Optics

3D-Micromac and Allotex cooperate on excimer laser systems for vision-correction lens implants

Dec. 18, 2016

Allotex entered into a master cooperative agreement with 3D-Micromac to shape corneal allograft lenses.

Ophthalmic biologics and device company Allotex (Boston, MA), who is developing therapeutic solutions to treat presbyopia, hyperopia, and myopia, has entered into a master cooperative agreement with laser micromachining systems company 3D-Micromac (Chemnitz, Germany). The two companies will work together to develop and market a laser system for precisely shaping human corneal allografts used to create natural lenses that can be administered in an outpatient visit.

Made from human collagen, Allotex's natural allograft lenses can be used to treat the most common refractive errors that cause people to need vision correction. To be implanted successfully, these lenses must be produced to exacting dimensions much smaller than the thickness of a human hair. Under the agreement, 3D-Micromac will design, develop, and produce—exclusively for Allotex—a high-precision, compact excimer laser system for machining the lenses. Allotex will handle sales and marketing of the system to ophthalmologists and ophthalmic clinics.

Allotex CEO David Muller says that 3D-Micromac's laser micromachining expertise and system know-how will play a key role in the manufacture of these precision lenses. "We have been working with 3D-Micromac for over a year on the initial prototype development," he says. "It was clear from the start that 3D-Micromac has the right technology, experience and approach to make our partnership a success."

"We view Allotex's innovative lens technology as the future of permanent eye correction," said Tino Petsch, CEO of 3D-Micromac. "We look forward to creating a unique success story by combining their potentially life-changing technology with our laser micromachining expertise."

3D-Micromac will deliver the first prototype, developed in conjunction with Allotex experts, to the Allotex R&D facility in Zurich, Switzerland, in January 2017, with a second system slated for delivery to Allotex's commercial facility in Boston, MA. Allotex expects to begin European trials in the second quarter of 2017 and commercial rollout of 3D-Micromac's laser systems and Allotex lenses in early 2018.

SOURCE: 3D-Micromac; http://3d-micromac.com/3d-micromac-and-allotex-to-jointly-develop-laser-systems-for-precision-shaping-of-collagen-lenses-for-vision-correction/

About the Author

Gail Overton | Senior Editor (2004-2020)

Gail has more than 30 years of engineering, marketing, product management, and editorial experience in the photonics and optical communications industry. Before joining the staff at Laser Focus World in 2004, she held many product management and product marketing roles in the fiber-optics industry, most notably at Hughes (El Segundo, CA), GTE Labs (Waltham, MA), Corning (Corning, NY), Photon Kinetics (Beaverton, OR), and Newport Corporation (Irvine, CA). During her marketing career, Gail published articles in WDM Solutions and Sensors magazine and traveled internationally to conduct product and sales training. Gail received her BS degree in physics, with an emphasis in optics, from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA in May 1986.