Dr Thomas Shaffer – Dr Tariq Rahman | pneuRIP: An Innovative New Technology to Monitor Children’s Breathing

Their device is more user-friendly, high-tech, and compact than traditional RIP technologies. It uses a novel wireless analyser that serves up real-time data on an iPad. In several studies, Shaffer and Rahman assessed their new device in children with neuromuscular conditions and other diseases affecting the lungs. Children with these conditions often require continuous monitoring, to detect and treat potential problems before they become more serious. However, current monitoring methods are time-consuming, expensive, and very tiring for children.

Shaffer and Rahman have shown that pneuRIP^TM can rapidly and easily assess children’s breathing. Providing instant data, their device is accurate, easy to use, and portable, making it suitable for a variety of settings, including emergency departments, intensive-care units, out-patient clinics, and at home. The researchers have also successfully demonstrated its use in very small premature babies. Monitoring the breathing of premature babies is critical, so that problems can be rapidly detected and addressed.

In another study, the team used pneuRIP^TM to gather data about thoracoabdominal asynchrony – a condition in which ribcage and abdomen movements are mismatched during breathing. By feeding these data into a machine-learning algorithm, they taught it to recognise the condition in other patients.

The team’s machine-learning approach can identify thoracoabdominal asynchrony with an accuracy of over 90%. As such, it could be extremely useful in rapidly detecting thoracoabdominal asynchrony and other problems before they turn into severe complications.  

In upcoming research, Shaffer and Rahman aim to help children with chronic pain. They argue that synchronous breathing can help such children to better cope with symptoms. The team is creating a biofeedback mobile app for pneuRIP^TM to be used during yoga therapy. By visualising their own breathing data on the app, children can learn which yoga techniques improve their breathing, helping them to reduce their symptoms.

pneuRIP^TM offers numerous advantages over currently available technologies. This innovative device and mobile app have the potential to significantly improve the care and management of very sick children around the world.