Propeller Health has scored the FDA 510(k) clearance to market its latest generation of the Propeller platform, including a new sensor.

Propeller is a digital therapeutic designed to help patients and their physicians better understand and control asthma, COPD, and other respiratory disease to reduce preventable emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and unnecessary suffering. Featuring a combination of sensors, mobile apps and analytics – the system encourages adherence to maintenance therapy and remotely monitors use of rescue medications to facilitate early intervention and avoid costly exacerbations.

Under the new clearance, the Propeller system can now be used to help predict exacerbations in patients with asthma and COPD. By comparing Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI) use to a patient’s baseline and the clinical guidelines, Propeller alerts care teams to people who do not have their disease under control, or who may be worsening and heading to an exacerbation.

The system can now also be used to reduce the frequency of respiratory health symptoms and exacerbations by increasing adherence to medications.In addition, the system can now also be used to reduce the frequency of respiratory health symptoms and exacerbations by increasing adherence to medications through feedback, such as reminders, notifications and self-management education. And for the first time, that coaching can include inhaler technique relying on information captured during the normal course of use.

The latest sensor is 30% smaller and features a new collar that removes the need for adapter caps, and support for Bluetooth Low Energy which eliminates charging, increasing battery life to over 18 months.