What You Should Know:
– Philips, a global leader in health technology, has announced a $25M investment from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to accelerate the development and deployment of its Rapid Analysis of Threat Exposure (RATE) algorithm.
– The four-year project aims to enhance the predictive health monitoring of military personnel, ensuring their well-being and readiness in the face of potential health threats.
RATE: An Early Warning System for Infection
RATE is an AI-powered algorithm designed to detect pre-symptomatic infections in individuals. This early warning system has the potential to reduce downtime and aid in containing the spread of diseases by enabling individuals to self-isolate or seek medical attention sooner.
Development and Evolution of RATE
- 2019: The initial version of RATE used machine learning and data analysis of over 36,000 cases of hospital-acquired infections to develop a risk score for various infections, including respiratory illnesses.
- 2022: A wearable version of the algorithm was developed, leveraging biometric data from commercial wearables to detect COVID-19 infection up to 2.3 days before symptom onset and up to six days prior in some cases. This demonstrated the potential of RATE to enhance military readiness by monitoring the health of personnel.
Expanding Applications and Impact
This new funding from the DoD will enable Philips to:
- Enhance RATE’s Capabilities: Further develop the algorithm to improve its accuracy and expand its ability to detect a wider range of infections.
- Increase Accessibility: Make the technology more accessible to military personnel in the field.
- Support Military Readiness: Enhance the DoD’s ability to monitor the health and readiness of its active-duty personnel.
“Protecting the physical health and well-being of active service members is paramount,” said Jeff DiLullo, Chief Region Leader, Philips North America, and U.S. Army Veteran. “Our military personnel have unique care needs depending on their role and environment, and thanks to AI-enabled, predictive innovations like RATE, we can enable more timely intervention and personalized care, reducing downtime and improving outcomes – not only for individuals but entire units, too. The faster we diagnose and treat, the sooner these brave men and women are ready for duty.”
