Latest news with #Optiscan
Sydney Morning Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Optiscan software breakthrough will bring pathologists to the bedside
ASX-listed medical technology innovator Optiscan Imaging has just fired a major shot across the bow of the global diagnostics industry with the launch of its game-changing cloud-based telepathology platform prototype. The company confirmed it has reached the minimum viable product (MVP) stage for its secure streaming software, developed in collaboration with Canadian software firm Prolucid Technologies. Successful beta-testing of the new software means pathologists could soon dial in from anywhere in the world to stream live, high-resolution tissue scans captured by clinicians in real time via a secure cloud connection - whether a hospital theatre, remote clinic or a clinician in the deep Outback. In addition to viewing images, pathologists will be able to flag key areas, annotate pictures, generate reports and collaborate with surgeons or imaging specialists live or on demand. 'This platform is a potential game changer for global digital pathology.' Optiscan Imaging chief executive officer and managing director Dr Camile Farah The platform is designed to integrate seamlessly with Optiscan's range of digital imaging devices, including the company's InVue, InForm and InVivage systems. Optiscan Imaging chief executive officer and managing director Dr Camile Farah said: 'This platform is a potential game changer for global digital pathology, with particular relevance to regional, rural and remote healthcare settings where access to pathology expertise is limited. Our telepathology solution essentially brings the pathologist into the heart of the operating theatre and bridges the gap between surgery and pathology.' Optiscan says security is top of mind. All communications are encrypted, with personal patient data hidden or made anonymous. Only registered devices with valid digital certificates can access the system, which uses a WebRTC-based protocol to keep the upload lag time under half a second. The system has been designed as a Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), meaning it's ready to slot into everyday clinical use. It will let doctors stream images directly to each other, review scans later, share second opinions and generate reports - all while keeping patient data safe and secure.
The Age
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Optiscan software breakthrough will bring pathologists to the bedside
ASX-listed medical technology innovator Optiscan Imaging has just fired a major shot across the bow of the global diagnostics industry with the launch of its game-changing cloud-based telepathology platform prototype. The company confirmed it has reached the minimum viable product (MVP) stage for its secure streaming software, developed in collaboration with Canadian software firm Prolucid Technologies. Successful beta-testing of the new software means pathologists could soon dial in from anywhere in the world to stream live, high-resolution tissue scans captured by clinicians in real time via a secure cloud connection - whether a hospital theatre, remote clinic or a clinician in the deep Outback. In addition to viewing images, pathologists will be able to flag key areas, annotate pictures, generate reports and collaborate with surgeons or imaging specialists live or on demand. 'This platform is a potential game changer for global digital pathology.' Optiscan Imaging chief executive officer and managing director Dr Camile Farah The platform is designed to integrate seamlessly with Optiscan's range of digital imaging devices, including the company's InVue, InForm and InVivage systems. Optiscan Imaging chief executive officer and managing director Dr Camile Farah said: 'This platform is a potential game changer for global digital pathology, with particular relevance to regional, rural and remote healthcare settings where access to pathology expertise is limited. Our telepathology solution essentially brings the pathologist into the heart of the operating theatre and bridges the gap between surgery and pathology.' Optiscan says security is top of mind. All communications are encrypted, with personal patient data hidden or made anonymous. Only registered devices with valid digital certificates can access the system, which uses a WebRTC-based protocol to keep the upload lag time under half a second. The system has been designed as a Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), meaning it's ready to slot into everyday clinical use. It will let doctors stream images directly to each other, review scans later, share second opinions and generate reports - all while keeping patient data safe and secure.
