TORONTO, April 27, 2020 /CNW/ – Predictmedix Inc. (CSE: PMED) (OTCQB: PMEDF) (“Predictmedix” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has filed Patent Application Number 63012510 – Artificial Intelligence driven rapid screening system for infectious diseases, such as SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
COVID-19 and the need for mass screening
COVID-19 pandemic has turned into a threat for global security and economic stability, resulting in unprecedented job losses not seen since the great depression. Identification and tracking of an infectious disease or an outbreak of a global pandemic is a critical element of controlling the spread of disease across geographical areas. Furthermore, infectious diseases such as COVID-19 are likely to return in waves until there is mass vaccination or development of population level immunity. As such, there is a significant urgent need to have mass screening technologies which can identify potential COVID-19 cases without the need for human intervention and can be deployed in places where there is movement of large number of people. For instance, but not limited to, healthcare, transit hubs, airports, malls, shopping centers, casinos, concerts, arenas and office buildings.
One of the primary factors leading to the outbreak of COVID-19 virus has been the relative lack of rapid screening tools for the masses. The lack of such tools has resulted in a failed containment effort which led to a global pandemic and an unprecedented economic disruption.
Predictmedix solution
Predictmedix has developed a proprietary technology (patent pending) to screen for potential cases of COVID-19 and other related infectious diseases. There is no need for any bodily fluids and there is no human exposure as the screening is carried out using multispectral cameras which can be installed at any facility.
The artificial intelligence (“AI”) powered technology utilizes multispectral imaging with a focus on visual spectral imaging along with infrared thermography to identify cases which are suspected of COVID-19. The AI technology monitors and identifies potential presence of COVID-19 associated symptoms such as fatigue, headache, coughing, sneezing, blood flow, sweat gland activation, metabolism, fever along with other key determinant factors. The technology can be deployed using multispectral cameras in facilities where there is large movement of people to identify potential COVID-19 cases and limit exposure, thereby limiting infection. The data collected is brought into a central server / cloud for analysis and alerts are sent in case of a positive detection.
“There is not going to be a medical breakthrough such as a vaccine or drug that is going to solve the COVID-19 problem soon. We have applied travel bans and physical distancing orders to our society which has had a devastating impact on our economy and way of life. With Predictmedix’s AI technology we could be much more tactful in our approach. Strategically placed multispectral cameras, installed in airports for example, could collect biometric data on individual passengers en masse. Predictmedix’s AI technology can analyze that data and predict which passengers should be flagged for secondary screening, definitive testing or even quarantine while allowing others to travel unimpeded. This could allow our societies and economies to mobilize again while preventing further spread of this disease.” said Dr. Alexander Bardon, an Emergency Medicine physician in Ontario and an advisor to Predictmedix.
“This is a major milestone for healthcare operations of Predictmedix as it truly establishes our infectious disease vertical and brings us closer to deployment and revenue generation”, said Dr. Rahul Kushwah, COO of Predictmedix.
Disclaimer: “The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its mass screening product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the Covid-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time”.
For more details on this release please click on the following video interview;
