High-Tech OCT Company Shows Commitment to Education with Release of Its Glaucoma Textbook at American Glaucoma Society (AGS) Meeting
Cover of the Glaucoma Imaging Atlas New York, NY – Heidelberg Engineering, a privately-held imaging solutions company focused on advanced diagnostic instruments for eye care professionals, announced today the release of their Glaucoma Imaging Atlas, a comprehensive diagnostic imaging guide for glaucoma assessment and management. The Atlas will serve as the cornerstone of Heidelberg Engineering Academy’s educational programs in glaucoma.
“We are excited to publicly introduce our Glaucoma Imaging Atlas for the first time during American Glaucoma Society’s annual meeting in New York,” said Ali Tafreshi, Director of Clinical Research. “Heidelberg Engineering’s longstanding commitment to high-quality diagnostic imaging has served as a standard in eye care practices and academic institutions across the globe. This project is a culmination of extensive interpretation of OCT images and data by some of the most respected clinicians in the field of glaucoma. The Atlas will be used as a teaching tool to further educate the medical community on the implementation of our OCT technology as an aid in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma, enabling effective, individualized patient care.”
The Glaucoma Imaging Atlas, which features 27 contributors from five countries, includes nearly 30 detailed case studies of patients in various stages of the disease imaged with Heidelberg Engineering’s SPECTRALIS® Glaucoma Module Premium Edition. Heidelberg Engineering will be onsite in New York at AGS’s annual meeting with a copy of the Glaucoma Imaging Atlas available for preview at booth #14.
About SPECTRALIS
The SPECTRALIS is an ophthalmic imaging platform with an upgradable, modular design. This platform allows clinicians to configure each SPECTRALIS to the specific diagnostic workflow in the practice or clinic.
Options include: OCT, multiple scanning laser fundus imaging modalities, widefield and ultra-widefield modules and scanning laser angiography.
About Glaucoma Module Premium Edition
The SPECTRALIS Glaucoma Module Premium Edition combines the proprietary Anatomic Positioning System (APS) with a series of unique scan patterns to assess the optic nerve head, the retinal nerve fiber layer, and the ganglion cell layer. These scan patterns are precisely matched to the characteristics of fine anatomic structures relevant in glaucoma diagnostics.
New study proves advantages of MultiColor imaging over fundus photography for early diagnosis and monitoring of AMD
Heidelberg, Germany – A research group from the Centre for Public Health at the Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has just published the results of a study comparing SPECTRALIS® MultiColor imaging and traditional color fundus photography for the detection of features of early and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study’s findings demonstrate the benefits of SPECTRALIS MultiColor imaging for increased sensitivity and specificity.
The SPECTRALIS MultiColor Module is an imaging modality which utilizes confocal scanning laser technology instead of white light to visualize the retina.The study, which was published digitally in August and will appear in the November issue of Retina, is titled: “Identifying features of early and late AMD: A comparison of MultiColor versus traditional color fundus photography”. The authors are Katie W. Graham, Usha Chakravarthy, Ruth E. Hogg, K. Alyson Muldrew, Ian S. Young and Frank Kee, all of the Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The goal of the study was to compare the MultiColor Module of the SPECTRALIS diagnostic imaging platform to color fundus photography (CFP), which is currently considered the gold standard examination for the recognition and classification of features of early and late AMD. The SPECTRALIS MultiColor Module, on the other hand, is a newer imaging modality which utilizes confocal scanning laser technology with light of discrete wavelengths instead of standard optics and white light to visualize the retina.
MultiColor was proven to have higher sensitivity than CFP for the detection of early AMD features using a sample of 105 eyes. In cases with discrepancies, an analysis of OCT also showed better agreement with MultiColor for all AMD lesions, with the exception of hemorrhage and non-geographic atrophy hypopigmentation. For pigment clumping, CFP and MultiColor were in equal agreement to OCT.
MultiColor imaging was able to identify soft drusen in 85%, reticular drusen in 83%, and atrophy and fibrosis in 100% of cases where these abnormalities were seen on CFP. However, when using MultiColor as the basis for analysis, CFP was less sensitive. In this analysis, soft drusen were identified in only 58%, reticular drusen in 28%, atrophy in 83%, and fibrosis in 68% of the cases where such changes were seen on MultiColor images.
