Originally Published EMDM
May/June 2004
Industry News
Electronics Firm Has Its Eyes on Retinal ImplantsA Swiss contract electronics manufacturer has entered into a partnership that hopes to develop the world’s first device to treat retinal degeneration.
Valtronic S.A. (Les Charbonnières) announced the agreement with med-tech firm IIP-Technologies GmbH (Bonn, Germany) at the end of March. The Learning Retina Implant (LRI) is currently in clinical trials in Germany and Austria. It is expected to be placed on the market by 2006.
The first-generation LRI will be aimed at patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa. This hereditary disease affects more than 100,000 people in the European Union. The initial symptom is night blindness, which gradually leads to tunnel vision and ultimately blindness as cells degenerate. Future versions of the product will target age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The late stages of dry-form AMD affect more than 2 million people in EU countries, according to Valtronic.
The device comprises external and implanted components. The patient wears glasses with a camera chip and energy transmission system as well as a Walkman-sized processor. Input from the camera is processed and wirelessly transmitted to a component implanted in the eye. The implant comprises a flexible film with microelectronics for signal reception as well as numerous electrodes for retinal stimulation. Following implantation, the patient will be able to optimize visual perceptions via computer-assisted adjustments.
Development of the LRI was initially funded by a US-based consortium. A new round of financing finalized in March garnered e4.5 million and resulted in München-based PolyTechnos Venture– Partners taking the lead investor role. The European Union also contributed a e1.6 million grant as part of the Healthy Aims project within the Sixth Framework programme.
Valtronic defines its partnership as part of an ongoing effort to boost R&D and expertise for the in-house production of active implantable medical devices. With ISO EN 13485 certification in process, it will be one of the few European companies with the quality systems and technical expertise to develop and manufacture Class III medical devices.
Valtronic supplies miniaturized electronic systems to OEMs globally from facilities in Switzerland, the United States, and Morocco. The medical device market accounts for approximately 50% of its business.
For more information, contact Valtronic S.A., CH-1343 Les Charbonnières, Switzerland; phone: +41 21 8410111; fax: +41 21 8410222; e-mail:
infoval@valtronic.ch; Internet: www.valtronic.ch.
Copyright ©2004 European Medical Device Manufacturer
