Liberate Medical

COPD is a chronic respiratory disease that is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Despite current treatment options, many COPD patients cannot properly empty their lungs during activities of daily living, for example walking up the stairs. This causes the lungs to hyperinflate, which can lead to dyspnea (shortness of breath) and is the beginning of an unforgiving downward cycle that degrades quality of life, results in hospitalizations and often ends with death. Liberate’s patent-pending solution, SecondBreath, is a discreet and wearable belt that applies surface electrical stimulation to the abdominal muscles during exhalation. This causes the abdominal muscles to contract during exhalation, compressing the abdominal contents which push upward like a piston toward the lungs. This piston-like effect helps to squeeze out an extra volume of air every time the patient exhales and thereby rapidly reduces lung hyperinflation.