Eye Movement Recording: Using innovation to provide testing at home or in the clinic

Tender description

PRELIMINARY MARKET CONSULTATION This document is part of preliminary market engagement and does not constitute a regulated procurement contract. It is intended this notice is used to understand potential business partnering opportunities with research partners. The Scottish Government Scottish Health and Industry Partnership (SHIP) plan to launch a future Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI)/ Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) within the area of Eye Movement Recording for the use of innovation to provide testing at home or in the clinic. Clinic-based Eye Movement Recording Abnormal eye movements such as nystagmus are difficult to quantify without eye movement recordings, but current systems are bulky, expensive, difficult to use and not CE marked for clinical use. A solution which accurately quantifies and analyses eye movements using only patient videos taken in clinic and links with relevant eHealth systems is desirable. Such a solution has the potential for rapid diagnosis and avoidance of expensive investigations (e.g. MRI, electrodiagnostics) across multiple conditions, i.e. infantile nystagmus, sudden-onset nystagmus, neuro-ophthalmology, myasthenia, intracranial tumours, stroke rehabilitation, cranial nerve palsies. Potential adjunct to orthoptic follow up with patient guided video selfies. Home-based Eye Movement Recording Microvascular extraocular palsies, stroke, ocular myasthenia and thyroid eye disease represent common causes for diplopia. All tend to have different follow up requirements, and a significant portion are discharged when resolution is confirmed at clinic. Currently it is not possible to offer home tests of diplopia/motility, along with guided recordings of ocular motility, and digital versions of Hess tests, or similar is desirable. We are looking for an efficient and simple digital tool to document eye motility and strabismus, leveraging ubiquitous technologies such as smartphones, tablets and home computers. Guided videos or photos allow capture of granular data. Acquisition from a patient’s own device allows more detailed tracking of a condition that impacts on eye movements. Some such conditions are characterised by their variability, such as ocular myasthenia, where the eye movement pattern fluctuates. If a clinician can survey multiple captures, where the patient conducts a self-test when most symptomatic between appointments, closer to home, faster diagnosis becomes possible. Similarly, response to medication and dose adjustments can be more accurately titrated without predicating a hospital clinic visit. Other examples of motility issues that change over time (often as they recover) include: MS related disorders, such as internuclear ophthalmoplegia, stroke related disorders, such as cerebellar strokes and microvascular disorders, such as nerve palsies. The desired monitoring tool would aid allow detection of recovery facilitating earlier discharge/avoidance of unnecessary clinic appointments. Conversely, deterioration of motility disorders can herald new events, or progression of pathologies, such as orbital tumours, enabling faster detection. Please note that this notice is for Preliminary Market Consultation for pre-tender supplier engagement only. A date for the Pre-Commercial Procurement opportunity for a future competition is to be advised. Applications are welcome from any type of organisation of any size (registered in the UK, EU or EEA) that can demonstrate a credible and practical route to market. Successful Applicants for the Pre-Commercial Procurement will be able to work in partnership with a research partner site to serve as the 'test bed' to develop the innovation and to collect real-world evidence in support of future potential product approval and use across the NHS Scotland health system. When the Pre-Commercial Procurement for this competition becomes available, interested parties must make a separate application on the host website. This notice is being utilised to assist in understanding the current market. If you are interested in the opportunity, then please record your interest using the appropriate button on Public Contracts Scotland. There is an opportunity to take part in a questionnaire to aid our understanding regarding the potential for your organisation to solve the Challenge. Internal review of the responses to the questionnaire and records of interest may result in an engagement meeting via Teams with members of the National Procurement Team, NHS Regional Test Beds & SHIP. To access the questionnaire template, please “Record your interest” using the appropriate button on Public Contracts Scotland which will allow you to access and download available documents from the “Additional Documents” tab in the “Additional Notice Options” section. All Questionnaire submissions must be returned via the PCS “Postbox” for this Notice. For further information on how to submit via the Postbox please refer to the “Supplier User Guide – Postbox” in the “Help Section” within the “Supplier Area”. Suppliers questions on the Preliminary Market Consultation can be submitted via the Questions and Answers function on PCS for this Notice. 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