Handheld Monitor Detects Airway Inflammation

A hand-held non-invasive device detected airway inflammation in human breath by measuring the concentration of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO).

The Niox Mino airway inflammation monitor offers easy fingertip navigation, a touch-screen for quick display of results, and a built-in flow control that keeps exhalation at 50 ml/sec regardless of patient skill. Filtering of inhaled air eliminates contamination from elevated ambient nitrous oxide (NO) levels. Test Cards allow individual patient data storage over time, which allows use of the device in the home environment, with a total of 1500 measurements available. This permits review of the FENO record at the next doctor's appointment. The pre-calibrated NO sensor assures accurate, repeatable and reproducible results. The Niox Mino is a product of Aerocrine (Solna, Sweden).

Exhaled air from normal subjects typically contains 5-20 ppb nitric oxide while the exhaled air of asthmatic subjects contains 2-4 times higher levels. FENO measurement has been shown to be superior to the majority of conventional tests recommended in international guidelines for diagnosing asthma in symptomatic patients and may constitute an important part of a disease management strategy to improve care of patients with inflammatory airway disorders such as asthma.


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