Award of the Year 2020

Hyperparallel OCT for Ophthalmology and Optometry

Cylite Pty Ltd / Cobalt

Hyperparallel OCT is the next generation of diagnostic equipment for Ophthalmologists and Optometrists.

In a world-first, the HP-OCT instrument provides complete 3D imaging of the eye, with highly accurate (micron level) measurements of all key optical properties of the eye. This is achieved by combining cutting edge opto-mechanical design, high speed electronics for image acquisition and advanced parallel software processing.

Screening patients with eye conditions currently requires a multitude of individual diagnostic devices to build a clinical picture of a patient. The HP-OCT streamlines this screening process by integrating the functions of five existing instruments into a single, automated platform.


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Design Excellence

The HP-OCT’s industrial design, has utilised a pure and precise form that embraces the patient and clinicians needs. The iconic design has spotlighted the instrument on the world stage. Patients of all ages and sizes are accommodated by the instruments proportions, geometry and the fluid automated patient alignment system.

The design is an example of world class plastic part design that includes over-moulding, structural plastic part design and the demanding material performance and safety requirements of a class 2 medical product. A clever DFMA strategy was deployed to achieve the minimalist style, whilst ensuring efficient assembly in Melbourne was realised.

Design Impact

The HP-OCT has been developed with the primary goal of improving ocular health. It is estimated that currently 2.2 billion people live with vision impairment and at least 1 billion of these cases could have been prevented through earlier treatment or intervention. Locally, the impact on the Australian economy alone are estimated at AU$20-30 billion for 2020.

The advanced technology of the HP-OCT will enable more health professionals to routinely screen more patients, leading to improved diagnosis and treatment that will help to mitigate the emotional and financial burden on society that these avoidable conditions bring.

Design Transformation

Complex optical technology has traditionally been designed and engineered in countries such as Germany, Japan, and the USA. The HP-OCT, which is currently in the late stages of clinical certification, will be competing head to head with these internationally designed and engineered products that have been in the Ophthalmic market for many decades.

The outstanding design of the HP-OCT, that to date has been granted 6 patents and 7 patent filings, further enhances Victoria’s reputation as a centre for medical device design and engineering excellence – and now extends this into the fields of Ophthalmology and Optometry.

Design Innovation

OCT is a non-invasive imaging technique used by Ophthalmologists and Optometrists to investigate, diagnose, and manage patients with ocular conditions. Existing OCT technology can take several minutes to scan a patient’s eye, creating patient movement due to the discomfort.

The patented high-speed optical measurement technique of the HP-OCT allows over 1000 individual measurements to be taken simultaneously, creating highly accurate, artefact free measurements that overcome movement errors seen in traditional OCT devices. A scan that currently takes several minutes can be captured on the HP-OCT in less than 2 seconds and contains more clinical data points than existing OCT technology

Other Key Features

  • The HP-OCT is manufactured on a modular assembly line in a Class 10k clean room within Cylites’ Melbourne facility, with increasing automation applied to each stage of manufacture.
  • Protected by 6 granted patents and 7 additional patent filings.
  • HP-OCT instrument is currently in use in key clinical research laboratories around the world.
    Certification for clinical use in Europe and Australia is  imminent.
  • Early adopters include Byers Eye Clinic-Stanford University, the Eye Institute-Medical College of Wisconsin and the Singapore Eye Research Institute.
  • Clinical trials underway for several years with Prof Michael Collins at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, QUT.

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