Healthcare 21 partners with German technology giant Bosch to launch world first medical device

Healthcare business Healthcare 21 (HC21), which has its UK headquarters in Leeds, has forged a new partnership with the healthcare arm of German technology giant Bosch.

As part of this new deal, HC21 will distribute a world first breath analysis device that improves quality of life for asthmatics.

HC21 was chosen by Bosch Healthcare Solutions to launch its new Vivatmo me, which is a medical device for asthma patients which measures the levels of exhaled nitric oxide and helps to monitor their treatment and adherence more closely.

The Leeds-based distributor is showcasing the partnership with a stand at the British Thoracic Society Summer Meeting on June 22nd, with an official product launch in autumn this year.

The new equipment, which is also available in a version especially for use by asthma health professionals such as GPs and respiratory nurses, uses a measure called FeNO – fractional exhaled nitric oxide.

FeNO has recently been undergoing a review by the independent organisation which approves drugs and treatments for NHS funding, NICE – the National Institute of Healthcare Excellence.

FeNO testing is already approved by NICE for helping in the diagnosis and management of asthma on the NHS.

David Plotts, business development director for HC21, said: “We were absolutely delighted to be approached by Bosch Healthcare Solutions, who were aware of our expertise in launching a product like this in the UK and Ireland and our experience in working with NICE on the roll out of FeNO for clinicians and patients.

“This is an exciting product which has far reaching benefits for both doctors and for the first time, asthma patients themselves, who are now able to buy this device and use it at home and have more control over their condition and treatment.

“The partnership with Bosch Healthcare Solutions dovetails with our overall plan to almost double our group sales to 100m euros inside the next three years.”

Marc Meier, general manager of Bosch Healthcare Solutions, commented: “We are very pleased to be working with HC21 to launch our first medical device in the UK and Ireland for doctors and patients alike.

“Vivatmo me for the first time gives asthma patients more real-time information about their condition. It is easy to use at home as part of a daily routine to regularly measure FeNO and monitor a patient’s asthma, in a similar way a person with diabetes would monitor their blood sugar.

“The Vivatmo technology enables a patient to monitor which individual factors improve or worsen their asthma and in turn, this can give them more confidence in managing their condition.”

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