Technology and Product Development

  1. Mobile Eye Surgical Unit, MESU™, first-of-its-kind technology in the country, targets the huge unaddressed need for cataract surgeries in rural India. The Mobile Eye Surgical Unit (MESU) is an innovative engineering solution designed, by providing a stable, self-sufficient and mobile platform that provides a controlled and sterile environment for performing high quality cataract surgery even in rural locations with no basic amenities. The successful clinical pilot of MESU in rural Tamilnadu with no post-operative complications led to GoI approval from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of this technology as a delivery model for cataract surgeries. The Ministry released an independent health technology assessment report analyzed MESU technology's cost effectiveness and efficiency and found it suitable for scaling up. Till date, MESU has conducted over 2300 surgeries and is continuing operations. A video summary of MESU is available at http://htic.iitm.ac.in/?q=mesu

  2. Eye PAC™, an ophthalmic image computing technology, developed by our team has evolved into a versatile and powerful platform that is finding its ways into eye screening. The first success of Eye PAC came through an imaging solution for an affordable eye examination device by Forus Health, an Indian med-tech startup. Forus' innovation, a highly affordable revolutionary eye examination device, "3nethra" targets early screening of eye diseases. This image computing platform has helped 3nethra to achieve its goal of eye screening without dilatation (thus reducing cost and crucial skill barrier otherwise required) and reach 1000+ installations in 15+ countries so far. More technical capabilities to identify lesions for early detection of diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration are currently under work for deployment. A video summary of Eye PAC is available at http://htic.iitm.ac.in/?q=eye-pac

  3. ARTSENS™, an image-free technology that non-invasively measures the stiffness of carotid artery, an indicator of vascular health, in an automated manner is a disruptive innovation that reduces cost (~20X of current imaging equipment) and skill barrier (requires one week training). The technology uses an ultrasound sensor that the operator places over the carotid artery, on the neck of the subject, which yields reading of arterial stiffness within a minute through intelligent algorithms. The technology was successfully validated in collaboration with leading clinicians (sonologist and cardiologists), for correlation with conventional imaging equipment, age, pulse wave velocity and risk factors. Field trials are being conducted in outskirts of Chennai in collaboration with National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) to introduce this technology for public utility. Through such partnerships, ARTSENS has been tested on more than 3000 subjects and is yielding significant research publications. A video summary of ARTSENS is available at http://htic.iitm.ac.in/?q=artsens

  4. In collaboration with EMRI, the largest emergency service provider in country and Tamilnadu government, we have developed neo-natal ambulance design and the technical specifications for neonatal ambulances in the state. This included detailed time, movement and process study during live handling of the cases to ensure the functional impact of the proposed design was comprehensively researched and validated. Following successful testing of this prototype in the field, detailed fabrication specifications were drawn based on which tenders were called by TN government for fabrication of the next fleet of ambulances. Around 60 neonatal ambulances for Tamilnadu were developed based on this new design and deployed for public service in the state.