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.

French Start up ANAPIX Tackles the Holy Grail

French Start-up ANAPIX is currently incubated by the Technology Accelerator and incubator or Mareilles and has ambitious plans to takle the Holi Grail: a iPhone enabled image capture system...coupled to cloud-based image analysis and calculators to offer Clinical Decision support to dermatologists for the Skin cancer.

This is a very ambitious project, will challenges all along the technology workflow... and the care and regulatory trajectories.  A dozen of dermatologists are piloting the system in France.

ANAPIX is current;y looking for partners to take the concept to the next steps. Please reach out to them via www.sattse.com

DermaCompare: "designed to revolutionize the process of diagnosing melanoma" (...Really ?)

Out of Israel, DermaCompare, a market-centric spin off from Esmeral Medical, is promoting a Cloud-based sophisticated image processing technology fro skin imaging. The skin lesions detection software solution is designed to revolutionize the process of diagnosing  melanoma, the major cause of skin cancer related mortality. 

DermaCompare supports early stage diagnosis of skin cancer by providing constant monitoring of suspicious skin lesions using various  imaging methods, thereby significantly increasing the chances of treating the condition, as well as lowering the cost and complexity of treatment.


The product is not FDA approved and detailed information / case studies / performance of the system is not very accessible. We would love to know more ( leave a comment).

Their YouTube clip provides some fuzzy screen captures, some insights on the technology platform ( " we use aerial defense technology to save 420 million people from skin cancer") but does not discuss clinical efficacy nor business models. 

Announcing the 2014 and Third Edition of The International Dermatology Institute (IDI) Technology Forum on June 10th 2014

DermaNest, and TRI/Princeton jointly announce the 2014 and Third Edition of the  International Dermatology Institute Technical Forum on Tuesday June 10^th 2014, 3 – 6 pm, on the TRI/Princeton Campus

The Technical Forums at the International Dermatology Institute offer Technology-based companies an unique opportunity to showcase their latest solution to a selected panel of industry leaders seeking for new technologies in the field (e.g. R&D Department leaders, Product Portfolio Managers, Innovation scouts of large international companies)

Participants will have the opportunity to present their solutions (45 mins presentation and product demonstration) during a highly interactive and intimate format. The three-hour event will only be offered to a limited number of companies and followed by a networking reception and product demonstration. Company representatives will have the opportunity of making quality contact with companies such as P&G , Johnson and Johnson, Ashland, Colgate…

The International Dermatology Institute (IDI) offers dermatology focused start-up companies from around the world the opportunity to effectively advance their business, especially in the US.   By leveraging the services of DermaNest and the TRI Center for Skin Science and Applied Dermatology, small companies can locate themselves within and receive services from IDI on the Princeton, NJ based TRI Campus. The Princeton area is the heart of the largest pharmaceutical, biotech, drug discovery and life-sciences ecosystem in the world, and also includes the headquarters and laboratories of many world class skin care, cosmeticeutical and wound-care companies.

TRI and DermaNest share the common mission of aiding organizations in the development of personalized dermatology and cosmetics by providing technical solutions that include predictive diagnostics, imaging devices and therapeutic methods for the advanced dermatological, cosmetic, and wound care markets. To learn more about the IDI Model, please visit TRI’s website.

TRI Princeton is a non-profit research Institute dedicated to Research, Education and Service in advanced industries for more than 80 years and is a recognized authority in cosmetic science.  TRI provides technical innovation, research and claim support to the cosmetic and dermatology industries in addition to hosting various educational forums for professional scientists, including annual international conferences.  TRI’s Center for Skin Science and Advanced Dermatology specializes in the study of skin’s structure, behavior and variability with the goal of a more personalized approach to skin protection and repair based on genetic predisposition and variations occurring from age, disease and environmental impact. 

DermaNest develops the business of International Personalized Cosmetics and Skin-Care Solutions and Services for the US Markets. Personalized Solutions include Predictive Diagnostics, Therapies and Companion Diagnostics, for the Cosmetic, Cosmeceuticals and Wound Care markets. DermaNest's business model and highly experienced team empower early stage companies to play in high growth market segments, at a fraction of the cost of alternative solutions.

NvisionVLE : 3mm deep at < 10 microns

Having received FDA appropriate clearances,NinePoint Medical is now making available in the U.S. its NvisionVLE esophageal tissue imaging system. The device provides a cross-sectional view of the tissue microstructure thanks to something called OFDI (optical frequency-domain imaging), a type of  Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT).


The NvisionVLE Imaging System enables physicians and pathologists to endoscopically view real-time, high-resolution, cross sectional images of organs and tissues up to 3mm deep at better than 10 micron resolution.

Instead of a balloon + rotary scanning motion, perhaps a portable flexible flat-rectangular scanner  ( 6cm x 6cm) could be developed for skin applications ?

TRUE-See to launch an Integrated Wound Image Calibration Module in Summer 2013

Using established movie industry standards, TRUE-See’s unique, patent-pending system improves the accuracy and reliability of a picture by calibrating the colors in the slate so they more accurately reflect what was photographed. The System thereby helps resolve common wound photography problems that contribute to misdiagnosis, erroneous patient care, increased liability, and ineffective marketing efforts. 

