Mission: To become the premiere , trusted, non-invasive, FDA approved medical device company for the treatment of migraine headaches, by providing patented, high quality, affordable products to migraine sufferers in partnership with the health care system.
Company History
Tecport Vision is an Orlando, FL based technology company formed to address neurological medical conditions through the application of optical devices. Tecport Vision is wholly owned by Tecport Optics. The foundation for TecportVision resulted from 15 years of R&D and advancements in thin film filter technology at Tecport Optics. Having developed proprietary technologies, Tecport Optics has been a leader in optical solutions in the Defense and Electronics industries. Some of the key products include:
- Partnered with Corning to develop the coatings for the DLP (Digital Light Processing) window. It is estimated that approximately 70% of the DLP windows (includes projectors and televisions) in the world market are coated with Tecport systems.
- Tecport developed the new High-Density Plasma Source. This breakthrough provides the capability to deliver the highest quality performance coatings at a consistent rate.
- Tecport was the first to develop a non-absorbing 3 to 5 um infrared coating, using oxide materials. The application is for the Defense and Security industries and resulted in multiple contracts with Lockheed Martin.
- Polaris was invented and patented as the 1st Cold Plasma coating system in the world. This system delivers high density/high packing coatings at very low process temperatures. Polymers and Plastics can now be used for applications that historically were only suited for much heavier substrates such as glass.
- EU has twice awarded Tecport the program to provide technical modernization in small and medium sized enterprises in Bulgaria.
- Developed Cold Plasma Laser Protection Coating capability utilizing Polaris. The application is for military goggles/visors – largest defense contractor in Turkey
- India’s Institute of Science – Nanotechnology Center awarded Tecport multiple contracts for Cold Plasma capability
Background
Headaches caused by migraines, a debilitating disease that according to the World Health Organization (WHO) affects more than 400 million people globally. This is about 10% of the world population. In the United States, ~36 million people suffer from this disease. The economic impact is enormous, costing U.S. industry more than $13B as a result of work days lost due to migraines. Patients spend $2B annually on drugs to relieve pain and discomfort caused by migraines.
Research has found that about 90% of suffers are hypersensitive to light -a medical condition known as photophobia. This discovery prompted the University of Utah Medical School and Harvard Medical School to form a joint research program into the prevention and treatment of photophobia associated with migraines. The study began in 2010. Physicians and scientists discovered an additional pathway for light between the eye and brain that does not produce images—it does produce pain. In the early 1990’s, a unique subset of cells in the retina (melanopsin ganglion) were found to be intrinsically sensitive to light. The pain pathway begins with these light sensitive cells and transforms light absorbed by the eye into a painful stimulus. This pain pathway is completely separate from and independent of the image-forming pathway. As a result, even some profoundly blind patients can be extremely light sensitive. Three years of structured research concluded that specific wavelength(s) trigger and exacerbate pain in migraine patients. By eliminating these wavelength(s), the frequency and severity of migraines can be significantly reduced.
The request from the research consortium was to develop an optical solution that incorporates a filter to block this wavelength(s) from being transmitted to the brain. Additionally, the filter needed to block the non-image forming wavelength(s) without affecting image forming wavelength(s) or blocking light that would result in hypersensitivity. R&D efforts by Tecport Optics Inc. achieved the desired notch filter capability. This resulted in a global license, assignment of
Tecport Vision Inc. was created to develop, manufacture, and distribute optical solutions to migraine headaches and other medical conditions. The migraine lens will be marketed under the brand “LEVO Lens”. This business plan addresses the commercialization of a medical device for the prevention/treatment of migraines. Current research is underway utilizing optical solutions to other neurological disorders including certain forms of epilepsy and management of the circadian cycle (resulting in sleep disorders). In addition, certain wavelength exposures may be contributing to the development of certain eye diseases. All of these medical conditions are anticipated to provide future product offerings from TecportVision.
Environmental Profile of Current Migraine Treatments
Key Points: There are three primary treatments for migraine headaches and a multitude of alternative treatments. All three of the primary prescribed treatments have varying levels of side effects, some of which are severe. None of these treatments is recommended for pediatric patients or women that may be pregnant. The patient cost associated with many of the treatments can be very high and do not specifically address the most frequent and debilitating symptom – Photophobia.
