Shiwei Imaging's Ruyi Whole-Eye OCT Wins First Place at World Ophthalmology Forum Roadshow, Pioneering a New Era of Integrated OCT Technology

On July 30, 2022, at the 2022 World Ophthalmology Forum and Oriental Eye Valley Roadshow Conference, Intalight globally launched its new generation technology for the first time—"Intalight Full-eye OCT" Takes First Place in Roadshow Competition. This technology integrates“"Full-eye axial visualization biometry, anterior segment OCT, posterior segment OCT, anterior segment OCTA, posterior segment OCTA" all in one,And all functional parameters have reached world-leading levels.Redefines the product form of OCT and ushers in a new era of full-eye OCT.

"Intalight Full-Eye OCT" New Technology Wins First Place in Roadshow Competition, Co-Founder and CEO of Intalight, Dr. Li Bing (2nd from left), Receives Award on Stage

According to the introduction, this forum was jointly hosted by the China Medical Equipment Association, the Changsha Municipal People's Government, Aier Eye Hospital Group, and VCBeat. Leaders from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Health Commission, and the National Medical Products Administration were invited to attend. Attendees also included academicians Yang Xiongli, Xie Lixin, Su Guohui, and Fan Xianqun, renowned domestic and international ophthalmology experts, heads of medical institutions and research institutes at all levels, as well as entrepreneurs in the ophthalmology-related fields.

During the roadshow competition, Dr. Li Bing, co-founder and CEO of Intalight, provided a comprehensive interpretation of the Ruyi Full-Eye OCT. After being questioned and scored by a panel of nearly 40 authoritative medical experts and investor judges on-site, Intalight won first place in the roadshow competition.Professor Peiquan Zhao from Xinhua Hospital, affiliated with the Medical College of Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityExclaimed:"Represented by Intalight,"Made in ChinaOphthalmologyIntalightEquipmentAchieving a lane change and overtaking!”

Intalight CEO Dr. Li Bing Fully Explains the "Ruyi Full-Eye OCT" New Technology

Data shows that Intalight, founded in Silicon Valley, USA in 2014 by three Chinese-American Ph.D.s, focuses on integrating cutting-edge optical design, imaging algorithms, artificial intelligence, and other frontier technologies into the ophthalmology field. It aims to become "the global leader in high-end ophthalmic medical devices." Since obtaining certification in 2019, Intalight's OCT products have been sold.Exceed80 Units，More than 30 unitsEntering leading ophthalmic hospitals and being continuously repurchased by multiple institutions, includingEye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University Eye HospitalThe main equipment for ophthalmic examinations in top ophthalmic hospitals.

At the same time, Intalight expands the capability boundaries of OCT, creating academic and clinical value, and has assisted top ophthalmology experts in publishing.More than 52 SCI journal articles, gaining favor with ophthalmologists. In 2021, Intalight obtained the leading enterprise in the ophthalmic service field.Aier HealthcareStrategic investment, entering a period of rapid development.

Traditional OCT is either posterior segment OCT/OCTA or anterior segment OCT/OCTA; biometers, on the other hand, are a different type of diagnostic instrument. If all three types of examinations are required, the patient would need to issue three separate orders, visit three different locations, and might even use three different brands of equipment, resulting in three separate reports.

Many years ago,Professor Li Xiaoxin from Peking University People's Hospital and Xiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye CenterProposed the concept of "Full-Eye," meaning a single device capable of performing both OCT and OCTA, visualizing both the anterior and posterior segments, and even conducting biometry.

In addition, traditional OCT/OCTA devices can only scan a small range of the posterior pole of the fundus or the anterior segment, providing relatively limited information. However, in clinical practice, the scope of lesions is often extensive, complex, and may even involve both the anterior and posterior segments simultaneously. This requires doctors to evaluate the entire eyeball from multiple dimensions.

The concept of "full-eye" presents enormous technical challenges that cannot be achieved with traditional time-domain or frequency-domain technologies. It requires the use of the latest generation swept-source technology and a completely new optical system design. Intalight, whose founder and chairman, Dr. Peng Xianzhao, is one of the earliest R&D engineers of swept-source lasers internationally, has also attracted a large group of R&D elites from top universities both in China and abroad, forming aA world-class R&D team with rich experience in nanoscale semiconductor optical design and high-end medical device development。

In response to clinical needs, the Intalight R&D teamApplied the latest swept-source technology to ophthalmic OCT products, while innovating optical system design and adopting advanced AI algorithms, globally pioneering the new technology of "Intalight Full-Eye OCT," successfully.Integrated on the same deviceFive functional modules: total eye axial visualization biometry, anterior segment OCT, posterior segment OCT, anterior segment OCTA, and posterior segment OCTA, achieving"Multi-functional in one device," "A full view at a glance,"Of great milestone significance.

Intalight's "Ruyi Full-Eye OCT" technology greatly broadens the clinical perspective, and canProvide one-stop examination solutions for fundus diseases, cataracts, refractive errors, glaucoma, and other conditions., widely applicable to all scenarios in ophthalmology, while also providing more possibilities for scientific research.

