A Japanese company called Iris, led by Sho Okuyama, has developed an AI system called Nodoca that streamlines throat examinations. The system uses AI to analyze images of the pharynx captured with a compact camera-equipped device, along with patient data, to provide an influenza assessment in under 10 seconds. This eliminates the need for uncomfortable nasal swabs and allows earlier detection of symptoms. The system has been approved in Japan as a new medical device and is now used at over 2,000 medical institutions. It also received additional approval in October 2025 for a function related to Covid-19. Okuyama, a former emergency physician with experience on remote islands, emphasizes the importance of data acquisition in medical AI. He explains that the real differentiating factor lies in sensing, or how the data is acquired, rather than the diagnostic process itself. Okuyama founded Iris in 2017, when there was no training data for AI focused on the throat. To address this, he lent dedicated cameras to around 100 medical institutions and collected data over three years with patient consent. By overcoming three major uncertainties—hardware development, data collection, and the feasibility of AI-assisted diagnosis—the company made the system practical for use. Once commercialized, Nodoca’s accuracy improved rapidly as anonymized data from clinical use accumulated. The number of throat images grew from hundreds of thousands to several million, creating a network effect that has prevented competitors from entering the field. The potential of Nodoca extends beyond infectious diseases. Images of the throat capture patterns in the mucosa and blood vessels, and the company is researching AI capable of detecting lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension by identifying changes in those patterns. Okuyama envisions a future in which a single throat photograph can perform a comprehensive range of tests. He believes the cost of AI inference is so low that even with increased testing, the cost remains minimal. The Nodoca system uses AI to analyze images of the pharynx captured by a small camera-equipped device. It can provide an influenza diagnosis in just over 10 seconds. Photograph: Yikin Hyo
Source: wired
