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Bupa innovation award for new asthma inhaler
31 October 2003
A new type of asthma inhaler designed to combat incorrect use of conventional inhalers has won the Bupa sponsored 'Medical Futures Best Innovation to Improve Patient Care' award. Currently there are just over five million people with asthma in Britain and the incidence of the condition continues to increase. The new K-Haler represents a significant development in the struggle to manage this condition effectively.
John Bell, a pharmacist and Dr Ray Bacon, a clinical scientist, developed the K-Haler to supersede existing pressurised metered dose inhalers (PMDIs). Currently around 500 million of these inhalers are used each year. PMDIs are the preferred treatment for many asthma sufferers due to their portable and robust nature, yet people often fail to use them correctly. This can result in unnecessary dose increases and further medication being prescribed, but more importantly, in less than effective treatment of the condition.
The K-Haler differs from PMDIs as it is a persons breath that makes it work. All inhalers are fitted with a canister that contains a mixture of the drug and propellant. This canister is attached to a valve that measures and releases one dose of the drug each time the canister is depressed. While it looks very similar to conventional inhalers, this is where the K-Haler differs, it holds the drug in the first kink of the innovative K-valve. The drug is only released when the K-valve is straightened, similar to the straightening of a bent straw. This straightening only happens when the patient inhales, coordinating drug release with inhalation. By injecting the drug into the early part of the inhaled air, the drug penetrates deep into the airways to treat the asthma.
Alternatives to PMDIs have previously been developed but they are costly and so infrequently prescribed. The new K-Haler is a simple, effective and low-cost alternative. Therefore it can be manufactured at a tenth of the cost of current devices. There are added environmental benefits to the K-Haler's new design as it is made entirely from recyclable plastic.
Award winner Dr Ray Bacon explains: "We are delighted to win this award and will be extremely excited to see the inhaler being made available to patients. Clinicians have intuitively accepted the co-ordination problem with pressurised inhalers but it is only very recently that research* has begun to provide clinical data that establishes the serious need for breath actuation. We really hope that the finished product will lead to the more effective management of asthma among the millions it affects."
Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, Bupa group medical director and Medical Futures Awards judge, said: "Bupa is very proud to be associated with these awards and to support the future of medical technology and patient care. The calibre of entries in the Bupa-sponsored award was impressive and it was extremely difficult to choose only one winner. All the judges were incredibly enthusiastic about Clinical Design's entry and were really struck by its ability to make a significant contribution to the management of the millions affected by asthma nationwide."
Dr Andy Goldberg, an orthopaedic surgeon and founder of Medical Futures said: "The medical profession houses a wealth of knowledge and generates ideas that can revolutionise patient care. Yet through a lack of time, money and opportunity, the vast majority of great ideas never get off the ground. The Medical Futures Innovation Awards were set up to help nurture and facilitate a culture of creativity and innovation from the healthcare profession."
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