Avant Technologies, Ainnova Team Up to Develop Retinal Camera

Avant Technologies Inc. and its partner Ainnova Tech Inc. (Ainnova) are working to advance Ainnova’s proprietary low-cost retinal camera—used for fundus photography—and seamlessly package it with Ainnova’s Vision AI software platform for commercialization. By combining the two technologies, Ainnova’s camera will provide precise retinal scans to its artificial intelligence (AI) software leading to even more accurate data.

Vision AI is a cutting-edge, AI-driven platform that can quickly and accurately detect the early markers of a host of diseases by applying AI models to examine imaging data from the eye to expedite earlier detection and allow patients to better manage their disease. The diseases Vision AI can detect include diabetic retinopathy; other retinopathies such as glaucoma, macular edema, age-related macular degeneration and other anomalies; as well as other diseases that do not require retinal images, and instead, use other datapoints that Ainnova will integrate into the software like detecting kidney disease, liver fat, cardiovascular risk, and pre-diabetes.

Currently, Ainnova’s Vision AI software works well with any fundus camera on the market; however, Ainnova and Avant are aiming for exclusivity by developing a lower-cost, easier-to-use camera that captures retinal images automatically and uploads those images to the Vision AI software platform, which then would produce a “risk report” in seconds. Ai-nova Acquisition Corp. (AAC), the company formed by the partnership between Avant and Ainnova, will develop the retinal cameras as part of the joint venture and licensing deal to facilitate development of Ainnova’s technology portfolio. AAC owns the licensing rights to develop, maintain, and market Ainnova’s technology portfolio in both North America (United States and Canada) and throughout Europe.

“The cost of a fundus camera has always been a barrier to entry into in this market, so our low-cost camera should allow us to not only enter the market, but to capture a large share of the market,” Ainnova CEO and AAC board member Vinicio Vargas said. “To that end, I will be meeting with a leading U.S. provider of digital healthcare solutions to discuss a potential distribution agreement, investment, and regulatory support.”

AAC will market the two technologies as a Software as a Service (SaaS) + retinal camera package with the hope of making retinal scans a part of routine healthcare. The business model is a pay-per-use platform, per patient, monthly, aimed at primary care clinics, insurance companies, opticians, pharmacies, occupational health companies that provide the service to employees of many companies, and pharmaceutical companies that sell the treatments or therapies.

“Our vision is that the retina will be a new standard in primary care, as basic as taking a patient’s blood pressure, and together with other datapoints, such as demographic data or laboratory results, to generate a complete report of preventive medicine,” Vargas added. “The goal is to provide patients with a risk screening so that they can be referred to the appropriate specialist. Our proprietary retinal camera, combined with our VisionAI software technology will offer a real accessible opportunity for early detection – and this is how we are going to impact the world.”

 Ainnova currently has commercial agreements with pharmaceutical companies, clinics, insurance companies, and medical service providers, and these relationships should offer AAC guidance into marketing the SaaS + retinal camera package in the North American and European markets.

Ainnova is a Nevada-based healthtech startup with headquarters in San Jose, Costa Rica; and Houston, Texas; founded by an experienced team dedicated to leveraging artificial intelligence for early disease detection. Recognized with multiple global awards and renowned partnerships with hospitals and medical device companies, the company developed VisionAI, a platform designed to prevent blindness and detect the early diabetes onset.

Avant Technologies Inc. is an emerging technology company developing solutions in artificial intelligence in healthcare. With a focus on pushing the boundaries of possibilities in AI and machine learning, Avant serves a diverse range of industries.