Belluscura24 Apr 2019 08:51
Over 250 million people worldwide suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and is now the third leading cause of death.1 COPD hospitalizations are projected to be an epidemic in many countries over the next 15 years with the global cost of COPD estimated to rise from $2.1tr (USD) in 2010 to $4.8tr by 2030.2,3 In the US alone, costs of COPD are estimated to rise from $32bn in 2014 to $49bn by 2020.4
With this incredible financial burden facing global healthcare, acute and disruptive policies and therapeutic interventions aimed at reducing the burden of COPD need to be developed and implemented as soon as possible. Any disease-management strategy, including new and cost-effective technologies, that can efficiently manage and alleviate COPD burden in the community can potentially slow the escalating cost of this disease.
Technology:
Currently there is no known cure for COPD. Those with severe COPD are typically prescribed supplemental oxygen to alleviate their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Supplemental oxygen is usually provided either in the form of an oxygen tank, a/k/a cylinder, or via an oxygen concentrator.
Traditional supplemental oxygen sources:
traditional oxygen delivery systems such as tanks and large concentrators
Traditional supplemental oxygen sources:
Oxygen cylinders have been around for many years. An oxygen supplier or other medical supplies provider typically delivers the tanks to a patient based on their level of oxygen usage and prescription. A major problem with oxygen cylinders is that they have a finite supply of oxygen with many smaller ones lasting only a few hours while larger ones are very difficult for patients to carry, especially those suffering from later stage COPD. In addition, oxygen cylinders cannot be taken on aircraft.
Oxygen concentrators, on the other hand, generate concentrated oxygen from ordinary air which is typically 20% oxygen, 79% nitrogen and 1% argon and other trace gases. A concentrator generates 85-95% concentrated oxygen through an adsorption process involving a material called a zeolite that removes the nitrogen. Portable oxygen concentrators run on batteries (or can be plugged directly into an electrical outlet) and will keep generating concentrated oxygen as long as the battery has a charge. The portable oxygen market has seen tremendous growth the past few years with an estimated global market size of $1.4bn, growing rapidly to $2.4bn by 2024.5
Belluscura researched the portable oxygen market and concluded that new technology could improve the quality and efficiency of oxygen concentrators while also reducing the cost to the patient or caregiver. Since that initial research, Belluscura has exclusively licensed, acquired or filed 13 patents and applications in the field of concentrated oxygen generation. Some of the technology has won national awards for innovation.
TEK have a great unique product....good news we may see 20p broken very soon
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