Andy Stanton

Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO) is a debilitating condition, caused by malfunctioning structures of the upper airway, leaving children and adults feeling out of breath, unable to exercise, or participate in normal daily activities. ILO has a significant impact on quality of life, social functioning and educational achievement. It is often misdiagnosed as asthma, leading to children being prescribed asthma medications which will not treat the problem and are potentially harmful. 

Although a diagnostic approach exists for adult individuals, utilising retrofit apparatus to identify ILO via continuous laryngoscopy during exercise (CLE), these solutions lack appropriateness for paediatric populations and are not commercially available. 

This research explores effective methods for attaching a laryngoscope to the user to enable accurate video observation of vocal cord function during physical exertion. Through an iterative design process, the team explored ancillary attachment methods for commercially available laryngoscopy devices and created 10 proof of concept prototypes. Prototype design was informed by workshops involving clinicians from specialist children’s hospitals in the UK, USA, and Australia. This current phase of funded activity is now complete, with a successful testing and validation outcome. Further testing and validation is underway at several UK sites. 

Funded by Medical Research Council CiC UK 

Supported by Research England Expanding Excellence in England 

Partners: Dr Nicki Barker, Dr Jane Kirkby, Dr Ravi Thevasagayam, Dr Kelechi Ugonna (Sheffield Children’s Hospital); Dr Jen Rowson (Uni of Sheffield); Agnes Crutchard, Medipex