the future of intravitreal injections

Ophthorobotics intends to become a world leader in patient-friendly, robot assisted intravitreal injections to revolutionize safety, quality and efficiency in the treatment of sight threatening ocular diseases.

Status QUO

Age related macular degeneration
is the leading cause for blindness.

It is a disease causing a loss of central vision. The disease mostly affects elderly people and is characterized by degenerative lesions of the retina which can lead to swelling, atrophy, exsudation, or uncontrolled vessel growth. There are two main types of AMD: wet AMD and dry AMD

15% of patients suffer from Wet AMD

Wet AMD is a form of late stage AMD characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina. Wt AMD progresses more rapidly than dry AMD.
Until recently, only wet AMD was treatable with anti-VEGF injections.

85% of patients suffer from Dry AMD

Dry AMD is the most common form of AMD. It is characterized by a slow and gradual degeneration of cells in the macula. Until recently dry AMD was untreatable. In 2023, FDA approval was granted for an intravitreal injection, that is slowing the advanced stage of the disease: Geographic atrophy. EMA approval is likely to follow and further compounds for geographic atrophy treatment are in late-stage development.

Field of vision with age related macular disease (AMD)

Field of vision with AMD

Field of vision with age related macular disease (AMD)
Field of vision with AMD

15% of patients suffer from Wet AMD

Wet AMD is a form of late stage AMD characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina. Wet AMD progresses more rapidly than dry AMD
Until recently, only wet AMD was treatable with anti-VEGF injections.

85% of patients suffer from Dry AMD

Dry AMD is the most common form of AMD. It is characterized by a slow and gradual degeneration of cells in the macula. Until recently dry AMD was untreatable. In 2023, FDA approval was granted for an intravitreal injection, that is slowing the advanced stage of the disease: Geographic atrophy. EMA approval is likely to follow and further compounds for geographic atrophy treatment are in late-stage development.

The treatable  population is growing globally

Many chronic ophthalmic diseases are currently treated by intravitreal therapy. Intravitreal injections have become the most frequently performed surgical procedures to the eye worldwide.

215

mio

AMD cases globally in 2023

6

mio

geographic atrophy cases

27

mio

wet AMD cases

11%
CAGR

Ageing population

Increased access

New
treatment options

Major challenges still exist in the current Standard of Care

1
Misused capacity
2
Deviation in quality

Human failures occure during stressful daily medical routine. Injecting the wrong patient eye, or drug happen. Reasons are that patients do not hear their name right, have the same name as another patient, or if both eyes need treatment at different times and dosages.

2
Disinfection related side effects

Patients experience discomfort due to a severe burning sensation during the desinfection of the eye and its surroundings, which is done prior to the injection.

4
Increasing cost pressure

Increasing pressure exists on reducing the compensation for intravitreal injections. Surgeons and hospitals struggle to manage an increased workload, while obtaining reduced reimbursement.

Drawing of a dactor scanning a patient's eyes
OUR SOLUTION

Our System in Action

By providing a robotic injection system with an integrated local sterile environment and consumables to hospitals, we can increase safety for patients, decrease procedure times, allow for integrated data storage and documentation, reduce costs for medical staff and expensive operating rooms

Render of patient with device for automated intravitreal injection

State of the art technical features:

  • Dome which can easily be positioned over the patients face
  • Eye tracker and scanner for automated precision ocular alignment and iris identification
  • Integrated screen for eye movement fixation
  • Ophthorobotics Consumables
  • Disposable sterilizing patch to locally disinfect the injection area
Dome which can easily be positioned over the patients face
Eye tracker AND SCANNER for automated precision ocular alignment and iris identification
Integrated screen for eye movement fixation
Render of patient with device for automated intravitreal injection
Ophthorobotics
Consumables
Image of Ophthorobotics consumables
Disposable sterilizing patch to locally disinfect the injection area
Image of disposable sterilizing patch on eye
OUR SOLUTION

