Introducing Jendo: Revolutionizing Cardiovascular Health Monitoring Using Machine Learning
How a patented, AI-based device detects abnormalities in the cardiovascular system — and why endothelial dysfunction is the earliest warning sign that matters.
Keerthi Kodithuwakku is a biomedical engineer, the co-founder and CEO of Jendo Innovations — a biomedical startup delivering patented healthcare solutions that detect abnormalities in the cardiovascular system and seek to prevent the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
His strong passion for biomedical engineering resisted adverse advice from some senior advisors in the healthcare industry about the lack of prospects for biomedical engineering in Sri Lanka. Along with a like-minded group of engineers, he followed his dream of providing a solution to help solve medical conditions. In their research and entrepreneurial journey, Keerthi found strength and motivation through the strong support of his wife, family, friends, and coworkers in overcoming the obstacles faced while developing Jendo Innovations.
AI in cardiology — a steppingstone for Jendo Innovations
The key developers of Jendo Innovations — Keerthi Kodithuwakku, Isuru Rajakaruna, and Charith Vithanage — found the most inspiration towards the end of their undergraduate studies at the University of Moratuwa. This is when they started working on an artificial intelligence-based device identifying abnormalities in the cardiovascular system to predict the risk of disease.
Straight out of university, in 2015, Keerthi co-founded Jendo Innovations with his co-inventors along with Heminda Jayaweera and Vinod Samarawikrama to commercialize the invention.
"Another motive behind the formation of a registered company was to create a platform and provide opportunities for upcoming biomedical engineers in Sri Lanka to be a part of the Jendo Innovations journey — to make good use of their intellectual resources and improve the overall standard of biomedical engineering in the country."
Cardiovascular diseases: the No. 1 killer in the world
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. While managing lifestyles and diets can help reduce the risk of CVDs, understanding the current condition of our blood vessels remains challenging. Existing test procedures are invasive, expensive, and inconvenient, making regular health monitoring difficult.
Endothelial dysfunction — disease tattling
Cardiovascular diseases are silent killers, often going unnoticed for 20 to 30 years. The progressive worsening of a patient's condition goes through multiple stages — from inflammation to the formation of plaque, to the stiffening of vessel walls — ultimately leading to life-threatening blood clots. Detecting endothelial dysfunction early is the key to prevention, and it is exactly what Jendo's technology makes possible in a non-invasive, 15-minute test.
