Horiba and SigTuple partner to drive AI-assisted digital microscopy

Horiba, a Japanese manufacturer of medical diagnostic equipment, has partnered with Bengaluru-based SigTuple, a medtech company that develops Artificial Intelligence-based digital microscopy solutions, to speed up the adoption of SigTuple’s AI-based digital microscopy solution, AI100, across the Indian subcontinent. 

SigTuple leverages AI and robotics to automate the error prone and inefficient manual microscopic review of samples in laboratories. According to the company, AI100 is an AI-assisted digital pathology solution. Its AI-based cell classification is presented to a pathologist on a cloud platform, standardising the quality and increasing the efficiency of the pathologist multifold.  

“By showcasing the microscopic view of the slide remotely, it drives transition from manual microscopy to digital microscopy and enables tele-pathology, it said. 

Tathagato Rai Dastidar, founder & CEO, SigTuple, said that AI100 is complementary to HORIBA’s existing product portfolio and through this partnership, HORIBA and its affiliates will distribute AI100 across the Indian subcontinent.  

In order to replace the manual microscope in the laboratory, SigTuple’s AI100 currently automates the microscopic review of the two most common tests coming to the lab – peripheral blood smear and urine, with plans to add AI capabilities for more tests on the same platform. 

On penetrating the India market, where Horiba sees much potential, Rajeev Gautam, Corporate Officer, Horiba Ltd., Japan and President, Horiba India Pvt.Ltd., said, “This partnership will be built on the synergies of the complementary nature of products that SigTuple would be offering to strengthen the Horiba product basket further.  

An April 2022 research by data and analytics firm GlobalData reveals that India was amongst the top three medical devices markets in Asia-Pacific in 2021 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9% through 2030.   

To encourage the growth of medical devices manufacturing, India has proposed a new National Medical Devices Policy 2022 in March this year. The policy aims to reduce import dependence on high-end medical devices and make the country one of the top global manufacturing hubs, as Rohit Anand, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, said "the proposed policy will provide an opportunity for international players with innovative technologies to consider India as a preferred manufacturing location".