Researchers developed a self-screening device, which they hope to commercialize, to help users detect diseases like COPD and asthma early using multi-sensory breathing information.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Early Lung Disease Detection: The portable analyzer enables users to detect lung diseases, such as COPD and asthma, through self-checks, aiming for earlier diagnosis and treatment.
- Integrated Multi-Sensory Technology: The device combines multiple lung-monitoring tools, including breath gas analysis and lung sound detection, for comprehensive respiratory assessment.
- Commercialization Goal in Three Years: Researchers aim to commercialize the analyzer within three years, planning to distribute it to senior centers, nursing homes, and other community facilities.
South Korean researchers have developed a new technology that can recognize and detect lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung fibrosis, asthma, etc, by utilizing multi-sensory sensing information on breathing.
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) researchers say this new discovery is expected to provide help in quickly treating lung damage before it intensifies by allowing early detection of the usually difficult-to-diagnose lung diseases through a convenient screening device capable of self-induced exhaled breath measurement.
The technology can simultaneously analyze various lung-related information and express it in various forms and images, allowing the user to check and diagnose the condition of their lung without the help of others.
The research team of ETRI integrated the existing FeNO measurement device, spirometer, and lung sound stethoscope device, which were individually used for diagnosing lung diseases, into a single multi-sensory recognition and measurement device.
This device can simultaneously obtain various types of lung-related information and then use artificial intelligence technology to correlate the information with multi-sensory measurement information to provide an early diagnosis of the lung and screen for lung-related diseases.
Simplifying Lung Disease Screenings
In the past, various tests and complicated processes were required to provide an accurate diagnosis of the lung. Moreover, it also required a large amount of time and will of the patient. In addition, due to the complicated processes, a large amount of assistance and guidance from medical experts and personnel was also required. As such, lung-related diseases were often diagnosed belatedly due to such issues. However, already damaged lungs are often difficult to treat, and it is already well-known that complete recovery of a damaged lung is nearly impossible.
However, with ETRI’s new lung disease screening device, the researchers say the user can receive a fast analysis of their current lung condition, allowing them to visit the hospital in case there is a problem, ensuring they receive timely treatment.
According to ETRI, the key technologies that were considered when developing this device were:
- Detection and analysis of exhaled breath gas
- Abnormality recognition technology via auscultation and lung sound detection
- Self-diagnosis of lung diseases via mobile content technology
- Multi-sensory lung disease screening technology
The research team secured alveolar breath sampling technology that allows the extraction of exhaled breath gas from the lungs, along with an ultra-sensitive nitric oxide detection technology with a minimum detection limit of 5ppb. Thus, the device enables the detection of the slightest differences in the exhaled breath gas that may often occur during the early stages of lung disease.
In addition, they developed a lung capacity measurement technology that variably controls the expected maximum amount of tidal volume according to the physical characteristics of the subject, making it possible for an accurate screening process via a detailed analysis by linking the respiratory characteristics and lung function of each patient.
The technology has achieved a minimum nitric oxide detection limit of 5ppb, along with a maximum expiratory flow rate limit of 900L/min, which was verified through a series of performance tests using a mass flow controller and a flow generator.
Plans to Commercialize the Tech
The research team expects the commercialization of the technology to be possible within three years. Their plan is to transfer the technology to Active D&C Co Ltd, their partner research and development institution, produce prototypes before commercialization, go through clinical trials, then finally register the product as a medical device and distribute them to multi-use facilities such as senior care centers, nursing homes, and community centers nationwide.
“Using our multisensory-based screening technology, it will become possible to detect and treat lung diseases during their early stages, improving the general health of the public and reduce unnecessary social and medical costs through the process,” says Jeong Il-Kwon, assistant vice president of ETRI’s Content Research Division, in a release.
In the future, researchers are planning to advance their lung disease screening technology by expanding its scope and converging information from various fields. They are also working on building a platform that can simultaneously perform regular monitoring and provide respiratory training programs/contents for the users and opening it to the public.
Photo caption: Integrated platform for the lung disease screening device
Photo credit: ETRI
