Optical Imaging received FDA approval for an innovative device for the early diagnosis of eye diseases that cause blindness

The company will begin marketing the device in the US, Japan and Europe after recently signing distribution agreements with Topcon and others

Optical Imaging Ltd announces today (February 9.2.2010, 3006) that it has received FDA approval for marketing the next generation of its flagship product in the US. The company manufactures the RFI-XNUMX device for diagnosing eye diseases using its own technology (licensed from "Yade") The causes of blindness are severe.

Upon receiving the approval, the company begins its marketing efforts in the USA, after signing in recent weeks a distribution agreement with Topcon Medical Systems (USA), the world leader in the distribution of equipment for the diagnosis of eye diseases in the USA. Additional marketing agreements were also signed with (JAPAN) TOPCON and another French company for the sale of devices in Japan and Europe in the amount of approximately NIS 15 million. The market for instruments for diagnosing eye diseases is estimated at about one billion dollars a year in the USA, and about 4 billion dollars in the world.

The technology of optical imaging is an innovative and revolutionary technology that allows ophthalmologists to diagnose serious eye diseases without the need for invasive operations such as the injection of contrast agents. The incoming information is received almost immediately, as a video through which you can see the blood capillaries invisible to the eye, blood flow, oxygen consumption and metabolic activity. Sophisticated image processing prepares a simple quantitative output for the doctor. The information about the function of the retina and the resolution of the image that reaches the doctor contains functional information that cannot be obtained with other methods, therefore it will allow the doctor to identify the serious eye diseases early, an identification that will help prevent blindness as well as in the development of more effective drugs.

Prof. Amiram Grinold, CEO and founder of Optical Imaging, said upon receiving the approval: "We believe that the FDA approval we received is another guarantee for our non-invasive technology, which has already earned us many recognitions and awards in Israel and abroad. The coming year It is expected to be a breakthrough year for the company as well in the business field We expect that in the future our device will become the GOLD STANDARD in this and other markets."

The technology of the new device is immediately addressed to ophthalmologists but serves as a broad platform for many additional applications, including the Brain Imaging market, in which the company has been active for many years. Indeed, the company's device for brain mapping is used by the best universities: about 150 of them on five continents.

Prof. Amiram Grinold served as director of the Brain Research Institute, and as director of the Grodetsky Center for the Study of Higher Brain Functions at the Weizmann Institute of Science. In 2004, Prof. Greenold won the prestigious Dan David Prize in the field of "brain research" (in which scientists from about 30 countries competed). The award was given: "For a technological breakthrough that holds great promise for improving our world."

About optical imaging:

The Optical Imaging Company was established in 1998 by Prof. Amiram Grinold. The company manufactures and markets medical equipment for the diagnosis and therapeutic guidance of eye diseases and optical mapping devices for the study of brain activity, and continues to develop the platform for additional markets.

The company currently has over 20 employees.