Propeller Health Receives FDA Clearance for Updated Asthma Device

Propeller Health has won approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell an updated version of its Propeller device, designed to help monitor and control asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Propeller Health’s device attaches to an inhaler to record when and where it is used.

The latest version is smaller and its low-energy sensor eliminates the need for charging, the company said. It also can help predict asthma or COPD attacks and it can coach people with asthma or COPD on the proper technique for using an inhaler. With its combination of sensors, mobile apps and analytics, the updated system can compare use of the inhaler to the patient’s baseline and to clinical guidelines and can notify medical staff about patients whose symptoms may be worsening.

Propeller is a digital therapeutic designed to help patients and their physicians better understand and control asthma, COPD, and other respiratory diseases. With a 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 now can 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 also can 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 percent 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 more than 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.

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.

Founded in 2010 and based on the research of David Van Sickle, an asthma epidemiologist and honorary associate fellow at UW-Madison, Propeller Health — formerly called Asthmapolis — is working with organizations such as Dignity Health, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Amerigroup Florida, and the city of Louisville, Ky.