CPI supports firms in development of wearable for asthmatic children

Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) is working alongside ItoM Medical BV and Blumorpho to support the development of a wearable medical device focused upon improving treatment for children with uncontrolled asthma. The device, a smart vest prototype, will see input from CPI’s expertise in the printable electronics sector.

CPI’s work with ItoM Medical aims to deliver a step-change in asthma treatment by providing sufferers with the opportunity to take control of the disease and create a better life for themselves and their parents. The condition can lead to a decrease in quality of life and a subsequent increase in healthcare costs.

During the project, CPI will use its technical capabilities to support the development of a working demonstrator of the device, bringing to the fore its experience in screen printing, attaching technologies for wearable electronics, and support to take products to pilot manufacture.

The project is also benefiting from utilising ItoM’s surface-ElectroMyoGraphy (sEMG) technology.

Jurryt Vellinga, CEO at ItoM Medical said: “Every innovation in the medical field begins with small steps of research and feasibility studies. It is these small steps that are sometimes difficult for smaller companies to take or finance. The SmartEEs project is a great help in this, connecting the companies and institutes with the required knowledge to create new products and treatments. The asthma monitoring solution we are developing is such a new product. It is empowering children to control their asthma and lead normal lives, to participate in sports at school, for example. This is a huge step towards improving their quality of life.”

Blumorpho is working on the project by supporting the complex business needs for the legislative requirements and routes into the medical device market.

The project is part of the wider SmartEEs programme, which is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme and aims to support companies with the development of new business ideas using flexible electronics technologies. This is being implemented through a Call for Application Experiments, with SmartEEs selecting and supporting 20 Application Experiments aimed at generating business success stories.

Sandy Gunn, Business Development Manager at CPI, said: “This is an interesting and exciting project for CPI, bringing together CPI’s conductive printing experience with ItoM Medical’s semi-conductor expertise. The application area is very important and worthwhile, I’m sure it will be welcomed by the parents of children with asthma. The advantage of working through the SmartEEs Project for all parties is that initial demonstrators can be carried out at very low risk. The international collaboration aspect ensures that the end user has access to the most appropriate facilities in Europe.”