Description du projet
Une technologie innovante pour améliorer les systèmes numériques de radiographie de mesure de la densité minérale osseuse
La perte de densité osseuse est un processus naturel qui affecte les personnes vieillissantes et augmente le risque de fracture osseuse. La densité minérale osseuse (DMO) peut être mesurée au moyen de scanners DEXA coûteux, mais elle est limitée aux personnes présentant un risque élevé d’ostéoporose. IBEX Innovations, au Royaume-Uni, a mis au point un système exclusif de radiographie numérique quantitative, une version améliorée des systèmes de radiographie numérique standard. Cette technologie améliore la qualité des images radiographiques numériques et permet de mesurer la DMO. L’étude de projet précédente a définit les optimisations techniques et confirmé les débouchés commerciaux de la technologie, en obtenant un engagement de haut niveau avec les fabricants de systèmes de radiographie et les prestataires de soins de santé. L’actuel projet IBEX QDR, financé par l’UE, vise à achever le développement technologique, à procéder à la validation clinique et à préparer la commercialisation.
Objectif
Bone density loss is a natural process that affects us all as we age. As the loss advances, so does the risk of fracture. The lack of warning symptoms or routine tests results in a late detection of severe density loss (osteoporosis), often when the first fracture occurs. Besides being a major social burden, in the EU it entails costs of €37 bn/year in treatment, disability or productivity loss, which could be alleviated if population-wide bone health screening methods were available. Today, measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) is only available through scarce and expensive DEXA scans, limiting testing to referred individuals grouped as high risk of osteoporosis. In response, we at IBEX Innovations have developed and patented IBEX-Quantitative Digital Radiography (IBEX-QDR). Conceived as a cost-efficient upgrade for standard digital radiography systems, it enhances the quality of digital X-ray images and enables these systems to measure BMD. All while reducing by 2-fold the X-ray dose needed to obtain the image. Altogether, IBEX QDR will unleash the diagnostic potential of digital radiology, enabling routine screening of bone density with any standard X-ray examination. In a Phase 1 project we confirmed the market opportunities for IBEX-QDR, outlined technical optimisations and achieved high-level engagement with X-ray detector and system manufacturers and healthcare providers. Now in Phase 2 we aim to reach market readiness by finalising the technological development, completing its clinical validation and securing the business aspects of the project. Once in the market, IBEX QDR will bring significant benefits for healthcare systems (early diagnosis and lower impact of ageing diseases), professionals (safer and simplified work-flows) and public health (lower radiation dose and less X-ray induced cancer). In turn, in 5 years it will provide us €16.7 million profits, 16 new people and a ROI of €9.37 per euro invested, representing c.1% of the target market.
Champ scientifique
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic health
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware development
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineradiology
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economicsproductivity
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinateur
TS21 3FH SEDGEFIELD
Royaume-Uni
L’entreprise s’est définie comme une PME (petite et moyenne entreprise) au moment de la signature de la convention de subvention.