QScreen AI Obtains Second US Patent for Single-Camera Impairment Detection Using Standard Hardware

Overview of US Patent No. 12,640,164 and Its Scope

The United States Patent and Trademark Office granted QScreen AI US Patent No. 12,640,164, "Systems and Methods for Detecting Impairment of an Individual," on May 26, 2026, with the company publicly announcing the grant on July 14, 2026. This patent safeguards the company’s impairment-detection method utilizing as few as a single image captured by a single camera, representing a significant extension beyond the multi-image requirement of the initial patent.

The patent’s dependent claims also retain coverage of the earlier multi-image and audio-based detection approaches central to the first patent. The same inventive team credited on the first patent is named on this second grant, reflecting a continuous patent development effort since 2019. This continuity may enhance the breadth and cohesion of QScreen’s overall intellectual property portfolio.

Complementary Coverage of Deployment Spectrum by Both Patents

QScreen AI’s initial US patent, US 11,670,323 B2, issued in June 2023, required two or more images from different body parts to detect impairment. The newly granted patent now protects the same fundamental method applied to a single camera and image. The company describes the two patents as jointly encompassing the deployment spectrum: from multi-camera configurations on one end to single-camera commodity hardware on the other.

This dual patent coverage is strategically important, as a granted method patent grants exclusive rights to prevent others from using the patented method. Competitors aiming to provide camera-based impairment screening on standard devices will now face QScreen AI’s granted claims. The immediate effect on the company’s share price was not evident from public information.

Commercial Importance of Single-Camera Detection on Standard Hardware

The announcement highlights the commercial rationale tied to institutional procurement realities. Correctional health, defence, transportation, and industrial safety buyers prefer screening solutions that operate on hardware they already possess—such as existing laptops or tablets—rather than requiring new equipment or installations. By securing patent protection for the single-camera method, QScreen AI asserts ownership over the lightweight deployment model favored by its target customers.

This positions the second patent not as a mere addition to the IP portfolio but as protection for the specific deployment architecture expected to drive adoption. The patented method underpins QScreen’s platform, which analyzes physiological, acoustic, and behavioural signals to deliver readiness assessments on existing hardware. These results are then reviewed by trained supervisors or licensed professionals who make final decisions. The platform functions as a clinical decision support tool—not a diagnostic medical device—and is not intended to replace professional medical judgment.

Management’s Perspective on Patent Portfolio and Competitive Edge

Dr. Rahul Kushwah, Chief Operating Officer of QScreen AI Inc., stated: "We have spent six years building this patent estate, and this is the grant that matters most. Owning the method from a single camera, not just a multi-camera rig, means our protection now covers the exact way institutions want to deploy this, on hardware they already own. We are commercializing from a defended position, and that is a very different place to build from than an idea without a moat."

Management’s reference to "a defended position" and "a moat" signals their belief that the two-patent portfolio establishes a significant barrier to competitors in the camera-based impairment screening market. However, the company cautions that validation was conducted using simulated scenarios and synthetic patient data, and actual live performance may differ materially. No guarantee is given that management’s assumptions will prove accurate.

Commercial Engagements in US Defence, Correctional Health, and North American Rail Sectors

The patent grant announcement situates the development within QScreen AI’s ongoing commercial initiatives. Through collaboration with Global Frontier Advisors, led by Lt. Gen. Michael S. Groen (Ret.)—former Director of the US Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center and QScreen advisor—the company is engaged in structured discussions across US correctional health and defence markets. Direct outreach to provincial correctional health authorities in Canada has also begun.

Advisory Board member José "Beto" Vargas García, formerly Vice President at Union Pacific, supports the company’s outreach within North American rail and logistics sectors. The release clarifies that these are active discussions and outreach efforts, with no signed commercial contracts or evaluation agreements announced to date.

First Signed Evaluation Agreement as Near-Term Commercial Goal

QScreen AI identifies securing its first signed evaluation agreement as a key near-term commercial milestone. The announcement does not specify timelines, client identities, or financial terms related to any potential agreement. The company believes that its expanded, granted patent portfolio strengthens its position in ongoing commercial discussions.

Investors will likely monitor this milestone closely, as moving from discussions to a signed agreement would represent the first external validation of commercial interest fostered by the company’s advisory relationships. However, no assurance is provided that any such agreement will be finalized or under what conditions.

Platform Design and Institutional Application

QScreen AI’s platform analyzes physiological, acoustic, and behavioural data to generate readiness assessments on existing hardware. These assessments are then routed to trained supervisors or licensed professionals for final decisions. The company emphasizes that all determinations are made by qualified individuals, positioning the platform as a clinical decision support system rather than an autonomous diagnostic tool.

This design impacts regulatory and commercial positioning, facilitating deployment in highly regulated environments such as correctional health and defence, where compliance and liability considerations are critical for institutional buyers.

Patent Development Since 2019 and Inventive Team Continuity

The company has been developing its patent portfolio since 2019, spanning approximately seven years up to the second patent grant. The same inventive team is credited on both US patents, highlighting consistent research and development efforts. QScreen AI is publicly listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE: QAI), OTC Pink (PMEDF), and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: 3QP), maintaining visibility with investors across North America and Europe.

The progression from the first patent in June 2023, focused on multi-image detection, to the second patent in May 2026, extending coverage to single-camera standard hardware, demonstrates a strategic approach to broadening claims in line with commercial deployment realities. The company frames this as a seven-year endeavor culminating in a commercially significant patent grant.

Competitive Impact of Dual-Patent Portfolio on Camera-Based Impairment Screening

The company asserts that competitors aiming to provide camera-based impairment detection on standard devices must now navigate QScreen AI’s granted patent claims. While a granted method patent legally enables exclusion of others from using the method, enforcement complexities—including costs, duration, and outcomes of infringement litigation—are not addressed and depend on future circumstances.

Investors should consider that granted patents do not guarantee market success, adoption, or absence of competing technologies outside the patent claims. The company did not identify specific competitors or ongoing patent disputes. The patent portfolio is presented as a structural advantage in commercial negotiations rather than an active litigation tool.

Listing Information and Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimers

QScreen AI Inc. trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange under ticker QAI, OTC Pink under PMEDF, and Frankfurt Stock Exchange under 3QP. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release, consistent with standard practice for CSE-listed companies.

The company’s release includes standard forward-looking statement cautions, noting that validation was performed with simulated scenarios and synthetic patient data, and actual live results may vary significantly. Additionally, the company’s securities are not registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 and cannot be offered or sold to US persons without registration or exemption. Prospective investors should carefully review all regulatory filings and forward-looking disclaimers.