Technological advancements in recent years have played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the healthcare industry. One such groundbreaking innovation is the application of Near-Infrared (NIR) technology, a spectrum of light that lies just beyond the visible range. NIR has found a multitude of applications in various fields, and its potential in healthcare is increasingly being recognized for its non-invasive, rapid, and precise capabilities.

Understanding Near-Infrared (NIR):
Near-Infrared light occupies the spectrum between 700 and 2500 nanometers, making it invisible to the human eye. This range allows NIR to penetrate biological tissues, providing valuable insights into the molecular composition of cells and tissues without causing harm.

Applications in Medical Imaging:

1. Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS):
   • fNIRS is gaining prominence in neuroimaging, allowing researchers and clinicians to monitor brain activity non-invasively.
   • It measures changes in oxygen levels and blood flow, providing insights into cognitive functions, neurological disorders, and brain injuries.
2. Optical Imaging and Cancer Detection:
   • NIR technology is utilized in cancer imaging and detection methods. It helps in distinguishing healthy and cancerous tissues based on variations in blood flow and oxygenation.
   • This aids surgeons in achieving more precise and targeted tumor removal.
3. Vascular Imaging:
   • NIR fluorescence imaging is employed in visualizing blood vessels during surgeries. This technique enhances the surgeon's ability to navigate through complex vascular structures, reducing the risk of complications.

Diagnostic and Monitoring Tools:

1. Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring:
   • NIR spectroscopy is explored as a non-invasive method for monitoring blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. This could potentially replace the need for frequent fingerstick tests.
2. Tissue Oxygenation Monitoring:
   • NIR devices are used to monitor tissue oxygenation levels, especially in critical care settings. This is crucial for assessing the adequacy of oxygen delivery to tissues in real-time.
3. Wound Assessment:
   • NIR technology aids in assessing wound healing by examining tissue oxygenation, inflammation, and blood flow. This accelerates the decision-making process for wound management.

Advantages and Challenges:

1. Non-Invasiveness:
   • NIR technology offers non-invasive solutions, reducing patient discomfort and minimizing the risk of infections or complications associated with invasive procedures.
2. Real-Time Monitoring:
   • The ability to provide real-time data allows healthcare professionals to make prompt decisions, particularly in critical situations.
3. Cost-Effectiveness:
   • In comparison to some traditional diagnostic methods, NIR technology can be more cost-effective, contributing to improved accessibility to advanced healthcare.

However, challenges such as standardization, data interpretation, and widespread adoption need to be addressed to maximize the potential benefits of NIR in healthcare.

Near-Infrared technology is proving to be a transformative force in healthcare, offering a spectrum of applications ranging from medical imaging to diagnostic tools. As research and development continue to refine and expand the capabilities of NIR, the healthcare industry stands to benefit from more precise, efficient, and patient-friendly solutions. Embracing this technology opens doors to a new era of healthcare where diagnosis and monitoring are not only accurate but also more accessible to a wider population.
​

In recent years, the healthcare industry has undergone a transformative journey, with artificial intelligence (AI) playing a pivotal role in enhancing diagnostic capabilities. Advanced diagnostic equipment powered by AI is revolutionizing the way healthcare professionals identify, analyze, and treat various medical conditions. This blog explores the significant strides made in healthcare through the integration of AI into diagnostic tools.