We solve these Challenges through modern Robot and AI assisted Technology

By providing a robotic injection system with an integrated local sterile environment and consumables to hospitals, we can increase safety for patients, decrease procedure times, allow for integrated data storage and documentation, reduce costs for medical staff and expensive operating rooms

Render of patient with device for automated intravitreal injection

State of the art technical features:

  • Dome which can easily be positioned over the patients face
  • Eye tracker and scanner for automated precision ocular alignment and iris identification
  • Integrated screen for eye movement fixation
  • Ophthorobotics Consumables
  • Disposable sterilizing patch to locally disinfect the injection area
Functional shape that it can easily be moved and patient is able to sit
EYe tracker for automated precision ocular alignment and iris scan ID
Integrated screen for eye movement fixation
Image of Ophthorobotics consumables
Ophthorobotics
Consumables
Image of disposable sterilizing patch on eye
Disposable sterilizing patch
to locally disinfect the injection area

Our System in Action

The system performs a fully automated AI-assisted injection which may also be initiated remotely. An iris scanner identifies the patient after which the OR-system uses a disposable sterilizing patch to locally disinfect the injection area. The injection is then performed with continuous eye tracking for automated precision and ocular alignment.

Automated intravitreal injection procedure

Injections are run in a local sterile environment above the patient's face to decrease the chance of infections and account for patient safety. The system runs automated and the injection is AI-assisted teleoperated by the surgeon. The injection is held in a local sterile environment with electronic patient record. The process looks as followed: 

1

Patient preparation

A nurse prepares the patient for injection.

2

Coarse and fine positioning

The sytem is coarsely positioned over the patient's head, followed by automated fine positioning.

3

Injection point specification

An iris scan identifies the patient and eye and the injection point is specified.

4

Injection

A nurse prepares the patient for injection.

5

Automated documentation

The process is completed by automated data documentation

The benefits of our automated injection system

Integrated disease management

Fewer
side effects

Safe and reliable injections

Reduced cost and time

Patients are treated remotely with AI enabled diagnostics. Electronic patient records are integrated in the system.

Burning sensations are ameliorated. The disinfection area is significantly reduced, enabling a faster procedure.

The patient is identified through an iris scan and the eyes are continously tracked. This enables safe and reliable injections.

Less labor time is required so surgeon time can be used more efficiently. No expensive operating rooms are required.

Integrated disease management

Patients are treated remotely with AI enabled diagnostics. Electronic patient records are integrated in the system.

Fewer
side effects

Burning sensations are ameliorated. The disinfection area is significantly reduced, enabling a faster procedure.

Safe and reliable injections

The patient is identified through an iris scan and the eyes are continously tracked. This enables safe and reliable injections.

Reduced cost and time

Less labor time is required so surgeon time can be used more efficiently. No expensive operating rooms are required.

TEAM

Our team of trusted experts

We believe in the best talent, irrespective of location. Our teams works as a global network of expertise and passion for healthcare.

Strong senior team with significant ophthalmology, robotics and AI experience 

Photo of Bernhard Günther

Bernhard Günther

CEO & Chairman of the Board

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Photo of Stephan Michels

Stephan Michels

CMO & CO-Founder

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Photo of Brad Nelson

Bradley Nelson

Scientific Advisor & Co-Founder

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Photo of Franziska Matthis-Ullrich

Franziska Matthis-Ullrich

Medical Robotics Advisor & CO-Founder

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Photo of Matthias Becker

Matthias Becker

Medical Advisor & CO-Founder

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Photo of Marco Bundi

Marco Bundi

Legal Advisor

Our operational team with in-depth research, medical and business experience

Photo of Claas Ehmke

Claas Ehmke

Research and Development

Photo of Jasan Zughaibi

Jasan Zughaibi

Research & Development

Photo of Samuel Giesser

Samuel Giesser

Medical Affairs

Foto von Joshua Land

Joshua Land

Business Development

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Our partners that support us

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