Propeller Health, the leading digital health platform for asthma and COPD, has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance to market its latest generation of the Propeller platform, including a new sensor.

Propeller is a digital therapeutic designed to help patients and their physicians better understand and control asthma, COPD, and other respiratory disease to reduce preventable emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and unnecessary suffering. With a novel combination of sensors, mobile apps, and analytics, the system encourages adherence to maintenance therapy and remotely monitors use of rescue medications to facilitate early intervention and avoid costly exacerbations.

Under the new clearance, the Propeller system can now be used to help predict exacerbations in patients with asthma and COPD. By comparing Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI) use to a patient's baseline and the clinical guidelines, Propeller alerts care teams to people who do not have their disease under control, or who may be worsening and heading to an exacerbation.

The system can now also be used to reduce the frequency of respiratory health symptoms and exacerbations by increasing adherence to medications through feedback, such as reminders, notifications, and self-management education. Propeller's automated, real-time coaching educates users about how best to manage their disease, recognize symptoms and avoid triggers. For the first time, that coaching can include inhaler technique — a major barrier to the optimal use of inhaled medications — using information captured during the normal course of use.

The latest sensor is 30 per cent smaller and features a new collar that removes the need for adapter caps, and support for Bluetooth Low Energy which eliminates charging, increasing battery life to over 18 months.

"Our goal is to minimize or eliminate exacerbations – that drives everything we do. Key to that, particularly as we move deeper into COPD, is optimizing both the patient and provider experience on Propeller," said David Van Sickle, CEO of Propeller Health. "We are delighted to share this news on World Asthma Day. We remain focused on building ever better tools to passively collect timely data about inhaled medication use, provide people with coaching and guidance that is relevant, personalized, and actionable, and make care teams more efficient through new opportunities to intervene."

Propeller is designed for healthcare providers, health plans, employers, and other population health management organizations seeking ways to reduce utilization through adherence, patient engagement, and remote monitoring.