Date: Jan 28, 2015 Source: Wired (
click here to go to the source)
Dr. Alan Levy says there's a better way to quit smoking: wearable computing.
Yes, we already have the nicotine patch and nicotine gum and all sorts of anti-smoking lozenges. But Levy believes we can turn quitting into a more exact science with a wearable device that careful administers nicotine to your particular specifications.
As the CEO of Chrono Therapeutics, Levy is now developing such a device, and it's due to arrive in 2017, if it can pass muster with the FTC. Worn on the arm or torso, it uses disposable cartridges to deliver small and precise doses of nicotine ahead of your cravings, and it dovetails with a smartphone app that not only monitor your nicotine levels in real-time, but also serves up alerts meant to provide encouragement you as struggle to kick your addiction.
This may sound like an extreme thing. But in many ways, Levy's attention to detail is warranted. Smoking is the number one most preventable cause of death, according to the World Health Organization. One out of every 5 deaths in the U.S., the CDC says, are smoking-related.
With close to 50 million smokers in America—and an even larger number overseas—there's an enormous market for anti-smoking products, and yet there's very little innovation in the space. Sure, there are drugs that claim to curb smoking urges, but they come with drawbacks.
With their device, Levy and Chrono join countless other companies striving to solve common problems with wearables. Some companies seek to help in the workplace, or the environment. Others aim for entertainment. And so very many focus on health, including everything from the FitBit fitness tracker to the upcoming Apple Watch.
"The smoking market is growing, and the smoking cessation market is growing," Levy says. "The market is huge, and the need is enormous. Our product is like a FitBit, but a FitBit that provides therapy."
The idea is pretty simple. Each day, you add a new nicotine cartridge to the device, and via the smartphone app, you set a "wake-up time"—i.e. a time when it should start administering the nicotine. The cartridge holds nicotine in an alcohol and water solution, and the device applies this solution to your skin as specified, varying the doses according to how quickly the solution evaporates.
Drawing on data from past clinical studies that examined when best to deliver drugs based on wake-up time, the wearable delivers nicotine in several peaks throughout the day. Embedded sensors can detect when the device is in contact with the skin—and whether the cartridge is properly installed.
The device starts out by administering a high-dose nicotine, and then, as the weeks pass, it tapers the amounts until they reach zero. It includes a simple coin cell battery, which powers the device for 10 weeks, the typical length of a quitting program. It's also water-resistant, so it can be worn in the shower or during exercise.
At the same time, the smartphone app shows users how much of the drug they're getting and when they're getting it. It can also use push notifications to alert the user if they aren't properly wearing the device, when they need to change the cartridge, and in the event of other compliance-related issues. Users can also alert the system when they get a new craving, with the app responding accordingly.
Though the device is not yet publicly available, Chronos plans to file its design with the FDA by next year, 2016, with the aim of getting full approval by 2017. The company raised $32 million in funding last July, and among others, it's backed by the National Cancer Institute. According to Levy, though the company is initially focusing on smoking market, it has given proof-of-concept demonstrations showing that its peak-delivery system works for asthma, depression, and ADHD as well.
