London, March 30 Researchers from the Umea University in Sweden have developed a new method that simplifies the diagnosis of ear infections (otitis media) using Smartphone and the cloud. This will automatically analyze eardrum images from a digital otoscope (an instrument used in the medical examination of ears) and enables highly accurate diagnoses. The technique was recently described in the journal EBioMedicine – a new Lancet publication.
Claude Laurent, researcher at the Clinical Sciences Department at Umea University said that, “Because of lack of health personnel in many developing countries, ear infections are often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. This may lead to hearing impairments and even to life-threatening complications”. Since the method is both easy and cheap to use, it enables rapid and reliable diagnoses of a very common childhood illness. If you would like to know about similar life threatening diseases, Rare Diseases Threatens 70 Million Indian Lives.
The researchers focused on diagnosis of otitis media, inflammation of the ear (especially in the middle ear) that annually affects half a billion children worldwide. Health personnel can diagnose middle ear infections with the same accuracy as general practitioners and podiatrist by this technique.
The image is stored to the cloud via a Smartphone, where it’s automatically analyzed and compared with high-resolution archive imagery. The software looks for predefined visual features, and places the new image in one of five diagnostic groups.
Test showed that 80.6 per cent accuracy was achieved for images taken with a commercial video-otoscope and an accuracy of 78.7 per cent was achieved for images captured on-site with a low cost custom-made video-otoscope. The researchers said, without treating the ear infection can be dangerous, potentially leading to hearing impairments, and in certain extreme cases, can even have life-threatening complication.
Other News
India Medical Device Pricing Strategy: Ensuring Growth & Affordability
India’s National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is developing a specialized India medical device pricing strategy for medical devices, transitioning away from the conventional drug-centric framework. This innovative strategy will incorporate international pricing tactics tailored to […]
Read MoreImports of High-Value Medical Equipment
High-Value Medical Equipment The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs have released a new circular, “F.No.401/40/2021-Cus.III,” detailing updated policies on the import of used high-end medical […]
Read MoreSEC Committee: Pioneering Medical Approvals
New important article released by Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) titled “SEC – Special Expert Committee, Medical Devices”. Key highlights include the streamlined processes for CDSCO application evaluations, preparation and significance of briefing materials, […]
Read More
ErlySign Oral Cancer Detection Technology Gets CDSCO Nod
ErlySign, a Nagpur-based biotech startup, has received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to conduct large-scale clinical trials for its novel oral cancer detection technology. The approval for ErlySign follows a rigorous […]
Read MoreAdditional Steps Announced by FDA to Modernize Clinical Trials
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has made draft guidance available with updated recommendations for good clinical practices (GCPs), which are intended to modernize the clinical trial design and conduct while maintaining data integrity and […]
Read MoreAccreditation and Registration Numbers for Foreign Manufacturers Publication by PMDA
This article deals In accordance with the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act (PMD Act) of Japan, foreign businesses that wish to produce pharmaceuticals, quackery products, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), or medical devices abroad and import […]
Read MoreBSI New Certification to Mitigate Antimicrobial Resistance Risk in Antibiotic Manufacturing
BSI, the business improvement and standards company, has developed a new certification to mitigate the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in antibiotic manufacturing. The certification, called the Minimized Risk of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) certification, will […]
Read More
TUV SUD Inspects IVD Medical Devices’ Cyber Security
The growing digital connectivity of medical infrastructure is resulting in complicated systems with a plethora of diverse interfaces that are potentially vulnerable to assault. The IVD requires producers to provide proof of cyber security before […]
Read More
