KOTA TINGGI – A RM1.05 million Strategic Research Fund has been allocated for the development of a Covid-19 screening and monitoring mobile device (i-Breath).
Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said i-Breath, developed by a Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) research team, is expected to be commercialised and marketed by the end of next year.
He said it was a breakthrough for Covid-19 testing, in addition to the polymerase chain reaction or Rapid Test Kit-Antigen currently used.
“i-Breath is developed using advanced technology based on artificial intelligence, and can be used anywhere. It takes as fast as 20 seconds to find out the presence of Covid-19, and the sensitivity of this device is up to 93%,” he said.
He said this at a press conference after officiating the Tenggara consituency’s Keluarga Malaysia Science, Technology, Innovation, and Economy design space, and the i-Breath Device Prototype Showcase at the Batu Ampat Tourism Services and Transit Centre here today.
Dr Adham, who is also MP for Tenggara, said the device is currently at the prototype stage, and that clinical testing would take another six months.
“After that, the prototype will be tested by the Health Ministry and the university, in order for it to become an international standard product,” he said, adding that the development of the device is in line with his ministry’s commitment in helping the health sector and well-being of Malaysian families.
The development of the device was led by UTM engineering faculty lecturer Assoc Prof Malarvili Bala Krishna, and it is equipped with a screen that displays respiratory features and allows for self-health monitoring via smartphones. – Bernama, November 27, 2021
