Mobile Respiratory Aid Device To Help COPD Patients Breath Easy Again

More thanmillion Americans have such severe COPDchronic obstructive pulmonary diseasethat they cannot even climb a single flight of stairsdue to the feeling of suffocation with even minimal movementThese patients suffer like this for yearsfirst becoming essentially home boundthen chair boundand eventually bed boundThis lack of physical activity has been repeatedly shown to increase the frequency of hospitalizationthe major driver of cost in COPDThe standard of COPD care is grossly inadequate and is composed of two main therapiesFirst are inhalersbronchodilators and corticosteroidswhich only marginally improve shortness of breathSecond is supplemental oxygenwhich increases lifespan but does very little for shortness of breathOur patient population is defined as themillion COPD patients who are on maximal medical therapyinhalersoxygenbut still cannot climb a single flight of stairs due to terrible shortness of breathActivities proposed in the project will contribute to human health by providing the first wearable negative pressure ventilator for COPD patientsrelieving them of exertional dyspneaallowing them to reengage in normal exercise and daily activitiesand keeping them out of the hospitalTo solve this enormous need in COPDwe invented the AIR ADThe AIR AD looks like a regular clothing vestbut it dramatically offloads work of breathing and reduces dynamic hyperinflationthereby markedly ameliorating dyspnea on exertionallowing patients to increase their physical activity and stay out of the hospitalWith each breath inthe AIR AD generates a vacuum within the shell that helps lift the chest and abdomenhelping the patient inspireWith each breath outthe AIR AD increases pressure over the chest and helps the patient breath out fasterWe have researched the viability of this idea through the NSF ICorps projectThe responses of the interviewed patientshealthcare providersand hospital administrators were overwhelmingly positiveDuring the proposed projectwe will perform human factors analysis by interviewing patients to establish key design features and user needsAimaWe will develop a novel respiratory pattern sensor for accurate breathing detection during ambulation and talkingAimFinallywe will perform a pilot testing of the patient preference designed AIR AAimAt the end of research and development in Phasewe will have developed and verified a prototype AIR AD deviceproving that a wearable device can perform as well as stationary CVs in terms of pressure rangesbreathing frequencyand breathing synchronybut have good mobilitypatient comfortand patient acceptance while walkingAt that pointwe will have sufficient evidence to support the development and clinical testing of the final AIR AD device in a PhaseSBIR Activities proposed in the project will contribute to human health by providing the first wearable negative pressure ventilator for COPD patientsrelieving them of exertional dyspneaallowing them to reengage in normal exercise and daily activitiesand keeping them out of the hospitalThe proposed technology dramatically offloads work of breathing and reduces dynamic hyperinflationthereby markedly ameliorating dyspnea on exertionallowing patients to increase their physical activity and stay out of the hospital