EyeControl
Inspiring Communication
Giving voice to ICU ventilated patients, EyeControl‘s AI-based, FDA and CE regulated technology enables 24/7 communication with families and medical teams by tracking and analyzing eye movements.
44% of funding target
Highlights
Highlights
Giving Voice to Those Who Cannot Speak
EyeControl specializes in developing innovative communication solutions using advanced AI and eye-tracking technology. Their smart platform enables patients who cannot speak to communicate with their families and medical teams by tracking and analyzing eye movements. This enhances care quality, improves patient outcomes, and helps prevent cognitive decline.
EyeControl has two main products:
EyeControl-Med: Revolutionizing ICU Patient Communication with AI Technology
EyeControl-Med is an advanced communication solution for healthcare facilities, designed for 24/7 monitoring and bi-directional communication in ICUs. While following the patients journey it enables seamless connectivity between the ventilated patients, their families and medical teams.
Reducing ICU Delirium:
The ICU is a stressful environment where lack of communication and heavy sedation often lead to ICU Delirium, a condition involving significant cognitive decline that affects up to 80% of patients. This can double mortality rates and extend ICU stays by 5-10 days, significantly increasing healthcare costs. Effective communication has been shown to reduce ICU Delirium.
"Delirium is really a burden for the patients and the staff; and, if we are able, using EyeControl, to decrease this burden, and to decrease the length of stay, and to make the patient recover better, this will be a true breakthrough for the recovery of these patients."
Prof. Pierre Singer, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center Israel
EyeControl-Home: Empowering Patients with AI-Enhanced Communication
EyeControl-Home is a cutting-edge communication solution designed for patients transitioning from medical facilities to home care and individuals with conditions like ALS, MS, stroke, spinal injuries etc.
EyeControl-Home supports patients by maintaining essential communication capabilities, fostering independence, and enhancing their overall well-being during their recovery journey. What sets EyeControl apart is their unique technology that operates without calibration, allowing patient freedom in various settings.
“I will finally be able to go outside without the stress of losing my communication.”
Michael, ALS Patient
Patent Protected Worldwide
EyeControl is building a broad and deep patent portfolio to protect all aspects of its technology and provide licensing opportunities for potential strategic partners. The company has several approved and pending patents (4 different families of patents) registered in the USA, Europe, China, Japan, and Israel.
Internationally Regulated Technology: FDA, CE, ISO
EyeControl's technology meets regulatory standards in the USA, Europe, and Israel. Their devices hold FDA-listed status and are CE marked as communication solutions. Additionally, EyeControl is ISO certified, AMAR registered, and compliant with HIPAA and GDPR guidelines.
Numerous International Grants and Awards
EyeControl has been recognized globally for its innovative technology through several prestigious grants and awards:
- Horizon 2020 SME Instrument Phase-2 & European Innovation Council Accelerator: EyeControl is the first Israeli company to be awarded both competitive European Commission programs.
- Israel Innovation Authority & Israel Ministry of Economy: Multiple grants have been awarded for pioneering advancements in medical technology.
- BIRD Foundation: Grant received for conducting a multi-center trial.
- Google AI Collaboration: Partnership aimed at enhancing conversational models with advanced AI technology.
- A2Pilot Program: Collaboration with NIH AI Track, making EyeControl the first Israeli company in this program.
Prominent Investors – EU, VCs and Private Angels
EyeControl has been financed by VCs and private investors, including the European Commission Fund, Connecticut Innovations, Benslie, Rimonci Capital, Menomadin, Zora Ventures as well as private angels such as Nir Kalkstein, Benny Levin (Founder and former CEO of NICE), Itsik Danziger (former President of Comverse), and others.
Extensive clinical trials in Israel and the USA
EyeControl has successfully conducted clinical trials demonstrating meaningful improvements in ICU Delirium management. Early results from a top Israeli hospital trial were compelling enough to secure two significant grants from BIRD and NIH, supporting the company's international clinical trials.
Currently, a multi-center trial is underway at leading hospitals in the US and Israel, validating EyeControl's effectiveness as the first technology platform to mitigate Delirium through enhanced communication. Funded by the BIRD Foundation, this trial includes prestigious institutions such as Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, affiliated with Harvard University, as well as Rabin Medical Center and Assuta Hospitals in Israel.
