First-in-class wearable breath support device for patients struggling with respiratory disorders.
Last Updated : Apr 15 2024
First-in-class wearable breath support device for patients struggling with respiratory disorders.
Building the only breath support therapy designed to make breathing easier with a wearable device for people with respiratory disorders. The simple, low-profile device fits over the torso and is intended to offload the work of breathing without masks, tanks, or cumbersome equipment to increase exercise tolerance, reduce hospital admissions, and improve overall quality of life.
In the US, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the 2nd leading cause of major disability and costs $40 billion annually [2]. Adults with COPD are more likely to report being unable to work (24.3% vs 5.3%), having an activity limitation caused by health problems (49.6% versus 16.9%), having difficulty walking or climbing stairs (38.4% versus 11.3%), or using special equipment to manage health problems (22.1% versus 6.7%), compared with adults without COPD [1]. To overcome respiratory obstruction, hyperinflation, and air trapping, some COPD patients require the use of their accessory muscles for breathing. These muscles can fatigue quickly, exacerbating dyspnea. Effectively
RightAir has created AIR-AD, a fully mobile, non-invasive, wearable respiratory assist device designed to offload the work of breathing for COPD patients (think electric bike for the lungs that resembles a concealable “Iron Man” vest). AIR-AD allows COPD patients to recapture the ability to perform basic activities they enjoyed prior to suffering from COPD, increase independence, and improve general well-being.
AIR-AD is the world's lightest and only portable cuirass ventilator. It is a low-profile device that fits over the torso and is intended to offload the work of breathing without masks, tanks, or cumbersome equipment that restricts everyday activities. When a patient takes a breath, AIR-AD generates a vacuum that helps the accessory muscles lift the torso to draw air in. Conversely, when a patient breathes out, AIR-AD provides support by applying pressure over the torso. AIR-AD is an FDA Class II medical device.
RightAir has optimized AIR-AD for COPD patients based on COPD patient data and is actively enrolling in its First-in-Human Clinical Study at Penn Medicine.
A. Market Entry: RightAir will partner with Durable Medical Equipment (DME) providers. DME’s employ skilled respiratory therapists and technicians that can support device setup, patient and caregiver training, and maintenance. Using the DME model, sale for an AIR-AD device would be $8,500 with a 5-year service life. Including accessories, disposables, and service, the expected 5-year total revenue is estimated to be $12,500 per patient.
B. Scale: RightAir will become its own DME in geographic areas of high value or strategic importance and continue with the DME model in other markets. It provides the opportunity to capture the full 5-year reimbursement ($60K vs $12.5K per patient).
C. New Revenue: Expanding AIR-AD's connectivity capabilities will allow RightAir to develop device enabled services and create new revenue streams in remote monitoring, virtual pulmonary rehab, patient compliance, reducing hospital readmissions, etc.
Existing solutions in this space include Hayek RTX and Dima Italia Pegaso Vent T. Neither of these devices is portable, and they serve different patient populations.
The current iteration of AIR-AD will focus on COPD patients to help them recapture their ability to perform activities they enjoyed prior to living with COPD. This includes home and outpatient pulmonary rehab applications.
Future generations of AIR-AD will have full connectivity to enable RightAir to become a device-enabled services company. This will allow for:
Additional market opportunities:
RightAir is a clinical stage med-tech company that has designed and developed AIR-AD, a fully functional breath support device optimized for ambulatory COPD patients. Specifically features to off-load the work of breathing and synchronizing support to match a patient's own breathing pattern.
AIR-AD is currently active in a first-in-human Clinical Trial at Penn Medicine and expected to be completed by Q3 2024.
Regulatory clearance is expected in Q1 2025.
“Short time I wore it I felt if I could wear it longer, I bet I could do more. Felt better the longer I was wearing it. Wear it for a period to see if I could do housework. Strengthen me for more incline walks, stairs. Increase my endurance to walk.”
“With a ventilator my breathing has to adjust to work properly, with shell the body seemed to adjust easier.”
“This device would allow me to do more activities. Sense of confidence to perform duties that I like to do.”
“Breathing on my own for my condition, I am struggling – when I put device on, I wasn’t struggling as much, it felt more comfortable for me to breath.”
“I use a ventilator now; was very hard to adapt to use it, you must put over nose – felt like you were being smothered. With the shell you feel you could use longer.”
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