IDMoS gets teeth into early-stage dental work

Medical technology specialist IDMoS says it is on course to commercialise a new dental analysis system by the end of the year.

The Dundee company, which develops disease detection and monitoring technology, hopes to secure regulatory approval to launch its Caries Management Support (CMS) System on both sides of the Atlantic.

The company's loss of £1.1m in the six months ending in January compared with £725,000 in the same period last year, but IDMoS said the figure was in line with its expectations and reflected its product development costs.

Chairman John Pool said: 'Our principal focus over the next few months is to complete the commercialisation process to have CMS available for launch on the dental market this year. A key factor will be obtaining the required regulatory approvals for US and European launch. We are confident of the outcome.'

Developed from research carried out at Dundee University, CMS aims to exploit the shift towards preventive management of dental decay by worldwide health services.

Consisting of a base station, integral analysis software and disposable sensor, the system has the ability to identify dental decay, including during the early stages. IDMoS claims it offers a level of accuracy which is unavailable from existing techniques such as x-ray.

Tooth decay is generally only found in its later stages, when lesions can be detected by the human eye or by conventional diagnostic tools. Typically, by this time it is too advanced to reverse or arrest.

Analysts estimate the market for dental equipment and supplies reached $3bn (£1.7bn) in 2003 in the US alone, and is expected to grow to $4bn by 2009.

As well as launching CMS, IDMoS will continue to expand its product range which includes a complementary 3D imaging device for caries detection as well as a range of other medical systems.

The company has an agreement with Polish research organisation ESKULAP to develop technology to detect and monitor cancerous tumours and related abnormal cell structures.

Scheduled to last for three years, this is expected to produce small clinical devices to aid surgical practice in lesion detection and monitoring, software models for imaging the results of bioimpedance in 3D, and experimental devices and micro-models which will provide images of the neck.