Automated retinal scans for early detection of diabetic eye diseases through use of artificial intelligence

Project Information

iScan

Grant agreement ID: 889652

DOI

10.3030/889652

Project closed

EC signature date 3 December 2019

Start date 1 January 2020

End date 30 June 2020

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

OIVI AS
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - iScan (Automated retinal scans for early detection of diabetic eye diseases through use of artificial intelligence)

Reporting period: 2020-01-01 to 2020-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Oivi’s mission is to provide affordable eye care for all. Our vision is to eliminate preventable blindness by providing a low-cost camera for retinal (fundus) photography, with fully automated image capture and Artificial Intelligence (AI) diagnostics. Our goal is for Oivi to become the point-of-care device for preventative eye screening, with diabetic retinopathy (DR) as our first area of focus. Oivi will have a disruptive effect in traditional DR value chain by changing the typical flow, location and cost of DR screening and diagnostics.

DR affects more than 160 million people worldwide and is the most common cause of blindness among people with diabetes. Within 10 years of onset, 75% of diabetics will have some degree of DR. However, early detection of DR in mild and moderate stages of the disease through eye examination, can reduce the risk of blindness by 95%.

Current solutions for DR screening and diagnostics are often expensive and require extensive training, which limits accessibility for patients, especially in developing countries, causing significant delays in detection and intervention, and consequently vision problems and/or high treatment costs. Oivi’s device is a unique combination of automated, easy-to-use, low-cost and diagnostic solutions in a small, highly portable design.
The overall objective is to improve understanding of our target market and customer segments, carry out technical feasibility studies, align business and technology strategy for commercialization and develop a co-creation approach to match the requirements of end-users and customers with Oivi’s final solution.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Technical Feasibility:
Built an updated and robust hexapod system that demonstrated automated alignment and image capture.
Developed and tested AI algorithms that were able to identify early signs of DR and various grades of DR.
Demonstrated ability to retrieve the historic patient data using the android and ios app

Business model & Market Analysis :
Established key contacts and partnerships among diabetes specialists and eye hospitals to help carry out future testing of Oivi devices.
Understand key market drivers that will lead to faster uptake of Oivi device in the primary care market in India.
Identified customer segments to focus on.
Validated our assumptions on pricing strategy and initial business model.

Regulatory strategy:
Defined certification and regulatory requirements for global markets and established a regulatory strategy for first market of interest.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Oivi’s device is a unique combination of automated, easy-to-use, low-cost and diagnostic solutions in a small, highly portable design. Oivi’s proprietary ‘smart capture’ feature involving auto-alignment and image capture, and AI diagnostics, will allow healthcare professionals and/or pharmacists with no previous training to carry out screening – thus addressing the unmet need for early screening at primary care level (incl. pharmacies). Our small hand-held design with uncompromised high-quality imaging capabilities will allow portable, high-accuracy screening to be carried out, regardless of location or facilities available.
Oivi will bring a significant cost saving through personnel (ophthalmologists not required), equipment (no upfront cost) and low price compared to the expensive state of the art tabletop cameras priced at around $15K-$40K. Significant savings for the healthcare systems based on an early diagnosis and consequent decrease in expensive treatments at later stages of disease progression. As an example, the total cost of DR was calculated at €700M in Europe and similarly substantive in India. Furthermore, it was found that costs associated with DR tend to increase as DR progresses, being highest in patients with proliferative DR and lowest in patients with mild, non-proliferative DR, so early detection is of paramount importance. Our end users will benefit socially through reduced chance of blindness or partial vision loss (patients) and our customers will benefit through reduced burden on the healthcare system (clinicians and healthcare providers).

Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy. Early diagnosis is key