Honeywell Unveils AI-Powered Digital Holographic Microscopy for Rapid Medical Diagnostics

Honeywell Looks to Accelerate Kidney Diagnosis Using AI with Digital Holographic Microscopy

The new technique aims to reduce the diagnostic time by capturing high-resolution images of a patient's dialysis fluid at the point-of-care using a portable device. Global technology conglomerate Honeywell unveiled a new Digital Holographic Microscopy technology that uses AI to streamline medical diagnostics, enabling faster and more efficient patient care. It has potential applications across various industries, but its most immediate impact could be in healthcare testing, particularly for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis patients face a heightened risk of abdominal lining infections, which currently take one to two days to diagnose due to the need for specialised laboratory equipment. Honeywell's digital holographic microscopy aims to reduce this diagnostic time by capturing high-resolution images of a patient's dialysis fluid at the point-of-care using a portable device. AI algorithms analyse these images to determine white blood cell counts, allowing for rapid infection detection and enabling quicker treatment decisions. As noted by Sarah Martin, president of Honeywell Sensing Solutions, the demand for rapid and precise diagnostics is increasing, requiring tools that enable quicker decision-making. Innovations such as digital holographic microscopy enhance accessibility to testing while improving efficiency in healthcare systems. Unlike conventional microscopes, Digital Holographic Microscopy does not require expensive lenses or complex optical systems. Instead, it utilises light passing through a sample to generate holographic images, which are then processed using computational algorithms. AI and machine learning models help differentiate between cell types, eliminating the need for chemical staining, making biological sample preparation easier and faster. While its immediate focus is on healthcare, this can also be used in environmental monitoring. The technology can analyse air pollutants to assess indoor air quality and monitor microbial content in liquid samples, ensuring water safety in industries such as pharmaceuticals and food production. Interestingly, a number of big tech companies and venture funds are investing in healthcare. Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Oracle are just a few of the tech titans in the space. Honeywell has also been supporting rising startups. A few years ago Honeywell Hometown Solutions India Foundation (HHSIF), the philanthropic arm of Honeywell, partnered with IISc's Society of Innovation and Development (SID) to support deep-tech startups. The initiative aimed to help startups transition from incubation to securing early seed investments.

HONEYWELL UNVEILS NEW TECHNOLOGY USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO SPEED UP AND SIMPLIFY HEALTHCARE TESTING

Breakthrough Digital Holographic Microscopy technology can help determine whether patients have an infection at the point-of-care, shortening time to treatment Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON) today announced that it has developed a new technology, Digital Holographic Microscopy, that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help count and classify tiny particles or cells. This technology has the potential to be used across many industries where timely analysis and simplified operations are critical. Within the healthcare industry, for example, Digital Holographic Microscopy can be used to shorten treatment time for patients receiving at-home peritoneal dialysis. These patients are susceptible to abdominal lining infections - due to the time it takes to send the samples to a lab with specialized equipment, today it can take 1-2 days to diagnose these infections, during which time the patient's condition can often worsen if not treated. To help address this challenge, Digital Holographic Microscopy can capture images of the patient's dialysis fluid at the point-of-care by using a portable device with a laser, imager sensor and disposable microscope slide. These images are analyzed by AI algorithms to rapidly determine if the number and type of white blood cells indicates an infection so patients can receive appropriate treatment more quickly and effectively. "We are seeing a growing need for solutions that can provide results that are both rapid and precise, empowering healthcare professionals to make informed decisions quickly," said Sarah Martin, president of Honeywell Sensing Solutions. "We have invested in innovations like Digital Holographic Microscopy because of their power to make testing and analysis more accessible to patients while also improving patient care and efficiency across our healthcare system." Beyond clinical care, Digital Holographic Microscopy can be used in environmental applications to analyze types and amounts of various air pollutants to help achieve safer indoor air levels. It can also monitor cells and other organisms in liquid samples for quality and safety. Additional Information on Digital Holographic Microscopy Digital Holographic Microscopy produces high-resolution images without the need for expensive and complex lenses and opto-mechanical systems found in a traditional microscope. Instead, this technology uses light passing through a sample to generate unfocused hologram images, which are then processed by computational algorithms so they can be interpreted. This novel technology has advantages over conventional microscopy, particularly because it allows for simple and portable instrument design, which facilitates testing and analysis at the point-of-use rather than requiring samples to be sent to a lab. By using machine learning algorithms to differentiate between types of cells, it also eliminates the need for staining, which simplifies biological sample preparation. In addition, it can replace or supplement sample analysis, enabling faster results with a simplified workflow. Developing solutions that leverage AI and machine learning to help expedite treatment for patients with chronic conditions and streamline laboratory analysis supports Honeywell's alignment of its portfolio to three compelling megatrends, including automation. To learn about other potential uses for Digital Holographic Microscopy and to explore how Honeywell is innovating in the AI and advanced sensing space, visit this website. ### About Honeywell: Honeywell is an integrated operating company serving a broad range of industries and geographies around the world. Our business is aligned with three powerful megatrends - automation, the future of aviation and energy transition - underpinned by our Honeywell Accelerator operating system and Honeywell Forge IoT platform. As a trusted partner, we help organizations solve the world's toughest, most complex challenges, providing actionable solutions and innovations through our Aerospace Technologies, Industrial Automation, Building Automation and Energy and Sustainability Solutions business segments that help make the world smarter, safer and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell,