From use in ambulances and hospitals, to use in the field by military personnel. New AI software developed in London, Ont. is helping make medical diagnoses easier and quicker. “Do I have a life-threatening condition, do I have a cough, or do I have pneumonia? These kinds of questions come up every day for people,” explained Dr. Rob Arntfield, CEO of London based medical software company, Deep Breathe. The company is on the receiving end of $1 million from the federal government’s Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative. Deep Breathe has developed AI assisted diagnostic ultrasound technology. “Our software now sits in this medical hardware that turns it into something user-friendly that an almost novice can use, whether you’re someone in the military, somebody in an ambulance, somebody in a hospital, when you need answers quickly, ultrasound that’s fast, that’s portable. And now you don’t need to know how to use it quite as much because the software enables it,” said Arntfield. The way it works is, an ultrasound probe used on a person is attached to a smart phone, providing answers to its user. London MPs Arielle Kayabaga and Peter Fragiskatos had a chance to try their hand at the new tech at a funding announcement Tuesday. “Think of men and women of the armed forces serving on the frontlines. If they’re injured, is it a collapsed lung, or is it something else? This technology can help. Think about a senior, who, a chest x-ray would not pick up some abnormalities in the lung. The technology here, which is an ultrasound technology, that picks up things that wouldn’t be evident to the naked eye,” said Fragiskatos. The funding is part of a $700 million federal initiative to strengthen AI capabilities and sovereignty. “It’s especially encouraging to see companies like Deep Breathe continue to grow and advance its work, demonstrating what can happen when innovative ideas can match with determination and expertise,” said Kayabaga. The new tech is in the advanced prototype stage. Arntfield says the funding will be used for Health Canada regulatory approvals, and to attract new talent. The federal government says it is making an additional $500 million available over five years to help Canadian businesses adopt artificial intelligence technologies and bring Canadian-developed AI products to market. Federal officials said support will be focused primarily on sectors where Canada has established expertise and growth potential, including health and life sciences, energy and natural resources, transportation, agriculture, manufacturing and robotics. Regional agencies will also have flexibility to support other local economic priorities. The government said the expanded program will also help Canadian AI companies attract investment, secure customers and commercialize homegrown technologies. Funding will also be available to organizations that provide businesses with specialized expertise and support related to AI adoption and commercialization. The federal government also said the investment is intended to encourage broader AI adoption across Canada, help domestic AI firms grow while remaining based in Canada, and support economic growth and productivity.
