BGF has made a follow-on investment in TidalSense, a company innovating in respiratory diagnostics through AI technology, particularly for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
TidalSense's N-Tidal Diagnose device simplifies the diagnostic process by requiring patients to breathe normally into a handheld unit for 75 seconds, capturing a CO₂ waveform known as a capnogram. This approach contrasts sharply with traditional spirometry, which demands forceful exhalation and specialized training for healthcare providers. As a result, clinicians can manage 4-6 patients per hour with N-Tidal Diagnose, significantly improving efficiency compared to the traditional method that accommodates only one patient per hour.
Currently, over 600,000 individuals in the UK await a formal COPD diagnosis, highlighting a significant gap in timely healthcare delivery. TidalSense aims to address this issue by making diagnostics more accessible, particularly in underserved communities. Dr. Ameera Patel, CEO of TidalSense, emphasized that respiratory diseases, often overlooked in favor of other conditions, require urgent attention. The World Health Organization has now identified COPD as a global health priority, which aligns with TidalSense's mission to modernize diagnostic practices.
With a robust foundation of over 2.5 million patient breaths used to train its AI models, N-Tidal Diagnose has demonstrated impressive diagnostic accuracy, achieving over 90% performance in clinical validations. The device was the first of its kind to receive a CE mark as a non-spirometry AI diagnostic tool for COPD, marking a significant milestone in respiratory care. As TidalSense prepares for further expansion into international markets, its innovative approach may reshape how respiratory diseases are diagnosed and treated, potentially leading to better patient outcomes globally.