Early Development
Pediatric Prototype
A purpose-built version of the Lung Flute ECO designed for children is currently in the early prototype stage, with clinical testing ahead.
What we are building
A Lung Flute ECO built for children
The adult Lung Flute ECO has demonstrated clear value for sputum induction in patients for those who cannot cough up sputum spontaneously. But children are not small adults because they have different airway anatomy, different respiratory mechanics, and different tolerability needs. A device that works well for an adult may not work the same way, or at all, in a young child.
The pediatric prototype is being designed to address this directly: a smaller, child-friendly version of the Lung Flute ECO tuned to the physiological needs of younger patients. The design is not yet finalised, and no clinical data exist at this stage. What follows is entirely speculative, but the need is real, and the work has begun.
The challenge
Why children need a different approach
Different physiology
Children have smaller airways and lower respiratory volumes than adults, meaning a standard adult device may not generate the acoustic conditions needed for effective sputum induction.
Sputum scarcity in children
Children, particularly those under the age of 10, have a difficult time producing sputum. This makes Tuberculosis diagnosis significantly harder, as most microbiological tests require a sputum sample.
Underdiagnosis
Children under 15 represent a disproportionately large share of undiagnosed Tuberculosis cases globally. A child-friendly induction device could be a critical step toward closing this gap.
The researchers
Pediatric investigators
A dedicated team of pediatric researchers is being assembled to guide the design and eventual clinical evaluation of the pediatric prototype.
Coming soon
The pediatric research team will be introduced here shortly.