Enhancing Inhalation Therapy through Real-Time Monitoring of Inspiratory Airflow: An Experimental Study Using the Tokico Inhalation Monitor | Chapter 2 | Scientific Research, New Technologies and Applications Vol. 2

Background: Inhalation therapy is a pivotal treatment method for asthma and COPD, as indicated in major international guidelines. An inhalation pattern is conventionally communicated to each patient by imaging verbal expression; as such, inhalation instructions may be ambiguous. A new inspiratory air-flow velocity measurement monitor (Tokico Inhalation Monitor, TIM) can visualize real-time inhalation patterns.

 

Purpose: The primary purpose of the study is to evaluate the usefulness of the TIM as a new type of patient education machine for inhalation instruction in routine clinical practice.

 

Methods: After the responsiveness, accuracy, and reproducibility of the TIM were verified, the differences between conventional verbal inhalation imaging and real-time instructions using the TIM were evaluated. Six healthy subjects (mean age 59.7 ± 10.4 years, male-to-female ratio 3/3) were given various verbal images of the inhalation method, and then individually measured the pattern of air inhalation. Inhalation patterns using the real-time TIM and inhalation of conventional language images were compared using total inhalation volume and inhalation flow rate as indicators. The statistical significance level was set at 5%. Within-group comparisons were analyzed as nonparametric data using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

 

Results: When the inhalation method was conveyed in words, the inhalation pattern differed depending on each subject’s interpretation. By self-adjusting with repeated inhalation exercises with the TIM, total inhalation increased significantly to 1.90 ± 0.28 (L) (p = 0.046, Wilcoxon signed-rank test), compared to the 1.66 ± 0.39 (L) obtained during verbal imaging, while maintaining an adequate maximum inhalation flow rate of 62.2 ± 14.5 (L/min).

 

Conclusion: Using the TIM to perform inhalation exercises while drawing real-time inhalation patterns can increase the potential and effectiveness of self-regulating inhalation, thus making inhalation therapy more clinically useful. To achieve the benefits of TIM, more detailed investigations of long-term outcomes are needed to expand to larger sample sizes and more diverse populations for broader applicability.

 

Author (s) Details

Hiroyuki Ohbayashi

General Incorporated Association, Academy of Inhalation Therapeutic Methods (AIMs), Mizunami City, 509-6134, Japan and Medical Corporation, Shyreikai, Tohno Chuo Clinic, Mizunami City, 509-6134, Japan.

 

Seira Horikoshi

Design & Technology Development Division, Medical Device Department, Tokico System Solutions, Ltd., Kawasaki City, 210-0005, Japan.

 

Kazunori Ishizeki

Design & Technology Development Division, Medical Device Department, Tokico System Solutions, Ltd., Kawasaki City, 210-0005, Japan.

 

Toyoko Okada

Design & Technology Development Division, Medical Device Department, Tokico System Solutions, Ltd., Kawasaki City, 210-0005, Japan.

 

Sahori Kudo

General Incorporated Association, Academy of Inhalation Therapeutic Methods (AIMs), Mizunami City, 509-6134, Japan and Medical Corporation, Shyreikai, Tohno Chuo Clinic, Mizunami City, 509-6134, Japan.

 

Osamu Furuta

Medical Corporation, Shyreikai, Tohno Chuo Clinic, Mizunami City, 509-6134, Japan.

 

Mitsue Ariga

Medical Corporation, Shyreikai, Tohno Chuo Clinic, Mizunami City, 509-6134, Japan.

 

 

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/srnta/v2/1842