Makani Science
Reinventing Respiratory Monitoring

In an environment with high stakes, such as hospitals, obtaining critical information in a short period may prove to be the difference between life and death. In the case of respiratory health, the current medical equipment falls short in addressing crucial issues, leading to delays in treating patients. Methods such as pulmonary function tests (PFTs), which include simple spirometry, used to recognize a patient’s airflow and full body plethysmography, used to access lung volumes, arterial blood sampling, and diffusion capacity are specialized equipment that can only assess patient breathing at a specific time point. It cannot be used continuously in a typical daily-to-day environment. Additionally, spirometry requires the patient to continuously breathe into a mouthpiece, which makes these tests difficult to use.

Some of the other equipment in use respond slowly to changes in ventilation and are prone to artefact; the readings get hindered at the slightest agitation. The pulse oximetry test, for instance, measures the blood’s oxygen level (oxygen saturation). The monitor in oximetry can be slow to display the changes in the body. On the other hand, capnography provides only physiologic information on ventilation, perfusion, and metabolism, which is essential for airway management. However, prone to artefact, talking and other movement will disrupt the information collected by the equipment. Similarly, an ECG monitor gives information on the heart, such as respiratory rate, but without respiratory volume, much information is missed out.

Negating the shortcomings of these solutions, Makani Science, a medical device company, has brought The Makani Respiration Monitor to the market.

It is a non-invasive wearable patch on the chest that continuously monitors the expansion and contraction of the chest wall. The sensor has the ability to record respiration signals under walking and running conditions without artifact. The wearable monitor is small and discrete, which makes the application easier for the patient. The system is Bluetooth-enabled, and respiration can be measured on an app using any iOS-based device. The input received is displayed on the monitor as waveforms, providing information on the respiratory rate-related tidal volumes, respiratory depth, volume measurement, and other important ventilation information with zero lag time. Using this information, healthcare professionals can detect disruptions in a patient’s body without delay, saving more lives. The small size and wireless capability make monitoring respiration rate and volume in a day-to-day environment feasible. The company plans to collaborate with hospitals and medical institutions to improve their diagnostics and patient safety using the monitor.

“There is currently an explosion within the wearable field. It’s exciting to be on the cutting edge and provide, essentially, the first incredibly super soft, wearable sensor out there,” says Michael Chu, CEO of Makani Science. He says, “If the Makani Science system saves at least one life, then the company is already a success in my eyes.”

The Makani Respiration Monitor is a revolutionary technology that provides more information on the lungs with continuous, real-time monitoring and is a comfortable, non-invasive wearable sensor. It opens a new avenue for future wearable technologies to explore. In the days to come, Chu looks to take to the beachhead market and is focused on exploring other verticals which could potentially benefit from his company’s solution.