Case Study

Lens-free direct ophthalmoscope

Roger Armour, a retired surgeon, had always felt that traditional ophthalmoscopes were expensive and complicated. The standard ophthalmoscopes on the market required different lenses and needed calibrating before it was used. They are also expensive, delicate instruments that needed to be protected from the normal environment in which doctors, midwives and healthcare professionals worked in. Roger developed a prototype for a novel ‘lens free’ ophthalmoscope and came to Team for help taking it further.

We supported Roger, who had no experience of product development or using consultancies such as us to develop his product. With our help, Roger secured funding for the project and we set about turning Roger’s concept into a highly innovative, easy-to-use, lightweight , robust, lens-free ophthalmoscope that can be supplied at a price which makes it highly accessible to a range of potential new users including nurses, midwives and students

Team were responsible for and carried out the entire development programme, from concept to industrialisation and launch. We worked with patent agents to ensure effective protection for Roger’s invention; identified and subsequently worked with a preferred manufacturing partner to develop, set up and validate all manufacturing systems; worked with regulatory experts to establish and implement the approval path for this novel device; carried out full design verification planning and execution, including all risk management and human factors engineering.

The device has won multiple awards and has received wide acclaim from users.

“I turned up at Team’s office with a cardboard prototype and a real passion to see this product be used in hospitals and clinics around the world. Team worked very closely with me to turn the product and business into something that I am incredibly proud of. The feedback I’ve had from users has been fantastic and the Optyse continues to build market share.”

Roger Armour, Founder, Ophthalmos Ltd