The main impact so far of the H2020 project on Damavan Imaging has been to put our company on the map of the best innovative companies in Europe. This gave us credibility with our existing European partners (D, UK, Sp). Project had two main scopes: technical & Marketing and IP.
1) Technical:
The project had 4 technical objectives:
• Improving Compton image quality to the level allowing binocular imaging;
• Demonstrating the feasibility of binocular imaging from a limited change of point of view (20 cm) compatible with a portable equipment;
• Developing the electronic cards needed for supporting two Compton heads; hence binocular camera
• Assembling a prototype.
The funding from H2020 has helped us to improve the imaging performances of our camera. The project has been successful technically: the performance obtained during the proof of concern of binocular imaging is in line with initial objectives (gamma ray distance ranging multiple source with a 10% precision). We are in contact with customer in UK to proceed to binocular imaging tests in actual conditions (imaging waste drums)
The electronics needed for making a binocular Compton camera are there, but the transfer of the codes on those new electronics has taken longer than planned, hence the technical development is behind schedule. Thanks to the project we have a commercial demonstrator with 1 head. Transferring the design to dual head is easy, thus this objective is met at 80%
On the 4 technical objectives of the project, 2 have been met, one partly (electronics = 50%) and one has been met at 80%.
We now have a commercial demonstrator and can start selling.
2) Markets and strategy
The project has enabled us to more actively explore our launch market: portable Compton camera for nuclear industry & decommissioning by meeting customers in UK and potential distributors (UK, Spain, France, Russia). The market seems bigger than our initial estimates (>20 M€ worldwide today). The technologies present (H3D, Hent) do not satisfy the market in term of price/performance mix. Our camera is attracting a lot of commercial interest. Things are getting according to plan but slower because of technical delays on our side.
The New markets study with Erdyn has been very useful in clarifying the potential of new segments in medical imaging that could be developed using our technology:
• Injection control prior to PET scan with our camera does not seem to be a clinical need….
• … but controlling radiotherapy injections (131I, 177Lu…) with our camera could be a medical application for our binocular camera. Potential volume does not appear very large (<10 M€), but it could boost our early sales at minimal cost.
• Large animal imaging with our camera or more complex hybrid system seem a real potential. We have found medical partners willing to pursue on this path. We have applied to an EU supported Attract project in collaboration with Spanish (I3M) partners. The volume of market is highly uncertain but could be >>10M€ and is worth a dedicated market study.
• Radiotherapy in situ dose deposition monitoring is certainly the big game for us. Potential market is estimated by Erdyn to be >6000 M$. There certainly is a need for the solution we have in mind, but there is scepticism from practitioners that our imager could deliver adequate performance. A key step for us is thus acquiring proof of concept images from a 6 MeV radiotherapy equipment. We already have the financing for such a step through a regional R&D project: Oncial.
