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In this MedTech World feature, Synchrony Medical CEO Anat Shani discusses with Duncan Barry the inspiration behind LibAirty, a breakthrough digital airway clearance system, and how patient-centric innovation is reshaping chronic lung disease management.
For Anat Shani, the path into healthcare innovation was clear from the outset. With a background in biomedical engineering, Shani entered the MedTech sector driven by a desire to combine technical expertise with real-world impact. Early experience in research and development roles, followed by an MBA focused on innovation and entrepreneurship, laid the foundation for her to lead a MedTech startup from ideation into its current early commercial growth phase.
Synchrony Medical was founded during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in collaboration with leading clinicians from Sheba Medical Center, including Prof. Ori Efrati, Dr Moshe Ashkenazi and Gil Sokol. While the global health crisis accelerated the urgency for remote care solutions, it also exposed long-standing gaps in respiratory treatment – particularly for patients managing chronic lung diseases at home. The founding team set out to address a critical challenge: enabling patients with chronic respiratory disease to independently manage their condition through effective airway clearance therapy.
Airway clearance is a cornerstone of treatment for conditions such as bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis. The process involves removing mucus from the lungs, reducing infection risks, improving breathing, and slowing disease progression. However, some existing methods require significant training or clinical supervision, making consistent, effective treatment difficult to maintain outside healthcare settings.
“Airway clearance can be achieved through a variety of techniques that aim to loosen, move and expel sticky mucus from the lungs. The challenge is that airway clearance devices need to be both effective enough to deliver clinically meaningful results and practical enough for patients to self-administer independently at home on a daily basis,” Shani explained.
Shani walked Medtech World Magazine through how LibAirty works, and what inspired its creation.
“Synchrony’s solution, LibAirty, represents a significant step forward. The FDA-cleared system combines app-guided breathing exercises with targeted chest compressions delivered through an inflatable vest. Inspired by the clinically proven technique of Autogenic Drainage, LibAirty translates complex, therapist-led methods into a user-friendly, at-home solution.
“During therapy sessions, patients are guided through controlled breathing patterns via a mobile app, while the vest delivers synchronized compressions. This coordinated approach aims to mobilize mucus from the smaller, hardest to clear, airways, facilitating thorough lung clearance during each session. By acting as a ‘digital therapist,’ the system empowers patients to perform high-quality therapy independently on a daily basis.”
The development of LibAirty was deeply shaped by close collaboration with clinicians and patients alike. Insights from respiratory specialists ensured that the device’s design was grounded in physiological principles, while patient feedback helped refine its usability and comfort, two factors essential for long-term adherence.
Clinical data has been promising. Studies conducted at Sheba Medical Center and the Medical University of South Carolina showed that patients using LibAirty were able to clear twice the amount of mucus compared to traditional vest-based therapies, while also reporting higher levels of comfort and satisfaction. Since its commercial launch in the United States in late 2025, real-world feedback has echoed these findings, with patients reporting reduced coughing, improved sleep, and a better overall quality of life.
“For many patients, the impact of effective airway clearance goes beyond better clinical outcomes, it provides freedom to live life to the fullest, without being sidelined by their condition,” she told Medtech World.
Beyond individual outcomes, the technology also addresses broader systemic challenges. With healthcare systems under increasing pressure and a shortage of respiratory therapists, solutions like LibAirty extend expert care into the home. By empowering patients to manage their conditions independently, such innovations have the potential to reduce hospitalizations and ease long-term healthcare costs.
Looking ahead, Shani sees digital health driving a shift toward more connected, home-based care. Enabled by advanced technology, the home becomes the primary setting for treatment, supported by data-driven insights and personalized care. This approach not only improves accessibility but also enables earlier intervention and more proactive disease management.
At its core, Synchrony Medical’s vision is to redefine the standard of care for chronic respiratory diseases. By making effective, independent therapy widely accessible, the company aims to give patients greater control over their health, and, ultimately, a better quality of life.
With LibAirty already making an impact, the focus now turns to scaling its reach, as Synchrony Medical works toward transforming respiratory care for millions worldwide.
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