SBIR-STTR Award

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a diagnostic instrument to detect molecular species, such as nitric oxide, in exhaled breath as a biomarker of airway inflammation to assess the effectiveness and compliance of asthma therapies. This project will result in the fabrication of a biosensor suitable for clinical use. Pre-clinical studies will be performed during the Phase I research to ensure that a proper protocol has been established. The follow on Phase II project will incorporate clinical trials in preparation for FDA approval. The commercial applications of this project will be in the area of biomedical diagnostic devices and instrumentation. It is hoped that the instrument developed in the course of this project will acquire a good share of the $1 billion a year asthma diagnosis and treatment monitoring market.

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop a laser based breathmeter for detecting and monitoring asthma in children and adults. The Phase I work proved the feasibility of constructing a machine, based on infrared laser absorption spectroscopy, that is capable of measuring exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and exhaled carbon dioxide (eCO2) levels to evaluate airway inflammation for indications of asthma and to monitor treatment compliance. In the Phase II project, a dedicated hardware design for electronics and data processing plus user-friendly custom written software will be integrated into a compact system that is cost effective, highly sensitive, real-time, and reliable for monitoring airway inflammation. The commercial application of this project is in the area of biomedical devices and instrumentation