1. Rapid and Accurate Diagnoses: AI-powered diagnostic equipment is designed to process vast amounts of medical data quickly and accurately, significantly reducing the time it takes to reach a diagnosis. Traditional diagnostic methods often require extensive manual analysis, leading to delays in treatment. With AI, healthcare professionals can obtain rapid and precise diagnoses, enabling timely interventions and improving patient outcomes.
2. Enhanced Imaging Technologies: One of the most notable applications of AI in healthcare is within imaging technologies. AI algorithms can analyze medical images, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, with remarkable efficiency. These algorithms can identify subtle patterns, anomalies, and early signs of diseases that might be challenging for the human eye to detect. This not only expedites the diagnostic process but also improves the overall accuracy of medical imaging.
3. Personalized Medicine: AI in diagnostic equipment is ushering in an era of personalized medicine, tailoring treatments to individual patients based on their unique genetic makeup, lifestyle, and medical history. By analyzing diverse data sets, AI algorithms can predict how a patient is likely to respond to specific treatments, optimizing therapeutic approaches and minimizing adverse effects. This shift toward personalized medicine marks a significant advancement in improving patient care and treatment outcomes.
4. Predictive Analytics and Preventive Healthcare: AI enables healthcare professionals to harness the power of predictive analytics, forecasting potential health issues before they manifest clinically. By analyzing patient data over time, AI algorithms can identify trends, risk factors, and warning signs, allowing for proactive interventions. This shift towards preventive healthcare can lead to a reduction in disease burden, improved patient well-being, and a more sustainable healthcare system.
5. Streamlining Workflow and Reducing Costs: Integrating AI into diagnostic equipment streamlines healthcare workflows, allowing medical professionals to focus on patient care rather than administrative tasks. Automated processes, such as data analysis and report generation, can enhance efficiency and reduce the burden on healthcare staff. Additionally, early and accurate diagnoses facilitated by AI can contribute to cost savings by avoiding unnecessary tests, treatments, and hospitalizations.

The integration of AI into diagnostic equipment represents a paradigm shift in healthcare, offering unprecedented opportunities to improve patient outcomes, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and streamline healthcare processes. As technology continues to advance, the collaborative efforts of healthcare professionals and AI systems hold the promise of a more efficient, personalized, and accessible healthcare landscape. The ongoing evolution of AI-powered diagnostic equipment reaffirms its status as a cornerstone in the ongoing transformation of healthcare delivery.
​

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into various industries has sparked significant advancements in recent years, and healthcare is no exception. AI is revolutionizing the way we approach healthcare, offering innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes, streamline processes, and enhance overall efficiency. Let's delve into how AI is reshaping the landscape of healthcare.

1. Early Disease Detection: One of the remarkable contributions of AI in healthcare is its ability to assist in early disease detection. Machine learning algorithms analyze vast amounts of medical data, including patient records, lab results, and imaging studies, to identify patterns that may indicate the presence of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, or cardiovascular issues. This early detection enables healthcare professionals to intervene sooner, potentially improving treatment outcomes and reducing the overall cost of care.
2. Personalized Treatment Plans: AI is playing a pivotal role in tailoring treatment plans based on individual patient characteristics. By analyzing genetic data, lifestyle factors, and historical treatment responses, AI algorithms can recommend personalized therapies. This approach not only enhances the efficacy of treatments but also minimizes adverse effects, as medications and interventions are customized to meet the unique needs of each patient.
3. Predictive Analytics for Hospital Management: Healthcare facilities are leveraging AI for predictive analytics to optimize hospital operations. Machine learning models can forecast patient admission rates, identify potential bottlenecks in resource allocation, and predict disease outbreaks. This enables hospitals to allocate resources efficiently, reduce wait times, and improve overall patient satisfaction.
4. Virtual Health Assistants: AI-driven virtual health assistants are becoming valuable tools in patient care. These assistants can provide information, answer basic medical queries, and offer reminders for medication or follow-up appointments. This not only empowers patients to take an active role in managing their health but also frees up healthcare professionals to focus on more complex tasks.
5. Enhancing Radiology and Imaging: AI applications in radiology and medical imaging are transforming the speed and accuracy of diagnostics. Image recognition algorithms can analyze medical images, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, to detect abnormalities or anomalies that may be challenging for the human eye. This assists radiologists in making faster and more accurate diagnoses.

 
The integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare is undeniably reshaping the industry, offering unprecedented opportunities for improved patient care, increased efficiency, and advanced diagnostic capabilities. As technology continues to evolve, the synergy between AI and healthcare promises a future where medical interventions are more precise, personalized, and accessible to all. The journey towards a smarter, more efficient healthcare system is underway, thanks to the transformative power of artificial intelligence.

​Dr. Isaac Kohane, who's both a computer scientist at Harvard and a physician, teamed up with two colleagues to test drive GPT-4, with one main goal: To see how the newest artificial intelligence model from OpenAI performed in a medical setting. 

