Our guest today, Laurent Martinot, explains how Sunrise was founded to reduce the challenges associated with diagnosing sleep apnoea.. Inspired by their father, a physician with a special interest in sleep medicine, Laurent and his brother Pierre leveraged AI and other technologies to create a simple at-home test that generates a detailed clinical report without the need for expensive and onerous overnight observation.

Topics Covered:

Why Laurent and Pierre decided to focus on sleep apnoea:

Up to 1 billion people worldwide are affected worldwide.

80% of sufferers go undiagnosed.

AI and other tools were ripe for application.

“I think many people complain about fatigue and there’s a very good chance that they are suffering from a silent disease that is hard to identify without clinical testing.”

How the Sunrise process works:

Patient completes a basic sleep questionnaire.

Sensor is placed on the chin.

Push start and let the sensor run for the night.

The next morning a report is generated and available for diagnosis.

“Making things as easy as possible was at the center of what we tried to develop.”

Barriers that make patients resistant to sleep apnoea testing in a clinical setting:

Fear of the hospital environment and overnight stay.

Discomfort with all the sensors and equipment.

Development challenges:

Software’s evolution.

Making the interface accessible even to those who aren’t digital natives.

Scalability.

“It looks simple from the outside, but inside there is a lot of science.”

How sensor and AI combine to analyse sleep:

Based on micro mandibular (jaw) movements.

The number of micro-awakenings and breathing effort.

The stages of sleep.

The exact sleeping time.

Pricing:

Sunrise is a certified medical device.

Reduces cost and inconvenience of clinical study.

Device reusability.

“We remain very busy validating the instruments in different environments.”

Website:https://uk.sunrise-sleep.com/

Once Daily Article: https://oncedaily.co/an-at-home-sleep-apnoea-diagnostic-device/

Our guest on this episode is Jon, co-founder of Miiskin, an app that helps the user monitor their skin for signs of cancer. Dubbed a ‘mole-mapping’ app, Miiskin empowers users and helps them become proactive in their skin care. Learn about the app’s simple beginnings and story, their path to using augmented reality and AI for automatic skin imaging, and the importance of privacy.

Topics Covered in this Episode:

How Miiskin’s technology works

The founders personal story.

Basic and premium version.

“The back is always difficult to keep an eye on.”

The platform

Initially a minimally viable product, Miiskin turned into something much more technologically advanced.

“We have gone from a photolog...to very sophisticated imaging tech.”

Machine learning and artificial intelligence

The AI supports taking unstructured images of skin and making sense of them.

AI can augment the patient’s own understanding of their skin.

The data can develop a kind of “filter” to track skin developments.

The goal is for patients to come into the doctor’s office with more information.

“What you can use machine learning for is structuring the information.”

The logic behind the pricing model.

$24.95 for a yearly subscription.

The cost needs to be low enough to avoid it being a barrier but able to sustain the app long-term.

Privacy and security for users and patients

All data on the phone and servers is encrypted.

Photos are not part of the phone photo library.

A premium feature allows users to login and access their photos—even with a different device or if they lose it.

Challenges working in the healthcare space

Hurdles to overcome in the healthcare space to establish ethos.

Language barriers in app that is listed worldwide.

Proving the app through hospital or patient-based research.

“A lot of people trust the medical validity of a lot of apps on NHS app library.”

More information:

Mobile app tracks mole changes through photos

www.miiskin.com

Our guest on this episode is Sigvards, co-founder of CastPrint, a company that uses 3D printing to make a more comfortable cast for fractures. Sigvards talks about how he came up with the idea and how CastPrint works. Learn about their process, their plans to tap into 10% of the European fracture cast market where there are 6 million fractures a year, and the future of 3D printing.

Topics Covered in this Episode:

birth of CastPrint.

science of 3D printed casts.

and drawbacks of CastPrint’s technology.

future of CastPrint and 3D printing in medicine.

The birth of CastPrint:

Frustration with the problems of traditional casts.

Plaster of Paris casts are uncomfortable.