Commercial Implementations
EyeControl-Med:
EyeControl-Med is a provider to Clalit Health Services, the largest HMO in Israel, ensuring that our technology is used in their extensive network of hospitals. This partnership validates the efficacy and reliability of EyeControl-Med in clinical settings. We already have paying customers in Israel and a growing pipeline of sales in both Israel and the USA. Our strategic relationships with major healthcare facilities, including HCA Healthcare executives—the largest hospital chain in the USA—further strengthen our market position and provide opportunities for substantial growth.
A satisfaction survey conducted among family members of patients who used EyeControl at the ICU yielded highly positive results:
All respondents agreed they would recommend the device to other families, with over 90% expressing willingness to use it again if needed. Families described EyeControl as a significant tool that enabled them to support their loved ones during ICU hospitalization, reducing feelings of helplessness and aiding in their emotional coping.
One patient's wife strongly recommended: "This should be offered to every patient in ICU, as part of the standard protocol."
EyeControl-Home:
EyeControl-Home is fully commercialized and eligible for federal reimbursement through various channels. It is included in the Israel Health Basket, the UK NHS Supply Chain, and the US CMS. The device generates substantial revenue for the company, driven by organic demand from paying customers in the USA and Israel.
Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations
EyeControl maintains a continuous partnership with the European Innovation Council (EIC) for investments. Additionally, we engage with strategic entities in the fields of Nurse Station solutions, Ventilators, monitoring solutions, and more. Our company also benefits from the guidance of advisory board members who are leading in the healthcare industry, providing valuable insights and enhancing our presence in the US market.
EyeControl's commercial success is built on strong market demand, validated partnerships, and a clear path for continued growth and expansion in both healthcare facilities and home care markets.
An Exceptional Founding Team with Personal Connections to the Cause
EyeControl was established by co-founders, who all have personal connections to Locked-in individuals. Or Retzkin, CEO and Co-founder joined together with Itai Kornberg, CTO and Co-founder and Shay Rishoni RIP, Co-founder and ALS patient, on a mission to give the locked-in community the ability to communicate.
Their journey, addressing the communication needs of those living with ALS, evolved into an innovative ICU communication and monitoring solution.
Global Recognition and Achievements
- EIC portfolio Company
- Exhibited at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation
- Included in Harvard Business School case study
- Forbes - Forbes ‘Small Giants’ First Israel Edition
- Genesis Prize: Winners of the Genesis Prize and Start-up Nation Central’s competition for COVID-19 innovations.
- Peres Heritage Initiative Award: Recognized for contributions to medical innovation.
Pitch
Pitch
The Problem
Communication barriers in ICU and ventilated patients, especially those who are intubated or sedated, present significant challenges. These patients often struggle to express their needs and symptoms, leading to feelings of isolation and frustration. For healthcare professionals, this lack of communication complicates the assessment and treatment of patients. ICU patients are also at high risk of developing delirium, a severe brain dysfunction marked by confusion, inattention, and cognitive decline, which is associated with higher morbidity, longer hospital stays, increased costs, and long-term cognitive impairments. Moreover, patients transitioning from hospital to home face ongoing communication challenges, particularly those with chronic conditions like ALS, MS, stroke, spinal injuries, and cerebral palsy, which can further hinder their recovery and independence.
Our Solution
EyeControl revolutionizes patient care by addressing these communication barriers with its innovative solutions for healthcare facilities and home care. EyeControl-Med and EyeControl-Home leverage advanced AI and eye-tracking technology to facilitate continuous, bi-directional communication between patients, their families, and healthcare providers, significantly improving clinical outcomes and supporting delirium management.
EyeControl-Med - Designed for healthcare facilities, EyeControl-Med enables 24/7 monitoring and communication with the nurse station for ICU, long-term acute care, and rehabilitation center patients. It enhances patient care by ensuring continuous connectivity and real-time communication.
Key Features:
- Adaptive AI Communication: Utilizes advanced AI and ML-based pattern recognition to adjust to patients' phases of awareness and consciousness.
- Personal Companion: Serves as a supportive companion, aiding patients throughout their healing journey.
- Eye-Tracking Wearable & Cloud Platform: Converts eye gestures into real-time communication and actionable clinical data.
- Real-Time Analytics: Drives improved clinical outcomes.
