AI device transforms COPD diagnosis within five minutes

In the UK, a revolutionary handheld device named N-Tidal Diagnose is set to change the landscape of diagnosing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious lung condition that affects approximately three million people. Many individuals suffering from this disease remain unaware of their condition, which is notably the second most common cause of emergency hospital admissions. Traditional methods, such as spirometry, can be time-consuming and exhausting for patients, with tests often taking over half an hour and requiring multiple appointments. Dr. Simon Rudland, a GP from Suffolk, expressed his enthusiasm about the impact this device could have on patient care, stating it would eliminate the need for patients to travel to specialized hubs for testing, which often necessitates expert training and substantial waiting time. The N-Tidal Diagnose drastically reduces the diagnosis process from an extended duration to just five minutes. Patients can simply breathe into the device, which assesses their carbon dioxide levels and relays this information to a cloud-based platform, where AI analyzes the data in real-time. Notably, the device itself requires only a brief training period of 10 minutes for medical staff to operate. As emphasized by Dr. Ameera Patel, CEO of TidalSense—the company behind the N-Tidal Diagnose—this model has been developed using data from over 2.5 million patient breaths covering various cardio-respiratory conditions. The quicker diagnosis aligns with the need for prompt treatment, as earlier intervention is crucial for managing COPD, which, while not curable, is treatable. The potential for such rapid evaluation is viewed as revolutionary by medical professionals and can significantly change patient outcomes while alleviating the strain on the NHS. This advancement particularly resonates considering that one third of patients admitted to hospitals with flare-ups of COPD were unaware they had the disease previously. Additionally, patient testimonies underscore the frustration with traditional testing methods. Colin Best, who struggled with severe breathlessness for years before receiving a diagnosis, noted the strenuous nature of spirometry tests, which took him a year to navigate before confirming his condition. The N-Tidal Diagnose represents a critical shift in how lung conditions might be systematically addressed in the future, ultimately providing faster and more effective healthcare solutions for patients facing chronic respiratory issues.