Advanced Human Imaging (AHI) is a company like no other in the Digital Health space. The Australian company aims to put your smartphone at the center of the healthcare journey by combining the best portable technologies and leveraging machine learning algorithms.
The famous photographer Chase Jarvis once said, “the best camera is the one you have with you” when referring to smartphones. So likewise, Advanced Human Imaging could say the same when it comes to doctors and healthcare. The company aims at developing a complete Mobile Device Health Information System that will put your doctor in your pocket at all times.
We recently interviewed Vlado Bosanac, the founder and CEO of Advanced Human Imaging. A veteran of the financial industry, he surrounded himself with a high-profile team of scientists specializing in making the most of Computer Vision and AI to develop a unique product that may well change the way you look at your smartphone in the future.
A versatile technological platform aimed at B2B customers
In just seven years, the Australia-based imaging company built a comprehensive health analysis platform by leveraging computer vision, AI image processing, and Point of Care (POC) mobile devices.
AHI currently offers versatile Software Development Kits (SDK) integration to insurers, healthcare providers, and apparel companies through their in-house developments or third-party licenses. The company targets four main markets, including mHealth, Life & Health Insurance, Fitness, and Apparel) for a total potential of over 400 million users.
On September 14, 2021, Advanced Human Imaging announced the launch of The Health Cube App developed in collaboration with Tinjoy in China. This collaboration is poised to open the door of the vast Chinese Health and Wellness market, expecting to reach one million active users by Christmas 2021.
AHI offers four platforms covering body scanning, Face Scanning, Remote blood diagnostics, and dermatology. All platforms rely heavily on machine learning and digital imaging analysis.
BodyScan
With just a smartphone and in less than 60 seconds, the deep-learning imaging processing algorithms will detect the body shape, extract measurements and infer health risks related to metabolic disorders such as Type 2 Diabetes or Obesity.
In 2020, the team of Dr. Jaeschke from the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany, published an article showing that the use of 3D body scanning was a reliable measure for evaluating the risk of metabolic syndrome.
It took seven years to develop and validate AHI’s BodyScan app on more than 7,000 individuals across Australia, Taipei, Thailand, and Malaysia. By using different ethnicities and body shapes, the app. achieved 98% chest, 97% waste, 98% hips, and 97% thighs accuracy when compared to the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) standards, according to a validation study conducted by Pr. Ackland at the University of Western Australia.
BodyScan gives body circumference, body composition (total body fat percent), and particular health indicators linked to Type-2 Diabetes risk, obesity, and central obesity risk.
Initially used as a technology to monitor fitness and bodybuilding, AHI’s BodyScan is provided as an SDK to other companies, such as insurers or fitness apps, making it an easy and non-intrusive way to monitor body shape health-related variables.
The online apparel sales industry is plagued with an up to 80% return rate primarily due to incorrect sizing and fit. Body scanning to ensure proper fitting and lower the return rate is complex to implement but represents a substantial potential saving that AHI also aims at tackling in the future.
FaceScan
FaceScan is based on the scientific principles of Transdermal Optical Imaging (TOI).
TOI technology is based on the same principles as Photoplethysmography. Still, it makes the most of the smartphone’s digital imaging capabilities and the translucent properties of the skin to collect meaningful health vitals such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate.
By detecting the face microvessels dilatation, health indicators can be extracted to predict underlying health risks.
Heart Rate Variability is one of the key parameters used to assess the stress level. Despite not being FDA-cleared, Transdermal Optical Imaging was recently shown to be as accurate as electrocardiography in detecting the heart rhythm and associated metrics.
HemaScan
HemaScan makes the most of a patented device that connects to a smartphone and relies on specific test strips to analyze Glycolated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), Blood Glucose Levels, Hemoglobin, Total Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, and Triglycerides.
Initially developed as a low-cost testing device to reduce the burden of metabolic diseases testings in developing countries, the Aina blood analyzer went through numerous small clinical trials and gained FDA clearance and CE approval for its Aina HbA1c Monitoring System 2.
DermaScan
The use of AI for detecting skin lesions through digital imagery received much attention in recent years. Some algorithms proved as accurate as dermatologists’ analyses for the detection of lesions and melanoma.
DermaScan algorithm is CE-approved and detects more than 500 skin conditions with an 87% accuracy and 95% specificity.
Integrating such an algorithm is of particular interest to telehealth providers or to get an AI-based second opinion.
Is Advanced Human Imaging the swiss-army knife of mHealth?
Advanced Human Imaging technological platforms and collaborative agreements are unique in the world of Digital Health. Instead of concentration on a fully integrated platform, AHI combines both its in-house development capabilities and third-party software to offer a versatile solution that can accommodate the needs of various industries, from health providers to insurers, fitness centers, and even online retail companies.
With the constant development of new technologies and algorithms, AHI can expand its SDKs in various fields and stay up-to-date with machine learning development and imaging analysis.
The company is well-positioned to address the many needs of telehealth and patient-remote monitoring. However, one of the critical points to consider for the broader use of digital imaging technologies in healthcare is the reliability and regulatory approval of the integrated platforms.
