Bosch Healthcare Solutions has developed the world’s first patient device for FeNO measurement. It is intended to give asthma patients more security in everyday life. The meter was launched on August 1, 2019, and measures fractional nitric oxide (FeNO) concentration, which is a direct indicator of inflammation level in eosinophilic airway disease.
The German National Asthma Care Guideline recommends FeNO measurement in patients with frequent exacerbations, as it can help to adjust therapy and thereby reduce the frequency of acute asthma attacks [2]. As a supplement to the stationary respiratory gas measuring device Vivatmo pro for medical practices, Vivatmo me is tailored to patients: With the handy and easy-to-use device familiar from medical practices, non-invasive FeNO measurements can be performed in addition to the practice tests. Documentation of the measurements provides the physician with valuable information about the course of the disease and the response to therapy. “By measuring NO at home, the patient can now gauge the degree of inflammation in his or her lungs and, together with the physician, optimize therapy with inhaled corticosteroids,” says Prof. Felix Herth, MD, Medical Director of the Thorax Clinic at Heidelberg University Hospital.
Control asthma and document therapy
In particular, severe asthma sufferers who do not always respond satisfactorily to medication, parents of younger asthmatics or patients with low compliance with therapy benefit from Vivatmo me: regular home FeNO measurement can be easily integrated into everyday life – similar to blood glucose measurement for diabetics. The data is uploaded via Bluetooth to the free Vivatmo app on the patient’s smartphone, where it is stored. In the app, patients can also enter notes about their disease progression or medication regimen and access an up-to-date pollen forecast. The data can be printed or emailed to the physician. The measurement protocol can be used to determine whether there is a need to adjust the therapy. “We have succeeded in bringing a recognized respiratory gas measurement from the specialist’s office directly to the asthma patient’s home,” explained Marc Meier, member of the Bosch Healthcare Solutions board of management, highlighting the Bosch Group’s experience in sensor technology, software, and miniaturization, which came into play in the development of Vivatmo me.
Source: Bosch Healthcare Solutions
Literature:
- Dweik RA, et al: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011; 184: 602-615.
- National Health Care Guideline (NVL) Asthma, abridged version, 3rd edition, September 2018
InFo PNEUMOLOGY & ALLERGOLOGY 2019; 1(2): 32 (published 9/27/19, ahead of print).
