French DAMAE MEDICAL prepares LC-OCT Skin System

Two-years old startup DAMAE MEDICAL (Paris,France) is already an award-winning young company. Under the leadership of a charismatic female CEO, Anais Barut (who proudly posts her pictures with former president Francois Hollande...), the company readies to launch an innovative LC-OCT hand-held skin inspection system, called OLIV.

To our desapointment, LC-OCT does not stand for Low Cost OCT! But we are really excited about the quality of the LC-OCT images produced as the optical method is strategically placed between scanning OCT and Confocal microscopy. Offering a X-Y, and Z resolution of ~1micron, even at 800 micron depth, the technique offers Z-slicing or virtual biopsie and can rebuild X-Y "en face" virtual biopsies.

Real-time imaging seems to be compatible with usual motion artifacts due to patient upper limb movement during exams, which is a good news.

Target markets include dermatology virtual-biopsy tissue/skin assesment for the triage (and hopefully soon diagnostic) of both melanoma and  carcinoma.The product is not approved by FDA , nor commercialized in the US, but the team is looking for clinical partners in the US to get on-board ( "Contact" on their webpage).

In the meantime, the usual "non-regulated" markets could be a nice way to start.We are thinking about Research only Use for Skin-condition drug development, cosmeceuticals (obviously) and Tissue / biopsy quality control.

So in short:very cool. Cannot wait to see the face of the current players when the product hits the US market. If anyone wnats to join me to invest in the company.... let me know.

Complexion Imaging: the 7th Generation

This is not like the "7th Generation" of the Star Wars Series. We are talking about the sophisticated  VISIA Complexion Analysis from CANFIELD, who are now in its 7th product iteration.

The renowned company is making a complicated and tricky process (believe it or not, a robust face and complexion image is very tricky to do) into a very user-friendly system.

Standardized images required a very sophisticated imaging methodology, which includes standardized lighting (yes... including polarization and frequencies !!!) and image capture parameters. This is particularly critical when post-imaging image analysis is part of the package. Otherwise...how is is the comparison relevant.

Some of the multiple image post-analysis features offered by the company are very nice, and are relevant in practice. Other are really borderline.... like the "eyelash" analysis. Seriously?? who is ready to pay for this.

Well, we really like the product.
Is this only for cute white caucasian ladies as featured on their website. I would suggest a more diverse view of the market and marketing positioning (or is the product not capable to work on dark or asian skins ?). Hmmmm ?

New DermScope can be used with an iPhone

Canfield’s new DermScope can be used with an iPhone 4 or 4s and “is designed to address all of the important modes of skin visualization.” 

It is the winner of the 2012 Medical Design Excellence Award.

This hardware includes:

• Precision engineered Schneider lens assembly, the world renowned German optical manufacturer
• Dual lighting-mode LEDs for standard white and cross-polarized
• Contact and non-contact imaging
•  Large 15 mm viewing field
• One-touch magnification

Purpose of device: imaging of skin lesions on any body surface

Main application: medical practices

Price range: $1,500 + $9.99 App