Victoria Masterson, Stephen Hall and Madeleine North
March 25, 2025
This smart device lets people with lung diseases breathe easily
Pleural is a smart device that helps people with lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), to clear their airways of excess mucus. It is powered by AI and mimics the treatment of a human physiotherapist by using a silicone cup to percuss the chest at a force and speed that frees up mucus.
AI-powered device mimics physiotherapy treatment
Pleural also monitors how well the mucus is clearing by measuring vibrations inside the lung and detecting congested spots. This information is used to adjust the percussion treatment to ensure that it is as effective as possible.
Pleural offers a number of benefits to people with lung diseases, including:
- Improved breathing: Pleural helps to clear the airways of excess mucus, which can improve breathing and reduce breathlessness.
- Reduced risk of infections: By clearing the airways of mucus, Pleural can help to reduce the risk of infections.
- Increased independence: Pleural allows people with lung diseases to manage their condition at home without having to rely on a physiotherapist.
Pleural is not yet available on the market, but it has won the UK James Dyson Award, which suggests that it is a promising device with the potential to make a real difference in the lives of people with lung diseases.
Other smart devices for health monitoring
Another example of a smart device for health monitoring is Dotplot, a handheld device that lets you check for breast cancer at home. Dotplot uses sound waves to create a map of the breast tissue, which can be used to identify any abnormalities.
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