“This systematic analysis of color fundus photography versus MultiColor demonstrated the robustness of MultiColor imaging in the detection of early AMD features. The ability to delineate atrophy and fibrosis in late stage AMD gives added value in the clinical setting, as these components of the wet AMD lesion have an important impact on visual function”, said Usha Chakravarthy, Professor of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Other clinicians also familiar with the MultiColor Module appreciate its advantages: “With the advent of MultiColor imaging we can obtain high-resolution fundus images for a precise study of the morphometric changes of the retina and combine them with structural OCT scans of up to 55 degrees. This gives us the possibility to monitor changes from visit to visit in both imaging modalities. In addition, at our clinic we can even obtain an OCTA over a MultiColor image, selecting the area of particular interest. And all of that, without having the patient moving from one system to another”, said Roberto Gallego-Pinazo, MD, Retina Specialist of the Macula Unit at Oftalvist in Valencia, Spain.
See structure at different depths
MultiColor is able to achieve such sensitivity and specificity due to its confocal scanning laser imaging technology, which uses three laser wavelengths (blue, green and infrared) simultaneously to provide diagnostic images that show distinct structures at different depths within the retina. As a result, the high-resolution MultiColor images can be used to detect and delineate structures and pathologies not visible on ophthalmoscopy and fundus photography.
MultiColor images can and should ideally be visualized both as a composite image combining all three wavelengths and also as individual blue, green and infrared reflectance images. Each of the three reflectance images offers unique details due to the penetration depth and reflectance properties of each individual wavelength used. The infrared reflectance image shows deeper structures in the choroid and the retinal pigment epithelium. The green reflectance image is useful for examining blood, blood vessels, and exudates. The blue reflectance image is best for identifying changes in superficial retinal structures, like epiretinal membranes or retinal nerve fiber layer defects.
MultiColor as part of a multimodal approach
“It is encouraging to see the clinical significance of the MultiColor Module proven in a large study related to a prevalent pathology such as AMD. Beyond the clinical value, clinicians also appreciate the fact that MultiColor images can be acquired through undilated pupils and in patients with media opacity or even nystagmus. While we don’t see MultiColor as a substitute for color fundus photography, which remains useful for documentation purposes, it is a particularly useful diagnostic tool that can be combined with other imaging modalities”, said Dr. Kester Nahen, Managing Director at Heidelberg Engineering.
Dr. Massimo Fazio receives 2017 Xtreme Research Award
2017 Xtreme Research Award winner Dr. Massimo Fazio (left) and 2016 winner Dr. Alex Huang.Heidelberg, Germany – Massimo Fazio, PhD, a biomechanics and mechanobiology researcher at the Department of Ophthalmology in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) received the award at an event held by Heidelberg Engineering during ARVO’s Annual Meeting in Baltimore.
Dr. Fazio has a background in mechanical engineering, and as part of the UAB Ocular Biomechanics and Mechanobiology group his work primarily focuses on developing advanced image processing algorithms and custom optical devices in order to investigate the biomechanics and morphology of ocular tissue in glaucoma and myopia.
At the award ceremony, Dr. Fazio presented a riveting lecture entitled “In-vivo Quantification of Biomechanics and Morphometry across Ocular Disease”, which illustrated how custom methods of image analysis combined with unique imaging modalities are applied to human and animal models. These methods set the stage for novel imaging tools that may aid in the diagnosis of various ocular diseases.
With the annual Xtreme Research Award, Heidelberg Engineering intends to honor cutting-edge research for the advancement of ophthalmic care. This year, Dr. Fazio’s work was recognized for its contribution to identifying novel imaging biomarkers that take into account the dynamic biomechanical response of ocular tissues to intraocular pressure. This response is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma and myopia.
Although still in its early stages, Dr. Fazio’s research aims to develop imaging methods that can enhance the current OCT-based diagnostic parameters and offer customized analyses that may be predictive of future damage. One such method is the use of a simple and quick image scanning protocol that can assess each eye’s unique mechanical response by the optic nerve head to IOP changes. The evaluation of such changes offers shear strain values that may be indicative of the eye’s susceptibility to damage due to diurnal IOP variations and of future visual field loss. If this hypothesis is proven true, customized measurements of characteristics such as retinal nerve fiber layer, lamina cribrosa shifts, and peripapillary sclera changes could lead to improved glaucomatous OCT parameters and diagnostically sensitive predictive factors.
