In the Q3 interview (23:00), the CEO says that he doesn’t know if the camera needs FDA approval before the study, but it might be possible that it doesn’t need to have it.
These cameras require the use of drops, so it’s probably not an Optomed camera.
Participants:
- is an eye examination where a novice user takes photographs of each eye using four different FDA-approved/registered fundus cameras. These images are sent to and analyzed by the AEYE-DS software device.
- A professional ophthalmic photographer takes additional eye images using a different FDA-approved tabletop camera system. These images are sent to an independent reading center for analysis.
- dilating drops are administered to the eyes (either during or after imaging with fundus cameras), wait approximately 30 minutes for pupil dilation, and continue with eye imaging examinations.
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Understood.
But the Optomed Lumo camera must already have an FDA process underway, both for the camera itself and for the AI version.
Strongly aurora-like camera on display 
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I don’t think it’s about that. Dilation drops improve image quality and expand the possibilities of choosing the sector to be imaged, also with Optomed cameras. Other cameras can also be used to image without dilation if speed is more important than image quality. It’s the same with a doctor; if they want to see 4 patients an hour and earn money, they don’t use drops and measure pressure with an Icare tonometer. If they give the patient 30-40 minutes, they can more carefully examine the retinal edges with dilation, and also measure pressure with applanation, which at the same time provides fluorescein for assessing tear film quality. I myself have chosen to do a little but with high quality; the customer thanks me and comes back again, though the tax authorities certainly don’t thank me.
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The patient is grateful (and pays, but that’s their own choice). In your practice, it’s probably not about screening; if one has to fiddle with drops, the overall cost-effectiveness becomes quite poor, which is why drop-free screening is a must.
Regarding that four-camera test protocol: I understand that the drops were finally applied to the state-of-the-art reference image against which the four-camera drop-free images are compared. So, the opto camera is very likely (probably) among them.
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It was certainly a good event “Digital health tech and AI showcase” for Optomed. A small intimate event for an important group on Capitol Hill, where 32 companies and Opto’s cameras were on two large tables. So they also had their own stand there.
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Exhibiting in the Far East
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Over a week left in Q1 and still nothing has been announced this quarter.. I predict that Q1 will again be soft in terms of growth and the can will again be kicked down the road towards the end of the year.
A year has passed since Himbär’s words: “Let’s go!”.
Wasn’t it somewhat promised in the autumn that in 2025, they would start publishing active device base figures in earnings releases? Or that recurring revenue.
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Recurring revenue will be visible, but not device quantities. It has been predicted to be soft, after all. The revenue will pick up from there.
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Hasn’t it already been stated in this thread for a while that things will start rolling from H2 2025 onwards? So, the next soft earnings report is practically certain. I’ll be worried if it’s stated there that nothing will happen in Q3 yet, but only at the end of Q4.
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It is already a relatively clear matter that Q2 numbers will start to show continuous revenue growth. And if “strong growth” has been predicted for the entire year, then the growth curve towards the end of the year must already be relatively steep. Thanks to the contracts signed around the turn of the year, Himberg has already had a fairly clear view of future revenue development.
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One can have many opinions about Russia (and that discussion can be had in some other thread), but it seems that screening is being done in Russia with a familiar camera. And the national screening program is now expanding to the Kostroma region, joining the former Tomsk and Sakhalin regions. The ”OPHTALMIK+” AI is also in use.
”””
Siberian State Medical University continues to scale the Retina project aimed at preventing blindness due to retinal diseases. The Kostroma region became the fourth region where this initiative is being implemented. The project was implemented within the framework of the development program “Priority-2030” of the national project “Science and Universities”.
Hand-held fundus cameras for taking pictures of the fundus have already been installed in the endocrinologist’s offices of the first district hospital, the Kostroma city hospital and the Sharyinsky Central District Hospital.
The project involves the use of the “OPHTALMIK+” medical decision-making support system based on artificial intelligence. Photos of the fundus taken in medical institutions are transferred to the Retinal Pathology Center of SibSMU, where they are analyzed by a neural network. Artificial intelligence immediately determines the norm or presence of pathology. Then ophthalmologists receive photos with a preliminary diagnosis, conduct diagnostics and issue a conclusion to the patient.
…
The pilot project is planned to be tested within six months. After that, the digital screening technology will be scaled to other medical institutions in the Kostroma region.
The project is already successfully working in Tomsk and Sakhalin regions. The development of SibSMU was highly appreciated by leading ophthalmologists in Russia.
”””
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Oh… I wonder where / how the cameras were acquired. They’re probably not old cameras, are they?
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It’s perfectly legal export.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/fi/policies/sanctions-against-russia-explained/#exportban
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Ok. Opto’s products are found in a somewhat surprising place. There’s plenty of market in that country as well, and it certainly further strengthens Opto’s operations.
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It may be legal, but it is by no means morally acceptable. This is going astray if business is done in Russia. As is known, many Finnish companies (including listed companies) have withdrawn from Russia even though they operate in the aforementioned sectors. Optomed should by no means be an exception.
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This could be a big potential for Optomed.
Optomed isn’t setting up its own production in Russia, is it?
Absolutely, cameras should be sold there if it’s legal.
After all, the device helps ordinary people who didn’t start this war.
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It’s sad that some still think this way, that business comes before war.
Ordinary people would probably also like to drive with Nokian Tyres and drink Coca-Cola, but still, these are not traded in Russia. Russia is also a big potential for these, but companies have deemed it necessary to withdraw from Russia, as responsible companies should.
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It’s about choices. I doubt if this helps the ordinary Russian. Healthcare is being tightened due to war efforts, and the little that trickles down to the people, the poorest segment of the population is unlikely to benefit from it. Every Russian is responsible for the war of aggression against Ukraine. Some more, some less.
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