Revitalizing Lung Diagnostics

London, Ontario has a rich legacy in the MedTech industry, notably for milestones such as Frederick Banting's discovery of insulin and early HIV vaccine trials. The city is home to leading medical research facilities, hospitals, and recognized educational institutions. Among the notable figures shaping this sector is Dr. Rob Arntfield, who is transforming lung health diagnostics with his AI-powered portable lung imaging software, Deep Breathe.

Deep Breathe aims to enable healthcare providers to conduct precise lung assessments in real-time, moving beyond traditional, stationary X-ray machines. The concept was born from Dr. Arntfield’s extensive career as a professor and ultrasound expert, during which he recognized the challenges physicians faced when using cumbersome X-ray technology in urgent scenarios. “Training to use this machinery takes time and is usually brought into their learnings once doctors finish their basic studies,” noted Dr. Arntfield. Observing this inefficiency pushed him, along with engineers, researchers, and clinicians, to innovate during the pandemic by developing technology that utilizes ultrasound for lung assessments, particularly for COVID-19 diagnoses. The initial findings ignited a passion for broader applications of ultrasound, prompting the team to explore AI solutions for accurate lung assessments in diverse healthcare settings.

Deep Breathe's AI model processes numerous labeled ultrasound images of both healthy and abnormal lungs, identifying patterns to enhance diagnostic accuracy. Dr. Arntfield faced challenges in creating the labels for these images, which he considered crucial for developing effective AI software. He expressed confidence in his team’s diverse skill set, consisting of part-time members, contractors, student researchers, engineers, and clinicians—all focused on democratizing lung ultrasound technology.

Building on their initial COVID-19 research, the team also zeroed in on pneumothorax—a potentially fatal condition if not diagnosed timely. Their innovative approach led Deep Breathe to secure a $95,000 award at the xTechInternational 2024 competition, organized by the U.S. Army.

In addition to aiming for more robust healthcare collaborations, including potential work with the coal mining sector and aerospace projects regarding lunar dust, Dr. Arntfield emphasizes the importance of intellectual property (IP) protection for new technologies. He highlighted Ontario’s supportive environment for companies seeking to safeguard their innovations, recommending startups connect with organizations like IPON, Elevate IP, and innovation hubs like TechAlliance for guidance.

The melding of AI, machine learning, and ample data access is reshaping the MedTech landscape, allowing innovators to materialize their visions. Dr. Arntfield believes that the current AI revolution is driven by advanced computational infrastructure and the mathematical frameworks that empower machine learning.

As Deep Breathe continues to push the envelope in lung health diagnostics, it embodies London’s MedTech community’s role in advancing global healthcare. The focus is on developing accessible, precise, and potentially life-saving technologies, positioning Deep Breathe AI for a significant impact on the future of critical care. The organization is committed to providing innovative solutions tailored to meet urgent healthcare needs.

For further information about Deep Breathe, individuals are encouraged to visit their official website.