Latest news with #Mansouri
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Winnipeg couple's invention could change concussion care and eye health around the world
In a field as complex as neurology, groundbreaking solutions rarely start with cardboard and mirrors. However, for Dr. Neda Anssari and Dr. Behzad Mansouri — a pair of Winnipeg-based neurologists, married co-founders of Neuroptek, and co-inventors of a medical device called Eye Mirage — their quest to reshape vision and concussion care began in the most unassuming of places: Their garden. 'We were working on ideas while gardening one summer afternoon,' said Dr. Mansouri. 'Just one idea after another, until suddenly we said — this might work.' That spark of inspiration, fuelled by years of experience treating patients with concussions and neurological eye conditions, has since evolved into a patented medical device undergoing clinical trials in Winnipeg. The goal: To give clinicians, athletic trainers, and even frontline workers in remote communities a fast, affordable, portable way to assess vision and diagnose concussions — right from a smartphone. And they're building it all from right here in Manitoba. Dr. Anssari and Dr. Mansouri run a busy private clinic in Winnipeg that focuses on comprehensive concussion and eye-related neurological care. Between them, they carry specializations in neurology, neuro-ophthalmology, and neuroscience. Their clinic, which also includes an optometrist on staff, is believed to be one of the only facilities in Canada offering this level of integrated concussion and visual diagnostics under one roof. 'We see a high volume of patients dealing with headaches, vision problems, and concussion symptoms,' said Dr. Anssari, who also serves as Medical Director of the clinic. 'But one of the biggest challenges we face is the lack of objective, accessible tools for diagnosis — especially for concussions.' That diagnostic gap, especially in remote and underserved regions, is what drove the couple to pursue a long-held idea: A device that could collect precise visual data using a smartphone — capturing everything from eye movement to acuity to colour vision — without requiring bulky machines or in-person exams at specialized centres. The idea behind Eye Mirage is deceptively simple: Use the power of today's smartphone cameras and displays to run essential vision tests. The execution, however, required years of research, experimentation, and innovation. After that eureka moment in the garden, the couple rushed inside and fashioned their first prototype using cardboard and mirrors from Home Depot. 'It was primitive, but it worked,' Dr. Mansouri recalled with a smile. 'We proved we could show two different images to two eyes using a smartphone — something no one had done successfully before.' From there, the couple refined their concept through 3D-printed models, clinical collaboration, and eventually, professional design. Eye Mirage was born. The device holds two smartphones, carefully aligned with transparent mirrors placed at 45-degree angles. This configuration allows one phone to display images while the other captures eye movement and function in real time. Artificial intelligence then processes the video, providing instant diagnostic feedback that can be shared securely with healthcare providers via cloud or electronic medical records. 'With just this device and two smartphones, we can assess visual acuity, colour vision, eye movement — even detect signs of lazy eye or glaucoma,' said Dr. Anssari. 'And it's portable enough to be used anywhere — in clinics, waiting rooms, schools, even at the side of a sports field.' One of Eye Mirage's most promising applications is in the world of sport. Concussions — especially those experienced during contact sports — are often underdiagnosed or missed altogether. A second concussion before the first one heals can be fatal, particularly for young athletes. 'This is where Eye Mirage can make a life-saving difference,' said Dr. Mansouri. 'Athletic teams can screen their players at the start of the season, then use the device to reassess after a head impact. If results differ, that's valuable data for team doctors to decide whether a player should be pulled from the game.' Unlike traditional concussion assessments, which rely heavily on symptom reporting and subjective interpretation, Eye Mirage offers objective evidence of neurological impairment — and does so in seconds. 'This is information that could save someone's life,' said Dr. Anssari. Beyond the sports world, Eye Mirage has the potential to ease the burden on Canada's overtaxed healthcare system, especially in rural and northern communities. 'We know how difficult it is for patients in remote areas to access specialists,' said Dr. Mansouri. 'In many cases, people are flown to Winnipeg by air ambulance just to be assessed. That's expensive and unnecessary if the right tools were available locally.' With Eye Mirage, a nurse or frontline provider in a northern clinic could test a patient on-site and transmit the results to a specialist in real time — avoiding needless transfers while expediting urgent care. 'We want this to be part of the solution that reduces wait times, lowers costs, and gives patients faster, better answers,' said Dr. Anssari. 'It's a tool that empowers both patients and practitioners.' The Eye Mirage project has already completed its preclinical trial involving 24 patients. A randomized, double-blind clinical trial involving 160 patients is currently underway across four Winnipeg clinics — and is already 40% complete. Neuroptek recently secured a Health Canada Investigational Testing Authorization (ITA) for Eye Mirage and is now working toward full medical device certification. They've passed their first ISO and Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP) audit, and their second is scheduled for later this month. They've also chosen a Canadian manufacturer to produce the devices, after vetting firms in both the U.S. and Canada. 