iSonea launches post-market study of WheezoMeter device for pediatric asthma

Medical technology company, iSonea Ltd. (ASX: ISN; OTCQX: ISOAY) today announced the launch of a post-market study using iSonea's WheezoMeter™ monitoring technology. The goal of the Wheeze Rate Correlation Study is to assess wheeze rate in pediatric patients with a range of asthma symptom severity.    

Although the WheezoMeter has been studied previously, this is the first large U.S. study of the WheezoMeter in a pediatric population. The study will include patients who are too young to be tested with spirometry, a traditional measuring technique used in older children and adults. The study is planned for two West Coast locations and has begun enrollment at the site in Folsom, California. The study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov.

iSonea's WheezoMeter device is based on the company's Acoustic Respiratory Monitoring™ (ARM) technology platform, which uses acoustic sensors and novel signal processing software to establish the presence, frequency and severity of wheeze. In essence a 'thermometer' for wheeze, the portable device records and analyzes sounds caused by inflammation or narrowing of the airways, to quantify the rate of wheezing, a hallmark symptom of asthma. The technology correlates to traditional lung function tests, but is more patient friendly, enabling frequent monitoring in real-life settings. The device requires no physical exertion and can be used to interpret respiratory symptoms by all asthma patients, including young children or the elderly.

"Asthma impacts more than seven million children in the United States, and the number of children expected to be diagnosed with this chronic condition continues to climb at alarming rates," said Jonathan Freudman, M.D., medical director for iSonea Ltd. "This study is an important milestone for iSonea. In the pediatric asthma population, it is challenging to accurately monitor and manage asthma symptoms in patients using conventional techniques. The WheezoMeter has the potential to meet a critical unmet need for better, easy to use monitoring tools for young asthma patients."