Digital health start-up Clin-e-cal has raised over £130,000 on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube to fund the commercialisation and scale-up of its smart inhaler monitoring technology.

Clin-e-cal’s smartphone apps use SoundResponse technology, which analyses sound signals associated with the inhaler device. The apps then use these sound signals to provide real-time visual feedback to users on their inhalation technique, as well as tracking their adherence.

Clin-e-cal CEO, Dr Elizabeth Crawford, said: “It is fantastic to have received such great support from the crowd, we exceeded our original funding target by 264%. This funding will allow us to move forward with the scale-up of our existing Rafi-Tone smartphone app, and to commercialise our new Clip-Tone app technology to help adults with asthma and other respiratory diseases. We believe that our technology can make a huge difference to both inhaler technique and respiratory disease outcomes, and it is very exciting to be able to move forwards and make our technology available to more people across the world.”

Improving inhaler technique has long been highlighted as a key to reduce serious asthma complications and deaths. The UK has some of the worst asthma death rates in Europe, and three people in the UK die from an asthma attack every day. A recent report into asthma deaths in the UK also found that 22% of people in the study were not using their inhaler correctly.

Clin-e-cal’s Rafi-Tone app, launched in 2016, is a technology-based solution to address the distress and panic that children can feel when taking their inhaler medication. The app was originally developed by a University of Manchester academic, Professor Tariq Aslam, to help his son, Rafi, by using specially designed games and cartoons to encourage and monitor correct inhaler technique. Rafi Robot, the star of the app, helps to engage the child whilst promoting effective inhaler technique through a series of games.

Clin-e-cal has also developed its Clip-Tone app, in partnership with medical device manufacturers, to help adults to monitor and improve their inhaler technique. Clip-Tone consists of an attachment, which clips to the top of an inhaler and generates a whistling sound when the inhaler is used, and the Clip-Tone Buddy smartphone app.

The attachment works with the companion app to give users real-time visual feedback on their inhalation technique, as well as tracking their adherence and sending medication reminders. A study presented at the European Respiratory Society conference in September 2020 shows that the Clip-Tone smart inhaler technology is helpful for inhaler users, and guides them to improve their inhaler technique.

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