Drugs (OTC and Rx, Pills and injections)
As previously stated, over $2 Billion is being spent in the U.S. annually for anti-migraine drugs. These over the counter (OTC) and prescription drugs exhibit many side effects in addition to the high cost. Most migraine sufferers experience attacks once or twice a month, but for about 14 million Americans, episodic migraines (a few attacks per month) may transform into chronic rebound migraines (more than 15 days per month). Some patients transform into chronic headaches on a daily basis. Chronic sufferers are often significantly disabled, and their overall quality of life is greatly diminished because of associated depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Although many factors contribute to the transformation from episodic migraines to chronic rebound migraines, overuse of abortive medication is the most common.
Other treatments that participants used are hot/cold therapy, diet, magnesium, massage, Riboflavin, acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractor, sleep, physical therapy, Botox, magnetic head band and retreat to a dark room, etc.
In spite of all above available treatment, only 34% of participants are satisfied with their current treatment. 58% of participants still experience the maximum number of headache days. If tolerable, more than 76% avoided treatment and 83% stopped a treatment due to the side effects of treatment. 47% reported rebound headaches as a side effect, 59% cognitive challenges, 32% nausea and vomiting, 31% reported dizziness, and 50% of participants reported avoiding treatment due to the cost. Therefore, the most widely used therapy for all participants is still “finding a darkroom”. 91% of participants chose this course of treatment.Both over-the- counter and prescription drugs can result in overuse headaches, also known as” rebound headaches”
Both over-the- counter and prescription drugs can result in overuse headaches, also known as” rebound headaches”. Migraine sufferers who use pain relievers, triptan, or opioids more than 2-3 days per week, week after week and month after month to handle migraine symptoms are at risk of rebound headaches.Medication overuse can result in a pattern of more headaches and the need to take more and more medications.
Medication overuse can result in a pattern of more headaches and the need to take more and more medications Not only is the pattern itself harmful but while in this cycle, otherwise effective treatments may lose their effectiveness. The only way out of this cycle is to stop the pattern of overuse and prescribe prophylactic therapies-therapies that prevent headaches.
Although Drugs remain the most commonly used treatment for migraine relief, several new non-drug devices have been approved by the FDA and have entered the market.
Botox/ FDA approved October 2010
The manufacturer says that when treating chronic migraine headaches, qualified medical specialists administer 31 Botox injections into seven (7) specific head and neck sites. The FDA also has placed a “box warning” on the anti-migraine drug,
The FDA further states that Botox does not appear to be useful in treating or preventing less frequent migraines that occur 14 days or less per month or other forms of headaches. Preliminary test results conducted in Clinical Trials by the University of Utah Moran Eye Center indicated that the TecportVision “LEVO” lens provided a minimum of a 14% reduction in their HIT-6 score (Headache Impact Test -6 or an average 20 % reduction for their patience’s, while by comparing to Botox who had an approximant 10 % reduction.
Cerena Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator/ FDA Approved December 2013
The FDA concluded that side effects from this device were rare, but included “single reports of sinusitis, aphasia (inability to speak or understand language) and vertigo.” This new device is approved only for use by those aged 18 or older, and should not be used by people with suspected or diagnosed epilepsy or a family history of seizures. It should also not be used by anyone with any metal device implanted in the head, neck or upper body, or by people with an active implanted medical device such as a pacemaker or deep brain stimulator. The stimulator, manufactured by
Cefaly (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devise / FDA Approved March 2014
Cefaly is available by prescription-only and indicated for patients ages 18 and older. It should only be used once daily for 20 minutes. Women who are pregnant or could become pregnant should check with their doctor before using Cefaly. This device was approved through the “de novo premarket review pathway, a regulatory pathway for generally low-to moderate-risk medical devices”. The 67 person study showed that those who used Cefaly experienced significantly fewer days with migraines per month and used less migraine attack medication than those who used a placebo device. The device did not completely prevent migraines and did not reduce the intensity of migraines according to FDA. There are no other available conclusive reports related to long term exposure or
FL41 Tinted Glasses or Sunglasses
Blocking certain wavelengths of light can be an effective means of natural migraine relief. In 1991 researchers at the University of Birmingham, England tested a group of migraine sufferers by having them wear glasses with a special lens using FL-41 (rose-colored). The lens preferentially blocks a significant part of the blue-green spectrum. It was developed to reduce sensitivity to fluorescent lighting but had been shown effective in mitigating the frequency and severity of