COVID-19 Diagnostic

The inflamed lungs resulting from COVID-19 infection may be investigated using various imaging technologies, although the CT scan is reported to be the “gold-standard” to assess lung aeration, as it is accurate, non-invasive, convenient, and cost effective.  CT is preferred over other imaging technologies as it offers good sensitivity to detect early changes in the lungs, and can be used to monitor COVID progression in patients.  Image processing techniques are employed to propose an effective analysis, resulting in an Opacity Score which indicates COVID-19 infection severity.

COVID-19 is the world’s highest priority in 2020.  A key tool in managing this pandemic is determining who is infected, allowing those to self-quarantine or seek medical help, for the good of themselves, their loved ones, and the community at large, pending a vaccine.  Although some countries are offering “ID Now” swab assay tests to determine COVID-19 infection, the accuracy of these tests is unclear.  To augment testing capability, I am proposing adding imaging to diagnostic efforts for those who present possible symptoms of COVID-19.

The image from a CT scan, or any available imaging modality, of a patient's lungs, can be image processed using Matlab to develop an Opacity Score:

1.  I.highpass = apply a highpass filter to the image

2. COVID.Image = original image - I.highpass

3. Opacity Score = apply threshold to the COVID.Image

The Opacity Score can be compared to an Opacity Score for healthy lungs, developed using the same methodology.  The Opacity Score for a COVID patient can be repeated over time to monitor COVID progression.

The COVID Diagnostic Opacity Score serves anyone suffering from the pandemic with access to an imaging technology; developing countries may have other imaging technologies like ultra-sound available in lieu of CT scans.  Through the research of COVID efforts throughout the world, a COVID imaging diagnostic to assess lung aeration, offers an accurate, non-invasive, convenient, and cost effective solution.

Considering the Health Security & Pandemics Challenge, this COVID Diagnostic Opacity Score allows communities around the world to use their available imaging technology to detect COVID and track disease progression.  Beyond COVID-19, a similar imaging diagnostic methodology can be developed to address other pandemics and health security threats.

The COVID Opacity Score approach is innovative as it offers a simple criteria to determine the extent of disease progression in a patient.  Whereas conventional imaging scans require the expert analysis of a radiologist, the COVID Opacity Score can be generated less than a minute after completion of the patient image.  Furthermore, a COVID Opacity Score less than 300 indicates a healthy patient, while scores progressing towards 600 indicate COVID onset and progression.  As the imaging equipment can offer the COVID Opacity Score alongside the scanned image to the technician capturing the image, no additional analysis is required.

The COVID Opacity Score is a new Matlab process based on already available imaging technology (respiratory inflammation can be imaged using CT or computed tomography, nuclear imaging with a radioactive tracer, PET or Positron, Emission Tomography, X-ray, EIT Electrical Impedance Tomography, ultrasound, or MRI magnetic resonance imaging).  Once an image is taken of a patient, a Matlab methodology is applied to the image, to produce a metric, the Opacity Score, indicating respiratory inflammation indicative of COVID disease progression.

The COVID Opacity Score uses MATLAB and already established imaging technology, both widely used and accepted technology.  MATLAB is a high-performance language for technical computing. It integrates computation, visualization, and programming in an easy-to-use environment where problems and solutions are expressed in familiar mathematical notation.  Various medical imaging technologies (CT or computed tomography, nuclear imaging with a radioactive tracer, PET or Positron, Emission Tomography, X-ray, EIT Electrical Impedance Tomography, ultrasound, or MRI magnetic resonance imaging) are available across the globe.

The COVID Opacity Score offers a non-invasive, accurate, convenient and cost effective test for assessing and monitoring COVID-19 presence in humans.  As the MATLAB compound image processing strategy is applied immediately upon medical image acquisition of a patient's lungs, the image technician can report COVID progression based on lung inflammation.  Third party research supports this COVID diagnostic approach: https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/full/10.1148/ryct.2020200047

Currently seeking a collaborator to offer the COVID Opacity Score solution to treat patients anywhere on the globe.

I would like to offer the COVID Opacity Score methodology to any image processing manufacturer/facility in the world.  Collaboration with a manufacturer, such as GE Healthcare or Siemens Healthineers, or medical facilities would offer benefit to any person at risk of COVID.

It has been some time since I have worked in the medical imaging industry, and thus my connections to implement the COVID Opacity Score methodology are weak.  I have published previously, and completed a Master's Degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on this topic, while working at General Electric Healthcare.

I have reached out to GE Healthcare personnel, as well as colleagues of my Thesis Advisor William Edelstein.

One, myself.

I have published “Optimizing MRI Signal-to-Noise Radio for Quadrature Unmatched RF Coils: Two Preamplifiers are Better than One.” Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 36 (1996): 104-110, associated with my MSEE thesis from MIT.  William Edelstein was my Thesis Advisor at GE Medical Systems, and supported the associated oral presentation I gave at the Meeting of the Society of Magnetic Resonance. 

I would like to partner with a medical imaging manufacturer or facility.

Based on widely available imaging technology, the COVID Opacity Score methodology could be integrated into the associated software platform.  I seek impact to solve COVID challenges for people all over the world.  I am seeking a collaborator, whose business would benefit from this COVID Opacity Score methodology.

I am fully employed in another industry.  I would like to offer the COVID Opacity Score methodology to assist in solving pandemic challenges.

I am applying to find a collaborator for the COVID Opacity Score methodology application to advance the solution via non-monetary support.

I seek a partner with whom I can integrate the COVID Opacity Score methodology into the software controlling already available medical imaging technologies.

Medical imaging manufacturers, like GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, etc.

The COVID Opacity Score methodology is elevating humanity by preparing for, detecting, and responding to emerging pandemics and health security threats.  My medical imaging work has been impacting lives for years via GE MRI Medical Imaging equipment.  Integrating the COVID Opacity Score methodology into the software available on medical imaging equipment is feasible, with collaboration from manufacturers or facilities, and can be scaled across medical imaging facilities across the globe.  I have already earned a Master's Degree from MIT, based on medical imaging methodologies, and have completed the COVID Opacity Score project to satisfy requirements for a graduate Image Processing and Computer Vision class at the University of Detroit - Mercy.  I am a role model in my professional, educational and volunteer communities, as I lead Ford electrical product integration into various vehicles, chair the Michigan Technological University Presidential Council of Alumnae, and am a FIRST Robotics Judge Advisor.  If awarded, the Elevate Prize will be used to benefit the world's efforts to resolve the COVID pandemic.