EyeControl-Home - This remote care product supports patients transitioning from hospital to home, including those with conditions like ALS, MS, stroke, spinal injuries, and cerebral palsy. It provides a seamless communication solution that works without calibration and in various settings, both indoors and outdoors.
Key Features:
- AI-Powered Interaction: Employs sophisticated AI and ML-based pattern recognition to facilitate effective communication for non-verbal patients.
- Calibration free: Unlike many eye tracking solutions the product doesn't require any calibration for the usage.
- Short Learning Curve: the adaptable capability of adjusting the technology enables a variety of potential users to learn the technology and a short time frame.
- Not dependent on a screen: The usage of the technology is via the audio feedback and doesn’t require computer screen blocking the face-to-face interaction.
- Comprehensive Care: Ensures continuous connectivity and expression for patients moving from clinical settings to home care, and those with degenerative conditions.
EyeControl’s products stand out due to their unique machine learning algorithms, which are tailored to work with diverse eye characteristics without needing calibration. Unlike many competitors' devices, EyeControl's solutions are not cumbersome, and can be used in various environments, including outdoors and during the night.
The Technology – How It Works
EyeControl-Med consists of an eye-tracking wearable device and a cloud-based platform powered by adaptive, machine learning-based pattern recognition. This technology deciphers eye gestures into real-time patient communication and actionable clinical data through two main components: a headset and a dashboard.
The headset includes an infrared camera that tracks eye movements, sending the data to a processing unit. This unit translates the movements into communication, with a bone conduction component providing audio feedback before transmitting to output devices.
The nurse station dashboard enables remote patient monitoring, covering awareness status, communication status, CAM-ICU reports, assessments, and family engagement. EyeControl-Med's advanced features enhance treatment accuracy and foster patient engagement and emotional well-being in ICUs, long-term acute care facilities, and rehabilitation centers.
EyeControl-Med facilitates various communication levels to aid medical teams in connecting with patients. It sends orientation messages, enables patient communication with staff and family, and helps patients stay aware of their surroundings. These features can be configured through the nurse station and activated by patient eye movements or scheduled times.
Field Testimonials
Clinical Teams:
"The responses to EyeControl's solution are unlike those of regular medical treatment. Using the system clearly affects patients; unlike in regular patient rounds, EyeControl users remember me" - Levenstein Hospital staff
"Patients manage to use the device easily. I was surprised that patients whom I initially thought wouldn't be able to use it, succeeded in communicating successfully." Beilinson Hospital staff.
"EyeControl is significant for patients as it allows them emotional connection with their families through communication."
Family Members:
"Not only can I send messages to my husband through EyeControl, I also know that he heard and understood them!" Wife of a patient at Meir Hospital.
"From my professional experience as a psychotherapist, I am aware of how critical communication is to the healing and recovery process. Your solution is brilliant!" Wife of a patient at Beilinson Hospital.
"The ability for family and friends to record messages allowed them to feel involved, and greatly helped my husband when he was hospitalized. After not seeing them for almost two months, he was very excited to hear their voices". Wife of a patient at Beilinson Hospital.
ICU Patients:
"The most amazing thing about the device is that you wake up from anesthesia, and you can control something! Not everyone does to you what they want." COVID-19 patient - Beilinson Hospital.
"Using EyeControl gave me hope and motivation to improve." COVID-19 patient - Beilinson Hospital.
"I want to tell the founders and all the team - well done! Your solution is very helpful and should be given to all patients." COVID-19 patient - Meir Hospital.
Media Coverage
- February 2024: Haaretz - Talking to the Unconscious: Israelis Reduce Delirium During Surgery
- January 2024: Times of Israel - Israeli med tech company’s innovative headset could reduce delirium in ICU patients
- January 2024: Times of Israel Blog - Healing war wounds with Israeli health-tech
- January 2024: ISRAEL21c - High-tech communication aids intubated patients in ICU
- January 2024: Johns Hopkins - Press Release: Hopkins AITC announces additional awardees of second funding round
Team
Team
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Or holds a joint BSc degree in Physics and Accounting from Tel Aviv University and went on to graduate with an additional MSc in Finance. Or is a member of the 8400-healthcare leadership program. Prior to founding EyeControl, Or worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Israel, in the high-tech and industry audit departments. He continues to lecture in Tel Aviv University’s Accounting Department, and volunteers as Alumni Director at the 8200 Impact Accelerator.
