Miniprobes
Miniprobes is a University of Adelaide spin-out that builds fibre-optic OCT probes for non-invasive meat quality assessment in Australian processing plants, with a Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scanner in R&D.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersProspect, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Miniprobes does
Miniprobes is an Australian, University of Adelaide spin-out that builds fibre-optic optical coherence tomography (OCT) probes for industrial and medical imaging applications. The company's core product is a meat quality probe that uses OCT to non-invasively measure meat characteristics during processing, intended for use at Australian meat processing facilities. A second product line, a Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scanner, is in R&D and targets the medical imaging market for chronic-wound diagnostics.
The underlying platform combines proprietary fibre-optic probe design with electronics and software developed in-house, leveraging expertise originating from the University of Adelaide. The company is pursuing AUS-MEAT accreditation, expected in early 2026, which would certify the Meat Quality Probe for industry-wide use across the Australian red meat sector. The first commercial installation of a probe system was completed at an Australian meat processing plant in 2025, with a broader commercial release planned for 2026.
Revenue mechanics are not disclosed. The business model relies on selling or licensing probe systems to meat processors, with a planned extension into medical imaging supported by a $1.2 million AUD grant from the Australian Government's Critical Technologies Challenge Program (CTCP) awarded in February 2026. The customer base is currently anchored on a single pilot installation, and the company partners with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) for sector validation. With 1-10 employees and operations based in South Australia, Miniprobes is at an early pre-commercial-to-early-commercial stage.
Miniprobes firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Miniprobes
- Legal name
- Miniprobes
- Website
- https://miniprobes.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Miniprobes is a University of Adelaide spin-out that builds fibre-optic OCT probes for non-invasive meat quality assessment in Australian processing plants, with a Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scanner in R&D.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Miniprobes industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Optical Imaging Equipment
- NAICS
- Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retinal Imaging & OCT Systems (OCT/OCTA, Fundus Cameras, Fluorescein/ICG Angiography) (HLAHAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- By-Product Quality, Safety & Compliance Services (Traceability, Spec Testing, Regulatory) (AFANAGAL)
Keywords
Where Miniprobes is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Prospect
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Miniprobes business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Meat Quality Scanner Hardware Sales: Sale of fibre-optic imaging needles and scanners to meat processors for meat quality assessment. The company has installed their first system at a commercial meat processing plant and plans to release the product for sale later in 2026 following AUS-MEAT accreditation.
- Medical Device Sales (Future): Future revenue from diabetic foot ulcer assessment scanners sold to healthcare providers for clinical use in diabetes management.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Miniprobes product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Miniprobes designs and manufactures fibre-optic imaging needles and scanners based on optical coherence tomography (OCT). Its commercial product, the Meat Quality Probe, measures intramuscular fat in red meat to enable processors to identify and grade premium cuts. The company also offers a broader Industrial Optical Scanners platform and is developing a non-invasive Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scanner for healthcare applications.
Product overview
Miniprobes develops innovative fibre-optic imaging devices based on optical coherence tomography technology. The company's product portfolio includes the Meat Quality Probe — a commercial product for measuring intramuscular fat in red meat — and the Industrial Optical Scanners platform. A future product in development is a Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scanner for medical assessment. The imaging needles use an all-fiber optical design with no-core and GRIN fiber technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Meat Quality Probe A fibre-optic imaging needle that measures intramuscular fat content in meat to enable red meat processors to quickly identify high-quality cuts for premium product classification. Built on the proprietary all-fiber OCT optical design.
- Industrial Optical Scanners A platform of high-resolution fibre-optic optical scanners using optical coherence tomography technology for industrial imaging applications, designed for non-invasive tissue imaging.
- Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scanner A non-invasive optical coherence tomography scanner in development to assess diabetic foot ulcers by measuring changes in skin blood vessels, intended to predict wound healing potential and guide treatment selection.
