Source: PMD Healthcare press release
PMD Healthcare Inc., announced today the launch and availability of its novel new lung health monitoring device – Spiro PD. Recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Spiro PD is the first and only personal spirometer that enables patients with lung diseases – those with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF) and lung transplants – to easily and accurately monitor their lung function any time and anywhere.
As the first and only personal spirometer, the easy-to-use device is designed specifically to monitor lung function of an adult, adolescent or young child. Other features of Spiro PD allow patients to view their lung function trends over time, manage medications, set reminder alarms to take medicine, do breathing exercises and quickly upload data to their computer and share it with their doctor.
“With the increase in prevalence of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for asthma and other pulmonary problems in the U.S., the availability of Spiro PD is especially significant,” explained Dr. Michael S. Blaiss, a member of the Board of Directors of the World Allergy Organization and a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Memphis. “This new device allows patients and parents of young children with lung diseases to know exactly how their condition is doing at any time, enabling patients to have a more active role in controlling their lung health, and potentially identifying problems before the need for costly emergency treatment.”
Lung, or pulmonary, disease is any disease or disorder that occurs in the lungs or that causes the lungs to not work properly1. Regular measurement and monitoring of lung function is important to pulmonary disease management.
“We are excited about the launch of Spiro PD, as we were able to utilize the latest electronic technology to provide patients with lung diseases with an easy-to-use device that conveniently allows them to monitor their lung function anytime and anywhere,” said Wayne Meng, Founder, Chief Executive Officer and President of PMD Healthcare, Inc. “We are confident that this innovative, portable and affordable personal spirometer will empower patients to better control their disease, by enhancing medication adherence, improving communication between doctor and patient and avoiding expensive ER trips and hospital stays.”
About the Spiro PD
The Spiro PD (“Spiro” stands for spirometer, a device used to measure the volume and flow of air entering and leaving the lungs2 and “PD” stands for personal device), is the first personal spirometer that enables patients with lung diseases – those with asthma, COPD, CF and lung transplants – to easily and accurately monitor their lung function anytime and anywhere. Spiro PD allows patients to view their lung function trends over time, manage medications, set alarms reminding them to take medicine, do breathing exercises and quickly upload data to their computer and share it with their doctor.
Spiro PD is cleared to market by the FDA for the use by a patient to test lung function in children, adolescents and adults. It is a single-patient device. Spiro PD is also certified with the CE mark for the European Union (EU) market. Spiro PD meets American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) standards.
Spiro PD is available online with a prescription. Spiro PD is designed and marketed by PMD Healthcare, Inc. For more information visit www.spiropd.com.
About Lung Disease
Lung, or pulmonary, disease is any disease or disorder that occurs in the lungs or that causes the lungs to not work properly1. One example is COPD, the number three cause of death in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)3. Regular measurement and monitoring of lung function is important to pulmonary disease management, including:
- Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways and can be a life-threatening illness if not properly managed4. An estimated 25 million Americans, including nearly 7 million children, are currently living with asthma5. Annually, asthma accounts for approximately 17 million doctor office visits, including physician offices, hospital outpatient and emergency departments6, 10 million missed work days and 13 million missed school days7.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a progressive lung disease that obstructs the airway or damages the small air sacs in the lungs. These changes restrict airflow into and out of the lungs and result in breathing difficulty. More than 12 million Americans are estimated to have COPD, and an estimated additional 12 million adults are undiagnosed.
- Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a fatal, inherited chronic disease that causes severe lung damage and nutritional deficiencies. Approximately 30,000 children and adults in the U.S. are living with this disease and more than 10 million Americans are carriers of the CF gene. About 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year8.
- Lung transplant involves a surgical procedure in which a patient’s diseased lungs are partially or totally replaced by lungs from a donor. It is usually used as a last resort for lung failure9.
About PMD Healthcare, Inc.
PMD Healthcare, Inc., headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is dedicated to creating innovative, easy-to-use, portable and affordable personal medical devices, and to empower people worldwide to improve their healthcare and quality of life. For more information about PMD Healthcare, Inc. visit www.personalmedicaldevices.com.
References 1. American Lung Association. Lung Disease. http://www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/ Acces.sed January 2012.2. American Lung Association. Tools for Identifying & Diagnosing Patients at Risk for COPD. http://www.lungusa.org/associations/states/iowa/events-programs/ia-copd-coalition/ia-copd-assets/tools-for-identifying.pdf Acces.sed January 2012.
3. American Lung Association. Understanding COPD. http://www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/copd/about-copd/understanding-copd.html Acces.sed January 2012.
4. American Lung Association. Understanding Asthma. http://www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/asthma/about-asthma/understanding-asthma.html Acces.sed January 2012.
5. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. What is Asthma?. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/lung/asthma/naci/asthma-info/index.htm Acces.sed January 2012.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Asthma: FastStats. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/asthma.htm Acces.sed January 2012.
7. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. National Asthma Control Initiative. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/lung/asthma/naci/pubs/naci-factsheet.pdf Acces.sed January 2012.
8. American Lung Association. Understanding Cystic Fibrosis. http://www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/cystic-fibrosis/understanding-cystic-fibrosis.html Acces.sed January 2012.
9. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. What is a Lung Transplant?. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/lungtxp/ Acces.sed January 2012.