Scottish Health Innovations Ltd, the seed fund company formed to assist the National Health Service in Scotland in the development and commercialisation of its research, signed a licensing agreement with ExtraMed Ltd giving the company the right to develop and market an endoscopy reporting system developed at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
The system, known as DERIC (Diagnostic Endoscopy Reporting and Image Capture), was specified by consultant gastroenerologist John Plevris and developed by Derek Christie. It reduces – from days to minutes – the time it takes to deliver endoscopy reports vital for early diagnosis of numerous diseases.
Patrick Kelly, CEO of Falkirk-based ExtraMed said, “The system capture diagnostic images and then helps the doctor to report on the investigation, simplifying the administration and distribution of reports.”
Previously, an endoscopist would make observations and once the procedure was complete dictate the findings onto a tape for typing and checking, before being forwarded to the patient’s doctor, a process that could take up to three weeks.
Not only is DEERIC faster, it also means the information can be accessed to help with patient reviews, GP queries and for clinical audit. A prototype of DEERIC was piloted successfully and the first product is now on the market.
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