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Thanks to developments in science and technology, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, big data and other technologies have been used to establish smart healthcare systems that helps societies respond more effectively to disease outbreaks. The spread of novel coronavirus starting in late 2019 has revealed how not only traditional medicine but also Smart MedTech applications can be instrumental on the anti-epidemic front lines.To give updates on the development of Smart MedTech and how it shines during the fight against COVID-19, SEMI invited Dr. Pei-Yuan Lee, Honorary Superintendent of Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, to share with MSIG (MEMS Sensors Industry Group) and Flex-Tech members how the international community and Taiwan are bringing their best in Smart MedTech to the table and how their collective efforts are helping tackle COVID-19 challenges.Taiwan’s COVID-19 rapid screening reagents and antibody testing help curb coronavirus transmissions Taiwan’s medical community has demonstrated its prowess in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. Using its nucleic acid extraction reagent, Taiwan Advanced Nanotech Inc. tested 128 specimens from passengers aboard the SuperStar Aquarius cruise ship in only eight hours in early February. Taiwan’s leading research institute Academia Sinica successfully synthesized the first group of monoclonal antibodies capable of recognizing the new coronavirus protein on March 8, enabling testing to be completed in 15 minutes. The College of Medicine of National Taiwan University announced on March 27 that its 30-second screening device had helped identify asymptomatic carriers. The devices detect COVID-19 in people with no symptoms if they have pulmonary infiltration and edema. It took only 14 days for Academia Sinica to successfully synthesized the first group of monoclonal antibodies capable of recognizing the new coronavirus protein. On April 22, three biomedical companies in Taiwan launched a COVID-19 test that produces results from samples of patient mucus in less than 10 minutes to greatly enhance testing speed. Once the test method is approved by the Taiwan government, it will take Taiwan’s medical strategy against COVID-19 to the next level.Artificial Intelligence: the key to upgrading traditional healthcare practicesAI is a key enabler of the transition from traditional medical practice to Smart MedTech. To help fight the COVID-19 outbreak, a National Cheng Kung University medical team developed a 30-minute coronavirus testing procedure that uses AI to read pulmonary X-ray images and automate medical records. Taiwan AI Labs leveraged AI to simulate how drug molecules combine with viruses to reduce research time by three to four years. AI ​​diagnostic technology from the Alibaba DAMO Academy (Academy for Discovery, Adventure, Momentum and Outlook) and Alibaba Cloud interprets CT images of COVID-19 patients with 96 percent accuracy in 20 seconds. AI-powered algorithms improve diagnostic test accuracy, allowing clinicians to quickly analyze scans of pulmonary lesions and quantify the severity of lung damage.Startups have also joined the fight against COVID-19. Taiwan's Internet of Things (IoT) startup iWEECARE invented the world's smallest smart thermometer patch. Heroic-Faith Medical Science launched a device that uses IoT and AI to monitor lung sounds. With Smart MedTech expected to be fertile ground for future venture investments, enterprises must find their niches in establishing new technologies in a much more systemic way. Taiwan startup Health-Faith Medical Science developed a respiratory diagnostics device that uses IoT and AI technology to monitor chest sounds in real time. Anti-epidemic technology to help fulfill smart medtech vision Many AI and big data technologies previously deployed in hospitals and healthcare systems are helping regions around the world speed their pandemic response. The United States and China have started to develop facial mask recognition systems powered by AI, while a team in the Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering at Asia University has devised a facial recognition system combining IoT and AI technology with infrared thermal imaging cameras. At Johns Hopkins University, the Center for Systems Science and Engineering is using AI to create big data models that track global cases, people and traffic flow, and other variables for real-time data analysis that enables epidemiologists to more accurately predict COVID-19 transmission paths. Graphen, Inc., a New York-based provider of next-generation AI platforms, launched the world's first AI COVID-19 genetic evolutionary path analysis systems to gauge the virus’s transmission route and accelerate pandemic response. Both the United States and China are also using robots and drones to improve epidemic research and patient treatment. For the first confirmed case in the United States, robots were used to assist with medical care. In China, robots facilitate deliveries of disinfectants to makeshift hospitals built to expand the nation’s capacity to treat COVID-19 patients. While Taiwan’s robots are traditionally used for hospitality, transportation and disinfection purposes, future robotics research and development will focus more on medical applications that shift more work from medical staff to technology. With abundant technological resources and expertise, Taiwan can join hands with the rest of the world to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging technologies are pointing the way toward a new paradigm for healthcare community. Biotech, artificial intelligence, and robotics have given rise to new applications that increase virus screening accuracy and efficiency. This growing wave of technological defenses against the pandemic will become a long-term force for stability and strength in healthcare systems across the world.To get involved in SEMI Taiwan Smart MedTech Community, please contact Helen Chen, Outreach Manager, at [email protected] Huang and Winnie Chang are marketing and public relations specialists at SEMI Taiwan.

