electronRx launches smartphone-based lung monitoring through digital biomarkers
Medical technology company electronRx has developed a smartphone-based system for monitoring lung function in patients with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs). The purpleDx app, which will launch at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, transforms mobile phones into diagnostic tools by capturing and analysing digital biomarkers through the device’s camera.
The system operates by detecting subtle variations in facial blood flow that are imperceptible to the human eye. During a 30-60 second measurement period, the smartphone camera captures millions of data points, which are then converted into clinically relevant cardiopulmonary metrics including heart rate, respiratory rate, and tidal volume.
Healthcare providers can access real-time physiological data through an accompanying clinical dashboard, enabling remote monitoring of patients’ lung function and facilitating timely adjustments to treatment regimens. This capability may reduce unnecessary hospital visits while maintaining close clinical supervision of disease progression.
The technology has been developed in partnership with respiratory clinics and the European pulmonary hypertension association (PHA Europe), targeting conditions including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension.
Addressing global health burden
With CRDs representing the third leading cause of death globally, the development of accessible monitoring tools holds significant clinical potential. Dr Bipin Patel, CEO and Founder of electronRx, emphasised the technology’s practical applications: “Our purpleDx technology transforms a mobile phone into a powerful tool that will not only enable patients to measure and quantify lung health but share these invaluable and potentially life-saving insights with their healthcare providers.”
Integration with clinical practice
The system is designed to medical device standards and aims to support treatment optimisation through continuous monitoring. Dr Patel noted that this integration of digital biomarker monitoring with prescribed medications would enable healthcare providers to “manage chronic diseases more effectively and tailor treatments for individuals, leading to enhanced therapeutic outcomes.”
The company reports ongoing incorporation of new clinical insights and data into the purpleDx platform. This iterative development process suggests potential for expanded applications in respiratory disease management, although long-term clinical validation studies will be essential to establish the system’s efficacy in various patient populations.
The technology will be demonstrated at CES 2025 in Las Vegas from 7-10 January, marking its formal introduction to the healthcare market. As remote monitoring systems continue to gain traction in chronic disease management, such smartphone-based solutions may offer new possibilities for integrating clinical assessment tools into patients’ daily lives.
- For more information, visit: electronrx.com/services