Mobility is limited.

technology hasn’t really changed for almost two hundred years.

“Fractures and casts are just the beginning of this 3D printing technology.”

The science of 3D printed casts:

Allows people to recover from a variety of injuries in a more comfortable way.

They’re bio-degradable and hypo-allergenic.

CastPrints are so simple, they can be created from scanning undertaken on an iPhone.

“We’re looking to the research to say this is equally effective.”

Benefits and drawbacks of CastPrint’s technology:

It’s about three times as strong as a plaster cast.

CastPrints are more expensive, but you can significantly reduce rehabilitation costs.

Regular casts will always be cheaper because the material they require is cheap and readily available, but the applications for plastic casts are worth further research.

“You need to remember this is a medical device, and quality is important.”

Benefits and drawbacks of CastPrint’s technology:

It’s about three times as strong as a plaster cast.

CastPrints are more expensive, but you can significantly reduce rehabilitation costs.

Regular casts will always be cheaper because the material they require is cheap and readily available, but the applications for plastic casts are worth further research.

“You need to remember this is a medical device, and quality is important.”

The future of CastPrint and 3D printing in medicine:

CastPrint has printed about 600 casts so far.

They would like to tackle 10% of the cast market for fracture injuries.

Cast printing is just the beginning–long-term rehab is in the future.

3D printing biomaterial is very exciting.

“If you’ve seen The Terminator 2 — man and machine are becoming more and more intertwined.”

For more information:

Website: https://castprint.co/

Our guest on this episode of 15 Minutes with the Doctor is Andreas Cleve, co-founder of Corti.ai. It’s a voice-based digital assistant that augments conversations that emergency call handlers have with patients, to provide them with additional support in real-time. Learn how Corti started, how it can provide second opinions using AI, and their focus on high-quality data.

Topics Covered in this Episode:

The premise of Corti

The origins of Corti

Corti’s data

How Corti will help further healthcare

The premise of Corti

Medical expertise is hard to acquire, and Corti can help fill the gaps

It is a voice-based digital system that curates data from millions of previous emergency calls

It distributes the expertise of medical professionals beyond their reach

“Corti will listen in when a patient and medical professional are conversing and try to help the medical professional come up with the most plausible course of action to triage the patient.”

The origins of Corti

Founded in 2016

Andreas recognised that medical professionals could feel overwhelmed by the limits of their medical knowledge

There is a lot of pressure on medical professionals to detect, diagnose, and treat patients based on one conversation with them

“Illness has always been a big part of my life and learning to cope with it. The importance of having access to support and advice and expertise is something that is possible.”

Corti’s data

Currently, 7 emergency organisations are using Corti’s service

Data has been collected from over 7 million emergency calls

Corti provides a multi-dimensional platform that will help medical professionals augment their opinions with previous similar patient conversations

With follow-up data, Corti can offer probabilities for diagnosis and treatment

“We can reduce the number of undetected cardiac arrests by up to 44%”

How Corti will help further healthcare

Healthcare must stand the test of time

Start from high-acuity conversations in emergency care then move into broader aspects such as triage

Corti’s employees truly believe in the mission of making second opinions accessible to everyone

“Corti can pattern-track what is said and correlate it to clean data.”

For more information:

https://www.corti.ai/Corti AI supports emergency service dispatchers by providing diagnostic advice

In this episode, Vinay speaks with Jacob from AccuRx. Jacob is one of the creators of Chain SMS, a program designed for primary care to be able to easily and quickly communicate with their patients, video consult, and send documents. The text-based service has proved a hit with many doctors in a huge shift to virtual and remote consultations in response to Covid-19.

Topics Covered in this Episode:

Chain SMS and its key features

The why

Vinay’s experience with Chain SMS

How AccuRx mobilised quickly

Chain SMS statistics

The interesting ways Chain SMS has been used during COVID

Will there be continued use or growth after the pandemic?

