able to determine if patients are breathless or have respiratory inflammation. In addition, it is also possible through the patch that used drugs are monitored. In addition to the patch, the expert developed a new design of an asthma inhaler. Developer Katherine Kawecki now hopes her invention can help asthmatics around the world.

Expert: All deaths from asthma are preventable
Kawecki graduated from New South Wales University earlier this year. Every year, too many people die from the effects of asthma, says the expert. Because of this, it was time to view asthma management as a serious problem. All of the deaths occurring are preventable, but there appears to be a trend for undervaluing the state of those affected, adds the designer.

Pflaster warns of respiratory problems due to vibrations
The plaster works much like a stethoscope. It measures via a sensitive acoustic sensor when users are suffering from breathlessness or wheezing. Patients sometimes do not notice the signs of an asthma attack, for example when they are working. The portable patch monitors their breathing and gives the sufferers vibrant feedback throughout the day, Kawecki explains.

Inhaler communicates via Bluetooth with a smartphone app
The inhaler used with the Respia is equipped with Bluetooth to forward information about medications used to an app on a smartphone. This indicates, for example, if and how many doses of the drug are still available.

More money and support needed for mass production
Previously, the designer had already developed a prototype of the device. Now it needs more money and support to make the device accessible to a wider audience, explains Ms. Kawecki.

System saves the work of asthma management
The system is very well thought out, there is a charging station for charging the inhaler. In this, the patch can be stored. The portable patch makes the user aware of acoustic symbols when their asthma symptoms worsen. This removes the mental burden of the sufferers and saves them the work of asthma management, explains the designer. (As)