Background

Current aerosolized medications using Metered Dose Inhalers (MDI) with a spacer attachment often suffer from incorrect usage, leading to poor medication delivery. The most common misuses of the modern MDI are caused by poor coordination, improper breathing techniques and failure to adhere to a treatment regime. These issues often pose a challenge to patients with COPD and asthma. Spacers help mitigate the loss of medication through slowing the medication administered so it does not get stuck to the patient’s mouth or throat. The lack of an ability to provide real time feedback will be mitigated with the development of a smart spacer system that would not only allow for enhanced medication delivery but also enable a data driven approach to respiratory care.