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Break it Down: Optiscan progresses real-time telepathology platform to minimum viable product stage
Stockhead's Break it Down brings you today's leading market news in under 90 seconds. In this episode, host Tylah Tully looks at the latest from Optiscan (ASX:OIL), who have progressed its cloud-based telepathology streaming software project to minimum viable product stage. Watch the video to find out the latest. While Opitscan is a Stockhead advertiser, it did not sponsor this content. Originally published as Break it Down: Optiscan progresses real-time telepathology platform to minimum viable product stage Stockhead Copper's running hot and Telstra's chasing better returns, as markets ride a tariff breather out of Europe. Stockhead Optiscan and its Canadian partner are at the advanced stage of developing software that will enable surgeons to 'talk' to remote pathologists in real time. Stockhead American West Metals has raised almost $6 million to add to its funding pool to advance the Storm project in Canada.
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Health Check: Optiscan perfects ‘dial a pathologist' platform; 4D Medical probes further FDA approval
Optiscan's telepathology streaming software enables surgeons to have secure real-time access to pathologists – no matter where they are in the world 4D Medical's device probes the lung's innards without the nasties Painchek signs a US distributor ahead of expected US approval Optiscan (ASX:OIL) and its Canadian tech partner Prolucid Technologies have advanced telepathology streaming software enabling a surgeon to seek the counsel of a remote pathologist during an operation. And that could be very remote. The software has advanced to minimum viable product stage: when a product meets the minimum use requirements but can be tweaked further. The cloud-based software enables pathologists to review high-resolution images, generate reports and collaborate within secure settings. The software 'essentially brings the pathologist into the heart of the operating theatre and bridges the gap between surgery and pathology,' says Optiscan CEO Dr Camile Farah. 'This platform is a potential game changer for global digital pathology, with particular relevance to regional, rural and remote healthcare settings where access to pathology expertise is limited.' Eliminating microscopes Naturally, the software is compatible with Optiscan's medical devices, which are based on the company's proprietary confocal laser endomicroscopy, or CLE. CLE eliminates the age-old and unreliable method of analysing tissue samples under a traditional microscope. The magic involves a single optical fibre in a probe projecting laser light on to live tissue treated with fluorescent dye. This creates real-time digital microscopic images at a magnification 1000 times that of computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scanning. CLE avoids the need for painful biopsies. Optiscan is carrying out a 50-patient breast cancer trial at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Frances Perry House. This is in view of an eventual US Food & Drug Adminstration (FDA) approval submission. The telepathology project now will focus on validating the platform in real-world uses, incorporating user feedback and 'preparing for broader clinical deployment'. Optiscan shares surged 13% this morning. 4D Medical vies for a further FDA approval 4D Medical (ASX:4DX) CEO Dr Andreas Fouras says the lung imaging house has a 'once in a generation' opportunity to improve healthcare with its latest tool subject to FDA perusal. "We have an incredible opportunity whereby existing lung diagnostics are failing us," Fouras told an investor webinar this morning. 4D yesterday said it had lodged a marketing approval application for its software, which probes the innards of the lungs as an adjunct to computed tomography (CT) scans. The key selling point of the CT:VQ software is that it enables data and visualisations to be extracted from a routine CT scan, without the need for any radiotracer or contrast agent. VQ scans evaluate both the airflow (ventilation) and blood flow (perfusion) in a patient's lungs. We're not sure why they are known as 'VP' scans, but let's move on. The CT:VQ test creates images that show how well air and blood are distributed throughout the lungs. This helps doctors identify areas where there might be an imbalance between ventilation and perfusion. Fouras said existing methods were logistically challenging, slow and expensive. The most widely used, a single camera scan called planar scintigraphy produces grainy and flat images. VQ scans diagnose several lung conditions, including primarily pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs), chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. The current process consists of two scans. These are a ventilation component involving inhaling a material with contrast agent, followed by injection of a radioactive contrast to assess blood flow. Fouras said one million VQ scans were done in the US annually 'and we intend to capture every one of them.' In old naval parlance, that's known as a clean sweep. Burgeoning US portfolio If CT:VQ is approved, 4D Medical will have nine cleared products in the US, as well as six each in Europe and Australia. Fouras notes the company's lung ventilation analysis software tool LVAS attracts public reimbursement of UD$650 ($1000) per scan. He reckons CT:VQ should fit neatly into this code. CT:VQ is subject to an ongoing 80-participant study of lung health with the US Department of Defense. Under the FDA's protocols, the agency decided within 90 days. But this typically extends to 120 days accounting for follow-up review time with the applicant. 