“The imaging capabilities achieved by the SPECTRALIS OCT allowed us to visualize and quantify the complex biomechanical behavior of ocular tissue in-vivo and in real-time. This quantification has never been done before. Quantitative eye-specific analyses that were only achievable in a research environment are soon going to be transferred to daily clinical practice. I believe that with the widespread use of new OCT technologies, we’ll soon witness a radical shift on how we diagnose and treat debilitating ocular diseases”, said Dr. Fazio.
“Moving forward, we would like to provide a diagnostic imaging platform to offer a suite of diagnostic parameters that extend beyond static measures and are customized to each eye’s unique anatomy. We are excited about Dr. Fazio’s research project and hope that such tools will enable clinicians to better predict their diagnostic and treatment outcomes, offering the opportunity to make more informed decisions with higher clinical confidence,” said Ali Tafreshi, Director of Clinical Research, Heidelberg Engineering.
For that purpose, Heidelberg Engineering’s Research and Development team supports Dr. Fazio and the UAB Ocular Biomechanics and Mechanobiology group as well as other leading scientists eager to enhance OCT-based diagnostic parameters. Heidelberg Engineering aims to expand its collaborative efforts with a growing number of researchers around the world to offer novel OCT-based methods geared towards individualized assessment of various ocular pathologies such as glaucoma.
Modeling of ONH deformations and associated vascular perfusion changes due to acute IOP elevation. Such models may contribute to novel diagnostic parameters that are tailored to each eye’s unique anatomy.
Heidelberg Engineering to Expand its Ophthalmic Healthcare IT Business through the Acquisition of Medisoft
Heidelberg, Germany – Heidelberg Engineering GmbH today announced that it has acquired 100% ownership of Medisoft Limited, the leading UK-based provider of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) software solutions for the ophthalmology market.
In healthcare IT, Heidelberg Engineering already offers comprehensive ophthalmic image management and other data solutions that address the requirements of enterprises as well as private practices. The company has also recently announced the establishment of an ophthalmic healthcare IT joint-venture in China with its long-time local business partner.
“Over the past 20 years, the Medisoft team has been dedicated to delivering an ophthalmology EMR that is easy and quick to use by ophthalmologists and other eye-care professionals, and that delivers detailed analysis of medical and surgical treatment outcomes,” said David Johnston, co-founder and Chairman of Medisoft. “Joining forces with Heidelberg Engineering and its broad portfolio of diagnostic imaging systems, image management solutions, and global reach will offer Medisoft a solid platform to accelerate further business growth outside the UK – enabling ophthalmology departments and private practices access to both patient records and their associated images using a combined offering from the two companies.”
“The acquisition of Medisoft brings together a highly experienced team and market-proven EMR capabilities with Heidelberg Engineering’s expertise in image management and diagnostic imaging systems,” said Christoph Schoess, Managing Director at Heidelberg Engineering GmbH. “We look forward to working with the Medisoft team to provide our customers with an increasingly wider range of ophthalmic healthcare IT solutions.”
Medisoft will continue operating out of its headquarters in Leeds, UK. Further, as part of this transaction, Heidelberg Engineering has appointed Arianna Schoess and Kfir Azoulay to the Board of Directors of Medisoft, in addition to current Board members David Johnston, Christian Martin, and Alice Braga Johnston.
“We expect to significantly strengthen our ophthalmic healthcare IT business with this strategic acquisition,” said Kfir Azoulay, Head of Strategy at Heidelberg Engineering. “Incorporating Medisoft’s advanced ophthalmic EMR product to our portfolio will enable the release of comprehensive software solutions that bring disparate data together and significantly improve patient care as well as operational efficiencies for our customers.”
While ophthalmic IT solutions will play an increasingly growing role in Heidelberg Engineering’s portfolio, the company will continue focusing on its core business of state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging platforms for eye-care professionals.