Nicolas Sauvage, senior director of Ecosystem at TDK InvenSense, will present at the fast-approaching MEMS Sensors Executive Congress on October 29-30, 2018 in Napa, Calif. SEMI’s Nishita Rao spoke with Sauvage to offer MSEC attendees advance insights on Sauvage’s feature presentation.SEMI: What is “autonomy value” and why is it important?Sauvage: How do you increase the perceived value of an electronic device? If it’s an autonomous car, its value is closely tied to the autonomy level — i.e., the independence — that it offers people. Higher autonomy value for a self-driving car, for example, means that even a blind person could use it. It’s been almost two years since Waymo demonstrated this, and here’s the video that shows it.Countless other sensor-based electronic products have their own “autonomy value.” Imagine the need to get medicine to people during a humanitarian health crisis. Drones could be your best option because they can deliver to inaccessible or remote locations. Unlike older drones, which require active piloting by a person, a drone with higher autonomy value could deliver medicine to Doctors Without Borders without ongoing human intervention.This drone could navigate objects, such as trees and birds, and would have excellent location-awareness. It could fly through any landscape in bright sunlight or during the night. To increase the drone’s autonomy value, you would need better sensors, including those sensors that can enable sensing in sunny conditions or in pitch-black night, as well as better machine learning.SEMI: In this example, what types of sensors would the drone manufacturer need?Sauvage: The manufacturer would need a “surrounding-sensing” solution that includes ultrasonic and pressure sensors as well as image sensors. Start with high-quality image sensors combined with ultrasonic range-finding sensors — high-accuracy devices that function in all lighting conditions and can detect objects of any color. Add motion sensors and a pressure sensor, which would capture the height of the drone to make known the drone’s location in space. The drone would need this combination of sensors, plus smart sensor fusion, because GPS alone cannot avoid obstacles: its signal can be sporadic in certain parts of the world or in certain terrain, making it unreliable.A key attribute of all these sensors would be low power consumption since the drone would run on battery.SEMI: To what extent might autonomy value cause manufacturers to consider multi-vendor solutions?Sauvage: I would like to see it inspire the MEMS and sensors ecosystem to work together, to arrive at multi-vendor solutions that will benefit humanity through greater autonomy value. Whether we’re looking at autonomous cars, drones, robotics or other applications, there are cases where we need to prioritize safety and security over industry competition. SEMI: Where are we today in terms of achieving true autonomy value – and where are we going?Sauvage: The sky is the limit, literally. Machine learning and surrounding-sensing solutions applied to cars, drones and robots will increase autonomy value to the point where we can justifiably call it artificial intelligence.SEMI: What would you like MEMS Sensors Executive Congress attendees to take away from your presentation?Sauvage: I hope that attendees will recognize the value of ecosystem solutions in increasing autonomy value. Together we can expand the variety of sensor types that address novel use-cases and jobs-to-be-done. Instead of waiting for customers to ask for ecosystem-level solutions, we need to articulate a complete MEMS and sensors supply-chain ecosystem if we want the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial IoT (IIoT) to grow more quickly. As senior director of Ecosystem, Nicholas Sauvage is responsible for all strategic relationships, including Google and Qualcomm, and other HW/SW/System companies. He is also responsible for strategic and market-driven goal-setting of our SensorStudio developer program, and driving select partnerships with SoC sensor hub platforms. Prior to joining InvenSense, Nicolas was part of NXP Software management team, responsible for worldwide sales, as well as for P L and product management of their OEM Business Line. Nicolas is an alumnus of Institut supérieur d’électronique et du numérique, London Business School and INSEAD. Register today to connect with Nicolas Sauvage at the event. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn.Nishita Rao is a marketing manager at SEMI.