Welcome to the USA. Swedish telehealth platform Kry is moving across the Atlantic and launching its services in the U.S., according to CNBC. It will be offering LIVI, its digital doctor consultation service that lets patients request a visit via the app. Patients can access a doctor for physical conditions and behavioral health.
In January the startup scored €140 million ($155 million) Series C funding in a round led by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s Teachers’ Innovation Platform. Existing investors Index Ventures, Creandum and Accel also participated.
The company has a track record across European markets including Norway, Germany, France and the U.K.
Not using that. Apple and Google made headlines earlier this month when they announced their plans to create a new Bluetooth-enabled coronavirus tracing app. However, a new survey done by the Washington Post and the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement found that 60% of responders said they wouldn’t or were unable to use the app. Fifty-nine percent of survey takers did, however, report that if they were diagnosed with the virus they would be comfortable with using the app to anonymously inform people they came into close contact with.
SF checkup. In an attempt to understand the scope and spread of the coronavirus in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative pledged $13.6 million to a research collaboration that includes UC San Francisco, Stanford University and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub.
The funds will be put towards two studies. One is to specifically understand the scope of the coronavirus in the area and then give thie data to policy makers. The second is zeroing in on healthcare workers in the area and looking at whether the antibodies from COVID-19 protect them from reinfection.
Checking the brain. Artificial intelligence company Nines landed FDA clearance for its new tool that helps automate the radiological review of CT scans for intracranial hemorrhages and mass effect. The tool, dubbed NinesAI, is meant to assist radiologist in triaging cases.
“At Nines, we believe the application of advanced technology can address complex and pressing challenges in healthcare, and in particular for radiology, solve for a higher rate of burnout among radiologists,” Nines cofounder and CEO David Stavens said in a statement. “With clearance from FDA, we’re proud to offer transformative AI innovation supporting the prioritization and triage of emergent conditions to complement radiologists’ work and ultimately improve the quality of patient care. We’re excited to partner with customers who seek cutting edge tools to deal with the conditions that matter most for patients.”
Connected t-shirt. Earlier this week remote patient monitoring platform Chronolife landed a Class IIa medical certification from the European Union for its connected T-shirt called the KeeSense. The shirt is able to monitor a patient’s abdominal respiration, skin temperature, thoracic impedance and physical activity via wearable sensors. The shirt is washable and can be paired with a smartphone app to help give caregivers real-time data.
"KeeSense delivers an unrivalled stream of real-world medical-grade data. This medical CE mark enables doctors to use KeeSense to provide more convenient and effective medical care, and gives researchers access to a rich new source of vital signs intelligence,” Laurent Vandebrouck, CEO of Chronolife, said in a statement.
