SHILLONG: Indian researchers including an associate professor from NEHU are working actively in developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based T-Ray scanning unit to address the limitation of infrared thermal scanner in accurate and early detection of COVID-19 patients.
Dr. Moumita Mukherjee, Associate Dean, Adamas University (Kolkata), & formerly associated with DRDO centre and Dr Dinesh Bhatia, Associate Professor- Biomedical Engineering Department of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong and their collaborative research group are working on a product which will be cost-effective, allowing quick diagnosis with accurate in screening and monitoring of mass population.
As per Mukherjee & Bhatia, the unique absorption fingerprint of T-Ray radiation in lungs and the contrast thermal image of affected and healthy lungs will help the doctors and paramedical staff to identify such cases at an early stage, when the patient is apparently asymptomatic and not showing any symptoms.
Their extensive research is showing a ray of hope in easy identification followed by safe monitoring of COVID-19 patients worldwide. They acknowledge the support of their respective institutions for providing desired support to carry out this research.
Since Terahertz is non-ionizing in nature, its repetitive use in scanning / imaging for screening and monitoring will be harmless to the population and its users such doctors, paramedical staff and other security staff in the vicinity in comparison to using X Ray or CT scan device as both are considered to be ionizing in nature and can cause cancer if repeatedly used for testing on COVID-19 patients in future.
The use of terahertz (THz) device will be more effective in getting desired reliable information compared to the existing thermal scanners and is considered as the most exciting application offered by the THz technology due to its size, ease, cost-effectiveness, and portability of terahertz-imaging unit.
