Heart failure is a staggering clinical and public health problem,
associated with significant mortality, morbidity and healthcare expenditures. While
there has been major progress in reducing mortality rates, hospitalizations
remain frequent and readmission rates continue to rise. One of the greatest
challenges in the management of patients diagnosed with heart failure is
forecasting and preventing the development of acute worsening leading to
hospitalization. Despite current best practice guidelines, re-hospitalization for heart failure occurs at a rate of close
to 50% over 6 months.
The major reason for this unacceptably high rate is the failure to
detect hemodynamic congestion prior to symptom onset. Specialized equipment that
measure changes in pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and stroke volume (SV) have
shown to detect changes is cardiac function relatively early, but is not
feasible for at-home use. And while implantable sensors have shown to provide
clinicians with a remote monitoring tool to determine when medication
adjustments are needed, the cost and invasive nature of the device severely
restricts its adoption.
The San Francisco-based startup Respirix has developed Cardiospire, a
portable handheld device for noninvasive at-home monitoring of heart failure patients. Their approach involves using precise analysis of breathe exhalation to
monitor cardiogenic oscillations, which research suggests may be a more
sensitive indicator of fluid status than invasive pulmonary artery pressure. Through
easy to follow steps, the user takes a medium deep breath into the device until
it indicates when it has taken a measurement. The electronically processed data
is then transmitted to the physician’s office, which can be used to tailor drug
dosing to correct fluid balance and optimize cardiac function in order to
prevent hospitalizations.
Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization in patients over
65. Research shows that fast detection and intervention for patients with worsening
condition dramatically reduce hospitalization and mortality. Unfortunately,
there is no optimal solution to closely monitor these patients. Either they don’t
keep patients out of the hospital, or they are too expensive. Respirix has designed
and developed an innovative device that enable at-home monitoring of cardiac
function. While other devices currently on the market have to be implanted,
Cardiospire allow noninvasive extraction of the same biometric signals from
hands and respiration, and at a much lower cost. The device, combined with the digital
health platform that send data directly to the physician, allow remote
monitoring, potentially increasing access to care. Most importantly, it is a
low-cost solution that can reduce hospitalizations and readmission rates, improving
health outcomes and quality of life.
Respirix is a spin-out from TheraNova, and the startup is working with Ethnonova
to evaluate options for adapting Cardiospire in emerging markets, in settings
with limited access to hospitals and doctors. They have previously
received over $300,000 from SBIR, and in 2016 raised $800,000 from Synergy Ventures and Signatures Capital.
