Darwin-based Medicotec creates an artificial intelligence sepsis test

A Darwin medical technology company is becoming a world leader in the early detection of a common fatal illness. Find out how the business plans to save the lives of 8000 Aussie each year.

A Northern Territory medical technology company is paving the way with a concept to detect the early stages of sepsis.

Darwin-based Medicotec is tackling the issue of deaths from sepsis-related conditions with artificial intelligence to recognise the early stages of the illness.

The technology is in the initial stages of clinical trials, but it is hoped the program will be able to identify patients most at risk of a serious infection.

Medicotec chief executive Joe Ward said he wanted to reduce the number of deaths from sepsis, particularly in children.

“Sepsis in children is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with over half of the global reported incidence of sepsis in the neonatal and paediatric population,” he said.

Each year more than 8000 Australians will die from sepsis-related illnesses.

Mr Ward said once the technology was given the okay it would be a game-changer for Territorians, with Indigenous Australians four times more likely to get sepsis.

“Our AI system will work in hospital settings and also for patients outside of hospital, at home or at a remote health clinic.,” he said.

Joe Ward is the chief executive of Medicotec. Picture: Supplied

“This would be of particular benefit to the Northern Territory where there are a number of remote health clinics with limited clinical resources.”

The initial feasibility study starts oin December, with a paediatric unit at a hospital in Mumbai chosen.

“Medicotec’s aim is to make our technology available wherever it is needed around the world and the extremely high loss of life due to sepsis in India made Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children in Mumbai a perfect candidate for our initial paediatric feasibility study,” Mr Ward said.

“We are in the process of approaching a number of Australian hospitals and public health departments about potential clinical trials.”

The system will fill a gap in the market with no reliable early diagnostic test currently available.

In 2017, an 11-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy died from the disease.

A Katherine woman also passed away from sepsis in 2018.