Description

Chronic lung diseases are one of the four most important causes of chronic non-communicable diseases. Among these, the most frequent is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which affects more than 64 million people in the world. In developed countries, it is currently the fourth cause of death, causing the death of 3 million people/year. The national socio-health costs associated with COPD represent 0.25% of GDP, that is, 528 M€/year. In addition, there are other pathologies that cause problems with the elimination of pulmonary secretions, such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis or neuromuscular diseases, which are also limiting to the quality of life and survival, present a severe prognosis and have a very significant socioeconomic impact.

The standardized treatment for patients with problems with the elimination of secretions is external thoracic physiotherapy performed by specialized physiotherapists. However, this therapy presents problems of patient adherence.

There are various external mechanical thoracic physiotherapy systems, but their use is limited because: (i) they can only be used at home or in hospital, causing confinement of people; (ii) temporary use; (iii) they do not allow personalized treatment guidelines; (iv) for follow-up it is necessary to go to hospital centers; (v) high price (from €10,000-25,000).

ELECTROVEST is a vest with a double purpose: (1) to create a personalized vibratory field on the thoracic wall that favors the mobilization and definitive expulsion of bronchial secretions, and (2) to stimulate adherence to treatment through home self-monitoring of functional respiratory parameters (VEMS, Sat O2, Metabolic Equivalents or METs) that can be monitored remotely by your specialist doctor.

The technology is protected by a patent owned by the Andalusian Health Service. It has been granted (EP3378462B1) and validated as a Unitary Patent in Spain and the United Kingdom.

1. Portable: Allows the patient to use it in their daily life.
2. Versatile: Allows the patient and the doctor to configure and adapt the therapy telematically, reducing the dependence on the physiotherapist, caregiver, patient or their family. Ensures the patient’s independence.
3. Personalized therapy: Application of massages depending on vital signs, breathing status, cough detection… Ability to issue adaptive therapy based on the records received.
4. Orientation to doctor/physiotherapist: History of therapies and patient data available and analysable by the doctor/physiotherapist.

Laboratory-validated prototype. In the process of clinical validation within the framework of a project funded by the Department of Health and Consumption of the Andalusian Government.

An agreement has been established for the exploitation of this technology with the textile company Cocemfe Toledo Servicios Múltiples (CTS). They are interested in collaborating partners and/or investors to complete the regulatory development of the product.

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