RespimometerTM for Early Diagnosis of

Pneumonia
Drink Pitch Mingle
Innovation Grant Winners
May 16th Tel Aviv

Pneumonia

Kills about a million children under 5 every

year
Primary cause of child death in the
developing world
UNICEF & WHO lead fight against
pneumonia, a huge effort to improve
diagnosis and treatment

Timely recognition of key pneumonia symptoms by caregivers

followed by seeking appropriate care and antibiotic treatment for
.bacterial pneumonia is lifesaving
(Pneumonia and diarrhea: Tackling the deadliest diseases for the worlds poorest children, UNICEF 2012)
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Diagnosis of Pneumonia
In the absence of chest
radiology & blood tests,
pneumonia is classified based
on symptoms and physical
examinations

Tachypnea high respiratory

rate
Fever high body
temperature
Hypoxemia low oxygen
level

Respiratory Rate Counting

According to WHO and UNICEF, pneumonia is

classified by a rapid respiratory rate (RR) as counted
by a health worker
The diagnosis guideline for pneumonia at
community level requires that a health worker
counts a sick childs breath during 1 minute by
looking at his chest rising and falling
ARI (Acute Respiratory Infection) Timer is a 30-sec,
1-minute timer with an alarm
Requirement to find a simple yet superior solution

RespimometerTM

is shaped like a regular digital thermometer,

but has two thermistor-type sensors located in
its mouth-stop
The Respiratory Rate (RR) is measured by
analyzing the inhalation/exhalation waveform to
provide rapid and accurate diagnosis of
pneumonia
Binary sick / normal indication to be provided per
childs age

Status and Grants

Received a Grand Challenges

Israel grant

Built 10 simple models with RR

algorithm on external PC
Performed initial testing in
Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC)
Together with local NGO AFHIA,
managing and oversee trials in
Butembo, North Kivu
Identified needs and main
challenges facing the product in
practical use

Recently awarded an USAID

grant in order to design,

In the Lab

In the DRC

DRC Team

Dr. Claude Kasereka

Masumbuko Physician,
Universit Catholique du Graben,
Matanda General Hospital,
Butembo, DRC

Dr. Michael Hawkes Clinician

Scientist, Pediatric Infectious
Diseases, University of Alberta

Prof. Israel Amirav, MD Cofounder RespiDx Ltd., Expert in

Pediatric Pulmonology, Univ. of
Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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Transition to MultimometerTM

Currently integrating a reflective pulse oximeter

chip into the front of the mouth-stop
The product will then replaces 3 stand alone
devices - Respiratory Rate Monitor, Thermometer
and Pulse Oximeter
Provides all vital signs (except BP), enabling it to
be:

used in developing countries primarily for pneumonia

diagnosis
used in the 1st world, for home use and telemedicine

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Next Stages

Design-for-Manufacture stage of the device, to enable

the transfer from engineering to mass production

Quote received from a major custom-electronics

manufacturer enables us to estimate costs for mass
manufacturing

Raising funds to deploy the devices to the 2.5 million

CHWs in relevant locations, and provide them with
training

Evaluation of impact of device on referral, pneumoniaspecific mortality: stepped-wedge cluster randomized

controlled trial

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