i2iHealth and Medical Acoustics, LLC have entered into a partnership to serve the healthcare market in India. Following the pact, it will form an exclusive partnership for commercializing Medical Acoustics’ propriety respiratory medical device, the Lung Flute, in India, through on-going clinical testing, distribution and future improvements.

The Lung Flute is a low cost, non-invasive medical device that uses patented low-frequency acoustic wave technology to stimulate the body’s natural mucus-clearing system. In clinical studies, the device demonstrated efficacy mobilizing retained secretions and improving airway clearance in patients suffering from COPD, asthma, pneumonia and bronchiectasis. As a diagnostic tool, the Lung Flute provides an effective method to induce a deep lung secretion sample to test for diseases such as TB, lung cancer and pneumonia.

It is the first product introduced by the privately held company, which was built on nearly 10 years of research and development in the area of applying acoustical science to healthcare. The device has been cleared by the US FDA and European Union for both therapeutic and diagnostic use; it is the only respiratory device that can make such a claim. The Lung Flute’s novel use of acoustical technology and the devices medical efficacy have resulted in its selection by Frost and Sullivan for a “Best in Technology Award,” Popular Science named it a Best Innovations of 2009 and Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry Magazine (MD&DI) named Medical Acoustics to its list of “Top 50 Companies to Watch”.

i2iHealth’s mission is to address the unique healthcare challenges in India by simultaneously addressing the twin issues of price and access to quality care. Its approach is to  invest in simple, distributed-use technologies that can either be self-administered by patients at home or by primary-care doctors. Pulmonary care is one of the key areas of focus of i2iHealth given the significant challenges in India. Even conservative estimates suggest over 50M serious cases of COPD, Asthama, Lung Cancer, Cystic Fibrosis and other debilitating lung-diseases in India. Improving patients’ ability to easily dislodge mucous from lungs, significantly improves their battle against such chronic conditions. Devices such as the Lung Flute augment or replace the need for more expensive hospital treatment.

While the technology was already patented and indicated for use for mucous excretion in the USA and EU, i2iHealth has been working on localizing, validating and manufacturing the product for India. Based on several Indian findings, the technology is now being considered for additional benefits like  reduction in drug usage, improvements in TB diagnosis etc. It is also working with Medical Acoustics to locally manufacture the LungFlute in India.

“We are especially interested in working with i2iHealth and its strong network of clinical advisors, to conduct ongoing clinical testing for additional applications” said Frank Codella, CEO of Medical Acoustics.

“Lung Flute represents a new class of innovation that can bring advanced care at lower cost, and hence has great potential in India,” said Vincent Rajendran, director operations for i2iHealth. “We have conducted extensive local testing and validation of the Lung Flute at over 10 leading hospitals in India and are very excited with the findings. In addition to validating the intended purpose with Indian data, our Scientific Advisory Board also found additional value from the use of the device, in the form of improved drug usage and reduced treatment cost for patients. Even in the few weeks of limited introduction in Bangalore, a large number of leading doctors have already started prescribing the device.”