A similar approach could be considered for POS skin imaging, with disposable and branded "stickers", which introduces the concept of "disposable" accessories required to improve or resolve the image acquisition / standardization nightmare for skin imaging.

True-see has just partnered with Net Health, a certified Electronic Health Record utilized by over 20,000 healthcare professionals in + 1,100 facilities.

Click here for video

Philips's Cristalize: a skin imaging service

Crystalize is a skin imaging service that helps you understand your skin and what it needs, so you can make smarter choices and get better results.

Christalize helps users to understand their unique skin. In one short consultation, the camera accurately and reliably images the skin. The images are analyzed to evaluate skin type, redness, texture and pigmentation. Based on the results, the sales consultant can recommend the products that best fit the skin type.

Crystalize is also an active Online community, where users can review their results and track their skin progress, while receiving specialized advice and peers shared experiences.

Too good to be true ? Perhaps.. as the Philips's backed-up venture did not make it from a business standpoint, stressing that the "Who Pays" remains the key question for technologies that enable "Personalized Skincare"

Moritex and BrighTex Bio-Photonics linked to Client database

With the Clarity Pro client database and analytical software, you can analyze skin condition, recommend treatments and track changes over time. The images taken with the Facial Stage reveal information regarding complexion health, UV damage, pore health, and wrinkles of the skin.

Clarity Pro captures digital images in multi-spectral lighting: true white light and blue light images to capture and reveal information on and below the skin’s surface layers. Automatic white balance and standardized lighting environment allows high precision dual mode imaging.

Technology: The measurement of tissue absorption, fluorescence and phosphorescence allow the monitoring of changes in electronic energy states, which provide biochemical information for diagnostics. The recent development of small light sources, high resolution detectors and thin film filter technology combined with image processing and partial signature recognition provide opportunities to quantitatively measure these interactions. Fluorescence spectroscopy evaluates the physical and chemical properties of tissues by analyzing the intensity and character of light emitted in the form of fluorescence.

Quantitative Skin Assessment: Using real time Fluorescence Spectroscopy combined with artificial intelligence provides 
a complete system solution for quantitative skin assessment. Utilizing mathematical 
algorithms, skin features and conditions are recognized and measured.” Patented technologies.

Purpose of device: full-face imaging of skin lesions and wrinkles

Main application: medical practices

Price range: unknown

C-CUBE : the first Hand-Held Camera with Real Time Color Calibration

C-Cube produces calibrated and reproducible images that fit multiple application ranging from Point-Of-Sales experience to Clinical Trials in dermatology. C-Cube integrates the latest generation of imaging sensors and  automates in real-time the calibration of the lighting and temperature f the colors, image focusing and all other imaging parameters. C-Cube connects to USB-enabled interfaces and comes with Build-in OEM software/APIs.

The Center For Dermal Research Joins The International Dermatology Institute
Princeton, July 31st 2012
The Center For Dermal Research (CDR) joins the International Dermatology Institute (IDI) alongside DermaNest and TRI/Princeton. IDI announces it’s third IDI Technical Forum, which will take place on Tuesday, October 16th, 2012


IDI offers start-up companies specialized in dermatology, around the world, the opportunity to expand their business, focusing on the US. By leveraging the services of DermaNest, CDR and the TRI Center for Skin Science and Applied Dermatology, small companies can position themselves within and receive services from IDI on the Princeton Campus. The Princeton area is the heart of the largest pharmaceutical, biotech, drug discovery and life sciences ecosystem in the world, and also includes the best in class laboratories of skin care, cosmeticeutical and wound-care companies. 

CDR, TRI and DermaNest share the common mission of aiding organizations in the development of personalized dermatology and cosmetics. Together, they provide technical solutions including predictive diagnostics, imaging devices and therapeutic methods for the advanced dermatological, cosmetic, and wound-care markets.

To learn more about the IDI Model, please visit DermaNest’s website.

CDR, on the Rutgers campus in Piscataway, New Jersey, offers professional development opportunities for its paid industrial members, networking with researchers from industry and academia, research collaborations with the Laboratory for Drug Delivery, connections with other faculty and research groups conducting skin research. The CDR is the first dermatopharmaceutics research center in New Jersey conducting studies on topical and transdermal compound delivery, skin biology and skin tissue engineering. The CDR provides quality educational opportunities for its members through workshops, seminar series, symposia and courses.

TRI Princeton is a non-profit research Institute, more than 80 years old, dedicated to Research, Education and Service in advanced industries. It is a recognized authority in cosmetic science. TRI provides technical innovation, research and claim support to the cosmetic and dermatology industries in addition to hosting various educational forums for professional scientists, including annual international conferences. TRI’s Center for Skin Science and Advanced Dermatology specializes in the study of skin’s structure, behavior and variability with the goal of a more personalized approach to skin protection and repair based on genetic predisposition and variations occurring from age, disease and environmental impact. Researchers within the Center interact with partners across various disciplines to bring about productive exchange of ideas and to implement meaningful results