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PNOĒ Unveils Self-Serve Breath Mask for VO2 Max Testing
PNOĒ, a Malden, Massachusetts-based metabolic testing company with operations in Athens, Greece, plans to launch a self-administered version of its breath-analysis mask on October 1, according to TechCrunch. The device, called PNOĒ 2.0, is designed to let a user run the company's core metabolic test without a trained operator present.
What is the PNOĒ 2.0 and when does it launch?
Co-founder and CEO Apostolos Atsalakis told TechCrunch the mask straps around the nose, mouth, and back of the head and resembles the mask worn by the Batman villain Bane. The company, founded roughly a decade ago, previously required a trained staff member to fit and monitor the device during testing. The 2.0 version is scheduled for release October 1 and is built to run without that operator, per the report.
How does the self-serve mask work?
According to Atsalakis, a user can "just wear the mask, push the button, sit down" and breathe for eight minutes while the device records data.
"That's it. It's that easy," Atsalakis said, according to TechCrunch.
The company's software then converts the breath readings into an automated report, TechCrunch reported, without specifying the underlying algorithm or citing a published validation study.
What does the test claim to measure?
PNOĒ says its test captures 23 biomarkers derived from the ratio of inhaled oxygen to exhaled carbon dioxide, TechCrunch reported. Those markers reportedly include VO₂ max, the maximum rate of oxygen the body can use during exercise and a standard measure of cardiorespiratory fitness; resting metabolic rate, or the number of calories the body burns at rest; and metabolic flexibility, a measure of how efficiently the body shifts between burning fat and carbohydrates. Metabolic testing of this kind has been used in exercise science and clinical settings for more than a century, per the report, but has traditionally relied on bulky lab equipment operated by trained technicians.
Why does removing the operator matter?
Atsalakis told TechCrunch that operator-free testing could move the technology out of sports labs and executive wellness programs and into gyms without dedicated staff, and potentially into pharmacies. He did not give a timeline for any pharmacy rollout, and TechCrunch's report does not name specific gym or retail partners committed to carrying the device.
What is driving interest in VO2 max testing now?
TechCrunch linked the launch to rising consumer interest in VO₂ max among longevity-focused consumers, citing research associating higher cardiorespiratory fitness with lower mortality risk. Atsalakis called VO₂ max "the strongest predictor of human longevity" and described PNOĒ's data as a kind of scorecard for the broader wellness industry, according to the report. TechCrunch's article did not cite the specific mortality studies by name, journal, or sample size, and HTT News found no independent, peer-reviewed validation of the PNOĒ 2.0's self-administered accuracy in the source material. Prospective buyers weighing the device against clinical VO₂ max testing may want to ask PNOĒ directly for any accuracy data comparing the self-serve mask to operator-administered results.
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Questions
When does the PNOĒ 2.0 launch?
PNOĒ plans to launch the self-serve mask on October 1, 2026, according to TechCrunch.
Does the PNOĒ 2.0 require a trained operator?
No. Unlike the company's earlier device, the PNOĒ 2.0 is designed for users to administer the eight-minute breath test themselves, per the company's CEO.
What does the PNOĒ test measure?
The company says it captures 23 biomarkers, including VO₂ max, resting metabolic rate, and metabolic flexibility, based on oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in breath.