Funding
Implandata Ophthalmic Products GmbH of Hanover, which is developing a new system for monitoring the chronic eye disease glaucoma, has raised €700,000 from the public High-Tech Gründerfonds, along with hannover innovation fonds (hif) and private investors.
Implandata’s system makes it possible to continuously measure the intraocular pressure of glaucoma patients, drawing attention to any increase in pressure within the eye, which is a sign the disease is progressing. The company says this will reduce the need for frequent monitoring at a doctor’s surgery or specialist glaucoma clinic.
The pressure monitoring system consists of a minimally invasive micro-sensor and a hand-held unit. The patient can measure his or her intraocular pressure at home.
The company has demonstrated the system’s functionality and safety in vitro and in vivo on animals and humans, and with new money is now aiming for CE approval and market launch by the end of 2011.
“Now that we have succeeded in realising the technology and securing worldwide leading glaucoma expects to work with us, the finance provided by High-Tech Gründerfonds and hif constitutes the most important step for targeted marketing of the system,” says Max Ostermeier, co-founder and managing director.
Glaucoma is a common and chronic eye disease in which increased intraocular pressure leads to irreversible damage to the optic nerve and ultimately to blindness.
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