Inoko Vision

NeuroFET enables early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases

Neurological changes in the brain often manifest as changes in ocular dynamics. Using data acquired with NeuroFET, our algorithms create a unique eye fingerprint for each patient and can track signs of neurodegenerative symptoms and their progression over time. We analyze results from patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. Our innovation enables:

Early screening of large numbers of patients for Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases

Pharmaceutical companies to determine the effectiveness of neurodegenerative disease treatments

Testing of new and existing medications on how they affect the nervous system

Faster than the tiniest involuntary eye movements

Thanks to sophisticated optical, synchronization, and control systems, combined with smart algorithms, our tracking system performs faster than the tiniest eye movements. We can see and quantify the smallest microsaccades, as well as drift and tremor movements. This unprecedented precision opens the door to finding unexplored relations between subtle changes in individual oculomotor characteristics in the course of neurodegenerative diseases. The critical component of the device is the ultrafast retinal-based eye tracking system (FET - FreezEye Tracker) [1].

Easy control and precise synchronization in psychophysical experiments

The device is equipped with a digital display to present visual tasks and a pupil camera for easy and fast positioning of a subject to assure data quality during the experimental session. Custom-designed electronics ensure precise synchronization of eye movement recording and task display, which is crucial in psychophysics experiments. The experiments can be easily designed by vision scientists and neurologists who already use contemporary eye trackers in research and clinical studies, as well as new users interested in eye tracking.

The NeuroFET is free of the problem of sub-optimal initial set up and calibration procedure

In examining elders and people with disabilities, special effort was made to make it as comfortable as possible and reduce the time required for the experimental session. In contrast to available video eye trackers, the NeuroFET is free of the problem of sub-optimal initial set up and calibration procedure. The key feature is that the wavelength of light used for imaging the eye is completely invisible to the subject, so the psychophysical experiments can be performed without any undesired interference from the tracker. We use a freeware PsychoPy environment to create the psychophysical experiments, and custom-designed experiments can also be easily added by any user.

Machine learning-based algorithms

Since our system is equipped with the most modern components and optical techniques, we have no choice but to use equally modern algorithms. We employ machine learning to detect drift, microsaccades, saccades, and other events in eye movements. Using a combination of hand-crafted and in-depth features extracted from these events, we apply AI for differential disease diagnosis.

Verification & Clinical Validation

Having received approval from the Bioethics Committee, we began measurements with our first prototype. We tested it on over 100 people, including trials with patients and controls.

We have captured the specificity of retinal eye tracking. It turns out that eye movement behavior is like a fingerprint, characteristic of each individual.

We compared patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease and glaucoma with control patients. We observed more fixation instability in neurodegenerative diseases.

We benchmarked NeuroFET against the most advanced pupil tracker used in scientific research. NeuroFET has up to 6x higher resolution and can detect 20x smaller microsaccades.

We are looking at ocular diseases such as glaucoma or retinal degeneration and how they affect eye movements. It is necessary to consider this impact from the neuro biomarkers.

Research and Development at Inoko Vision

Explore Our R&D Services

From research to rapid prototyping, we guide your project from concept to clinic. Our process includes comprehensive support and technical training, ensuring our solutions meet stringent medical standards and client needs. We leverage over a decade of expertise to deliver error-free, reliable results in the following areas:

Opto-Mechanical Engineering

Optical Design: Comprehensive optical design for imaging/tracking systems focusing on the eye. Critical evaluation and feasibility analysis of existing and proposed optical systems
Mechanical Design: Detailed engineering of mechanical systems for prototypes, including both stationary and motorized components. Integration of advanced motor technologies for precise control.
Optical Prototyping: Development of bulky clinical and experimental devices such as fast eye-movement detectors based on retinal tracking systems. Implementation of wide field scanning laser ophthalmoscopes (SLO) and retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) with angiography capabilities. Customization options for additional components like pupil cameras and fixation target channels.

Electronic Circuit Design

Design and programming of electronic boards tailored for: Control of mechanical devices including stepper motors, scanners, LEDs, and lasers. Analog-to-digital data conversion from sophisticated sensor arrays. Efficient data transfer protocols for high-throughput computational tasks.

IT and Software Solutions

Software Infrastructure: Robust software drivers tailored for Inoko’s proprietary electronic modules, enabling advanced device control and comprehensive data acquisition. Development of cross-platform, language-agnostic APIs for low-level hardware interaction. Cross-platform, multi-language user libraries (C#, Python) supporting application development in environments like .NET Framework, LabVIEW, and Python.
Custom Software Solutions: Development and optimization of user applications for Inoko’s prototype devices using .NET Framework / WPF, and Python / PyQt. Creation of portable file formats for robust data storage and exchange, utilizing advanced formats like HDF5. Algorithm development for image processing in applications like SLO, OCT, and retinal tracking systems, along with tools for psycho-visual experiments.

Our Workflow:

Research and Development: Conducting in-depth literature reviews and experimental testing to validate initial concepts.
Rapid Prototyping: Quick-turnaround lab prototypes to assess technical feasibility and refine system parameters.
Clinical Prototyping: Design and manufacture of ophthalmic devices ready for clinical trials.
Client Support: In-depth technical support, comprehensive documentation, and professional training for optimal use of devices and data processing tools.

With over a decade of experience, we meticulously analyze, model, and test our technologies to ensure they meet the highest standards without compromise.

Our Team

Founders

Anna Szkulmowska

Ph.D., CEO

15+ years in R&D

Maciej Nowakowski

Ph.D., Head of R&D

optical engineer with industry experience

Maciej Szkulmowski

prof., CSO

broad scientific collaboration

Jakub Lipiński

Business Development

serial entrepreneur, investor and mentor

The Breakthrough in Rapid Brain Diagnosis

NeuroFET enables early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases

Sophisticated Optics

Faster than the tiniest involuntary eye movements

Ultra Precision

Easy control and precise synchronization in psychophysical experiments

Non-Invasive, Reproducible Examination

The NeuroFET is free of the problem of sub-optimal initial set up and calibration procedure

The Perfectly Tailored Software

Machine learning-based algorithms

Trials with Patients

Verification & Clinical Validation

Research

Contact Us

We can support your research with our NeuroFET method and our expertise

Our Team