Chain SMS and its key features

Originally designed for GP practices to communicate information with patients

Over the past few weeks, have added the ability to collect data from patients, send documents, video consult, etc.

The problem and the solution

“As a company, we believe that healthcare is a communication industry.”

The why

Initially worked on antibiotic prescribing and how to send information to patients

They wanted to build something easy-to-adopt and a useful way for doctors to contact patients. This led to them launching Chain SMS two years ago

Jacob has a personal interest in healthcare systems and improving workflow

Vinay’s experience with Chain SMS

Chain SMS formed part of a model supporting a switch to a total triage system where patients avoid coming into the surgery

“We do a new release of our software every couple of days, and are constantly making really small improvements.”

How AccuRx mobilised quickly

Dedicated time to building good infrastructure (updating software, user accounts, support team, etc.)

The team is committed to helping users and improving constantly

Over a weekend in March, they enabled features to help doctors respond more effectively to Covid-19

They wanted something that worked without an app or required new hardware and have also developed a hospital version

“The need to communicate has only just become a lot more acute during Covid, because things cannot be solved face-to-face.”

Chain SMS statistics

6 400 GP practices in England using the service out of a possible 7000

150 000 patient messages sent each day

15 000 documents and patient responses

The interesting ways Chain SMS has been used during COVID

Practices can speak to patients on the phone, create a summary of the record or referral, and send it directly to the patient for them to take it to hospital if needed

Adding multiple people to video calls (other family members or interpreters)

Patients wait in the car park, and doctors send an SMS when they’re ready to see the patient

Will there be continued use or growth after the pandemic?

Some facets aren’t specific to coronavirus

Plans and hopes to bring new features and growth beyond primary care

New features like facilitating patient initiation of sending a message

For more information:

Website: https://www.accurx.com/

On this episode, Vinay is joined by Melissa from Nourished, a start-up where they create a personalised nutritional supplement using 3D printers in single batches. Melissa shares her background that led to this venture, describes various aspects of the product, benefits of the unique market and how their adaptability meant they could create a new blend as requested by customers for nutritional support during the coronavirus pandemic.

Topics Covered in this Episode:

What is Nourished?

About the Gummy Stacks

Live Stacks vs create your custom stack

How they designed the personal stacks?

Benefits and challenges of 3D printing

What is Nourished?

How it started

The technology behind it

The problem and the solution

The previous business that led to Nourished

“One of the trends we see is people not supplementing to make up for a shortage of nutrients but to boost performance.”

Gummy Stacks

Seven nutrients in the product - Why 7 nutrients?

The UK as a test market and understanding the market

Keep it simple and realise that you do have something to give

“More than half of the UK takes vitamins on a regular basis.”

Life Stacks vs create your custom stack

Paralysis of choice potential

Category choices

Blend surrounding Coronavirus

Quick timeline turnaround because made on demand

Response to market demand in real-time

“We can add new stacks in seven minutes.”

How they designed personal stacks

Testing for future biometric products

Finding the right way to offer value and generate income

How they chose ingredients

Cost and numbers

Cost-effective price point

A High percentage of people choosing customised stacks

Ambition for number of subscribers now vs 3 years

Benefits and challenges of 3D printing

How the prototype works

Importance of a good team

An open market full of enthusiasts pushing forward for the advancement of the technology.

“When you have a prototype, you have to get as much experience as you can and continually optimise the design until you have something good enough.”

For more information:

Website: https://get-nourished.com/

On this episode, Vinay is joined by Johannes, CEO of Clustermarket, an online sharing platform connecting researchers in the science and healthcare space to scientific equipment on-demand at leading institutions. The ability to share and book equipment online enables access to tools that can help people innovate faster. Learn about Clustermarket’s why, how and what.

Topics Covered in this Episode:

Identifying the Problem

Equipment

How it Works?

Income Generation

Building Partnerships

Identifying the Problem

People in the life sciences field have ideas but often don’t have the equipment they need with high barriers to entry.

One of the co-founders realised the need when he was conducting experiments in the lab and didn’t have instruments needed but wondered ‘what would happen’ if he had what he needed on demand.