Currently, Intalight hasTop ophthalmology experts from multiple leading hospitals in China have jointly launched the "Ruyi Atlas" series of image collections., experts actively shared the "Intalight" imaging through online platforms with a wide range of ophthalmology colleagues. AsProfessor Zhang Ming from West China Hospital of Sichuan UniversityEvaluation:Intalight's Full-Eye OCT Elevates Swept-Source OCT Technology to the Next Level.Professor Xiu-Lan Zhang from the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen UniversityPointed out: Intalight's full-eye OCT can be used for both anterior and posterior segments, helping us see more changes in the iris and fundus blood vessels.

Will the full-eye OCT technology weaken various functions due to its integration of multiple functions? This is a question of widespread concern among experts and scholars on site. Dr. Li Bing, CEO of Intalight, stated: “Intalight's Swept-Source Biometry, Anterior and Posterior Segment OCT/OCTA functions are all world-leading compared to competing products, making it a powerhouse 'pentagon warrior'.。”

1、Biometric Function:The biometry function is a new feature module recently launched by Intalight's full-eye OCT, marking the world's first integration of full-axis visualized biometry with anterior and posterior segment OCT/OCTA. This milestone holds significant importance in the history of OCT technology development.

Through technical improvements to the Ruyi swept-source engine,Can achieve 45mm full axial range of visualizable biometry, including axial length, corneal curvature, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, and based on these, the calculation of intraocular lens power.Based on the ultra-strong tissue penetration of swept-source OCT and combined with the optimized high system sensitivity, the success rate and accuracy of axial length measurement for severe cataract patients can be significantly improved.

At this point, cataract patients can complete almost all preoperative examinations on the same device, greatly optimizing the clinical diagnosis and treatment process. In addition, the biometric results provided by the same device can be used to perform refractive corrections on many quantitative analysis results of fundus OCT/OCTA, thereby ensuring the reliability of clinical and research data.

2、Posterior Segment OCT Function:When severe cataracts, extremely high myopia, fundus hemorrhage, choroidal tumors, and various other complex conditions occur, the imaging quality of traditional fundus OCT often proves unsatisfactory.

Intalight's full-eye OCT delivers high-resolution, highly penetrative posterior segment OCT imaging, capable of penetrating severely opaque lenses to make the fundus clearly visible. It also features ultra-deep imaging technology, which prevents peripheral retinal folding in highly myopic patients, thus fully presenting the morphology of posterior scleral staphyloma. Additionally, it incorporates an ultra-wide-angle scanning technology.A single scan captures a 26mm ultra-widefield OCT image.`, without missing peripheral fundus lesions.`

3. Posterior Segment OCTA Function:The advent of OCTA technology has brought great convenience to the diagnosis and treatment of fundus diseases, but it also has problems such as a relatively small scanning range, disordered layering of complex lesions, and the inability to perform quantitative analysis. Compared with traditional OCTA products,Intalight Full-Eye OCTSingle scan range can reach 26mm×21mm (130° in the eye), and on this basis, it can also achieve automatic seamless stitching of over 200°., further expanding clinical indications and thereby significantly reducing the need for contrast-enhanced imaging.

In addition, the Intalight Full-Eye OCT adopts the internationally advanced "True Blood Flow" algorithm, combined with AI intelligent layering technology, which will demonstrate a higher detection rate for complex lesions and early microvascular changes. Its rich blood flow quantification tools cover measurements of parameters such as blood flow density, FAZ, CNV, non-perfused areas, and choroidal vascular index, enabling comprehensive quantitative analysis of blood flow at different levels of the fundus.

4、Anterior Segment OCT Function:Traditional frequency-domain OCT, due to technical limitations in scanning depth, can usually only present structural OCT images within a very small depth range (generally about 2mm). The anterior segment structure of the eye, which is originally a whole, is forced to be split for acquisition and display, resulting in the incomplete presentation of both the anterior chamber and the lens.

Intalight's all-new Ruyi Full-Eye OCT is equipped with the Ruyi Swept-Source Engine,Breakthrough in achieving 16.2mm super-deep scanning，A single scan can fully present high-definition panoramic anterior segment images of the cornea, anterior chamber, iris, lens, and even the anterior vitreous.In addition, based on powerful AI algorithms, automatic measurement of various anterior segment data such as cornea, angle of the anterior chamber, and ICL vault height can be achieved.

5、Anterior Segment OCTA Function:With the rapid development of OCT and OCTA imaging technologies, an increasing number of doctors have begun attempting to non-invasively observe anterior segment vascular morphology through blood flow OCT. However, unlike posterior segment OCTA, due to the high pigment content within the iris tissue, traditional spectral-domain OCT struggles to detect blood flow signals inside the iris because of its limited penetration capability.

Intalight's Full-Eye OCT, with its superior tissue penetration, can more easily penetrate the pigment-rich iris tissue to clearly display the morphology of iris blood vessels. Additionally,Under the dual assurance of ultra-high-speed scanning and the "True·Blood Flow" algorithm, the imaging quality of anterior segment OCTA has reached a globally leading level.

