Asthma is a chronic disease that affects millions of people in the U.S. Those affected with asthma may not have an inhaler with them at all times and attacks are usually erratic. With an asthma attack, the body is quickly deprived of oxygen and the brain can incur damage within minutes of the attack unless medication is immediately administered.
To help treat asthma patients, we are designing some sort of personal accessory type device that resembles a fitness band type device, that has a reduced dosage of medication for an emergency inhaler that would be part of the wristband. The dosage would be enough to keep the patient alive in the event of an asthma attack, then use a GPS system to locate and send medical emergency help to the patient. The wristband may also include other features of current fitness bands, like heart rate, steps, and distance traveled.
==Competitors==
Competitor
Advantages
Disadvantages
Unmet Needs
Rescue Inhaler
quick, efficient, lasts 4-6 hrs
device has to be carried, small dosage
convenience (aesthetic), cheap way to refill (financial)
Inhaler (corticosteroids)
quick, relieves symptoms almost immediately, longer-lasting effects
Must carry around (may forget it), some medications may not be effective in children, some patients are embarrassed to use them, require prescription
convenience (aesthetic), size (aesthetic, technological), way to send help to patient (technological)
Airborne Trigger Sensors
precise (patient knows exactly what's in the air), preventative
expensive, restrictive (typically installed inside a room), patient must know their triggers, doesn't actually treat the asthma attack
Alerts patient of possible asthma attack by assessing environmental factors such as ozone air and organic compounds. Has heart monitor included. Wristband (aesthetic and easy to use) and convenient to carry.
Doesn't include emergency shot of medicine and still in developing stages
No GPS tracker or immediate relief from attack
Customer Validation
Patient
1) Patient will no longer forget inhaler
2) Treatment necessary during an asthma attack will be available much quicker, reducing risk of oxygen deprivation
Payer
1) Don't have to pay for device, only the cartridges
2) Less risk, patients are safer because they will be able to survive attacks
Physician
1) Quick prescriptions
2) Less people checked into the hospital taking up rooms, nurses, and medications
Provider
1) Don't have to buy/sell product
2) Patient buys independently through prescription
Purchaser
1) Gives companies a device that is already popular (fit bands) but is specialized to fit asthma patients as well
2) Might have high demand from sportspeople with asthma conditions
IP Position
Patent Landscape
Patents are currently held on different inhaler device designs. There are different aerosol canister designs but there seems to not be a patent on an on-person accessory style inhaler device.
IP Risks
Current risk relates to the lack of patents available for inhalers of this type and possible improvements one can make to the already designed inhalers. Other than that, no current patents exist that uses a band-like emergency inhaler with a built -in GPS device.
Number/Assignee
Title
Summary
Image
Filing Date/Status
Citation
US7418962B1/Rao C P
Inhaler for Aerosol Medication
An inhaler that has an aerosol holding chamber with an inlet for both an aerosol canister attached at one end and a mouthpiece on the other. The device contains a re-circulation chamber that catches particles of the medication to keep them from escaping.The chamber is collapsible.
2007-08-23/Active
(Rao,2007)
Number/Assignee
Title
Summary
Image
Filing Date/Status
Citation
US20140135612A1/Fitbit Inc.
Portable Monitoring Devices For Processing Applications and Processing Analysis of Physiological Conditions of a User associated with the Portable Monitoring Device
Sensor used by the Fitbit watch for tracking activity of the wearer. Sends information to the device for information processing to determine current condition of wearer which can then execute certain commands.
2014-01-15/Active
(Fitbit Inc,2014)
Fundability Worksheet Scores
Competitors
3 -Once fabricated this device will differentiate itself from others due to its originality. The devices that are the most similar include fitness watches and inhalers. The benefits to this device is the combination of the two, therefore creating a many new devices to be displaced on the market.
Customer Validation
2 - If this device was placed on the market, there would presumable be interest since 334 million people have asthma ranging from severe to mild (Global Asthma Report). This wearable emergency device is more efficient than current medical solutions and it provides additional benefits that could help prolong one's chance of survival during an unforeseen attack. The device is an accessory and medical device in one, which will excite customers as they would get more out of the device than just an inhaler. The GPS tracker will ensure that customers will receive the proper emergency rescue, aid, and treatment with random asthma attacks wherever they may be.
IP Position
2 - Patents have been issued for devices that have similar features, but there are no patents that have been issued for an on-person wearable inhaler device, therefore, the possibility of passing a patent to our device exists.
Works Cited
Works Cited
Brandon, John. “Top Wearable Tech for Medical Issues.” News. Vital Connect. Web. 31 Aug. 2016.
“Global Market for Asthma Treatment Expected to Reach $21.7 Billion by 2020.” New Medical. AZoM, 29 May 2015. Web. 31 Aug. 2016.
"The Global Asthma Report 2014." The Global Asthma Report 2014. Web. 07 Sept. 2016.
Hansen-Flaschen, John. “Asthma.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 31 Aug. 2016.
“Intelligent Asthma Management with ADMM.” Health Care Originals. Eagledream Technologies. Web. 31 Aug. 2016.
Rao, C. P. Inhaler for Aerosol Medication. C. P. Rao, assignee. Patent US7418962B1. 2007 Aug. 23. Print.
Rojahn, Susan Young. “AT&T Labs Builds an Asthma-Trigger Detection Device.” MIT Technology Review. MIT Technology Review, 21 Dec. 2012. Web. 31 Aug. 2016.
“What is Occupational Asthma?” Work-Related Asthma (WRA). Web. 31 Aug. 2016.
Yuen, Shelten Gee Jao, James Park, Eric Nathan Friedman, Mark Emanuel Martinez, Andrew Cole Axely, and Fitbit Inc. "Portable Monitoring Devices For Processing Applications and Processing Analysis of Physiological Conditions of a User Associated with the Portable Monitoring Device." Patent US20140135612A1. N.p., 15 Jan. 2014. Web. 06 Sept. 2016.
By NC State University June 1st, 2016. "New Devices, Wearable System Aim To Predict, Prevent Asthma Attacks - Answers to Corporate Challenges & Open Innovation, PreScouter." Answers to Corporate Challenges Open Innovation PreScouter. PreScouter, 28 June 2016. Web. 07 Sept. 2016.
BME 100 Fall 2016