Through the acquisition of Medisoft, Heidelberg Engineering has expanded its healthcare IT portfolio with advanced EMR solutions (left monitor) that complement the HEYEX Platform for Ophthalmic Image Management and Device Integration.
Heidelberg Engineering and Gauss Medical Corporation Establish an Ophthalmic Healthcare IT Joint Venture in China
Heidelberg Engineering and its long-time distribution partner in China, Gauss Medical Corporation, have established a joint venture for the supply of healthcare IT solutions to the Chinese ophthalmology market.
Heidelberg, Germany – The joint venture company, Gauss Infomed, will offer Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software, along with other related product solutions for the ophthalmology healthcare IT market. Gauss Infomed will operate out of Beijing and through a local network of offices to deliver its services across the entire country.
“The establishment of this joint venture with Heidelberg Engineering comes at a time of growing demand for advanced ophthalmic IT solutions in China,” said Mr. Liu Xidong, Chairman and CEO of Gauss Infomed. “Heidelberg Engineering is an ideal partner in our efforts to meet that demand. Ophthalmologists in China tremendously value Heidelberg Engineering’s high-quality imaging products, such as the SPECTRALIS OCT platform, and I am confident they will also appreciate our comprehensive ophthalmic IT solutions, exclusively offered through Gauss Infomed”.
In addition to its role as a shareholder, Heidelberg Engineering will contribute to the joint venture with its extensive expertise as developer of high-tech diagnostic imaging platforms as well as with its next generation HEYEX software, which offers modern ophthalmic image management and device integration capabilities.
HEYEX is an integral part of all Heidelberg Engineering products, which networks ophthalmic devices and makes it possible to review examination results simultaneously and interactively. HEYEX also interfaces with Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems and third-party devices to allow for the secure exchange, storage, and dynamic review of images in a single, centralized IT solution across multiple sites.
“China is a fast-growing market and it is of great importance to our company,” said Arianna Schoess, Managing Director at Heidelberg Engineering. “Our excellent partnership with Gauss Medical Corporation − spanning nearly two decades − has led to the widespread adoption of our diagnostic imaging platforms by eye care professionals in China. The establishment of this healthcare IT joint venture is, therefore, a natural next step for us in further increasing our presence and footprint in this important market.”
“Ophthalmic healthcare IT is a growing business and focus area for our company,” said Kfir Azoulay, Head of Strategy at Heidelberg Engineering and the appointed Director to the Board of Gauss Infomed. “With the establishment of this joint venture, Heidelberg Engineering is poised to become a leading provider of ophthalmic healthcare IT solutions in China.”
Heidelberg Engineering anticipates the demand for healthcare IT solutions in the ophthalmic sector to grow significantly not only in China but also in the rest of the world. The company has specific plans for its new HEYEX software to be rolled out globally during the coming months and years. Those plans include offering HEYEX to customers through its network of subsidiaries but also through its distribution partners and other potential partnerships.
While ophthalmic IT solutions will play an increasingly important role in Heidelberg Engineering’s product portfolio, the company will continue to focus on the development of state-of-the-art imaging platforms for eye care professionals.
The next generation HEYEX software in a dual monitor setup: The monitor on the left shows the navigator screen with the versatile data management tools. The one on the right shows the multi-modality viewer with an automatic layout for BluePeak autofluorescense images to efficiently visualize structural changes over time.
Arianna Schoess joins Heidelberg Engineering Board of Directors
Arianna Schoess, newly appointed Managing Director of Heidelberg Engineering GmbH.Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, the ophthalmic imaging solutions company, has appointed Arianna Schoess as Managing Director. In her new role, she joins the two company founders, Dr. Gerhard Zinser and Christoph Schoess, and Dr. Kester Nahen in the Board of Directors.
Heidelberg, Germany – Arianna Schoess joined Heidelberg Engineering in 2013 and has since been instrumental in the acquisition of the IT company Medical Communications and the reorganization of Heidelberg Engineering Inc. in connection with its relocation from the US West to the East Coast. In the USA, she serves as Chairman of the Board and in Switzerland as Managing Director of the subsidiary in Zurich. She has been responsible for Human Resources since early 2016, and in her new role she will dedicate herself to supporting Heidelberg Engineering’s solid international growth path through product innovations and partnerships.