"I'm stunned to say: better than many doctors I've observed," he says in the forthcoming book, "The AI Revolution in Medicine," co-authored by independent journalist Carey Goldberg, and Microsoft vice president of research Peter Lee. (The authors say neither Microsoft nor OpenAI required any editorial oversight of the book, though Microsoft has invested billions of dollars into developing OpenAI's technologies.) 

In the book, Kohane says GPT-4, which was released in March 2023 to paying subscribers, answers US medical exam licensing questions correctly more than 90% of the time. It's a much better test-taker than previous ChatGPT AI models, GPT-3 and -3.5, and a better one than some licensed doctors, too. 

Read the full article here.

Microsoft plans to invest $10 billion in OpenAI, the startup behind popular artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT, according to a report from Semafor.

The deal is part of a funding round with other investors involved that would value OpenAI at a whopping $29 billion, Semafor reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

It isn’t clear whether the deal has been finalized but term sheets sent to prospective investors indicated the plan was to close the deal by the end of 2022, Semafor reported.

Microsoft will reportedly get a 75% share of OpenAI’s profits until it makes back the money on its investment, after which the company would assume a 49% stake in OpenAI.

Microsoft and OpenAI were not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.

​For several weeks, the tech world has been abuzz with chatter about ChatGPT. The tool is a natural language processing model, meaning it is designed to generate text that appears as though a human wrote it.

The AI model, itself a variant of the GPT-3 family of large language models, has been used for everything from developing code to writing college essays.

A bet on ChatGPT could help Microsoft boost its efforts in web search, a market dominated by Google. The company’s Bing browser has only a small share of the global search engine market, however it is hoped the deal could help the firm chip away at Google’s dominance by offering more advanced search capabilities.

Read the full article here.

German-based biotech company BioNTech SE is set to acquire InstaDeep, a Tunis-born and U.K.-based artificial intelligence (AI) startup, for up to £562 million (~$680 million) in its largest deal yet.

Per Financial Times, the German vaccine maker intends to use InstaDeep’s machine learning to “improve its drug discovery process, including developing personalised treatments tailored to a patient’s cancer.”
​
BioNTech is said to pay £362 million — a mix of cash and an undisclosed amount of BioNTech shares — upfront. The remaining £200 million is dependent on how InstaDeep performs in the future, according to the company’s statement.

Last January, InstaDeep, founded by Karim Beguir and Zohra Slim in 2014, raised $100 million in Series B financing led by Alpha Intelligence Capital and CDIB. BioNTech was among the participating investors, which also included Chimera Abu Dhabi, Deutsche Bahn’s DB Digital Ventures and Google.

The Tunis and London-based enterprise AI startup which uses advanced machine learning techniques to bring AI to applications within an enterprise environment, has offices in Paris, Tunis, Lagos, Dubai and Cape Town.

CEO Beguir, in an interview with TechCrunch last year, said InstaDeep uses reinforcement learning, a kind of machine learning that helps design optimization strategies and tackles them simultaneously. Instances where InstaDeep applies its AI tech includes helping a large shipping company to efficiently transport thousands of containers to a railway station or automate scheduling for 10,000 trains. Other examples are the design of advanced therapeutics with silicon and routing components on a printed circuit board.

Read the full article here.

• While AI-driven healthcare solutions have proven their impact and reliability, healthcare organizations struggle to achieve the desired value from their investments in AI.
• The most promising use cases are in early diagnosis and risk stratification for chronic disease, but AI also has the potential to revolutionize drug discovery and health system operations.
• AI's impact on global health depends on three enablers: usable, representative data; trustworthy design; and, scalability.

​

Three seismic shifts are driving AI innovation and AI’s impact on global health. Firstly, there is the data deluge. The doubling time for medical knowledge in 1950 was 50 years. In 2020 it was 73 days. In our survey of 1,000 doctors in the US, Europe and Asia, the vast majority said they’re overwhelmed by the volume of patient data. Without technology, humans can’t keep up.

Secondly, there are novel problems. COVID-19 exacerbated existing healthcare issues, worsening an already severe doctor shortage and testing the solvency of many hospitals, among other issues. Technology must enable healthcare providers to do more with less or else patients will suffer.

Thirdly, there is a technological renaissance. Look at ChatGPT or what deep learning can do to unlock the mysteries of the universe in search of cures.

