Data di pubblicazione

01-09-2021

Codice

DE.21.019.A

Stato

Disponibile

Data di priorità

28-05-2021

Fase

Italian Patent Application process

Titolare

Politecnico di Milano

Dipartimento

Department of Design

Autori

Aurelie Marie Glaser, Stefano Maffei, Massimo Bianchini

Descrizione

Eolo is a respiratory muscle training & monitoring device and assistant. This device aims to assess and improve its users’ inspiratory and expiratory capacity with loaded pressure breathing exercises and respiratory tests. The exercises are based on RMT principles (Respiratory Muscle training) and focus on training different muscles essential to the respiratory function like the diaphragm, the external and internal intercostal muscles, and other accessory muscles. On the other hand, the device and its mechanism offer the possibility to realize four different respiratory tests that enable both the assessment of lung functions and respiratory muscles. Developed to improve Pompe disease patients’ quality of life, this service product system can benefit many other clusters of users, like COPD patients, neuromuscular patients, athletes, and people looking to enhance their general health condition. The device principles and characteristics are intrinsic to the service functions. Indeed, this device accompanies users through their training program while providing friendly information and gathering data to improve their condition and knowledge thanks to our application providing tailor-made programs according to the user’s physiological data. Eolo is a handheld, portable, and rechargeable device composed of various components, each one being separable and distinct. Such a strategy aims to ease the repair and replacements of parts.

Campo di applicazione

Transient body orifice medical device. Wellbeing, e-health and medical device industrial application. The device falls within a segmented and diversified market. While most competitors are divided into two distinct markets, the device aims to link those two markets by proposing an integrative and versatile device that addresses all the various users’ unmet needs by combining monitoring, assessing, and training. It targets primarily patients with Pompe, COPD, or other conditions that impair their respiratory capacity and therefore position itself in the market of e-health and medical devices. It also perfectly fits the performance market and sports devices market as it is beneficial to athletes and sports amateurs. Finally, as this device teaches back good breathing techniques and helps increase the respiratory strength & the endurance of its users, this product also falls within the well-being market.

Vantaggi

Eolo provides many advantages and innovative features to its users. The existing devices available on the market propose various efficient types of training but often come with limitations both for the medical and the user side. Consequently, there is a strong need to rethink such tools. First of all, contrary to other therapies available on the market which require the patient to go to a doctor or specialist, this service product system provides a therapy that can be fully realized at home or anywhere. Therefore, it adapts to the users' lifestyle and needs without impeding on their schedule. As well, its dimensions, components, and ergonomics make e0lo a very portable tool. Secondly, Eolo is a standardized and flexible device as it applies to a large range of users by proposing tailor-made training and support. During my encounters with various clinicians and researchers, the need for a standardized but also personalized medical tool was predominant and thus influenced majorly the design of the device. Indeed, numerous analogue devices exist on the market. However, their set up, loaded range and loaded precision are often limited. For example, most of the competitors' devices propose a loaded range that is very restricted and therefore only applies to a certain category of user (i.e., Philips Threshold IMT proposes a loaded range from 0 to 60 H2Ocm, which can only be beneficial for people with acute respiratory problems and does not allow a strong progression). Eolo is a device is a service product system that targets three different kinds of users while respecting each one's personal needs. Eolo proposes a wide pressure loaded range from 0 to 270 H2Ocm and thus can apply to both three different user segments and respect each one personal needs and health condition. In the same way, by being connected to a service e0lo provides the user with accurate, precise, and real-time information about the loaded range selected. Eolo provides an inclusive and comprehensive therapy program and tool by integrating both Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and expiratory muscle training (EMT). This feature enables a complete therapy and involves the training of a much broader range of respiratory muscles. Equally, most other devices existing on the market are only analogue. Therefore, they do not provide any feedback, suggestions, or support both to the user or medical community. It is thus very difficult to verify the efficiency of the therapy, the patient's respiratory health condition, and the progress or difficulties of the user. Eolo provides constant real-time feedback with simple suggestions and encouragements, to help the user better realize his training. As well, by providing support and feedback on the patient therapy program, Eolo reduces the gap between the medical community and its patients. Finally, contrarily to other devices, Eolo does not only provide training, but also respiratory muscle assessment and monitoring. It allows a reduction of diagnosis delays and can serve as a primary tool to reveal respiratory conditions and therefore serves as a preventive and supportive care tool for both the medical community and the users. On the technical side, Eolo is composed of separable and distinct components, easy to remove, clean, or change in case of damage. For example, the main body part containing technological components proposes a snap-fit join system to enable easy access to the sensors and battery. The device was designed to follow ergonomic requirements and provide comfort to the users but also enable a simple production system with injection moulding. The structure of the device is thought to be minimalistic and avoid waste of materials. The technological components are simple and few. Indeed, only two sensors are needed. Finally, the choice of the pressure load: flow resistive pressure load ensures an easy fabrication process and reduces the costs.

Stadio di sviluppo

Prototype

Contatto

licensing.tto@polimi.it