Otiton Medical: When AI brings ENT diagnostic equipment from the hospital to the home.

Amidst a global shift toward home healthcare , Otiton Medical, a South Korean health technology startup, is pursuing its ambition to bring diagnostic tools previously only available in hospitals closer to the general public through a combination of hardware, artificial intelligence (AI), and medical data platforms.

From the problem of diagnostic inadequacy during a pandemic.

Speaking to international reporters at the recent Global Media Meet-up in Seoul, Kim Jae Young, CEO of Otiton, said that Otiton Medical was born from real-world experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. When hospital systems were overwhelmed, access to basic diagnostics – especially for young children – became difficult.

The company's founder, a parent with young children, posed the question: could a device be created that was simple enough to use at home, yet accurate enough to aid in the early detection of common ear, nose, and throat diseases?

From there, Otiton developed a smart body temperature measuring device with an integrated endoscopic camera, allowing users to both measure temperature and directly observe the condition of the ear canal through a mobile application. Beyond just images, the device is also supported by an AI system that analyzes medical data.

AI platform with data from leading hospitals.

According to representatives from Otiton Medical, the company's AI system was trained on over 55,000 datasets of otitis media collected from major university hospitals in South Korea. This is one of the most common diseases in children, but it is often detected late if only external symptoms are considered.

The device uses two parallel AI models, combining endoscopic images and clinical data to aid in the identification of abnormalities. All data is displayed in real time on the Doctor in Haus app, allowing users to store measurement history, ear images, temperature, and treatment progress.

Notably, Otiton does not position its product as a "self-diagnosis" tool, but rather as a medical decision support platform, helping users gain more information before going to the hospital, and providing doctors with more complete data during examinations.

From humans to pets: expanding into pet healthcare.

In addition to devices for humans, Otiton Medical is developing a line of healthcare products for pets, focusing on dogs and cats – animals that cannot express symptoms verbally.

The pet version utilizes a non-contact temperature measurement design combined with a specialized camera for animal ear structures, along with AI image analysis. Health data is centrally managed on the app, allowing owners to track body temperature trends, ear images, and medication history—valuable information when taking their pets to the veterinarian.

According to Otiton, the global pet healthcare market is growing rapidly, particularly in major cities, where veterinary costs are high and the need for preventative care is increasing.

Market strategy: start with hospitals, expand to families.

Unlike many healthtech startups that choose to go straight to the consumer market, Otiton Medical proactively started in healthcare facilities, where the requirements for accuracy, standards, and certification are higher.

The company is currently preparing procedures to expand into the global market, including obtaining FDA certification for the US market. Otiton's products have won the CES Innovation Award and have also been honored in design and technology categories at international exhibitions.

Regarding distribution, Otiton stated that they prioritize partnerships with hospitals, pharmacies, and healthcare partners, rather than direct mass sales. In Vietnam, the company is working with partners in the healthcare ecosystem, including Vinmec, to assess the feasibility of implementation in accordance with regulations and market needs.

Long-term vision: Home healthcare, but not a replacement for doctors.

Speaking at the event, Otiton representatives emphasized the company's long-term goal is to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, not to replace the role of doctors. In the next phase, the company is researching expanding AI to issues such as early hearing loss, supportive therapy for middle ear infections, and further integrating it into neurological function tests related to the inner ear.

In the context of global healthcare systems facing cost and manpower pressures, Otiton Medical's "hospital first - family second" approach demonstrates a cautious yet sustainable direction, especially for developing markets like Vietnam – where the demand for home healthcare is rapidly increasing while still requiring a high level of medical reliability.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/otiton-medical-khi-ai-dua-thiet-bi-chan-doan-tai-mui-hong-tu-benh-vien-ve-gia-dinh-post1083108.vnp