Or serves as a Major in the Israel Navy reserves, and during Iron swords war he was called for reserve duty for nearly 100 days.
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- MBA- MIT;
- MSc Physics Tel-Aviv University;
- BSc Physics Jerusalem University.
Avner is an experienced entrepreneur and CEO of Sheba Impact - the entrepreneurship and innovation company of Sheba Medical Center. He is also a Research Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, and an adjunct professor at Tel Aviv University
Halperin worked in executive positions at Eldat Communications, Radcom, and Lenslet. He also served as the CEO of Emmunet, which he co-founded with Yossi Vardi. In 2004, he co-founded EarlySense, a medical technology company. He is an inventor of 34 U.S. patents, many of which are associated with the non-contact medical detection and monitoring devices that the company produces.
In 2020, Halperin appointed EyeControl‘s chairman of the board of directors. His leadership significantly enhances EyeControl‘s strategic direction.
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Itai graduated from Ben Gurion University with a BSc in Software Engineering (magna cum-laude). Prior to co-founding EyeControl and leading its technology, Itai worked as an automation developer and architect at HP and NetApp Innovation Lab. He founded a technological-social impact scholarship venture named ‘Hello World‘, harnessing developers’ and tech corporates’ knowledge solutions for NGOs and people with special needs.
Itai led R&D and operations at EyeControl through the rapid development of an FDA listed and CE marked medical device while developing the company’s quality system, manufacturing, CRM and support capabilities.
Itai served in an air force intelligence unit and was called for reserve duty during the Iron Swords war.
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Ph.D. in Information Systems, University of Haifa (expected); M.Sc. in Information Systems, University of Haifa (summa cum laude); B.Sc. in Computer Science, Hadassah Academic College.
Moayad is a distinguished lecturer and researcher with over ten years of experience in teaching and scientific research. He specializes in developing high-quality systems in mobile eye-tracking technologies that do not require calibration. Moayad has published numerous papers in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, showcasing his expertise in ubiquitous computing, human-computer interaction, computer vision, and deep learning. His professional journey includes roles as a lecturer at the University of Haifa and Ruppin Academic Center, where he supervises B.Sc.
Moayad‘s contributions to EyeControl include leveraging his extensive knowledge in eye-tracking to enhance communication solutions for patients, aiming to significantly improve their quality of care and overall medical outcomes.
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MBA, University of Iowa; Nursing Degree, Blackhawk College.
Lyn is a renowned expert in patient experience and nursing practice with 40 years of experience. Lyn was the first Chief Patient Experience Officer at HCA Healthcare, where she established corporate strategies to improve patient care across 180 hospitals. Known as the "birth-mother of hourly rounding," she co-authored pivotal studies and books on nursing leadership and patient experience. Lyn’s contributions have earned her numerous awards, including the Malcolm Baldrige Award and recognition in Becker’s Hospital Review. She now leads her consulting practice, KLK Leading Change Inc.
Lyn‘s extensive experience in improving patient satisfaction and implementing innovative practices significantly contributes to EyeControl‘s mission of enhancing patient communication and care.
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M.D., Universidad Favaloro Facultad de Ciencias Medicas; Internship, Hospital Fernandez; Residency, Internal Medicine, St. Luke‘s Roosevelt Hospital Center; Fellowship, Pulmonary/Critical Care, Cleveland Clinic.
Chief of the Medical Intensive Care Unit and a Clinical Professor of Medicine with extensive experience in critical care medicine and respiratory care. He has over 20 years of experience and is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Modrykamien is board-certified in pulmonary disease, internal medicine, and critical care medicine. His expertise in ICU management and innovative patient care significantly enhances EyeControl‘s efforts to improve communication and care for critically ill patients.
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PhD in Educational Psychology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Dr. Galili is the CEO of the Menomadin Foundation, where she spearheads innovative social impact practices through a Blended Finance Approach. With a PhD in Educational Psychology, she has held prominent roles at Bar-Ilan University and various organizations. Dr. Galili’s proficiency in sustainable investments and cross-sector partnerships significantly contributes to EyeControl’s efforts in advancing patient communication and achieving substantial, measurable improvements in patient care.
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