It is observed that Intalight, which targets high-end ophthalmic devices, is regarded by many investment institutions as a golden track for the next decade.

First, the number of patients with ophthalmic diseases in China is enormous. According to the "2022 Ophthalmology Industry Research Report" released by VCBeat, there are 700 million people with refractive errors, 360 million with dry eye syndrome, 180 million with cataracts, 50 million with glaucoma, 50 million with retinal diseases, 30 million with macular degeneration, and 23 million with uveitis. This vast patient population will create a huge market space.

Secondly, ophthalmic devices are a blue ocean market. Since 2014, the ophthalmic market in China has maintained rapid growth, reaching a market size of 210 billion yuan by 2021. Among this, with the increase in the prevalence of refractive errors among teenagers and the rise in cataract surgeries among middle-aged and elderly people, the market size of ophthalmic devices in China has grown rapidly, increasing from 11.1 billion yuan in 2014 to 37.5 billion yuan in 2021, with a compound annual growth rate as high as 19% over the past five years.

Finally, in China's high-end ophthalmic device market, there is significant space for domestically produced alternatives. Currently, multinational companies such as Zeiss, Alcon, and Topcon dominate the majority of the market share in China's high-end ophthalmic equipment sector. In the field of ophthalmic devices, mid-to-high-end large equipment accounts for 75% of all ophthalmic device sales.

Taking OCT as an example, OCT is hailed as another major technological breakthrough following X-rays, CT, and MRI. It uses optics to image the microstructure of biological tissues, with a resolution close to that of histopathological sections. It has extremely high application value in the diagnosis, detection, and evaluation of treatment efficacy for retinal diseases, macular diseases, optic nerve diseases, and glaucoma. It effectively compensates for the shortcomings of other fundus examination methods and is currently the "gold standard" in the field of ophthalmic diagnosis.

Today, the OCT products launched by Intalight and other domestically produced enterprises in China have achieved significant breakthroughs, breaking the monopoly of foreign brands and continuously expanding their market share.According to the 2021 China OCT market bidding data statistics, in the ultra-high-end OCT market with a unit price of over 2 million yuan, Intalight's market share reached 42%, surpassing imported brands to become the first; in the high-end market with a unit price of over 1.5 million yuan, Intalight's market share reached 20%, ranking second, only after Germany's Zeiss.In the foreseeable future, Intalight will lead the upgrading and iteration of OCT products, which is bound to increase the localization rate of high-end ophthalmic devices such as OCT in China.

Intalight has transitioned from the 1.0 era of product development and technology accumulation to the 2.0 era of brand enhancement, product expansion, internationalization, and platform construction.

In Phase 1.0, based on nanoscale systems engineering, optics, and algorithm development teams, as well as the Silicon Valley engineer culture of striving for perfection, Intalight established its foundation.From R&D design, productization, mass production, to quality control, a comprehensive system has been established. The supply chain and sales network have been improved, and OCT products have entered numerous top-tier hospitals, completing the construction of reputation and brand.

In the 2.0 phase, with the support of strategic investors such as Aier Eye Hospital, Intalight will continue to expand its product line, extending from diagnostic equipment to the therapeutic field, constantly expanding market boundaries, and developing from the domestic market to the international market, thereby building a global high-end ophthalmic device platform enterprise.

Based on its advantages in technology, team, product, market and other aspects, Intalight has won numerous honors. For instance, Intalight reached the top.Top Ten Advances in Ophthalmology in China 2021, and was appraised by the National Ministry of Science and Technology as "International Advanced Level", selected for the 8th List of Excellent Domestic Medical Device Equipment, ranked on the 2022 'Future Healthcare 100 Strong: China Innovative Medical Device List', won the top ten in the Asia-Pacific Ophthalmology Big Data Competition, and jointly developed a new standardization tool with national metrology technical institutions,"Participate in the formulation of "OCT"Chinese Standard"etc.

"Intalight has a world-class R&D and product team. As a representative of China's team, it will occupy a place in the international market of ophthalmic instruments in the future," pointed out Dr. Li Bing, CEO of Intalight. He was admitted to the Department of Electronics at Peking University as the top scorer in Fuzhou City, and after graduation, he received a full scholarship to further his studies at the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Virginia in the United States, obtaining his Ph.D. in just four years. He published 23 papers with over a thousand citations. He once served as an executive dispatched by the headquarters of KLA-Tencor, a global leading semiconductor equipment company, to establish a core algorithm team for key products in China. With outstanding international vision, he was also named one of the top ten "Innovative Entrepreneurs of the Year."

As for future development, he said: "At present,Intalight's OCT products have completed international type inspections and are currently undergoing FDA, CE, and other overseas registrations, as well as the construction of sales networks, hoping to quickly bring products such as the Ruyi Full-Eye OCT to core markets in Europe and America.We hope that the 'Intalight Full-Eye OCT' released this time will not only become a benchmark product for Intalight, but also serve as a calling card for Intalight to enter the global market."