Quantifiable outcome
- First commercial installation at meat processing plant completed
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Miniprobes
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Miniprobes technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Miniprobes partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- The University of AdelaidecoreMiniprobes is a high-tech spin-out from The University of Adelaide. The company continues to work with university researchers on developing new imaging products, including the diabetic foot ulcer scanner. The collaboration involves ongoing R&D partnership.
- Meat & Livestock AustraliacoreMiniprobes works closely with Meat & Livestock Australia to deliver the meat quality scanner to the Red Meat Industry. The organization provides funding, industry access, and validation support for the product development. The company has received funding from this organization.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Miniprobes competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Tomra: Sensor-based sorting and food quality company with applications in meat and food processing. Comparable to Miniprobes as an established vendor of optical/sensor-based quality assessment equipment for the food industry.
- Optos: Retinal imaging company producing wide-field imaging devices. Comparable to Miniprobes as a commercial vendor of high-resolution optical imaging technology for clinical applications.
- Marel: Global supplier of food processing equipment including meat grading and quality systems. Comparable to Miniprobes as a broad incumbent that integrates quality assessment instrumentation into meat processing lines.
- Carl Zeiss Meditec: Global medical technology company with a broad OCT and ophthalmic imaging portfolio. Comparable to Miniprobes as a large incumbent advancing clinical OCT applications and demonstrating the long-term commercial viability of OCT-based imaging devices.
- Topcon Healthcare: Ophthalmic imaging company with OCT and retinal imaging product lines. Comparable as a broad incumbent in OCT-based medical imaging devices.
- NIDEK: Manufacturer of ophthalmic diagnostic devices including OCT systems. Comparable to Miniprobes as an established OCT imaging device vendor serving clinical end markets.
- Heidelberg Engineering: Established OCT and confocal imaging systems company focused on ophthalmology and research. Comparable to Miniprobes as a leading OCT incumbent that validates commercial demand for high-resolution optical tissue imaging.
Emerging players
- Frontmatec: Meat processing automation and quality grading equipment supplier. Comparable to Miniprobes as a participant in objective meat quality assessment technology, though with broader equipment portfolio.
Direct peers
- Thorlabs: Major supplier of fibre-optic components, OCT systems, and imaging optics. Comparable as a technology-platform peer that designs and commercialises OCT and fibre-optic imaging hardware for research, industrial, and OEM customers.
- Mauna Kea Technologies: Developer of probe-based optical biopsy devices (Cellvizio) using fibre-optic confocal laser endomicroscopy. Highly comparable to Miniprobes in concept: miniaturized fibre-optic probes that acquire high-resolution images of tissue in vivo for clinical and research applications.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Miniprobes social profiles
Digital presenceMiniprobes financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Miniprobes leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Miniprobes funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Miniprobes M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Miniprobes
What does Miniprobes do?
Miniprobes designs and manufactures fibre-optic imaging needles and scanners based on optical coherence tomography (OCT). Its commercial product, the Meat Quality Probe, measures intramuscular fat in red meat to enable processors to identify and grade premium cuts. The company also offers a broader Industrial Optical Scanners platform and is developing a non-invasive Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scanner for healthcare applications.
Is Miniprobes a public or private company?
Miniprobes is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Miniprobes founded?
Miniprobes was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Miniprobes based?
Miniprobes is headquartered in Prospect, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Miniprobes make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Meat Quality Scanner Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are medical Device Sales (Future).
Who are Miniprobes's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Tomra, Optos, Marel, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Topcon Healthcare, NIDEK and Heidelberg Engineering. Frontmatec is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Thorlabs and Mauna Kea Technologies.
Does Miniprobes have an API?
No public API is recorded for Miniprobes.
What industry is Miniprobes in?
Miniprobes's product category is Industrial Optical Imaging Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAJAB, Retinal Imaging & OCT Systems (OCT/OCTA, Fundus Cameras, Fluorescein/ICG Angiography), with a secondary code of AFANAGAL, By-Product Quality, Safety & Compliance Services (Traceability, Spec Testing, Regulatory). Its NAICS code is 334510 and its SIC code is 3827.