Our Mission
SpacerScope aims to improve the everyday use of inhaler spacers by reimagining spacers to be a collapsible device with a two-way valve system. Our goal is to create a spacer that is not only compact and user friendly but also maintains the integrity of a classic spacer in maximizing drug delivery and improving respiratory care. We are committed to developing a solution that adheres to clinical standards but also meets patients needs.
The Problem
Spacers are medical devices that are typically paired with pressurized metered-dose inhalers, in order to optimize drug delivery from the inhaler to the lungs. Despite their benefits, patients refrain from utilizing spacers due to their bulky nature and lack of portability.
Our Customer
Our customer, Erika O’Geen, is a respiratory therapist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, working in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Her growing concerns about low patient compliance with spacer use caused her to approach our team with the idea to develop a more practical and user-friendly collapsible alternative.
Meet the Team
We are SpacerScope, a team of four biomedical engineering students at the University of Rochester. Our team members, Faizah Ahmmed, Elena Dapi, Keyden Snow, and Rupika Talagadadeevi, are united by a shared mission to redesign a biomedical device that can improve respiratory care in patients with respiratory diseases.
Our Product
Under the guidance of our supervisor, Dr. Kanika Vats, we have developed a collapsible spacer made from medical grade silicone that meets the key needs and wants of our customer.
Through an iterative design process involving 3D printing, silicone molding and the utilization of the AriHyatus mouthpiece, we have created a device that provides sufficient space for proper medication diffusion while collapsing into a compact structure that can fit inside your pocket! The spacer is durable, easy to use and clean, and it is compatible with standard inhalers. Various testing procedures have verified that our collapsible design is on par with traditional spacers.
Future Steps
We believe our design and prototype are the first steps in a long process of larger scale testing, manufacturing, and education regarding spacers.