Whistler - lungfunction measuring device
Lung function tests are able to forecast when children suffering from bronchial complaints are at increased risk of contracting asthma. To facilitate them, some five years ago the departments of Medical Technology and Clinical Physics at UMC Utrecht developed an instrument to test lung function in infants for research purposes. Since then, that research has produced some promising results. The time has therefore come to take the instrument itself to the next level. For it to be widely applied as a diagnostic tool, it has to be smaller and more practical, child-friendlier and suitable for routine use.
With a view to this transition to the commercial arena, and as part of our contribution to the MTIC, WeLL Design recently facilitated a brainstorming session for specialists from UMC Utrecht and CCM, the Centre for Concepts in Mechatronics. We then conducted a user survey and prepared an initial draught design taking the above points into account. Following market research conducted under the auspices of the MTIC, as well as a study of product’s technical and commercial feasibility, WeLL Design, UMC Utrecht and CCM are now developing a first prototype. After that, the product will be rolled out to the market.
