A London medical startup is gaining global recognition for its innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) in ultrasound technology. Deep Breathe, located in Western University’s Research Park, has developed an AI-powered program to interpret lung ultrasound results in real-time.

The groundbreaking technology has already garnered a significant international following, including recognition from the U.S. Army, which awarded the company $95,000 in a prestigious global competition called xTechInternational. The AI system provides rapid diagnostic assistance in critical situations.

“Imagine if you were in a car accident, and the paramedic would pick you up and typically, right now, you would have to get driven in the ambulance to the hospital, where you would get a chest x-ray and then be diagnosed, maybe an hour later, with a collapsed lung, which is the condition that we’re looking for with this technology right now,” Data Science, Research, and Regulatory Affairs Manager of Deep Breathe Delaney Smith explained.

“What we’re envisioning is instead of that drawn-out process where you’re jeopardizing the patient’s life, you can diagnose them directly in the ambulance and then perform the lifesaving treatment right then and there.”

Deep Breathe’s innovation aims to eliminate that uncertainty by enabling field medics to make informed decisions almost instantly, all through a simple phone app connected to an ultrasound scanner.

“I feel very proud to be able to work on a problem that very few others are working on,” said Director of Machine Learning at Deep Breathe Blake VanBerlo. “Doctors who can entirely harness the diagnostic power of all this now, but through our technology, make it much more accessible in many other parts of the world, hopefully in different circumstances and settings.”

The company, founded in 2021, has grown to a team of nine and recently took first place out of 150 companies in the xTechInternational competition. Smith said the competition was a surreal experience.

“It was a very positive experience to be there with, you know, 12 other companies that are doing such incredible, incredible things on such a global scale. So, the recognition we got was just amazing to be a part of. And it’s a very positive experience overall,” Smith said.

The success at xTechInternational has opened new doors for the startup, not just in terms of funding but in networking opportunities as well. VanBerlo emphasized how this recognition could significantly boost the company’s growth prospects.

“Winning this competition puts us in a position where we can meet a number of other individuals who are focused on building technology for the military. It really puts us in, and it opens the door for us to connect with those kinds of folks, which, in turn, in the future, could lead to potential commercial opportunities for the company, ultimately leading to our scale,” he said.

The innovation extends beyond medicine and boosts the profile of London’s growing tech ecosystem. VanBerlo noted that London is part of a burgeoning AI community in Southwestern Ontario.

“I believe winning this kind of recognition will improve London’s visibility on the map regarding how artificial intelligence elements we live. We’re fortunate to live near the epicentre or in research and development, including Waterloo Region and Toronto. But I hope this recognition shows the world that London is part of southwestern Ontario’s fledgling artificial intelligence ecosystem,” VanBerlo said.

As the company continues to grow, Smith expressed gratitude for the support from their team and the London community.

“Someone kind of just starting in my career to have the opportunity to build this type of technology hands-on and be so involved in the process from the beginning and see it through to the end is something that I’m proud to get to do and get to do alongside just an incredible team of people who I admire and enjoy working with,” she said.