Investors and consumers alike are showing an increasing interest in digital diagnostic tools as the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the reliability of traditional diagnostic tools and put a strain on their capacity. The latest developments by companies such as Apple, who integrated a range of health sensors into their watches and introduced AI into their suite of product offerings, have highlighted the role digital diagnostic tools play in monitoring the health of the population. From neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s, to cardiovascular conditions including arrhythmias and tachycardias, digital diagnostics can provide continuous data streams that can aid in earlier diagnoses and potentially better treatments.
With this focus in mind, NaoX Technologies set out to create a solution to simplify the process of diagnosing epilepsy. Epilepsy affects around 600,000 people in France, and more than 50 million worldwide, and so far the resources available to accurately diagnose the condition have been limited and slow. NaoX Technologies have come up with medical earbuds that can transmit data to a patient’s smartphone, which is then sent to a doctor for assessment. Furthermore, the earbuds allow patients to share data with researchers for further study.
The NaoX Technologies team itself was formed in 2015, when co-founders Michel Le Van Quyen and Hélène Jacquier started researching statistical approaches to epilepsy and applying mathematical models to electrical signals in the brain to test for warning signs of impending seizure. The research led to the idea of a continuous and accessible data stream necessary to accurately diagnose neurological conditions. The original idea of using EEGs conducted in a hospital or clinic proved to be inadequate, so the team began looking for alternative options.
In 2017, Apple’s Airpods created a new opportunity and provided evidence that monitoring brain activity can be done conveniently and in an everyday setting. Utilizing this new technology, NaoX Technologies created their first set of earbuds that disguise a medical device, transforming it into a fashionable accessory.
NaoX Technologies are currently in the process of ensuring their device complies with necessary standards and certifications before their service is released in 2024. They are also aiming to keep the cost of their medical device and services competitive with the regular costs for performing an EEG.
NaoX Technologies is led by Michel Le Van Quyen and Hélène Jacquier, both experts in the field of epilepsy diagnosis and research. With a shared vision, the team of medical professionals have come together to create a solution to simplify the process of diagnosing epilepsy for the millions of people living with the condition. Their ambition is to make this technology the gold standard for diagnostics and help improve access to treatment.
