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Welcome to ‘Asthmapolis’: A World Where Your Inhaler Has a GPS Tracker

Nov. 1, 2012 3:07pm Liz Klimas

Tech gadgets are helping doctors and patients come closer together without necessarily needing to see each other in person, at least not as often. One of these tools is a device that attaches to asthma patients’ inhalers, tracking when how often and where the device is used.

Asthmapolis is a relatively new company that uses inhaler sensors combined with mobile apps and analytics to help physicians monitor patients and how they’re managing their condition. According to the company’s website, patients are encouraged to keep track of things that trigger attacks and how often they use medication in a diary, but “remembering to update your diary is tough and it often becomes an inaccurate and incomplete record of your asthma over time.”

Asthmapolis Inhaler Sensor Uses Bluetooth to Track How Often and Where Patients Use Asthma Medication

(Image: Asthmapolis screenshot)

This is where the Asthmapolis sensor comes in. It records the time and place where an inhaler is used by connecting to a smartphone through Bluetooth technology. This information can be monitored by patients but also brought to physicians during appointments.

Watch how it works:

On a broader scale, the data collected by Asthmapolis can also show trends in areas where inhalers seem to be used frequently by many patients.

“In addition to driving better patient-physician communication about asthma management, the tool also gives physicians the ability to quickly identify how patients in their population are doing and take steps to help patients get their disease under control,” David Van Sickle, co-founder and CEO of Asthmapolis, said in a recent press release announcing the company’s green light from the FDA to market their product to healthcare providers. “Our mission is to make it easier for patients and their physicians to do a better job of managing asthma with less effort than traditionally required.”

In fact, Asthmapolis is currently conducting a study in Louisville that it hopes will help the city “identify possible causes of asthma attacks in the region and to help patients better manage their illness.”

Check out this video about the project:

Asthmapolis is also working with the University of Hawaii and the CDC about the effects of volcanic fog on asthma, and the VA of Puget Sound in patients with COPD to monitor the condition and what can make it worse.

Something you might not think about with such a device on an inhaler is that as a wireless transmitter it would need to go into airplane mode, like other electronic devices during air travel.

This image shows the pieces composing the device that fits on most types of inhalers. (Image: Vimeo screenshot)

As for privacy, which some might be concerned about given the inhaler knows how often and where exactly patients take a puff, the company states in its privacy policy that it provides non-personally identifiable information to public health agencies for purposes like scientific research. It also allows device users to opt out of this third-party sharing if they wish.

(H/T: Popular Science)

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Comments (32)

2012hey
Posted on November 4, 2012 at 11:43pm
I’d like to get a GPS that will HELP ME LOCATE MY COUNTRY

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2012hey
Posted on November 4, 2012 at 11:39pm
Ummm who the HELL thinks this is a good idea????? The current inhalers – mandated after they outlawed the CFC inhalers DO NOT EVEN WORK and in fact, they are killing more asthmatics than any volcanic ash! I had to switch to using a portable nebulizer rather than use those FAIL inhalers and I’m glad I did. I don’t NEED or WANT anyone TRACKING how I use a medical device. WTF are they thinking???? The best person to manage asthma is the PATIENT as long as you give them an inhaler THAT WORKS. WTF PLEASE GIVE US BACK OUR CFC INHALERS PRESIDENT ROMNEY AND GOP SENATE AND CONGRESS

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ObserverOnTheHill
Posted on November 4, 2012 at 8:32am
It’s been taking place for over 100 years now. Find out how the communists have infiltrated our schools, courts, government and military. This FREE video is available until the election -

AGENDA: Grinding America Down

http://vimeo.com/user2695043/agenda

Please share w/ everyone you know while it is still free to view

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Mr Sanders
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 1:40pm
nope! nadda! nicto!

I like my proximity privacy – sorry Mr. Holder.

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Old Ogre
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 12:20pm
Big brother at his best!

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fatsomann
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 12:09pm
It’s for our own good, I am sure. Yeah right. I’m from the government and I’m here to help you. Enough to bring on an asthma attack.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 1:47pm
  They already got rid of the good inhalers. They were all worried that people using them might hurt the ozone layer. So now they have these rinky crappy dinky ones with an half @ssed delivery system increasing the odds of a more severe asthma attack. I can’t think of anything that government touches that doesn’t turn to crap.
  
  Report this comment
- RockyMountainPATRIOT
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 9:42pm
  @CAVALLO,
  You got that right. The new ones only aggravate my asthma. THANKS AL! I HOPE THE POLAR BEARS EAT YOU!
  