They pitched the idea to universities and pharmaceutical companies and conducted a pilot.

“We believe innovation is limited to those who have done it before, have a strong track record and are selected by a few gatekeepers who provide money to purchase resources to hit milestones and prove an innovation.”

Equipment

Equipment type ranges from pre-clinical research to lab space.

They have 2500 instruments available on the platform from basic equipment such as centrifuges to specialised equipment such as microscopes worth millions.

How it works?

Scientist wants to do research.

Scientist signs up on platform free of charge and can search for service or equipment needed.

Scientist is able to see where service or equipment is available.

Request access and communicate with provider through the platform to answer all questions.

Lab manager can pre-approve and then requester agrees to the terms and provides payment.

Equipment can be offered from providers with training, a technician or full service.

“We thought why don’t we use existing resources more sustainably and efficiently to create more outcome.”

Income Generation

The platform model is similar to Airbnb and other online marketplaces.

Income is generated from the commission of successful transactions.

Platform can be used internally within institutions for a subscription fee.

Building Partnerships

University College of London bought into the idea because they had purchased a lot of equipment that wasn’t being used efficiently.

As more universities came on board, trust was built with universities and lab managers in regards to the model.

Relationships are important to build trust with both the lab managers as well as the end-user.

Over 280 companies and over 450 labs are using the platform in both large and smaller universities.

Analysis indicates the potential of getting into over 10,000 labs first in the European and then the global market with the primary goal of opening collaboration opportunities.

For more information:

Website: https://www.clustermarket.com/

Email: [email protected]

On this episode of 15 Minutes with the doctor, Vinay is joined by Hazel Maxwell, co-founder of the Ladle app. Ladle is a low-cost digital weight loss tool that is currently being used by the city of Nottingham to help improve the lifestyles of its citizens. Learn why they developed this solution, the importance of testing and needs assessments, and how they rolled out the product.

Topics Covered in this Episode:

How Ladle got started

Conducting needs assessments

Trial and market tests

Current implementation

Challenges faced

How Ladle got started

Hazel and her co-founder were working as consultants in the healthcare industry

They noticed a gap in the market for weight loss tools and saw the potential for a cheaper, scalable digital solution

Considering that 60% of the population of the U.K. is classified as “overweight” or “obese”, they felt that the need for a product like this was great

Conducting needs assessments

Hazel and her co-founder met with healthcare providers, dieticians, clinicians, and psychologists to determine the needs

They directly asked these individuals for their feedback and then kept them informed throughout the process

“We have a really strong focus on the psychological elements of eating habits.”

Trial and market tests

Their trial found that the Ladle app had the same effectiveness as in-person intervention method

They did, however, have a higher dropout rate (44% completions on the app compared to 55%)

There is the potential to integrate the Ladle program with some in-person elements to increase the completion rate in the future

As a result of their trial experience, they received a direct award to be the commissioned provider for the city of Nottingham

“Our aim is to make Ladle as effective as the interventions currently in use by the NHS or different healthcare providers but be purely digital.”

Current implementation

The Ladle app is currently available to all citizens living in Nottingham who are between the ages of 18-65 whose body mass index is over 25

This agreement lasts until April of 2020 but they are hoping to expand the use of the app to other areas too

Challenges faced

It is difficult for startups to be considered during the bidding process with the NHS and local councils because of the lack of having 3 years of financial information available

They have also found it difficult to increase the awareness of GPs of their product and consequently the number of referrals

Hazel points out that there are ways that the healthcare system could promote more innovation

“As well as being low cost, we are also unlimited referrals.”

For more information:

https://www.ladleapp.com/

https://www.asklion.co.uk/kb5/nottingham/directory/home.page

Connect with us:

https://www.instagram.com/doctor.vinay/

https://twitter.com/VinayShankar

On this episode, Vinay speaks with Dan from Heights. Dan and his team aim to help people optimise their life and brain by providing curated content in neuroscience, nutrition and psychology. Dan is also launching a high quality supplement for brain health. Learn about his passion to move into the wellness space, his past as a co-founder of a popular fashion mobile app, and he shares what he has learnt from his entrepreneurial journey so far.