​Read the full article here.

​HAS INVESTOR SCEPTICISM BEEN OVERPLAYED?

Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of bogus blood testing startup Theranos, has been sentenced to over 11 years in prison for defrauding investors. 

The conclusion to Silicon Valley’s so-called Trial of the Century — which spawned its own TV series, books and a dedicated podcast — serves as a warning to investors looking to back breakthrough technologies. Theranos was shut down in 2018 after employees blew the whistle on the company’s supposedly revolutionary technology that just didn’t work, but not before deal-hungry backers had pumped $900m into it. 

While the saga might have initially made VCs more wary of diagnostics startups, a recent Pitchbook report suggests that investor attitudes are shifting — a number of blood testing startups have picked up VC backing this year.

So how has Theranos’s downfall affected Europe’s diagnostics startups?

Sifted spoke to investors and founders in the sector to ask whether the fallout from the trial might have its positives, and what the future holds for the sector.

​Read the full article here:

​As the number of devices increases, the agency is looking to adapt its regulatory framework to the new technology, including faster approval of algorithm updates.

As medical devices that use artificial intelligence and machine learning appear in more hospitals and imaging labs across the U.S., new data from the Food and Drug Administration show the agency has been fielding more submissions.
​
In 2022 alone, the FDA authorized 91 AI- or machine-learning-enabled medical devices, according to data released on Oct. 5. This broad category of devices can include anything from a basic algorithm to more complex machine learning tools, Michaela Miller, U.S. medtech technology and analytics practice leader for IQVIA, a North Carolina-based analytics and clinical research firm, said by email. 

MedTech Dive analyzed FDA data on all of the AI- and machine-learning-enabled devices the agency has authorized to date. Follow this link to the full article to read the five takeaways on the rise of these devices.

Born and raised in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, they are actively involved in shaping the US-based company's future, with Mark serving as the acting chief operating officer and Glenn using his vast consulting experience to act as an advisor to the firm's management team.

“Our investment is part of what University of Waterloo's Faculty of Engineering built into our problem-solving DNA,” says Mark.

“It is all about solving big problems that can have a tremendous positive impact on the world while getting rewarded for doing so,” Glenn adds.

RefanaVax-MV is described as an easy-to-adjust multi-valent “vaccine cocktail.”

Unlike previous mono-valent vaccines already in use to protect against a single variant of the virus, multi-valent vaccines will protect against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants at the same time. 

RefanaVax-MV is designed as a tri-valent vaccine, therefore protecting against three variants. For example, Delta and Omicron, as well as the next dangerous variant to emerge.

Following a proven scientific development approach, the WIV vaccine is derived from a chemically-neutralized version of the whole virus (non-active or contagious) covering its full genetic structure, to provide better coverage overall.

It has other important advantages as well, including lower costs and easier distribution. WIV designs are also safe; they are based on long-standing successful vaccine design solutions in use for decades across multiple diseases.

In addition, Refana has designed a modular manufacturing system that uses automated bioreactor technologies, allowing for less expensive capital investment and lower operating costs, even for production batches as small as 40 million doses per year.

That makes localized manufacturing - especially in less-developed countries - more feasible, making vaccine technology more accessible to many parts of the world that do not have access to it. It also reduces the developing world's reliance on larger biotechnology companies and their large batch production facilities that are situated primarily in the developed world.

The RefanaVax-MV vaccine was developed in 2021-22 in co-operation with the Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute (ITTRI) in Chicago.  The work was recently presented at the American Society for Virology (ASV) Conference.

​Refana, which takes its name from a Hebrew term that translates to ‘please heal’ in English, also continues this work with a further quest to develop a single, pan-coronavirus vaccine - also known as a ‘universal vaccine’ - using computational genomics and artificial intelligence. This is a ‘next-gen’ vaccine solution.

“What we are doing is incredibly important, given that there are still over three billion people in the world who are not fully-vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2,” says Mark. “The vaccine technology platforms being developed by Refana would be useful in fighting SARS-Cov-2, and possibly future virus pandemics, according to the virology community of experts.”

“We are two brothers with two sets of engineering degrees who had two separate careers, coming together to help the world get back to normal and hopefully be a better place,” says Glenn.