Breathe Technologies Sponsors Veteran With COPD On September Honor Flight

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Breathe Technologies, a developer and manufacturer of innovative medical technologies for patients with respiratory insufficiency diseases and neuromuscular diseases, will sponsor World War II Veteran and Colton, Calif. resident Bob Scott on a September trip to Washington, D.C., as part of the Honor Flight Network.

The Breathe Non-Invasive Open Ventilation (NIOV) System is the first and only wearable, ventilation system for people with respiratory insufficiency cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It provides augmented tidal volume, which reduces the work of breathing for people with respiratory insufficiency caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.

The Honor Flight Network is a nonprofit organization that transports America's veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices. Scott, a COPD patient who uses the Breathe NIOV System, will travel with his equipment and use it throughout his trip.

"The Breathe NIOV provides additional volume to patients who are still short of breath even though they have adequate oxygen," said Kathi Ellstrom, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, a pulmonary clinical nurse specialist at Loma Linda VA Healthcare System. "When people cannot get enough air in their lungs, the non-invasive portable ventilator gives them the additional breath they need. Bob will use the NIOV during our visit to the monuments to help him feel less short of breath."

Ellstrom will attend the September Honor Flight of Inland Empire trip as a guardian for Scott and two other veterans. Scott, who served as a midshipman in the Navy during World War II, began using the Breathe NIOV System three months ago.

"With COPD my lungs really deteriorated, everything just took so much longer. I was exhausted by daily chores and found I had to take around thirty minutes to rest between tasks just to recover," said Scott. "But now that I use the Breathe NIOV System, my recovery time has been reduced to eight minutes or less. I'm sold on the technology and feel like I've gained my independence back."

Scott is flying with the Honor Flight of Inland Empire and Breathe Technologies is the first corporate donor for this region. Local fundraising events and individual donors have historically provided the funding needed for the Honor Flight of Inland Empire's trips.

"I've seen how difficult it is for people with COPD to make this trip and it's wonderful to know that there's something that will make it easier for them to enjoy their time visiting the monuments that were built to honor their service," said Marva X, the fundraising chair for the Honor Flight of Inland Empire. "It's doubly rewarding for us that the company that makes the device is also sponsoring veterans with COPD to go on the trip."

"My father was a WWII veteran and it means a lot to all of us at Breathe to be able to support the greatest generation in this capacity," said Larry Mastrovich, president and CEO, Breathe Technologies. "After everything they have done for our country, we are honored to enable Mr. Scott and other veterans to participate in the Honor Flight program."

About The Breathe NIOV System
The Breathe NIOV System is a one-pound non-invasive mechanical ventilator that can be use in homecare and institutional settings. The Breathe NIOV System utilizes novel venturi principle technology in a comfortable facial interface that can be worn while talking and exercising. The Breathe NIOV System technology reduces the overall size of the ventilation system and supports patient mobility and independence.

The Breathe NIOV System reduces the work of breathing by unloading the ancillary respiratory muscles.^[i] Data from the seven studies that support the efficacy of the Breathe NIOV System demonstrate that the device reduces dyspnea (shortness of breath), increases oxygenation, enhances exercise endurance, and unloads respiratory muscle activity.

About Breathe Technologies
Breathe Technologies, Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of innovative medical technologies for patients with respiratory insufficiency diseases and neuromuscular diseases. The company is the first provider of lightweight and wearable ventilators that reduce the work of breathing and support improved patient mobility. Breathe Technologies has a robust product pipeline that seeks to address additional unmet needs in respiratory care. Investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, DAG Ventures, Morgan Creek, and Synergy Partners International. Breathe Technologies is located in Irvine, California.

For more information, please visit www.breathetechnologies.com.  

^[i] 1Porszasz J, et al. Physiologic effects of an ambulatory ventilation system in COPD. Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol 188, Iss. 3, pp 334–342, Aug 1, 2013

SOURCE Breathe Technologies, Inc.

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