Topics Covered in this Episode:

The product – A supplement for the brain

The content – A weekly newsletter

Awareness of user needs

Advice to creators and aspiring creators of medical apps

The product – A supplement for the brain

Promotes longevity in brain health

Assists in the absorption of the hydration and nutrition

Amplifies productivity and overall wellbeing

Will be launched in January 2020, but email subscribers are invited to begin testing the product later this autumn

“We are creating the highest-quality multivitamin for the brain that can help promote longevity in brain health.”

The content – A weekly newsletter

Provides value to the users, educating them about how science practically impacts their brains

Contains curated content from scientific journals, making it accessible to the layperson

“I turn the science into English and make it engaging and fun for people to learn more about their brain every single week and how it works.”

Awareness of user needs

Delivering content to the right consumers through the right medium is very important

Consumers look at social media with a bit of skepticism towards the quality of the content

A weekly email newsletter is reliable and socially responsible, meeting people where they are

“All of these things [Facebook, Instagram, etc.] are platforms and who you choose to follow obviously impacts your relationship with that medium.”

Advice to creators and aspiring creators of medical apps

Develop your niche and become an expert

You cannot be all things to all people, but you can serve your specific audience very well

Implement some tests with your target demographics to determine how they want to interact with an app like yours

“There are four major pillars that I believe as core to having a healthy brain and they are hydration, nutrition, sleep, and social connection.”

For more information:

https://twitter.com/danmurrayserter

www.yourheights.com

In this special recording of 15 minutes with the doctor, we have two guests providing a snapshot of two unique products. From SkinVision, we have Program Manager, Loes Van Egmond. SkinVision is a smartphone app that allows users to upload a photo of a skin lesion and get an assessment within 30 seconds. They are trying to improve early detection of skin cancers and subsequently make treatment more affordable. From Needlesmart, we have CEO Cliff Kirby. NeedleSmart is a device that destroys a hypodermic needle in the fraction of a second by heating it to over 1300 degrees Celsius. The product potential to reduce costs and improve the process for sharps disposal.

About the SkinVision App:

A smartphone app that uses a machine learning algorithm to directly provide dermatological screenings to the public.

Launched in 2015 and has 1.2 million downloads so far.

3.5 million pictures in their database, which allows them to constantly test their algorithm.

If users receive a high-risk assessment, the app follows up with them to make sure they visit a dermatologist or a doctor.

On the lack of progress in chemotherapy: “We’ve set a company mission to save 250,000 lives in the next decade.”

Its effectiveness:

95% accurate in diagnosing melanoma and 97% effective in diagnosing non-melanoma.

General physicians are 60% accurate and dermatologists are 75-90% accurate based on their experience.

“By driving early detection, you can make the treatment much more affordable.”

Challenges:

The NHS is complex and difficult to work with, but progress is being made at SkinVision as part of the Innovation Accelerator program.

“By driving early detection, you can make the treatment much more affordable.”

About NeedleSmart:

Destroys a hypodermic needle in a fraction of a second by heating it to 1300 degrees.

Created to reduce the number of sharps and simplify the disposal process.

Wifi enabled, which allows each unit to collect data and automatically reorder supplies based on usage.

Its effectiveness:

The NeedleSmart process destroys the needle completely, potentially allowing needles to be disposed more simply and cost-effectively.

Challenges:

The need for a process for early adopters to try out the product and provide feedback and recommendations.

Difficulty of getting NHS approval or attention.

“The challenge right now is to convince an old embedded process that this could really add value to the system.”

For more information:

https://www.skinvision.com/

http://needlesmart.com/

https://twitter.com/NeedleSmart

Connect with us:

http://vinayshankar.net/

https://www.instagram.com/doctor.vinay/

https://twitter.com/VinayShankar