Feasibility of diagnosing cardio-respiratory conditions by advanced analysis of parameters in Tidal Breathing CO2 Waveforms

"Cambridge Respiratory Innovations Limited (CRiL), of Swavesey, Cambridgeshire, has been awarded a grant by Innovate UK to complete a feasibility study into an innovative new diagnostic device for chronic respiratory conditions.

Currently a clinician needs to use a range of medical devices, from peak-flow meters through spirometers and pulse oximeters to scans and x-rays, to diagnose a respiratory condition. The most commonly used devices to diagnose asthma, COPD and other chronic respiratory diseases are spirometers and peak-flow meters. Both devices are difficult for patients to use, rely on forced expiratory manoeuvres, are technique dependent and measure a respiratory proxy. Adults in respiratory distress and children cannot use these devices.

CRiL has developed an innovative epitaxially-grown III-V LED-based CO2 sensor which is faster, more accurate and more consistent than any existing incandescent or florescent CO2 sensor. It is not affected by condensation in the breath and is a fraction of the cost. We have developed it specifically to measure the CO2 waveform shape in normal tidal breathing to use in low-cost personal respiratory monitors. Tidal breathing CO2 (TBCO2) waveform shape analysis is an established but under-used biomarker for respiratory conditions. Whilst medical devices that measure exhaled CO2 (called capnometers) are commonplace in the operating theatre, devices that measure tidal breathing CO2 are not used in any form of respiratory disease diagnosis at the moment.

This feasibility study will complete research to establish the feasibility of using CRiL's platform hardware to capture the TBCO2 waveform shape in the surgery, doctors office or clinic and use the parameters in the waveform shape to diagnose specific respiratory conditions. It will include researching the needs of the clinicians and will deliver a ""proof of concept"" device to continue the development of the technology. The main areas of focus will be the users' needs, the design inputs and the potential of the technology and dataset. The primary output from this feasibility study will be the fully-costed development plan.

This feasibility study will identify whether there are any technical impediments which prevent the development of a respiratory diagnostic device based on tidal breathing CO2 measurement, whether the medical profession would support such a device, what evidence and education doctors might require to support it and whether there are any intellectual property opportunities and hurdles."