Arianna received an international education in economics and business administration at universities in Friedrichshafen (Germany), Moscow (Russia) and Zurich (Switzerland). Before joining Heidelberg Engineering, she worked at a medical start-up company and as an investment manager at a Zurich-based private equity company.
“Arianna’s great motivation, her experience with investments, and her entrepreneurial spirit will surely help our company reach our growth goals”, said Dr. Gerhard Zinser, founder and Managing Director of Heidelberg Engineering.
“The company’s founders and the whole team have made Heidelberg Engineering one of the most respected and innovative companies in the ophthalmic industry. I look forward to working closely with our team to continuously refine our strategy, adapting it to the changing needs of the market to maintain our leadership position in the ophthalmology field”, said Arianna Schoess.
In the last 25 years, Heidelberg Engineering has evolved from a small to a leading medium-sized company in the field of ophthalmic diagnostic imaging and IT healthcare solutions. Its business strategy has been creating clinically relevant diagnostic solutions by applying cutting-edge technologies. Eye care specialists worldwide use Heidelberg Engineering’s devices – including the SPECTRALIS® imaging platform − for the diagnosis and monitoring of pathologies such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and macular edema.
OCT Angiography Module for SPECTRALIS now available
The SPECTRALIS OCT Angiography Module non-invasively produces detailed, three-dimensional representations of the perfused retinal and choroidal vasculatures.Heidelberg Engineering has started delivering the OCT-Angiography Module to SPECTRALIS® customers outside the United States. The OCT Angiography Module non-invasively produces detailed three-dimensional representations of the perfused retinal and choroidal vasculatures.
Heidelberg, Germany – The SPECTRALIS® expandable diagnostic imaging platform can be upgraded with the OCT Angiography Module to perform non-invasive, layer-by-layer examinations of flow in the vascular networks of the retina and choroid.
The OCT Angiography Module can be added to new and existing upgradeable SPECTRALIS devices with the OCT2 Module. The multimodal imaging platform allows clinicians to compare OCT angiographies to other modalities such as structural OCT and dye-based angiographies as well as infrared, MultiColor and BluePeak images, dependent on the SPECTRALIS model.
“In combination with other imaging modalities, OCT angiography enables a more comprehensive understanding of vascular abnormalities. The SPECTRALIS truly integrates OCTA with other clinically well-established imaging modalities to facilitate for instance direct, pixel-to-pixel OCTA follow-ups on an existing FA,” said Dr. Kester Nahen, Managing Director of Heidelberg Engineering.
High resolution for precise vascular details
SPECTRALIS offers high resolution OCT angiography with a lateral 5.7 microns per pixel for visualization of capillaries. An axial resolution of 3.9 microns per pixel enables precise multilayer segmentation. All four vascular plexuses of the retina as described by Tan et al.1 (located in the nerve fiber layer, in the ganglion cell layer, at the border of the inner plexiform layer and inner nuclear layer, and at the border of the inner nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer) can be investigated. Like all SPECTRALIS diagnostic imaging modalities, the OCT Angiography Module benefits from the precision of TruTrack Active Eye Tracking which avoids motion artifacts and ensures high resolution images.
1 Priscilla Ern Zhi Tan, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53:5728–5736
Dr. Gerhard Zinser receives Founders’ Award of the Optometric Glaucoma Society
Dr. Gerhard Zinser (right) receives the Founders’ Award from Dr. John Flanagan, one of the founders of the Optometric Glaucoma Society. Photo: Andie Petkus Photography.
Heidelberg, Germany – Dr. Gerhard Zinser, co-founder and Managing Director of Heidelberg Engineering, is the first non-clinician to be honored with this prestigious award. Earlier this year he was also elected as part of The Ophthalmologist’s Power List of the top 100 most influential people in ophthalmology.
The Founders’ Award was handed over by Dr. John Flanagan, one of the founders of the Optometric Glaucoma Society, during the society’s Annual Scientific Meeting in Anaheim, CA, on November 8th.