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- 2012hey
  Posted on November 4, 2012 at 11:46pm
  Cavallo – great alternative to the idiotic inhalers they forced on us is to get a portable nebulizer and just get doc to prescribe albuterol vials. I suppose soon they will find something that albuterol harms like crawfish and then we won’t have that either – till then I stock up whenever I can. Portable nebulizer, overall, is WAYYY cheaper than inhalers anyway
  
  Report this comment
Arnold_Ziffel
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 10:31am
2 words – Faraday Cage

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stumanfuu
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 12:00am
Is anyone else freaked out just a bit at the “plugged in” all the time nature of todays society. Is privacy soon to be something of the past. Hey, O supporters, hope you like giving the IRS all your medical history. It won’t be long untill all of us are asking “mother may I” for health care treatment. Don’t blame me when they say NO.

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ThoreauHD
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 7:04pm
The response time for a severe asthma attack is the same as a person drowning. This GPS tracker isn’t going to help them with anything but finding the body. It may help with partial or mild asthma attacks though.

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neverending
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 5:15pm
So the commies now found another way to track us. What a crock of bs – has nothing to do with health and all to do with bigger government.

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Gary S
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 4:41pm
Simple to fix. See the battery. #80 drill; all fixed.

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fancynancy
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 4:15pm
OK, If I had really bad asthma, MAYBE I would opt for this but otherwise bugger off.

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afishfarted
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 4:01pm
is there nothing they won’t track? A couple weeks ago, i saw video about implanting RFID chips in credit cards. I checked both, and sure enough, it was there. I spliced the card to see the chip for myself. never again.
(and they wonder why the stress level of Americans is on the rise)

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- Cavallo
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 1:40pm
  It won’t be long before they are putting it in teeth fillings, and we’ll all have to wear tin foil hats like the Alex Jones people.
  
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- Pigpen
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 9:15am
  CAVALLO posted: “It won’t be long before they are putting it in teeth fillings, and we’ll all have to wear tin foil hats like the Alex Jones people.”
  
  You’re joking, right? You HONESTLY can’t see any danger in the ABUSE of POWER that could arise from this? You HONESTLY BELIEVE that our current RULERS will only be responsible with the AWESOME and UNPRECEDENTED POWER that comes from today’s information technology? IF you REALLY DO feel that way, then all I can say is, “How can I get the old, illegal but effective asthma inhaler for my family, DOCTOR CAVALLO?”
  
  Enjoy your privileged position while it lasts, Doctor, but please at least take a small moment to reconsider your caustic skepticism, and see if you can use that privileged position to help mainstream the ideas of us “tinfoil hat wearers”. Because when the B@ST@RDS finally turn the lights out on ALL OF US, I will take little pleasure in having been “right” when you were wrong.
  
  Report this comment
- 2012hey
  Posted on November 4, 2012 at 11:41pm
  You can buy a shielding wallet at Identity Stronghold – I bought one – every slot for credit card is shielded so nobody can read the RFID remotely. Why the hell do they need RFID on credit cards??? They already have a magnetic strip. It’s only to TRACK you that’s it.
  
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Gary_K
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:59pm
The IRS will be tracking you too….

http://www.atr.org/new-obamacare-tax-form-mandates-americans-a7285

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bornagain
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:51pm
Black Manta, I believe you are right.

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bornagain
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:47pm
Really? this can’t be true. Really? No this is all wrong, all wrong. I used to be asthmatic. I would have several attacks a day.. my muscles would be so sore from struggling. Then a co-worker said he would pray for me. Weeks later I noticed I wasn’t having anymore attacks. Weeks turned into years. WOW!I
I hope this isn’t true and if it is I am glad I am cured. Oh! by the way I had asthma most of my adult life.

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MaleneSBrown
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:39pm
I don’t believe it. They’re looking for every way they can to invade privacy and track Americans.

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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:34pm
Now, all I need is a remote to find my phone and my car keys. Darn!

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- Old Ogre
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 12:09pm
  I need a remote to find the remote for my car keys…
  
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Black Manta
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:32pm
That’s a damn lie…they wanna track all you damn americans in the time of martial law…
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coyote1hell
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:28pm
This is just the begining of Buh’rack’s people tracking system, watch your back…

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- oldguy49
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:44pm
  they already track you cell phone……….get a cb and stay on the net
  
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KenoINcolorado
Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:18pm
I don’t want a GPS tracker in my Inhaler!!! Now my doctors can see where I go! This is getting out of hand!

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- freddyjoe
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 3:47pm
  No Way am I having a GPS Tracker in my Inhaler. Oh Heck what am i going to do if all inhalers go to this, I have to have one with me at all times.
  
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- Irememberamerica
  Posted on November 1, 2012 at 6:55pm
  Getting out of hand?
  It’s been out of hand for some time now….
  
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- 2012hey
  Posted on November 4, 2012 at 11:44pm
  Get a portable nebulizer – and just get script for albuterol. WAYYY cheaper than those crappy inhalers. Aeronebgo is the one I have – works great and you get like a month of albuterol for $7 – it lasts longer if you don’t need it as much also.
  
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