iBIONICS

What iBIONICS does

iBIONICS is a Canadian medical technology company developing the Diamond Eye™, an implantable bionic retinal prosthesis designed to restore functional vision to patients with degenerative retinal diseases, principally late-stage dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). The platform uses a nitrogen-doped ultrananocrystalline diamond (N-UNCD) electrode array—reportedly scalable from 256 to 1,024 independently addressable electrodes—housed in a hermetically sealed diamond package and bump-bonded to a high-density silicon ASIC. The system comprises three components: custom smart video glasses that capture visual input, a wireless power and data link (developed with the University of Ottawa), and the implanted retinal stimulator that converts optical signals into electrical pulses perceived by the brain. The technology is positioned for a 1-2 hour surgical procedure under local anesthetic, with one-time implantation and lifetime software upgrades.

The company operates a pre-commercial, hardware-sales revenue model targeting direct sales to hospitals, eye clinics, and retinal surgery centers across the US, Canada, and Europe, with reimbursement pathways reportedly established in all three markets. Its initial addressable patient population is the 430,000 late-stage dry AMD patients in the US and Canada, expanding to a broader dry AMD population of 16 million and ultimately the 200 million people worldwide projected to face degenerative retinal conditions. iBIONICS is headquartered in Ottawa-Gatineau with clinical operations in Montreal led by Dr Flavio Rezende, and a wholly-owned R&D subsidiary in Melbourne, Australia, where Professor Steven Prawer developed the foundational diamond technology under Australia's Bionic Vision Fund. The company is pre-revenue, having raised approximately $928,708 in a 2016 seed round, with clinical trials in progress and a market launch targeted for 2024. Beyond vision restoration, the company has disclosed a broader Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) platform ambition targeting paralysis, pain management, and neurological conditions.

Name

iBIONICS

Legal name

iBIONICS

Website

https://ibionics.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

iBIONICS is a Canadian medical device startup developing the Diamond Eye™, an implantable bionic retinal prosthesis using nitrogen-doped diamond electrodes to restore functional vision in patients with late-stage AMD and retinitis pigmentosa. The company is pre-commercial, targeting healthcare institutions across North America and Europe with a 2024 commercial launch.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bionic Retinal Implants

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Low Vision & Assistive Vision Devices (Magnifiers, Electronic Video Magnifiers, Wearable Vision Aids) (HLAHAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Vitreoretinal Surgical Devices (Vitrectomy Systems, Endolaser, Illumination, Tamponades) (HLAHAJAJ)

Keywords

• Bionic retinal implants
• Neural interface devices
• Medical implant manufacturing
• Vision restoration technology
• Brain-computer interfaces

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Diamond Eye Bionic Implant Sales: iBIONICS generates revenue through the sale of the Diamond Eye bionic retinal implant, a medical device that requires surgical implantation. The implant is designed for one-time surgical placement with lifetime software upgrades. Revenue is realized through direct sales to healthcare providers and institutions, with reimbursement pathways established in US, Canada, and Europe markets. The company is in pre-commercial stage with clinical trials ongoing and market launch planned for 2024.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

iBIONICS designs, manufactures, and commercializes the Diamond Eye, a bionic retinal implant that restores partial vision to blind individuals by using nitrogen-doped diamond electrodes to electrically stimulate the retina. The system comprises custom smart video glasses that capture visual input, a diamond microchip with 256–1024 electrodes implanted on the retina, and wireless power and data transfer. The therapy targets degenerative retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), with the underlying diamond-electrode platform also applicable to brain-computer interface uses.

Product overview

iBIONICS is a life sciences startup specializing in nano-implants that designs, manufactures, and commercializes smart implantable bionic solutions. The company's flagship product is The Diamond Eye™, a bionic retinal implant that restores partial vision to blind individuals. The system consists of three main components that work together: (1) Custom Smart Video Glasses that capture visual input, (2) A Diamond Microchip implanted on the retina that processes and converts visual information to electrical signals using diamond electrodes, and (3) The Diamond Eye implant that stimulates the retina to elicit neural response, enabling the brain to perceive light patterns as vision.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Diamond Eye A bionic retinal implant that restores partial vision to blind individuals by using diamond electrodes to stimulate the retina, converting visual information into electrical signals perceived by the brain as light. Designed to treat degenerative retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa.
• Diamond Microchip A highly programmable, high-density silicon microchip with 256 electrodes (scalable to 1024) made of conducting diamond, packaged in a diamond enclosure using specialized brazing technology and laser welding for implantation as part of the Diamond Eye system.
• Custom Smart Video Glasses Video glasses that capture visual input and send laser light to the implanted retinal device, which converts the light to electric pulses for brain perception as part of the Diamond Eye system.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200 million people worldwide will face degenerative retinal conditions leading to blindness by 2020
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of MelbournecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Steven Prawer, iBIONICS Cofounder and CTO, is from the University of Melbourne where he developed the manufactured diamond technology for the Diamond Eye. The University provided the foundational IP and expertise in diamond science that underpins the company's core technology.
• National Vision Research Institute of Australia (NVRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNVRI conducted important research and validation studies of iBIONICS' Diamond Eye to demonstrate and refine the patterns of stimulation used in the implant, working on optimizing the diamond implant as a conduit for stimulating sight.
• University of OttawacoreStrategic or Co-development PartneriBIONICS chose the University of Ottawa for collaboration in developing the wireless capability to transfer data and power for the Diamond Eye. Ross Cheriton, a PhD candidate from the university, works on developing the laser link, tracking and power conversion mechanism.
• Université de SherbrookecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversité de Sherbrooke is designing the chip that goes inside the bionic eye implant. Professor Rejean Fontaine leads the packaging and design laboratory, contributing to the implanted electronics and its reliable assembly.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ibionics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about iBIONICS