The development process for a new spacer device

The British Thoracic Society and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network recommend that children up to the age of five should use a pressurised metered dose inhaler with a spacer device to deliver inhaled steroids. However, largevolume spacers can be cumbersome, which is why I designed a smaller, more portable device to encourage spacer use. After prototypes were made, the idea was presented to the local NHS innovations department. With its advice and assistance, a collapsible spacer device has been developed. This article describes the product development process.

The second article in a two-part series on the use of spacers to treat asthma in children describes the development of a child friendly spacer

In this article…

Why children should use spacers with pressurised metered dose inhalers

The issues of encouraging children to use their spacer devices

How a product went from concept to a marketable product