Disrupting Medical Instruments for Eye Care.

ended

Dr Kromer and Mr Dabous founded Vitreoject UG (limited liability) in Hamburg in 2018. Together with our team, we aim to increase access to eye care by improving and optimising process operations. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of visual impairment in the elderly and treated with medication injected into the eye. Before the introduction of the drug, less than 5,000 injections were administered annually. Since then, global numbers rose to more than 90 million worldwide. However, there is a lack of an optimised approach as the injection process has mostly remained unchanged since 2004. With the Vitreoject device, we strive to disrupt the process of these injections by compromising all needed parts into one device, making it more efficient, material-saving and above all, safer. Vitreoject is the only device that allows the game-changing localised sterilisation and integration of all steps into one device. We develop the transformative invention with support from industry leaders from the ophthalmology and economy sector, as well as a leading group of ophthalmologists. Our device has the potential to save € 249 Mio yearly in health care costs in Europe by reducing operating theatre time. The medical device market is a high risk market due to the unpredictability of the product adoption. This SME1 proposal contains a feasibility study on the technical aspects of the product, the commercial strategy, implementation and its financial viability. The original technology concept was formulated in late 2017, and a patent filed in April 2018. The solution is now developed as a functional working prototype that has been validated in an experimental setting, and we would like to use this SME1 feasibility study to be able to advance and move forward to a manufactured product in late 2019. Vitreoject is dedicated to developing disruptive medical instruments for eye care which will be able to disburden the European Healthcare system.