BROSSARD, Quebec, June 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DIAGNOS inc. (“DIAGNOS” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture Exchange:ADK) (OTCQB:DGNOF), a leader in the early detection of serious health issues thanks to its artificial intelligence technology, FLAIRE, today announced the creation of a technological showcase at the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) with the opening of an automated for diabetic retinopathy screening clinic assisted by AI (Artificial Intelligence).
Technological showcase
Diagnos thanks the Quebec government for a $159,335 funding through the Créativité Québec program. This amount will support a $398,337 technological showcase project conducted in conjunction with the Ophthalmology and Endocrinology departments of the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). The announcement was made today by Mrs. Dominique Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, Mr. Gaétan Barrette, Member for La Pinière and Minister of Health and Social Services and Mrs. Lucie Charlebois Minister for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection, Public Health and Healthy Living and minister responsible for the Montérégie region.
“The technology developed by Diagnos provides a rapid detection of serious health problems with the use of Artificial Intelligence. This technological showcase will demonstrate the efficiency of their technology in real live conditions. I praise the collaboration of the CHUM, whom can take advantage of the results of this project, benefiting the patients.” said Gaétan Barrette, Member for La Pinière, and Minister of Health and Social Services.
Please refer to the press release from the ministry of Economy, Science and Innovation: Québec soutient un projet de vitrine technologique de l’entreprise Diagnos.
AI for detection and triage
Our early detection service includes an automated AI analysis of fundus imagery together with a triage system according to the degree of severity. This service is available on our CARA telehealth platform (Computer Assisted Retina Analysis), which has been certified by both Health Canada and the FDA in the United States.
Improving patient services
The DIAGNOS automated screening solution significantly increases accessibility for diabetic and hypertensive patients subject to annual screening. Screening is done at the service centre using fundus photography. The process is fast, painless, and very simple for the patient. The CARA platform will facilitate identification and speedy triage of patients suffering from retinopathies who have been referred to the ophthalmology department following a consultation at the endocrinology or diabetes clinic.
“We are very pleased to have the support of the Government of Quebec for this technological showcase. We are especially privileged to collaborate with a prestigious and groundbreaking institution such as the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). We are particularly grateful to the endocrinologists and ophthalmologists who are supporting this first automated screening facility in Canada using artificial intelligence to offer wide scale screening to diabetic patients.” André Larente, President of DIAGNOS.
About DIAGNOS
DIAGNOS is present in 15 countries and has screened more than 222,000 diabetic patients. Thanks to the support of the Government of Quebec and our collaboration with the CHUM, this technological showcase will allow us to demonstrate our expertise at home. It will also help set up extensive screening campaigns in other Canadian provinces and in the United States. To support our growth, we plan on hiring ten employees at our headquarters in Brossard.
About CARA
CARA is a teleophthalmology platform that integrates with current (material and IT) tools and processes at the point of intervention and comprises the following elements: image download, image enhancement, automated pre-screening, categorization by an expert, and referral to a specialist. CARA’s image enhancement algorithms, which use our FLAIRE AI technology, allow us to obtain sharper and clearer traditional retinal images that are easier to analyze. CARA can be used safely over the Internet and is compatible with all brands of retinographs, all standard image formats, and DME. It is a cost-effective tool for real-time screening of large numbers of patients and has been approved by regulatory bodies in Canada (Health Canada), the United States (FDA), Europe, and elsewhere.
Additional information is available at www.diagnos.com and www.sedar.com
For further information, please contact:
Mr. André Larente, President
DIAGNOS Inc.
Tel: 450-678-8882 ext. 224
alarente@diagnos.ca
This news release contains forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements. DIAGNOS disclaims any intention or obligation to publically update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
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