Summary
In the latest episode of season 2, episode 5 of the Dr. Pawd podcast, listeners were introduced to Tenei Tandon, the founder of Athelas, a healthcare company using machine learning to improve the speed and efficiency of blood diagnostics. Blood diagnostics are often used to identify various health conditions such as infections, leukemia, and bone marrow disorders. These diagnostics involve testing blood cells for an accurate count of the different cell types.
Athelas offers a complete blood count (CBC) that detects white blood cells in a patient's bloodstream, including platelets and hemoglobin. The company uses a microfluidic test cartridge that creates a single-cell-thick monolayer of cells inserted into a device the size of an Amazon Alexa. This device takes hundreds of images of blood layers, which are then classified using convolutional neural nets for accurate and efficient counting and identification of blood cells.
The technology developed by Athelas is automated with computer vision and off-the-shelf hardware, and it has the potential for preventative monitoring of a patient's health using sensors and simple machine learning models.
One of the most significant problems that Athelas' device aims to solve is automating the intelligence portion of analyzing blood tests under a microscope and counting different types of cells by automating it through machine learning. The device functions quickly and easily without needing to go to a lab, and it has a lower cost than other methods.
The speaker emphasizes the cultural goal of data transparency, working with the FDA, and focusing on science and data to differentiate their technology. The system is currently indicated for prescription use only at the guidance of a clinician, and it's used to monitor populations that need high-frequency monitoring and in chronic disease populations that require specific monitoring such as people using the schizophrenia drug clozapine or have autoimmune diseases.
Athelas aims to transition significant aspects of healthcare into the home, making healthcare more preventative. The device also helps patients stay on medication and continue to benefit from it. The utilization and adherence to medication have a 60% boost with the introduction of Veloce's device for monitoring.
The company's vision is to become a care delivery platform in the home, reducing the costs of healthcare in the country. They plan on building a suite of blood tests, sensors, and software to passively monitor patients' health and flagging issues before they become severe. The goal is to help chronically ill patients manage their condition and avoid hospitalizations and ER visits.
In conclusion, the technology developed by Athelas has great potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry. By automating machine learning and developing sensors and software to monitor patients' health, the company has set itself on a path to make healthcare more preventative, reduce ER and hospital visits, and make healthcare more affordable. Athelas' technology is a result of years of data collection, collaboration with clinicians, and extensive testing.
