top of page
Research: Video
Improving Asthma Management In Low Resource Areas
Simbiso Maphosa
Biomedical Engineering, Bucknell University
Donna Ebenstein, Joseph Tranquilo, James Baish
Biomedical Engineering Department, Bucknell University
Research: Text
Research: Pro Gallery
Overview
Asthma is a respiratory disease characterized by airflow obstruction, airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness which affects an estimated 300 million individuals worldwide. The disease is highly prevalent among populations in low resource areas especially in developing countries due to the lack of availability of medical resources. Currently, most medical equipment used in low resource areas is imported from developed countries. Importing medical devices is expensive and not readily accessible for the general population. In addition, medical equipment designed and manufactured in developed regions often fail in low resource areas due to a disparity between the context in which the devices are expected to function and the conditions in which they function in developing countries.
It is my passion to improve access to high quality, life saving medical devices for the treatment of chronic diseases in low resource and underserved areas. I have dedicated close to 2 years to develop a portable, non-electric, and cost effective asthma drug delivery device specifically tailored for use in low resource settings designed to help relieve asthma symptoms. This project led to the creation of PRIME-Air, a nebulizer for optimal and effective treatment of asthma. The product has undergone preliminary testing to ensure that design requirements are met. The next phase of the development process will be focused on device regulation, marketing, and commercialization. This project was supported by the Reed-Garman Engineering Entrepreneurship Award.
Research: Projects
Research Presentations
Research: Text
Research: Pro Gallery
Play Video
Research: Video Player
bottom of page