Challenge

PureO2, a global innovator in respiratory care, faced a critical patient safety issue affecting millions using Long-Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT). For these patients, oxygen is often life-sustaining, yet up to 70% experience nasal cannula dislodgement, especially during sleep. Existing solutions were inadequate, leading to significant health risks, including mortality. PureO2 aimed to develop a smart monitoring system but encountered a technical challenge.

Their R&D team struggled to interpret data from sensitive pressure sensors amid considerable noise. They couldn't reliably distinguish genuine dislodgements from normal breathing variations against the constant oxygen flow. Initial algorithms proved insufficient. Richard Blackhurst, CEO of PureO2, recognized AI's potential but needed expert guidance. Finding the right partner required careful consideration ("we kissed a few frogs first", as Richard put it) before connecting with Ortom AI. They required more than programming expertise; they needed a specialist comfortable with hardware constraints, real-world data variability, and clinical context.

Richard sought a partner to address the immediate challenge while understanding the technology's broader clinical potential. He found that partner in Ortom AI, led by Tom Liptrot.

Solution

Ortom AI quickly understood both the technical obstacles and the clinical significance of the project. Acting as a strategic technology partner rather than simply a service provider, Tom collaborated closely with PureO2 and analyzed the system's complexities.

The core challenge involved identifying subtle patterns in noisy sensor data. Ortom determined Machine Learning was the most appropriate approach. Tom designed and developed a custom AI algorithm, training it on real-world patient data. Importantly, Tom also architected and implemented the complete backend cloud system required to process this data and deliver real-time insights. This AI solution learned to interpret sensor signals reliably, distinguishing between normal breathing, anomalies such as mouth breathing, and critical cannula dislodgements.

Moreover, Tom considered implications beyond the immediate problem. He recognized potential in the respiratory data: using the same algorithms to predict COPD exacerbations. These acute, dangerous worsening events represent a significant challenge in respiratory care. This strategic insight extended beyond the original requirements, creating a valuable new direction for PureO2's future.

Tom went beyond the original scope – he's the AI expert, but he looked at our wider challenges and asked, 'Have you considered COPD exacerbations?' This wasn't just coding; he genuinely innovated and put us on an entirely new strategic path. His creative thinking and deep engagement took our project to another level.

Richard Blackhurst
CEO, PureO2

Results

The collaboration between PureO2 and Ortom AI produced significant, multi-faceted outcomes, enhancing the company's technical capabilities and strategic direction:

• Solved Critical Safety Need: Ortom's AI delivered a robust, reliable method for detecting cannula dislodgement, directly addressing the urgent patient safety requirement for 'O2 adherence' – a capability now sought by healthcare providers like the NHS.

• Unlocked Strategic Pivot to High-Impact Area: Tom's foresight in identifying the potential for COPD exacerbation prediction substantially reshaped PureO2's strategy. This positions the early-stage innovator to address a major unmet clinical need with the potential to prevent hospitalizations, save healthcare systems billions, and ultimately preserve hundreds of thousands of lives.

• Secured Key Commercial Advantage: The validated AI significantly reduced risk for PureO2's core technology, leading to secured patent protection. This placed the company at an important commercial inflection point, positioned to attract major industry partners and transform a potential billion-pound market.

• Strengthened Technical Foundation: Beyond specific deliverables, the collaborative process helped PureO2 develop a stronger, more cohesive technical team, prepared for the next phase of development and growth.

The insight Tom brought forward regarding COPD exacerbations could genuinely change our entire industry. His AI work is foundational to predicting these critical events, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Thanks to him, and the team he helped build, we now hold a key strategic advantage.

Richard Blackhurst
CEO, PureO2

Conclusion

PureO2 is now progressing toward clinical deployment of its O2 adherence monitoring system, built on the AI foundation and cloud infrastructure developed with Ortom AI. This step is essential for gathering additional clinical evidence and advancing toward the innovative goal of predicting COPD exacerbations.

This project demonstrates Ortom AI's ability to partner effectively with ambitious tech founders. We address complex R&D challenges, providing not only technical solutions but also strategic innovation that unlocks market potential. The AI platform and backend system offer a powerful foundation for future respiratory care advancements, illustrating how expert AI partnership accelerates an early-stage company's path to meaningful impact.

For any ambitious tech company, especially those aiming to make a real impact, I'd absolutely recommend consulting with Tom. They need to listen to his insights and take his advice seriously. Connecting with Ortom AI could be transformative – I highly recommend seeing what happens when you work with them.

Richard Blackhurst
CEO, PureO2