health

continued from page 60

companies working in the field of
Yekutieli, in conjunction with
smartphone and related applica-
co-founder and chief technology
tions to help consumers, such as
officer Dima Gershman, developed
fitness buffs and patients, monitor
Montfort’s software applications
and record various health measures.
that enable neurological patients
Some device applications send mes-
to measure their body movements.
sages to remind patients to check
A special application is installed on
patients’ phones — Android or iOS — their glucose levels or take blood
pressure medication, for example.
that picks up data from the phone’s
But measurement and detailed
built-in accelerometer, gyroscope and
data collection are only the first steps
touch screen. Such measurements
for Montfort. “Their secret sauce is
include the time a patient requires
how they analyze this excess data,”
to stand up from a chair, balance in
Dulchavsky said.
a standing position and then sit back
The analysis relies on machine-
down. A report is then sent to the
learning paradigms — very powerful
physician who uses a second version
computer technology that notices
of the phone application. Montfort’s
system is being used at multiple med- patterns, becomes more efficient over
time and learns to ignore data
ical centers in Israel.
that is not central to a research
“When a patient comes
question.
in after taking an expensive
Through the collection
drug for three months,
of information from many
we ask the patient what’s
patients (who are not indi-
changed. They’re not
vidually identified) and the
always sure. It would be
use of “artificial intelligence”
nice to have objective
algorithms, this data can be
measures,” explained Peter
used to identify risk factors for
LeWitt, M.D., director of
Dr. Peter LeWitt
a disease in another example
the Parkinson’s Disease
or possibly to predict when an
and Movement Disorders
epilepsy patient might have a
Program at Henry Ford
seizure.
Hospital.
The next steps for Montfort’s
Patients typically are tested during
medical visits, which can be weeks or innovation will include a meeting
between the company’s team and
months apart in an artificial setting.
With monitoring of daily motor func- Henry Ford subject-matter experts
who can provide in-depth product
tions at home, the physician learns
market assessments and help plan a
much more about a patient’s condi-
larger study of these applications for
tion.
neurological conditions.
“People don’t always see improve-
Dulchavsky anticipates that clinical
ment, and this is readily available and
trials of the smartphone technology
so user-friendly,” LeWitt said.
will begin in the Detroit area later
this year. Another AI challenge will be
MONTFORT’S FORTE
Montfort (mon4t.com) is one of many announced in the spring, he said. •

Discover

Award-Winning Care

St. Joe’s is a nationally award-winning health

care provider, offering excellence in the

areas of Cardiovascular, Orthopedic, Cancer,

Women’s Health, and Pulmonary care.

We take great pride in earning the trust of

the community and in being the health care

provider of choice for North Oakland County

residents and their families.

Henry Ford Innovation Institute

Henry Ford Health System seeks to improve health care and patients’ experi-
ences, whether through simple innovations like a better hospital gown or an
advanced method of planning surgeries through 3-D models. Its Innovation
Institute was created in 2012 to bring together the staff and resources — both
internal and external — to “turn great ideas into transformative products.”
The institute helps assess, develop and commercialize product ideas from its
own staff and other organizations for use around the globe. The institute provides
experts to assess market potential for health-related products, connect inventors
with research partners and facilities and provide a testing site for medical care
innovations.
One component is the Global Technology Development Program in Israel,
backed by a grant from the William Davidson Foundation. The program is
designed to identify advanced health care technologies in Israel, and co-develop
and launch them in the U.S. •

For a referral to a St. Joe’s physician or
more information, visit stjoesoakland.org
or call 800-372-6094.

2159570

62

February 22 • 2018

jn