Author: Daniel Onyango

Neuralink, a startup focusing on developing brain-computer interface (BCI) implants, has received the FDA’s breakthrough device designation for Blindsight, a high-tech experimental implant developed to restore vision to people with total loss of sight. Blindsight is designed to send a microelectrode array into the visual cortex, the part of the brain responsible for receiving, segmenting, and integrating visual information from the retinas so that people can perceive images. The array provides a visual image by activating the person’s neurons and allowing the user to perceive images in real time. Founded in 2016 by Elon Musk and a team of seven…

Leading health technology companies, Zynx Health Inc. and Innovaccer Inc., have partnered to transform population health and care management. The strategic partnership, which leverages Zynx Health’s science-backed clinical decision support solutions and Innovaccer’s comprehensive care management platform, aims to enhance financial, operational, clinical, and patient care outcomes, helping address the critical needs of healthcare organizations. Founded in 1996, Zynx Health is a market leader in innovative clinical decision-support technology solutions and a key part of the Hearst Health network. The company offers experiential and evidence-based technology solutions designed to enhance clinical engagements, patient care outcomes, financial performance and efficiency. Due…

A new clinical trial report has revealed that an AI-driven stethoscope could help clinicians detect a potentially fatal form of heart failure that can occur in the late stage of pregnancy. According to the trial results published in Nature Medicine, the AI-driven stethoscope was 12 times more likely to detect heart pump weaknesses linked to peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) than the traditional methods widely used by clinicians. Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare medical condition that causes cardiomyopathy in the early postpartum or late pregnancy. Notable signs include left ventricular dysfunction, resulting in heart failure during the peripartum period without other…

Orthopedic Surgeon has launched a new AI medical transcription app to streamline the orthopedic documentation process, which usually takes much of the specialists’ quality time that could otherwise be used on patients. As reported by Grit Daily, Dr. Sravan Dhulipala was inspired to develop the new medical AI technology after struggling to use the generalized medical scribes available on the market to automate orthopedic documentation. But he wasn’t alone; his colleagues also struggled with the same issues. With no specific scribe developed for orthopedic transcription, Dhulipala developed the AI tool called OrthoScribe in partnership with Hannibal AI  to help him…

A team of experts from the University of Dundee’s School of Medicine has identified alternative medication for many patients currently on less effective or outdated treatment plans working with Red Star AI. As reported by Medical Xpress, the team used machine learning to analyze heart failure patients’ records in a pilot project to determine whether or not contemporary medications and knowledge could significantly improve their welfare. According to the team, AI could help create personalized treatment plans for every patient, ensuring they receive individualized treatment plans optimized to improve their well-being and quality of life. With up to a million…

Researchers from the University of Toronto and Unity Health Toronto, ICES, have revealed new details about an AI-powered software that could help reduce the risk of death in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). According to research, which was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the researchers evaluated the effectiveness of CHARTWatch, an early warning system used at St. Michael’s Hospital wards following 3 years of development and testing. The study included 13,649 participants between the ages of 55 and 80 admitted to General Internal Medicine (GIM). Of these, 9,626 were in the pre-intervention period, 4,023 used CHARTWatch,…

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first-ever Over-the-counter hearing aid software device developed by Apple Inc. for use with compatible Apple AirPods Pro headphones. The device software, Hearing Aid Feature, aims to revolutionize how people with hearing problems can perceive sounds around them while also accessing other features that comes with the headphone. Once installed on a compatible device, users can customize it according to their needs. Compatible versions of AirPods Pro can also be used as over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids for individuals aged 18 and above, helping amplify the surrounding sounds for people with mild…

Sydney-based medical technology company Neurode has developed a novel wearable headband to offer relief to people living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which affects about 366 million adults across the globe. According to Nathalie Gouailhardou, a neuroscientist and founder of Neurode, the device offers a non-invasive treatment alternative that requires only a few minutes of daily therapy sessions without facing the side effects associated with the use of pharmaceutical drugs. Designed to be worn for only 20 minutes per day, the wearable headband employs light electrical stimulation in the prefrontal cortex to induce a balance in the brain, helping…

XRP Healthcare, a health tech company integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain in the healthcare sector globally, has launched a revolutionary XRPH AI Chatbot to provide region-specific healthcare advice tailored to personal healthcare needs. Founded in 2022 by Kain Roomes, the company aims to close the gap between advanced blockchain technology and daily healthcare needs. The company’s XRPH AI Chatbot is the first major development undertaken by its in-house team, underscoring its commitment to leveraging AI technology to enhance healthcare services globally. The XRPH AI chatbot is available on the newly launched website XRPH.ai, where it’s domiciled, and can also…

New York-based medical device startup AI Optics has unveiled a new AI-powered handheld medical device featuring advanced imaging technology to provide instant retinal screening for eye disorders. Known as Sentinel, the new retinal screening device aims to improve access to eye health screening by making it easily portable and usable anywhere. It addresses the caveats of the traditional eye screening methods, which are prone to inconveniences, geographical barriers, and high costs. Founded in 2020 by Luke Moretti, AI optics aims to provide an affordable retinal screening device that is simple and cost-effective for eye health screening in any setting, regardless…

