MCC | Kerala Startup Mission

MCC hackathon 2023

Malabar Cancer Center

MCC Health Hackathon

Successful medical innovation requires an interaction among key healthcare stakeholders including healthcare professionals, end users, scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. MCC – Medical technology challenge - Hacking at MCC, aims to energize the healthcare community and accelerate medical innovation by carrying out co-creation through health hackathons. These 2 day events bring together diverse stakeholders to solve pressing healthcare needs.

Malabar Cancer Center

Malabar Cancer Centre (Postgraduate Institute of Oncology Science & Research), Thalassery is an autonomous institution under Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Kerala, established under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. The institution is located at Kodiyeri, Thalassery of Kannur District and was established in 2001 and the clinical services were started in the same year. At present MCC has 220 in-patient bed strength and the Institute caters to patients from 7 Districts of Northern Kerala in addition to the neighboring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Mahe (a total population of over 1.5 crores). The main objective of the Centre is not only to provide comprehensive cancer care but also to develop as a Research and Training Centre of international standards.

Problem Statements

1. Inter connecting Digital pathology systems at different locations for data sharing. It is required for remote reporting and second opinion for the difficult cases

Expected solution

Data from different type of digital pathology system located at different location should be shared to central system

Access dependent provision to evaluate the cases and reporting of evaluated case should be possible.

Report should be dispensed to the client electronically

Tracking of the report should be possible

Digital signature of verifying and approving authority should be possible

Expected benefits

1) Expert second opinion will be easy and less time consuming.

2) Peripheral Laboratory with digital pathology require only technicians for processing sample and reporting can be done remotely

3) Strengthening of the peripheral centres will be possible

2. Lumbar puncture and epidural catheter placement in overweight patients are difficult procedures requiring multiple attempts and expertise in the procedure. If a device could be made to assist in identifying the CSF space or the location which is ideal for inserting the LP needle, it will benefit patients requiring IT chemotherapy and also those who need epidural analgesia

Expected Solution

A device to identify the Space for Lumbar Puncture.

Expected outcome

An imaging device without using ionising radiation that can be used as a bedside tool to locate the ideal point of entry of LP needle for lumbar puncture and for epidural catheter insertion

Similar device

Similar equipment is not available. USG is also used for similar purpose but with very little yield.. Flourscopy is used for similar procedures but it involves radiation and much more expertise.

3. Presently, immune-staining for detecting specific protein markers in cells (tissue section) is done using Imuno-histo chemistry (IHC) analysis. At present available technique one protein marker can be detected one time in one section. Can dual IHC markers be done on the same tissue section? At present , the available dual markers are very costly.

Expected requirement

Cocktail preparation of antibodies and modification of kits to enable performance of two or more markers simultaneously.

Benefit

To optimise and save tumor tissue and IHC reagents

4. Oral cancer is with highest incidence rate in India, How to improve oral cancer screening aiding visual inspection

Expected requirement

Incorporation of principles of Raman spectroscopy for screening oral pathologies aiding visual examination and directing for biopsy

Benefits

Screening of oral cancer reduces mortality/ morbidity by detecting lesions at any early stage

5. Retinoblastoma screening in children attending Well Baby clinic or Immunisation Clinic.

Expected requirement

Developing a mobile software with AI based image processing to detect white reflex in eye using mobile cameras

Benefits

Early detection of Retinoblastoma can save the life and vision of the child

6. Shared care during cancer treatment involving general practitioners or specialty doctors. For managing patients in such scenarios, those doctors may require access to clinical information from primary treating centre. They also may have to contact the primary treating physician.

Expected requirement

An online platform, for secure transfer of information from the primary treating center to the other doctors and contacting primary doctor.

Benefits

Better shared care during cancer treatment

7. Children with cancer, especially those children with leukemia, may require multiple l medication to be taken in OP basis for a prolonged time and all these medication have to be given as per certain instructions. They also need to be monitored for adverse events. We need to assess the drug compliance and events log

Expected requirement

A mobile application with medication reminder, track feature like fever, medicine intake

Benefits

Better patient care, better compliance which will improve survival in children with cancer