Five diseases Google and its sister companies are tackling with AI, as described in the report:
1. Eye disease
- “[Google sister company] Verily is working on detecting diabetic retinopathy (a condition when high sugar levels cause damage to blood vessel in the eye) via a partnership with Nikon’s subsidiary Optos, which makes the machines for retinal-imaging tests and eye-disease detection.”
- “Verily isn’t only focused on detecting eye diseases, but also on potentially fixing certain diseases as well. Analyzing the frequency of words in Verily’s granted patents reveals it has consistently filed patents related to contacts and eye implants.”
2. Diabetes
- “Google’s smaller continuous glucose monitor, which Verily created with medical device company Dexcom, is already farther into the commercialization pipeline. … The long-term goal is to create an even smaller disposable sensor that can be worn for 14 days like a bandage and requires no finger stick calibrations.”
- “Verily also recently patented a smart syringe to help diabetics monitor their injections.”
3. Heart disease
- “Google is approaching data generation and heart condition monitoring in two ways. The first is via the Study Watch, produced by Verily and used by researchers to monitor different biomarkers of study participants. This includes both an electrocardiogram and heart rate monitor, which researchers can use to help detect anomalies earlier and to better understand what other factors might lead to or be precursors to heart episodes.”
- “The second is highlighted in a patent for a passive heart monitor using optical sensors and machine vision that seems more catered towards the everyday person. The patent talks about taking images of key blood flow areas to provide a continuous monitoring of heart health in order to promote more healthy behaviors.”
- “Google is also looking to help providers detect cardiovascular issues via retinal images. The company published a paper on how its machine learning algorithms were able to detect risk for cardiovascular issues by analyzing the blood vessels in the eye.”
4. Parkinson’s
- “Verily launched the Personalized Parkinson’s Project with Radboud University in the Netherlands to combine clinical data with patient data collected by the Study Watch, including heart functionality, electrodermal activity and inertial movements.”
- “Verily is also looking at ways to help Parkinson’s patients manage their day-to-day lives. This began with the acquisition of Lift Labs, creator of the Liftware spoon that helps Parkinson’s patients stabilize their food while eating.”
5. Multiple sclerosis
- “Verily is working with biotech company Biogen and [Boston-based] Brigham and Women’s Hospital to set up a longitudinal study to understand how the disease develops. This combines data from participants wearing the Study Watch with clinical data fed into Verily’s machine learning algorithms to improve detection and understand what causes the disease to progress and flare up.”
- “There’s been exploratory research into using electroceuticals to combat MS, which could inform a project Verily is pursuing with GlaxoSmithKline called Galvani Bioelectronics. The project uses miniature electronics to control how electrical signals flow throughout the body. Electroceuticals are very small electronic implants that help modulate the flow of electrical signals through the nervous system.”
To access the full report, click here.
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