AI-Driven Symptom Scanner for Rapid COVID-19 Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for COVID-19 detection and containment, such as lockdowns and temperature scanning, are inefficient and costly, as they do not effectively target infected individuals and vulnerable populations, leading to economic disruption and potential spread of the virus.
Innovation Solution
A COVID-19 symptoms alert machine (CSAM) that uses infrared signals and health vital data from magnetic or electronic cards to detect body temperature and symptoms, generating an alert signal for healthcare centers and providing instructions for further processing, while being economical and convenient to use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If widespread lockdowns and universal temperature scanning are implemented to detect COVID-19 infected individuals, then virus detection coverage is improved, but economic disruption and operational costs worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements targeted screening at specific high-traffic locations (schools, universities, workplaces, events) rather than universal lockdowns. This localizes the detection effort to areas where virus spread risk is highest, maintaining economic activity in unaffected areas while improving detection coverage where it matters most.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary temperature screening and symptom assessment at entry points before individuals can potentially spread the virus. By detecting infected individuals early at venues like schools and workplaces, the system prevents further transmission while allowing continuous operation of essential services.
2Measurement precision
If manual temperature scanning and symptom assessment are used to identify infected individuals, then detection capability is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual temperature scanning and symptom assessment with an automated optical system using cameras and image processing. The system automatically detects facial expressions, symptoms, and temperature indicators through computer vision, eliminating the need for manual intervention and significantly reducing screening time per individual.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-screening where individuals automatically undergo temperature and symptom assessment as they pass through the scanning zone. The automated system processes multiple individuals simultaneously without requiring their active participation or time, making the screening process seamless and rapid.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive health data collection and manual processing are implemented, then identification accuracy is improved, but device complexity and operational burden worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-functional integrated system that simultaneously performs temperature detection, symptom assessment, facial recognition, and data management through a single automated platform. The system handles multiple detection tasks and data processing functions in one unified device, reducing operational complexity while maintaining comprehensive identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms where detection results are immediately processed and used to trigger appropriate responses (alerts, notifications, or continued monitoring). The automated feedback loop eliminates manual data processing steps and enables rapid decision-making based on detection results.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The CSAM system effectively identifies COVID-19 infected individuals and vulnerable populations, reducing the need for widespread lockdowns, saving resources, and minimizing virus spread by targeting specific groups for isolation and treatment, thus maintaining economic activity while containing the pandemic.
Implementation Method 1
A main scanner has three human body temperature scanners, or infrared sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A COVID-19 Symptoms Alert Machine (CSAM) scanner, or apparatus, is described herein. This apparatus employs Artificial Intelligent (AI) technology in combination with the latest mobile device technology (viz. smart phone/smart watch) to quickly help track down people who have COVID-19 symptoms anywhere and anytime, isolate them, and professionally handle them, not allowing SARS-CoV-2 virus to spread. CSAM automatically measures body temperature and assesses lung conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis and B-lines (for asymptomatic people), and other current health vital information (CHVI), furnished by the participant, such as fever, sore throat, headache, and body ache to generate an alert signal when COVID-19 symptoms are found significant and to send it out to a COVID-19 control center. The alerted participant is then immediately required to go to the COVID-19 control center or be picked up by a special COVID-19 emergency vehicle for isolation and further evaluation and testing. If the testing turns out to be COVID-19 positive, the participant will be quarantined and treated appropriately according to COVID-19 protocol until he/she is tested COVID-19 negative. In the meantime, people who have been in close physical contact with this participant will be alerted and requested to be immediately checked for COVID-19 symptoms. If anyone is found to have COVID-19 symptoms, then he/she must go through the same protocol. The process is repeated until all people in the cluster are tested COVID-19 negative. This will ensure that SARS-CoV-2 virus for this cluster has been completely eliminated. A rapid deployment of this type of apparatus throughout communities where people tend to congregate such as superstores, supermarkets, and any other establishments, small or large, can help to contain the rapid spread of the disease, as well as to give more confidence to the general public. People, who pass through this apparatus without an alert signal, should feel more confident in carrying out their activities, though social distancing and other COVID-19 precautionary requirements should still be maintained. The concept can be further expanded to cover shopping malls, concert halls, sports arenas, and any other large events including highways and freeways with the help of mobile phone technologies, transponders, and other mobile devices. By working on the 0.6% (around 2 million infected people in the US as of June 2020) quickly and effectively, instead of on the 99.4% (330 million, the remaining population) by locking people at home and closing down all businesses and activities; we can save a significant amount of money and hassles. (A long lockdown can also lead to a collapse of our economy and can consequently lead to a worldwide calamity.) In this way the 99.4% will not be burdened with the virus problem and can live normally without having to take any test. It is probably the only effective approach in solving the COVID-19 problem at the moment because vaccines and known COVID-19 cures are not yet available. Even if SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are available presently, they may not be practical to implement economically and operationally in time to contain the virus worldwide due to the massive amount of people (viz. over 7 billion).