Quantitative Analysis for Diebetic Retinopathy...

[Rishi Gadagkar]

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I was recently approached by an Entrepreneur who is working on an imaging
device that can provide qualitative and quantitative analysis instantly.

The device could be in the form of an attachment to a fundus camera or a
standalone unit. The question to me was would a price tag of $25K for the
fundus camera attachment version and $50K for the standalone unit be
attractive to a typical Optometrist practice?

The idea is that the images can still be sent to Ophthalmologists for review
and the quantitative results will serve as a way to provide instant feedback to
the patient.

Any thoughts, comments, suggestions?

Thanks,

Rishi G.

 

[KHE]

I was recently approached by an Entrepreneur who is working on an imaging
device that can provide qualitative and quantitative analysis instantly.

The device could be in the form of an attachment to a fundus camera or a
standalone unit. The question to me was would a price tag of $25K for the
fundus camera attachment version and $50K for the standalone unit be
attractive to a typical Optometrist practice?

The idea is that the images can still be sent to Ophthalmologists for review
and the quantitative results will serve as a way to provide instant feedback to
the patient.

Any thoughts, comments, suggestions?

Thanks,

Rishi G.

I don't get it. What analysis or data is this "device" going to provide that a standard 35 mm shot with a doctor looking at the photo could not?

 

[jefguth]

I was recently approached by an Entrepreneur who is working on an imaging
device that can provide qualitative and quantitative analysis instantly.

The device could be in the form of an attachment to a fundus camera or a
standalone unit. The question to me was would a price tag of $25K for the
fundus camera attachment version and $50K for the standalone unit be
attractive to a typical Optometrist practice?

The idea is that the images can still be sent to Ophthalmologists for review
and the quantitative results will serve as a way to provide instant feedback to
the patient.

Any thoughts, comments, suggestions?

Thanks,

Rishi G.

So this guy wants optometrists to buy a device of some kind for $25K that makes a determination it takes me 2 seconds to do....??? No thanks.

 

[RTM]

Diabetic, FYI.

I get the impression that you may be that entrepreneur just fishing for feedback. . . Although I could be wrong.

This device sounds completely unnecessary and overpriced to boot. For an instrument that costs $25 - 50k to do a job that I routinely do with ease daily, it better go 0 -60 mph in under 7 seconds and clean my kitchen!

There is a similar system that is non-myd in existence but the reads are not immediate. And that system is NOT designed for an eye clinic. It is designed for clinics such as family medicine or internal medicine and positives can be referred to the eye clinic. This particular system sounds really good on the surface until you really think it through. Further, good luck finding a team of ophthalmologists to just sit around and look at DM retinopathy photos all day.

Unless there is a lot of critical information that was withheld from the original post, this venture sounds like a no-go.

Peace.

 

[jefguth]

Further, good luck finding a team of ophthalmologists to just sit around and look at DM retinopathy photos all day.

I'd take that job!

 

[Rishi Gadagkar]

Well my question when I was originally approached was that will the device be completely
automated where the patient was able to do a self test. For example,

if the device is a kiosk in an Optometrist's office (say in a Walmart or Target) where
the test can be done unsupervised then that would have some value particularly in cases
multiple tests per year or even once per year would help the patient monitor their
progress.

The device as I understand is a retinal oxymeter and there are currently number of studies going on to demonstrate the changes in blood oxygen saturation levels before
and after treatments for DR and Glaucoma. The device might be able to provide early
indications for Diabetic Retinopathy prior to its onset.

 

[RTM]

Well my question when I was originally approached was that will the device be completely
automated where the patient was able to do a self test. For example,

if the device is a kiosk in an Optometrist's office (say in a Walmart or Target) where
the test can be done unsupervised then that would have some value particularly in cases
multiple tests per year or even once per year would help the patient monitor their
progress.

The device as I understand is a retinal oxymeter and there are currently number of studies going on to demonstrate the changes in blood oxygen saturation levels before
and after treatments for DR and Glaucoma. The device might be able to provide early
indications for Diabetic Retinopathy prior to its onset.

There are lots of studies ongoing and I do not claim to be up to speed on all of them. From a clinical standpoint, patients do not self monitor anything. The don't self monitor their blood sugar, they often don't take their medications, most have no idea what an A1c is, and I can't imagine they would be motivated or able to monitor their retinopathy even if it was boiled down to one number.

Maybe information from a retinal oximeter test would be valuable to a provider caring for diabetic patients in that if the retinal oximeter dipped below a certain critial value then a referral to an eye doc is warranted. I don't know, they pay people way smarter than me to dream this stuff up and figure out ways to make it useful clinically.

Managing tons of diabetes in my practice, I have seen almost every permutation of retinopathy that exists. We have an OCT in our clinic and that gives us even more valuable OBJECTIVE information. OCT technology has allowed our profession to look at the retina even closer, and I do not doubt that there are other technologies that will expand our capabilities further. Until there is a SUBJECTIVE problem, most patients do nothing. Unfortunately, as every reader in this forums knows, most subjective problems occur after significant irreversible retinopathy has already occured.

Maybe this entrepreneur will be on a future episode of Cribs with all the money he makes off of this device. Only time will tell. To me, with the info that I have about it so far, I seriously doubt it.

Peace.

 

[362.04]

I was recently approached by an Entrepreneur who is working on an imaging
device that can provide qualitative and quantitative analysis instantly.

The device could be in the form of an attachment to a fundus camera or a
standalone unit. The question to me was would a price tag of $25K for the
fundus camera attachment version and $50K for the standalone unit be
attractive to a typical Optometrist practice?..."

Rishi,

I think that what you're asking for would be something that a screening scenario would like. I think this potential entrepreneurial idea would probably require some kind of validation on whether it is sensitive or specific enough for clinical needs. Thus, it might take 3-5 years before a commercially acceptable or accredited device (per USFDA) or program might be on the market.