In his laudatory speech, John Flanagan, OD, PhD, (Dean School of Optometry, UC Berkeley, CA) emphasized Dr. Zinser’s significant and long-standing contribution to diagnostic imaging in eye-care with innovative and reliable devices which have turned into household names for eye-care specialists worldwide. Dr. Flanagan summarized the achievements of Dr. Zinser and Heidelberg Engineering dating back to the launch of the first diagnostic imaging device geared towards glaucoma diagnostics in 1991, the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT). Dr. Flanagan reminded the audience also of the tremendous impact on eye-care of the most current contribution of Heidelberg Engineering, the multimodal SPECTRALIS imaging platform.
“I am honored to receive this award and accept it in the name of the whole Heidelberg Engineering team”, said Dr. Gerhard Zinser.
Since the establishing of the Optometric Glaucoma Society, the Founders’ Award has only been awarded to three clinician scientists, all of them glaucoma research luminaries: Douglas R. Anderson, MD (Bascom Palmer, Miami, FL) received the honor in 2011, Robert N. Weinreb, MD (Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego, CA) received the honor in 2012 and Harry A. Quigley, MD (Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD) in 2015.
Power List 2016
Earlier this year the readers of the journal The Ophthalmologist voted for Dr. Gerhard Zinser to be part of its Power List 2016, as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world of ophthalmology for the second consecutive time. According to a nominator quoted by The Ophthalmologist: “He is responsible for several of the major diagnostic imaging innovations in ophthalmology. Further, he is actively involved in cutting-edge research and in sponsoring innovative activities that will translate into major products in the coming decade.”
For the employees and distribution partners of Heidelberg Engineering, the recognition awarded to Dr. Zinser’s achievements is an encouragement to continue bringing innovative diagnostic devices and IT solutions to eye-care specialists around the world.
About the Optometric Glaucoma Society (OGS)
The Optometric Glaucoma Society´s mission is to encourage excellence in care of glaucoma patients through education and scientific investigation. The main goals of the OGS are to promote the education of optometrists, the acquisition of new knowledge about glaucoma and much more.
SPECTRALIS OCT Angiography Module to be presented at AAO
Heidelberg Engineering is showcasing the OCT Angiography (OCTA) Module for its SPECTRALIS® diagnostic imaging platform at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting in Chicago. The OCT Angiography Module non-invasively produces detailed three-dimensional representations of the perfused retinal and choroidal vasculatures.
Heidelberg, Germany – The SPECTRALIS® expandable diagnostic imaging platform can be upgraded with the OCT Angiography Module to perform non-invasive, layer-by-layer examinations of flow in the vascular networks of the retina and choroid. Combined with structural OCT and fluorescence angiography, the OCT Angiography Module enables a more comprehensive understanding of vascular abnormalities.
The OCT Angiography Module can be added to new and existing upgradeable SPECTRALIS devices with the OCT2 Module. The multimodal imaging platform allows clinicians to compare OCT angiographies to other modalities such as structural OCT and dye-based angiographies as well as infrared, MultiColor and BluePeak images, dependent on the SPECTRALIS model.
High resolution for precise vascular details
SPECTRALIS offers high resolution OCT angiography with a lateral 5.7 microns per pixel for visualization of capillaries. An axial resolution of 3.9 microns per pixel enables precise multilayer segmentation. All four vascular plexuses of the retina as described by Tan et al.1 (located in the nerve fiber layer, in the ganglion cell layer, at the border of the inner plexiform layer and inner nuclear layer, and at the border of the inner nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer) can be investigated. Like all SPECTRALIS diagnostic imaging modalities, the OCT Angiography Module benefits from the precision of TruTrack Active Eye Tracking which avoids motion artifacts and ensures high resolution images.
Hybrid angiography
Hybrid angiography with SPECTRALIS high-resolution OCT Angiography Module identifies vascular detail and correlates it with dye-based angiography. Left to right: FA, OCTA and IR images.
The SPECTRALIS platform offers a unique combination of non-invasive OCT angiography with dye-based, gold-standard fluorescein (FA) or indocyanine green (ICGA) scanning laser angiography. With this hybrid angiography approach, OCTA images can be directly correlated pixel to pixel to FA or ICGA, setting a baseline for subsequent OCTA-only follow-up examinations. The Scan Planning Tool automates OCTA scan placement on a region of interest identified on FA/ICGA or any other previously-acquired cSLO image. Such reference images can originate from the same or another SPECTRALIS device. With the convergence of established and emerging imaging techniques, the SPECTRALIS platform supports the understanding and adoption of new diagnostic tools such as OCTA in routine clinical practice.
