Retinal Spectral Imaging System for early diagnosis and monitoring the treatment of vision threatening diseases.

The Product
Next Dimension (NeD) is developing the next generation of retinal imaging systems, which utilize spectral imaging to map metabolic activity in the retina that can provide an early warning prior to the onset of noticeable anatomic tissue damage followed by vision loss.The system will be used as part of the routine practice to diagnose and monitor the treatment of patients suffering from vision threatening diseases such as Diabetic Retinopathy, AMD and Glaucoma.  

Background  
The most widespread vision threatening diseases, Diabetic Retinopathy, AMD and Glaucoma are associated with metabolic irregularities in the retina as the basis of their pathomechanism. These metabolic irregularities trigger a chain of events damaging the retinal tissue, manifest as edema, neovascularization, eventually leading to irreversible damage. 
Up until recently the only effective treatments for Diabetic Retinopathy and AMD were laser therapies. 
Lately new drugs that better handle some of the retinal complications have been approved and are further investigated for their full therapeutic potential. 
NeD sees potential to couple its tools with the prescription of these new drugs at the earliest possible stage and to then monitor the treatment of these chronic diseases

The Need
The occurrence rate of retinal diseases climbs rapidly: Diabetes Mellitus has been defined as an epidemic and the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy increases with the duration of the disease. The occurrence of AMD grows with age. With the growth in the ageing population worldwide the demand for effective diagnosis and treatment to prevent vision loss that can impact mobility and quality of live will grow substantially. A solution package is needed that provides for quick and convenient early diagnosis of potential vision threatening diseases, coupled with the prescription of the new drugs that are becoming available, which is then followed by monitoring to manage these chronic diseases.  NeD products are targeted to meet these needs for early diagnosis and monitoring.   

The Market
The total market for the new classes of drugs and for the ophthalmic equipment for early diagnosis to help in prescribing these drugs at the earliest possible stage is a multibillion dollar annual market.  NeD foresees close interaction with the drug companies to not only sell equipment, but to also develop total solutions and software for monitoring the treatments with these drugs. 

Intellectual Property
The company has applied for patents on its technology and continues to develop its patent portfolio for key elements of its spectral imaging technology covering hardware and software.

The Company
Next Dimension was founded in 2006 by Dr. Sara Krupsky (MD) Dr. David Rosenblatt (PhD) and Dr. Marek Sternheim (PhD).  The group of founders brings together an experienced team with background in retinal imaging and optics and instrumentation systems.