Remote monitoring & gaming technology for children with CF

Project Fizzyo: Remote monitoring and gaming technology for improving physiotherapy prescription, adherence and prediction of clinical outcomes in children with cystic fibrosis.

Airway clearance treatments (ACTs) and physical activity can mitigate the progression of CF lung disease, but these routine physiotherapy treatments are burdensome and adherence is low. Traditional research methods have failed to produce credible evidence to guide practice, partly because ‘blinding’ isn’t possible and patient preference can confound results. We have worked with engineers and designers to develop an electronically chipped sensor (Fizzyo sensor) which mounts onto standard widely used airway clearance devices. This sensor monitors breathing during routine airway clearance. Additionally wearable activity trackers can monitor physical activity. We can now facilitate automatic transmission of ACT and physical activity data to clinicians and researchers caring for children with CF. Industry partners (Microsoft) and UCL computer science experts have helped us build an airway clearance and physical activity feedback dashboard app for patients and carers. This team has also developed computer games driven by breathing through an airway clearance device for this app (to enhance treatment enjoyment and adherence). The project will use this technology for passive remote capture and transmission of daily longitudinal data during airway clearance and physical activity to assess impact of different adherence levels on clinical outcomes.