POC-Breath Test For Home Management Of Respiratory Disease (Healthcare Sensor Innovations 2019)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and have a significant economic and social burden. Significant challenges include delays in an accurate diagnosis, maintaining good disease control and the identification of exacerbations, which consume a disproportionate share of expenditure due to the high cost of treatment and hospital admissions. As a result, there is an unmet need for non-invasive, simple tests that can diagnose and monitor these conditions accurately. We are developing a standardized handheld breath test system to be used by clinicians and patients that could allow detection of exacerbations earlier and optimising accurate treatment. Our innovative new breath test system would be handheld, easy to use and internet enabled and significantly cheaper. It would use our unique sensor chip that can monitor many gases simultaneously with high accuracy and high sensitivity.

Dr Victor Higgs is the founder and current managing director of Applied Nanodetectors, a technology company providing sensor solutions for medical markets. He has more than 25 years' experience successfully leading and directing innovative businesses. He is an innovator with expertise in sales and marketing, business development and hi-tech product development for worldwide markets. He is a business driver and strategist successful in creating vision and building organisations.

Applied Nanodetectors is developing point-of-care exhaled breath tests for the effective management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and asthma. We have developed a unique sensor array platform printed on low cost substrates that can be to be incorporated into a handheld device to measure breath biomarkers. These sensor arrays can detect many chemicals in real time to give more accurate results than conventional gas sensors. Regular use of a breath test would provide an effective point-of-care treatment and lead to a reduction in healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes.