MD-SD-OCT · Project

Two-in-One Eye Diagnostic Device That Cuts Equipment Costs by 45%

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Imagine going to the eye doctor and instead of sitting through two or three separate machines to check for different problems, one compact device does it all. An Italian company figured out how to combine two key technologies — one that maps the surface of your eye and another that sees through its layers — into a single instrument. The clever part is they also invented a cheaper way to run the advanced scanning, so the whole device costs about 45% less than what clinics pay today. It's like going from needing a separate camera, scanner, and printer to having one machine that does all three — for half the price.

By the numbers

45%

Cost reduction compared to existing ophthalmology diagnostic technology

International patent filed (WO 2014/155286 A1)

Technologies combined in single device (Placido disk + SD-OCT)

Consortium partner (CSO SRL, Italian SME)

The business problem

What needed solving

Eye clinics and hospitals currently need multiple expensive instruments to screen for common conditions like keratoconus, glaucoma, and cataract. Each device costs tens of thousands of euros, takes up exam room space, and slows down patient flow as patients move between machines. The problem gets worse as eye disease prevalence rises in aging populations and increasingly in younger adults.

The solution

What was built

CSO developed the MD-SD-OCT, a single compact diagnostic device that integrates corneal topography (Placido's disk) with Spectral Domain OCT imaging, protected by international patent WO 2014/155286 A1. The project also produced press releases and a project website for market communication.

Audience

Who needs this

Private ophthalmology clinics looking to reduce equipment costsHospital purchasing departments managing tight diagnostic equipment budgetsOphthalmic device distributors seeking competitively priced productsEye care chains expanding into new locations with limited spacePublic health programs running large-scale glaucoma and cataract screening

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Ophthalmology clinics and private eye care practices

SME

Target: Private ophthalmology clinics and eye care centers

If you are a private eye clinic dealing with the high cost of equipping each exam room with multiple diagnostic devices — this project developed a single compact instrument that combines corneal topography and OCT scanning into one device, at roughly 45% lower cost than buying separate machines. That means fewer devices to maintain, less floor space needed, and faster patient throughput since you don't move patients between machines.

Medical device distribution and ophthalmic equipment retail

mid-size

Target: Ophthalmic equipment distributors and resellers

If you are a medical device distributor looking for competitive products to add to your catalog — this project produced a patented dual-technology diagnostic device (patent WO 2014/155286 A1) that covers keratoconus, glaucoma, and cataract screening in one unit. The 45% cost reduction compared to existing technology makes it attractive for price-sensitive markets and emerging-economy hospitals expanding their ophthalmology departments.

Hospital networks and public healthcare systems

enterprise

Target: Hospital purchasing departments and public health procurement offices

If you are a hospital network managing tight equipment budgets while needing to screen growing numbers of patients for age-related eye diseases — this project delivered a device that replaces two separate instruments with one, cutting acquisition costs by about 45%. For public health systems running high-volume screening programs for glaucoma and cataract in aging populations, this means stretching procurement budgets further.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much cheaper is this device compared to current alternatives?

According to the project objective, the overall cost of the device is approximately 45% lower than existing applicable technology. This reduction comes from CSO's patented SD-OCT management system that is less expensive to manufacture.

Can this device handle the volume of a busy clinical practice?

The device was designed as a compact, flexible diagnostic tool combining two technologies into one instrument, which should streamline patient flow by eliminating the need for separate machines. Based on available project data, specific throughput numbers (patients per hour) are not provided, but consolidating two exam steps into one device inherently speeds up the diagnostic process.

What is the intellectual property situation — can I license or resell this?

CSO holds an international patent (WO 2014/155286 A1) covering the Spectral Domain OCT technology integrated in this device. Any licensing or distribution arrangement would need to go through CSO SRL, the sole developer and patent holder. The single-company consortium means all IP sits with one entity, simplifying negotiations.

Does this meet medical device regulations for my market?

The project title explicitly refers to the product as a 'medical device,' and CSO is an established manufacturer of ophthalmology instruments. Based on available project data, specific CE marking or FDA clearance status is not detailed in the objective, so regulatory status should be confirmed directly with CSO.

What eye conditions does this device actually diagnose?

The device targets detection of keratoconus, glaucoma, and cataract — three of the most common eye conditions, especially in aging populations. It achieves this by combining Placido's disk topography for corneal surface mapping with SD-OCT for cross-sectional imaging of eye structures.

How long has this technology been in development?

The EU-funded project ran from June 2015 to May 2017, but CSO had already conducted two years of market research prior to the project start. The company is described as having existing expertise in R&D, design, and manufacturing of ophthalmology diagnosis devices, suggesting a mature development track.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project: CSO SRL, an Italian SME and established manufacturer of ophthalmology instruments, carried out the work alone. With 100% industry participation and no academic partners, the project was purely business-driven — focused on getting a product to market rather than generating research papers. For a potential buyer or distributor, this means one point of contact, clear IP ownership, and a company that already has manufacturing infrastructure in place. The absence of university partners suggests the core science was already mature enough that CSO could handle development internally.

COSTRUZIONI STRUMENTI OFTALMICI C.S.O. SRLCoordinator · IT

How to reach the team

CSO SRL is an Italian ophthalmology device company — their R&D page is publicly available at csoitalia.it

Order a report on this consortium See COSTRUZIONI STRUMENTI OFTALMICI C.S.O. SRL profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the team behind this 45%-cheaper eye diagnostic device? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the right person at CSO.

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