Page 8 - DME Pharmacy, April 2019

common jet nebulizers.
Sometimes, analog is best. The design of Philips’ OptiChamber VHC
incorporates low-resistance valves to overcome problems with timing
of pressurized metered dose inhalers (PMDI) actuation into inhalation. It lets patients breathe in normally through a mouthpiece instead of per- forming a special breathing technique. It’s especially suitable for young children, Philips says, because the small size lets them clear the drug from a chamber more quickly. It’s available with a flexible LiteTouch facemask that uses a comfort seal with a minimal amount of pressure to help get
a better fit. The mask comes in three sizes and helps patients who can’t breathe through a mouthpiece.
The company’s range of SideStream nebulizers, for liquid medication delivery, provide a high-quality aerosol mist for delivery into the airways. The SideStream Plus is a design option that incorporates two valves that
minimize waste of the drug during exhalation and boost medication deliv- ery during inhalation, which reduces treatment time.
It’s not just nebulizers getting metered. OxyGo has offered its por- table oxygen concentrators (POC) since 2015, but just this year rolled out OxyGo FIT Connect, a new wireless connectivity platform using Bluetooth technology. The free platform, always a planned companion feature for the device, includes a provider dashboard and mobile application for patient use through mobile devices.
“The new Bluetooth-enabled unit and patient app, in conjunction with a provider-focused and -designed back end, will improve patient out- comes by allowing patients and providers to communicate in real time about their POC,” says OxyGo CEO Victoria Marquard-Schultz.
The My OxyGo Provider Dashboard works with the My OxyGo App to provide real-time monitoring to help with troubleshooting, concentrator health checks, preventative maintenance and geo-locating of patients’ POCs. Providers and patients can check battery life, column life, oxygen purity and more with the touch of a button.
“OxyGo’s mission is to ‘Keep Going.’ This is just another tool in our kit to keep ambulatory oxygen patients moving and HMEs providing the state-of-the-art care required in this competitive market,” Marquard- Schultz says. An added benefit for DMEs: OxyGo does not sell direct to consumers and has an online referral engine for DME providers.
The latest entry into the respiratory drug delivery market is the ProAir Digihaler from Teva Pharmaceutical. The inhaler with built-in sensors won approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last December and is getting a limited rollout this year, with a national launch planned for 2020.
ProAir Digihaler contains sensors that detect when the inhaler is used and measure inspiratory flow. The inhaler use data is then sent to the com- panion mobile app using Bluetooth wireless technology, so patients can review their data over time and share it with their healthcare professionals. The device combines a breath-activated, multi-dose dry powder inhaler with albuterol — the most widely used asthma rescue medication — with a built- in electronic module and a companion mobile app, which provides inhaler use information to people with asthma and COPD.
The device helps patients and their caregivers better understand inhal- er usage, says Sven Dethlefs, executive vice president of global marketing and portfolio at Teva. “The digital technology built into ProAir Digihaler provides patients with data on their inhaler use, which may help them to have a more informed dialogue with their healthcare provider regarding their asthma or COPD management.”
Teva says the ProAir Digihaler is available this year through a small number of “early experience” programs, conducted with healthcare systems and in limited areas, to gather real-world experience. A national launch is planned for next year. n
Holly Wagner is a freelance writer covering a variety of industries, including healthcare.
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OxyGo — oxygo.life
Philips Respironics — usa.philips.com; respironics.com Convexity Scientific— convexityscientific.com; flypnebulizer.com Teva Respiratory — tevausa.com; proairdigihaler.com
Propeller Health — propellerhealth.com
8 April 2019 | DME Pharmacy
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