Samsung has acquired AI medical technology startup, Sonio to advance its presence in the healthcare sector and accelerate growth in the use of Ultrasound technology in global maternal care. The startup, which automates ultrasound reporting to help clinicians make well-informed interpretations, was cleared last year by the FDA to be used by healthcare professionals for prenatal imaging. Founded in 2020, Sonio focuses on simplifying the work of healthcare professionals through automated ultrasound, making the process seamless for both the doctor and the client. The startup’s CEO, Cécile Brosset, emphasizes the platform helps achieve high accuracy, speed, and efficiency. Advanced AI-powered…

Paige, a medical technology company transforming the work of pathologists using robust AI applications and AI-powered platforms, has launched the second generation of Virchow— a multimodal AI system for cancer diagnostics. Virchow2 is the largest and the world’s most advanced AI model in clinical pathology, adding to the company’s suite of foundational AI models. Unlike the previous versions, Paige’s Virchow2G and Virchow2 provide a deeper analysis of cells and tissues, extending their capabilities in pathology and cancer diagnosis beyond the existing models. Dr. Thomas Fuchs, founder and Chief Scientist of Paige, said the new model was developed in collaboration with Microsoft.…

Harvard Medical School has developed a new advanced AI tool that can improve cancer detection beyond the capabilities of the already existing diagnostic AI systems. As reported by CBS News yesterday, the AI tool, which works more like ChatGPT, was developed by Harvard researchers to improve cancer diagnosis accuracy. The revolutionary AI model was tested on 19 different types of cancers, including lung, prostate, breast, and colon cancer, and achieved an impressive 94% accuracy in cancer detection rate. Unlike other AI tools being tested for cancer detection, the Harvard-made tool could forecast patients’ survival, raising hope for a more accurate…

The European Commission has approved the first and only no-needle adrenaline-based nosal spray, EURneffy®, to treat severe cases of allergenic reactions commonly known as anaphylaxis. Developed by ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the nosal spray offers EU residents living with severe allergic reactions the first alternative method for adrenaline delivery in over 30 years. The decision announced by the commission on August 22 followed a similar FDA approval of the medication on August 9, 2024, allowing the spray to be commercially available on the US market. Following the approval of EURneffy®e, Richard Lowenthal, Co-Founder and CEO of ARS Pharmaceuticals, said the commission’s…

Waltz Health, a Chicago-based digital health company offering an AI-powered marketplace for prescription drugs, has launched Waltz Connect to reduce the cost of specialty medication. The new end-to-end technology platform manages every aspect of payer medication coverage. Waltz Connect includes patient engagement support and a competitive marketplace featuring a network of high-quality specialty pharmacies offering a wide range of services, pricing, and clinical outcomes. This leads to stiff competition among specialty pharmacies, resulting in relatively lower specialty costs, improved member experience, and better health outcomes for the members. The platform’s flexible design makes it easy for payers to deploy it for…

A leading healthcare system, BayCare, has entered into a strategic partnership with Cadence, a chronic illness management startup, to implement virtual care and remote patient monitoring programs in the Tampa Bay area and West Central regions. The partnership aims to improve the care for seniors living with chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and congestive heart failure through a proactive and preventive approach. BayCare will use a Cadence-provided technology platform to collect vital patient data, including glucose levels, heart rate, weight, and blood pressure. The information is then shared with their primary care physicians as well as the…

Samsung has introduced a Family Care to help users monitor the health condition of their loved ones remotely using smart devices. Announced in South Korea back in June and became available in the US since mid-August, the service is integrated into Samsung’s SmartThings platform and can also be accessed on Galaxy smartphones. Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of SmartThings at Samsung Electronics, stated in the announcement that the consumer electronics giant developed the Family Care feature to address the common challenges families face in their caregiving responsibilities. Jung added that Samsung aims to provide smarter and more user-friendly…

Over-the-counter syphilis test kits could soon be available across the US after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) handed market authorization for NowDiognostics’ first-at-home syphilis blood test kit, allowing the company to sell it to consumers without needing a prescription. The test was approved through the FDA’s de novo pathway, with similar products expected to follow the agency’s 510(k) pathway, which provides a less rigorous approval process. Known as the “First To Know Syphilis Test,” the antibody test can detect syphilis infection from a single blood drop and give results within 15 minutes. However, the FDA noted in their approval…

A US-based non-profit health plan offering services to over 1.3 million people, Priority Heath, has partnered with Curai Health, a nationwide virtual care provider, to offer free virtual visits to over 400,000 adult Michigan residents with no health coverage. The free virtual visits available for the residents through December 31, 2024, aim to enhance access to virtual care for the underserved population, addressing the long-standing health disparities in the state. The initiative also addresses the dire consequences of delayed health care and poor health stemming from the lack of active health coverage, promoting health equity, ongoing access to care, and…

A leading global innovator in medical imaging, Qure.ai, has received pivotal 510(k) FDA approval for an AI-powered chest CT solution called qCT LN Quant to help radiologists and pulmonologists quantify lung nodules. The FDA clearance allows medical specialists to use the technology to analyze lung nodules on non-contrast chest CT scans and monitor progression by tracking the volumetric growth of the nodules. The company has integrated the newly approved technology into its AI-powered lung cancer care network in the United States to help identify, precisely measure, manage, and monitor lung health. Qure.ai’s new tools will support the early detection of…