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Developed by King’s College London spin-out Algocyte, the tabletop Proxima device only requires small blood samples, similar to those used for routine home glucose testing.
Collected through minimally invasive finger pricking, the blood is analysed in the device by two independent sensing technologies. AI analysis of the sensor results is then used to generate blood test results that can be shared digitally with doctors and patients.
“The tool could be especially beneficial for patients who require regular monitoring, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, who currently rely on frequent hospital or GP visits for blood tests,” a King’s College announcement said yesterday (5 August).
An AI system also uses the results to build a picture of an individual’s health. The developers hope this could help identify small changes over long periods of time.
“The technology could also free up resources for the NHS, with millions of blood tests carried out in the UK every year, helping doctors diagnose disease, monitor treatments and assess overall health,” the announcement said.
The device has received the UKCA regulatory mark, meaning it complies with all relevant health, safety and environmental protection standards, and is now progressing through further testing and evaluation in commercial deployment.
“This achievement demonstrates how academia and industry can work together to deliver meaningful social impact,” said Dr Hector Zenil, founder and CEO of Algocyte and associate professor in healthcare engineering at King’s College London.
“Academia advances fundamental research into health, disease and the application of AI to cell and molecular biology. Industry translates these advances into scalable technologies. This technology could have a real-world impact on the many patients receiving treatments that would benefit from regular blood monitoring, such as chemotherapy or the use of medicines like clozapine, which require close monitoring of blood cell levels due to potential side effects or complications.”
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