The core business of Propeller is with manufacturing a series of Bluetooth-enabled sensors. These sensors attach to most leading types of inhalers, including those used for people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. The companies working with Propeller include GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis.
The sensors indicate when a patient uses their inhaler. This data is then transmitted to a smartphone app. The collected data can then be analyzed for potential causes of symptoms. The analysis is normally undertaken by a medical professional.
In terms of the new service, this has been given the title ‘Air’, and it is a form of application programming interface platform. The platform has a machine learning algorithm in-built, which can flag up where and when people with asthma experience symptoms.
As a result of the information collected and through the application of data science, the Air platform can predict asthma risks based on an assessment of the environment. This can aid people with chronic respiratory disorders to improve their health. This could be either by taking precautions or avoiding certain areas altogether.
This information can be communicate din different ways digitally, such as via email or in the form of text message. In addition it will work with systems like Alexa and Google Home integration. Propeller also has their own app which Air interfaces with, called Daily Asthma Forest, plus an app that works with the Apple smartwatch.
Talking to PharmaPhorum, Greg Tracy, the Chief Technology Officer at Propeller, said: “We’re excited to release the first version of Air by Propeller, a set of services designed to enable a larger audience to help people with asthma.”
The technology lead added: “With the new infrastructure and services, people will be able to make use of Propeller’s analytics, which draw on the largest database of respiratory medication use, environmental exposures and conditions. We look forward to seeing how others build on this to change the experience of respiratory disease.”