4D shares surged 17% after Monday's announcement but were a tad off today. Painchek lines up US distributor The developer of the world's first mobile phone-based pain assessment and monitoring tool, PainChek (ASX:PCK) has signed up a US distributor ahead of anticipated FDA approval in the current quarter. Painchek already has a dominant share of the Australian aged-care market with its eponymous device and a substantial UK beachhead as well. But as is the norm, the US offers the greatest opportunity. The company cites a local market of 220,000 aged-care beds and 540,000 in the UK, equating to an annual value of $11 million and $26 million annually. But the US has 1.7 million beds, for an annual value of $100 million. Painchek's non-exclusive agreement is with Eldermark Software, which provides care management systems in the US (and Canada) to more than 116,000 clients. Using facial recognition and AI, the device detects pain in patients unable to enunciate their discomfort, such as dementia suffers. Painchek also has its eyes on the larger, 400 million strong pre-verbal kids' market. 'The financial impact cannot be quantified at the time of entry into the agreement, as it is a reseller agreement based on Eldermark's best efforts to promote Painchek's technology within its existing client base,' Painchek says. Elsewhere, to date, Painchek has signed contracts up with around 1800 aged care facilities, with more than ten million pain assessments carried out to date. Neuren chair decries weak share price Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX:NEU) chairman Patrick Davies says he is 'frustrated and disappointed' by the company's marked-down share price that not reflect the company's success with its approved US Rett syndrome drug, Daybue. Addressing the company's AGM this morning, Davies said Neuren had hauled in $445 million of royalties from its partner Acadia in 2023 and 2024 – in effect pure profit. Neuren shares have declined from their $25 peak in late 2023, to as low as $8.70 in mid-April. While the shares have improved since, management contends the $1.7 billion market cap hardly reflects Neuren's progress across at least three other add-on indications. One of them – for Phelan-McDermid syndrome – is entering phase III stage. Neuren's cash has swelled to $341 million. 'It was only a few years ago that we had to work really hard to raise fresh capital of $20 million to support our growth plans,' Davies says.
The Age
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Optiscan, Mayo make headway blending robotics with imaging
Optiscan and US-based Mayo Clinic have made significant headway down a mutual path as they look to blend digital laser technology with new-age robotic surgery, with a vision to complete their joint project within the next 12 months. The two firms have combined project teams to collaborate on an imaging system aimed at giving medical practitioners enhanced real-time imaging during surgery and allow for the immediate precision treatment of patients. Experts from the two companies have been tasked with developing Optiscan's digital confocal laser-technology in the form of a robot-compatible endomicroscopic imaging system, primarily focused on breast cancer surgeries. Both groups have focussed on developing the relevant accessories to allow for Optiscan's imaging probe to be incorporated into the robotic surgical world. The next phase of the project is expected to take place at Mayo Clinic's Florida campus. With greater accuracy on tissue classification, cancer cell determination and cancer margin assessment, the new technology is expected to streamline the surgical process, improve decision-making and reduce the potential for follow-up surgeries. 'We are thrilled with the outcomes delivered to date from our collaboration with the Mayo Clinic.' Optiscan Imaging chief executive officer and managing director Dr Camile Farah The plan remains on track to develop a new style of imaging system within a two-year period, after a 'Know-How' agreement was signed by the duo 12 months ago. All targeted milestones set for the first 12 months have been achieved. The agreement focuses on the mutual assignment and ownership of intellectual property (IP) rights between the parties involved, ensuring the clarity and protection of respective IP assets. Several of the milestones achieved include the definition of system requirements, concept development and feasibility assessment, a review of system requirements, design inputs and enhancements, along with prototyping and benchtop testing.
