A Better Inhaler

In 2019, I began experiencing sudden allergic reactions that caused severe nose blockages and throat infections, disrupting my entire week. On my doctor’s recommendation I started using an inhaler — which inspired me to develop a smart, connected one.

• Category: Internet of Things
• Client: In-house concept
• Start Date: August 20, 2023
• Engineer: Vivek Gupta

Project description

Design an IoT-enabled asthma inhaler that fits naturally into a user’s day and removes the friction points of traditional inhalers — turning a purely medical device into a connected personal product.

The problem statement

pMDIs are popular for their small size and unobtrusive nature, but drug delivery depends heavily on good technique, and many patients find them difficult to use correctly:

• Patients often can’t coordinate actuation of the device with their inhalation.
• Drug delivery is highly dependent on good inhaler technique.
• Some pMDIs have no dose counter, making remaining doses hard to track.
• Doses are easy to forget.
• There’s no way to review inspiration technique and improve.

Our approach

Asthma is often viewed as a condition sufferers must endure rather than integrate into their lives. Using an inhaler shouldn’t evoke exclusion or embarrassment — it should slot seamlessly into a routine. That happens when users feel connected to the product, seeing it not merely as a medical device but as a personal item integral to their lifestyle.

The aim is an IoT-enabled inhaler that blends into day-to-day life and addresses the common issues of traditional inhalers — keeping users informed about their health with a modern, user-friendly approach to asthma management.