Sagentia has launched ‘Sensohaler’, a technology for inhaler compliance monitoring that offers improvement to the usability of inhaler products, benefiting the patient and creating cost savings over the treatment period.

Sagentia said that the Sensohaler uses acoustic analysis to understand how an inhaler is functioning and how it is being used by the patient. It provides valuable feedback to the user, doctor or provider and consequently promotes correct use. It will increase compliance through positive user feedback, help doctors to understand the efficacy of the medication and help drug providers learn how their products perform early on in clinical trials.

The technology comprises a microphone sensor and a chip for signal analysis that would sit in or on the inhaler. It accurately measures and monitors key performance characteristics such as flowrate, inhaled volume and peak inspiratory flowrate during the inspiratory manoeuvre and confirms events such as the firing of a breath actuation mechanism (BAM) and delivery of the formulation through the airway of the device.

The technique is completely non-invasive, having no effect on the airflow or the aerosolisation performance of the inhaler and (if required) could be imperceptible to the user. A feasibility study using Sensohaler demonstrated the accuracy of the technology on a range of different devices and inhaler types. It proved with two different inhaler types that the flowrate accuracy is on par with that of a thermal mass flowmeter.

Iain Simpson, who recently joined from Team Consulting to head Sagentia’s drug delivery team, said: “Non compliance in inhaled drug delivery is a big issue. Providing direct feedback to users will help reinforce correct usage and also assist clinicians in working with their patients to improve management of their disease.”