“There is a great deal of interest in OCTA and at the same time uncertainty due to its technical limitations and interpretation challenges. We see multimodal imaging as a good approach to deal with those issues. For instance, OCTA is a valuable imaging modality to follow up on an existing FA, and our SPECTRALIS platform offers the possibility to do exactly that,” said Dr. Kester Nahen, Managing Director of Heidelberg Engineering.
OCTA technology and SPECTRALIS
The OCTA module of the SPECTRALIS uses a complex mathematical model fed by full spectrum OCT data. The full spectrum approach enables three-dimensional OCTA imaging with high axial resolution separating thin vascular plexuses. The mathematical model is highly sensitive and allows the visualization of small changes between consecutive OCT scans representative of vascular flow. This method results in high contrast between areas of vascular flow and surrounding tissue.
The SPECTRALIS is an ophthalmic imaging platform with an upgradable, modular design. This platform allows clinicians to configure each SPECTRALIS to the specific diagnostic workflow in the practice or clinic. Options include: OCT, multiple scanning laser fundus imaging modalities, widefield and ultra-widefield modules, scanning laser angiography and OCT angiography.
Availability
The OCT Angiography Module is not for sale in the United States. Heidelberg Engineering will deliver the OCTA Module to customers outside the U.S. in November 2016.
1 Priscilla Ern Zhi Tan, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53:5728–5736
Heidelberg Engineering Launches New SPECTRALIS OCT Glaucoma Module Premium Edition at AAO Meeting
At the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Meeting in Chicago from October 15th to 18th, Heidelberg Engineering invites attendees to discover the future of personalized glaucoma management.
Heidelberg, Germany – Heidelberg Engineering is pleased to announce the launch of the recently FDA cleared SPECTRALIS OCT Glaucoma Module Premium Edition during the 2016 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Meeting in Chicago, IL.
The SPECTRALIS OCT Glaucoma Module Premium Edition provides a comprehensive analysis of the optic nerve head, retinal nerve fiber layer, and ganglion cell layer by precisely matching unique scan patterns to the fine anatomic structures relevant in glaucoma diagnostics.
The proprietary Anatomic Positioning System (APS) creates an anatomic map of each patient’s eye using two fixed, structural landmarks: the center of the fovea and the center of Bruch’s membrane opening. With APS, all scan protocols are automatically oriented to the patient‘s anatomic map. This enables precise examination of relevant structures and ensures accurate comparisons with reference data, allowing for a highly sensitive assessment of structural change.
“We are excited to be able to share this technology with the U.S. market,” said Ram Liebenthal, U.S. General Manager of Heidelberg Engineering. “We believe the Glaucoma Module Premium Edition offers an important new piece of the puzzle in evaluating patients for glaucomatous change, and we hope everyone will join us at AAO to learn more and celebrate the future of personalized glaucoma management.”
Educational Session
Heidelberg Engineering will host an educational session about the new glaucoma module entitled “Enhanced Detection and Clinical Assessment in Glaucoma Management” on Sunday, October 16th, at 3:30 PM in the Technology Pavilion on the exhibit floor. The presentation will include guest lectures from Chris Girkin, MD, University of Alabama – Birmingham, Donald Hood, PhD, Columbia University, and Felipe Medeiros, MD, PhD, University of California – San Diego.
Launch Party Reception
The dialogue will continue Sunday evening from 6:30-9:30 PM at the top of the AON building, where the company will hold a launch party reception. The guest lecturers from the educational session will be on hand to answer questions and discuss how to optimize glaucoma detection and progression assessment with the SPECTRALIS OCT. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to register for the event at https://bit.ly/GMPELaunchParty.
Please note that the events listed in this press release are not affiliated with the official 2016 AAO Program.
Analysis of the optic nerve head with Heidelberg Engineering’s SPECTRALIS® Glaucoma Module Premium Edition
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