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The eyes are often regarded as windows into the soul, but for French-Belgian medtech startup neuroClues, they represent much more—they’re a gateway to detecting a range of brain health issues. With the development of accessible, high-speed eye-tracking technology enhanced by AI-driven analysis, neuroClues aims to revolutionize the diagnosis and management of neurodegenerative conditions.
Founded by a team of neuroscience researchers, neuroClues is on a mission to simplify and streamline the process of using eye tracking for medical purposes. Their initial focus lies on Parkinson’s disease, a condition that already involves testing a patient’s eye movement. Traditionally, clinicians would instruct patients to “follow my finger,” but neuroClues envisions a future where portable headsets capture eye movements at a staggering 800 frames per second, enabling rapid data analysis within seconds.
The decision to prioritize Parkinson’s disease stems from the high rates of misdiagnosis associated with the condition. However, neuroClues’ ambitions extend beyond Parkinson’s, envisioning their device as a “stethoscope for the brain.” In this future, routine visits to the optician could include quick scans of brain health, benchmarked against standard metrics for various age groups. Furthermore, eye tracking protocols hold promise for diagnosing other conditions such as concussion, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and stroke.
At the heart of neuroClues’ technology is its ability to extract valuable biomarkers from eye movement data. By instructing patients to follow dots displayed on a screen while wearing the headset, clinicians can capture crucial information such as latency and error rates. This data, analyzed in real-time, provides clinicians with insights into a patient’s neurological health, comparing their results against standardized values for healthy individuals.
Despite the potential of eye tracking in medical diagnostics, widespread clinical adoption has been hindered by technological limitations and cost constraints. neuroClues aims to address these challenges by offering a portable headset that can be seamlessly integrated into clinical environments without the need for specialized hardware or dark room setups. Moreover, neuroClues distinguishes itself by developing dedicated eye-tracking headsets capable of recording at high speeds, ensuring unparalleled accuracy and efficiency.
To safeguard their technological advancements, neuroClues has secured a number of patents covering various aspects of their design and data analysis methods. These patents, coupled with their proprietary hardware and software, position neuroClues as a leader in the field of medical-grade eye tracking.
While neuroClues anticipates deploying their eye-tracking headsets initially in specialist settings such as university hospitals, their long-term vision involves broader accessibility. By providing clinicians with diagnostic capabilities, neuroClues aims to democratize access to advanced neurological assessments, ultimately empowering healthcare providers to deliver more accurate and timely diagnoses.
The road to regulatory approval is underway, with neuroClues currently seeking FDA clearance for clinical use in the United States and pursuing similar approvals in the European Union. With a strong emphasis on safety and efficacy, neuroClues is committed to meeting the rigorous standards set forth by regulatory agencies.
In addition to their technological advancements, neuroClues recently closed a €5 million pre-Series A funding round, led by White Fund and the European Commission’s EIC Accelerator program. This funding injection will fuel further research and development efforts, positioning neuroClues for future growth and expansion.
Looking ahead, neuroClues plans to continue refining their technology, with the goal of delivering fully autonomous diagnostic capabilities to clinicians. By harnessing the power of AI and high-speed eye tracking, neuroClues aims to transform the landscape of neurological diagnostics, offering hope for millions of patients worldwide.
As neuroClues embarks on this journey, their commitment to innovation and patient care remains unwavering. With a vision of democratizing access to advanced diagnostic tools, neuroClues is poised to make a significant impact on the field of neurology and beyond.
