responsible for the deaths of
one million children in remote
regions of the world. The
World Health Organization
states that hundreds of
millions of people worldwide,
15 per cent of the world’s
population, are afflicted
with chronic respiratory or
pulmonary diseases.The Learning Algorithm
Dr. Aberyratne’s goal was to
develop an app for mobile
devices that would permit
patients to cough into the
phone, which would then
diagnose the problem. A
machine learning algorithm
uses the sound of the cough
to diagnose both the medical
issue and the severity. To date,
the algorithm has successfully
diagnosed asthma and
pneumonia.Clinical Trials and Results
The first study was held at
Joondalup Health Campus
in Perth, Australia, with 150
patients enrolled; it was
funded by the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation. The second
round of clinical trials had
been accelerated and was
be held at Princess Margaret
Hospital, with a total target
enrollment of 400 patients.
The trials were testing andimproving the app’s software
and diagnostic capabilities.
The University of Queensland
analized the data.Tony Keating, ResApp’s
CEO and Managing Director,
reports that, “It’s been
96 per cent accurate (for
pneumonia). That’s as high as
going through an x-ray.”Potential Markets
There are a number of
markets for this diagnostic
technology, including licensing
the app to large providers
in the telehealth industry;
diagnosis and management
at home for those with
respiratory diseases, especially
those that require constant
monitoring; and working with
the World Health Organization
and others to supply low-
cost diagnostic tools for the
rampant respiratory illnesses
in the developing world.
Mobile Health
Technologies Lead the Way
in Developing Nations
Mobile health technologies are
already making a difference
in developing nations. For
example, healthcare workers
are using mobile devices to
perform ultrasounds and
conduct eye examinations.
The use of mobile devices isAn exciting new smartphone
diagnostic app allows
someone with a respiratory
problem to cough into their
smartphone and receive
a diagnosis. This cough
diagnostic app, from ResApp
Health, is the first of its
kind, greatly expanding
the potential for mobile
healthcare.Healthcare professionals
have been quick to adopt
smartphone apps for
increased productivity while
they’re on the go, accessing
research data, organising
notes, or investigating drug
interactions. This new app
will aid both physicians and
patients with the diagnosis
of respiratory diseases, the
leading cause of doctor visits.App Developer Targets
Worldwide Problem of
Respiratory Diseases
Dr. Udantha Aberyratne, from
the University of Queensland’s
School of Information
Technology and Electrical
Engineering, has focused his
extensive research on signal
processing and medical
instrumentation. He identifies
respiratory diseases as a
critical problem worldwide;
pneumonia alone is20 | VENTURE Innovation | June 2018
INNOVATION