Cylite HP-OCT

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses light waves to scans and create a 3D image of a patient's eye. Existing devices use a single beam scan; an imaging process that can create artifacts due to the eye's normal movements. The HP-OCT uses a revolutionary optical and imaging processes to allow instantaneous measurement of the eye, eliminating motion artifact. Cylite engaged Cobalt with the challenge of developing this technology into a world-class device that would help improve clinical outcomes for patients and clinicians through faster, and potentially more accurate diagnosis and treatment.

The HP-OCT's design expresses its embedded technology in human terms; presenting as user (patient / clinician) friendly, while efficiently integrating its complex opto-mechanical and electronics core. Patients of all ages and sizes are accommodated by the instrument's proportions, geometry, and the fluid automated patient alignment system. The design is an example of world class plastic part design that includes over-molding, structural plastic part design and the demanding material performance and safety requirements of a class 2 medical product. A clever DFMA strategy was deployed to achieve the minimalist style, whilst the efficiency of its assembly supports being manufactured in Australia.

Approximately 90% of blindness and vision impairment among both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is preventable or treatable if detected early. Screening patients with eye conditions currently requires a multitude of diagnostic devices to build a clinical picture. In a world-first, the HP-OCT™ instrument provides complete 3D image of the eye, with highly precise (micron level) measurements of key optical properties of the eye. The HP-OCT streamlines the screening process by integrating the functions of four instruments into a single platform. Based in Melbourne, the HP-OCT spotlights Australia's ability to redefine a currently internationally dominated Ophthalmic MedTech industry.

The HP-OCT prioritised user centred design throughout its development, with a large focus on enabling positive patient-clinician interaction throughout its design language, adjustability and touchpoints. While the HP-OCT was designed with patient-clinician use in mind, the instrument's unique capture and parallel processing capabilities is also proving to be a major asset to international researchers; provoking novel research projects that could be instrumental in the future of Ophthalmology and Optometry. Conventional OCT's use a single beam to scan the eye and build a picture. The HP-OCT's micro-optics technology has enable this one beam to be split into 1,008 beamlets. Each of these beamlets takes simultaneous measurements at a scan rate of over 300,000 A-Scans/second (industry leading OCT speeds). The HP-OCT's innovation is evident through 9 awarded patents (with many more additional filings in progress). Cylites HP-OCT has been researched, designed, engineered, and assembled 100% within Australia. Located in Melbourne, Cylite is proud to employ almost 50 Australians presently, with an inspiring forecast of scaling this number rapidly over the next few years. There is a network of many more hundreds of people locally supporting facets of the products engineering development.