Propeller App: A Digital Health Companion for Asthma Management
Propeller is a digital health platform designed to help individuals manage their asthma and COPD more effectively. This system combines a small sensor that attaches to a user's inhaler with a comprehensive mobile application. The primary purpose of Propeller is to automatically track medication usage, identify potential environmental triggers, and provide personalized insights. Users choose Propeller to gain a clearer understanding of their respiratory health, adhere to their prescribed treatment plan, and reduce the frequency of unexpected flare-ups through data-driven awareness.
Automated Medication Use Logging
The core function of Propeller begins with its discreet sensor, which clips onto a user's prescribed inhaler. There is no manual action required from the user to start logging. Each time the user takes a dose of their medication, the sensor automatically detects the actuation (the puff) and records the exact date and time. This data is wirelessly synced to the paired Propeller app on the user’s smartphone. Propeller then compiles this information into a clear, chronological log, providing an accurate and effortless record of adherence that replaces the need for manual diary entries or guesswork.
Personalized Medication and Environmental Reminders
Within the Propeller app, users can configure custom reminders based on their prescribed medication schedule. To set this up, a user inputs their dosage instructions into Propeller. Propeller then uses this schedule to send timely push notifications to their phone, alerting them when a dose is due. For added reinforcement, if the sensor is within Bluetooth range, it can also emit a gentle chime as a physical reminder. This feature ensures users stay on track with their controller medications, which is crucial for long-term asthma management and preventing symptoms before they start.
Generating and Sharing Digital Health Reports
Propeller transforms raw usage data into actionable visual reports. The system automatically generates monthly summaries that chart medication use patterns over time. Users access these reports directly within the Propeller app or via email. The interface provides simple sharing options, allowing a user to effortlessly send a PDF report to their healthcare provider before or during an appointment. This gives the doctor objective, accurate data on real-world inhaler use, facilitating more informed discussions about treatment efficacy and potential adjustments to the care plan.
Daily Asthma Outlook and Environmental Forecasts
To help users plan their day, Propeller provides a personalized Asthma Outlook each morning. Propeller uses the user's GPS location to pull local air quality data, pollen counts, and weather forecasts. It then synthesizes this environmental information with the user's own historical medication data to generate a simple risk assessment (e.g., low, medium, high) for potential symptoms that day. Users check the Propeller app each morning to view this outlook, empowering them to make informed decisions about their activities and be proactively prepared.
Identifying Personal Asthma Triggers
Propeller aids in the discovery of personal asthma triggers by correlating reliever inhaler use with location and time data. As a user goes about their day, the Propeller sensor logs every use of their rescue inhaler and tags it with a GPS location. Propeller's map view then displays these events as pins. By reviewing this history, a user can visually identify clusters of usage at specific locations, such as a friend's house with a pet or a certain park, helping them pinpoint environmental or activity-based triggers they may not have previously noticed.
Locating a Misplaced Inhaler with Ease
A common and stressful situation is misplacing a vital reliever inhaler. Propeller offers a practical solution with its "Find My Inhaler" feature. If a user cannot find their sensor-enabled inhaler, they simply open the Propeller app and navigate to this function. As long as the sensor is within Bluetooth range of the smartphone, the user can trigger it to play a ringing sound, helping them audibly locate it quickly. This feature, unique to Propeller, provides significant peace of mind, ensuring a rescue inhaler is accessible when needed most.
Key Features
Automatic tracking of inhaler usage via a discreet wireless sensor.
Customizable medication reminders via app notifications and sensor chimes.
Easy-to-share digital health reports for doctor appointments.
Personalized daily Asthma Outlook based on local environmental factors.
GPS-enabled trigger mapping to identify patterns in symptom occurrence.
Audible "Find My Inhaler" function to locate a misplaced device.