'We're proud to be building this right here in Manitoba,' said Dr. Mansouri. 'This started in our home, in our city, and we believe we can make a global impact from here.' While their current clinical trials focus on Canada, Drs, Anssari and Mansouri are already thinking globally. They've established connections with medical communities in Japan and Hong Kong and plan to expand to the U.S. and Europe following Health Canada and FDA approval. 'In some countries, there are simply no specialists available to assess neurological or eye conditions,' said Dr. Anssari. 'With Eye Mirage, those communities could test patients and send the results to experts anywhere in the world — bridging gaps in care that were once impossible to close.' Their ultimate hope? That no one in Canada — or anywhere — goes blind or suffers neurological damage because of delayed diagnosis. 'Diseases like glaucoma and lazy eye are preventable if caught early,' said Dr. Mansouri. 'This device can help make that possible for everyone, regardless of where they live.' 'We're incredibly proud that Neuroptek was born in Winnipeg,' said Dr. Mansouri. 'We started in Manitoba, we started in Canada — and now we hope to bring something truly impactful to the world. This company proves that innovation doesn't have to come from a major hub.' 'Even in a smaller entrepreneurial community like ours, there's tremendous potential. We believe Winnipeg can be a leader in technology, in medicine, and in shaping what's next for global healthcare.' — Pam Fedack is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Have thoughts on what's going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
LBCI
10-07-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Israeli army claims killing Hezbollah's coastal artillery commander in South Lebanon
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee claimed Thursday that Israeli forces killed Muhammad Jamal Murad, identified as Hezbollah's artillery commander in the coastal sector, in an airstrike earlier in the day on the town of Mansouri in southern Lebanon. In a post on X, Adraee wrote: "The Israeli army attacked earlier today in the area of Mansouri, southern Lebanon, and eliminated Muhammad Jamal Murad, who served as the commander of artillery in the coastal sector of Hezbollah.'' He added: ''Murad was responsible for numerous rocket attacks toward the State of Israel during the war and had made several attempts in recent months to rebuild Hezbollah's artillery capabilities in the coastal area.'' Adraee concluded: ''Murad's activities posed a threat to the security of the State of Israel and its citizens, and were a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon. The Israeli army will continue to operate to eliminate any threat to the State of Israel.'
LBCI
10-07-2025
- LBCI
One killed, another injured in strike on motorcycle near Mansouri, south Lebanon
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported Thursday that a motorcycle was targeted at the intersection near the southern town of Mansouri in the Tyre district, resulting in one fatality and one injury.
Business Upturn
25-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Regains Compliance with Nasdaq Listing Requirements
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 26, 2025, 01:05 IST DURANGO, Colo., June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMCF) (the 'Company', 'we', or 'RMCF'), America's ChocolatierTM and a leading franchiser of a premium chocolate and confectionary retail store concept, announced that it has regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) following the filing of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) requires listed companies to file all required annual and quarterly reports with the SEC on a timely basis. On June 17, 2025, the Company received a notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ('Nasdaq') indicating that it was not in compliance with the Listing Rule due to the delayed filing of its Form 10-K. This was described more fully in the Company's Form 12b-25 Notification of Late Filing, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') on May 27, 2025. The Company filed its Form 10-K on June 20, 2025, and subsequently received formal notice from Nasdaq on June 23, 2025, confirming that it had regained compliance. About Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. R ocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. is a leading franchiser of a premium chocolate and confectionary retail store concept. As America's ChocolatierTM, the Company has been producing an extensive line of premium chocolates and other confectionery products, including gourmet caramel apples since 1981. Headquartered in Durango, Colorado, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is ranked among Entrepreneur's Franchise 500® for 2025 and Franchise Times' Franchise 400® for 2024. The Company and its franchisees and licensees operate nearly 260 Rocky Mountain Chocolate stores across the United States, with several international locations. The Company's common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol 'RMCF.' Investor ContactSean Mansouri, CFAElevate IR720-330-2829 [email protected] Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
LBCI
25-06-2025
- Health
- LBCI
Israeli drone targets young man in Mansouri transferred to hospital for treatment
An Israeli drone targeted a young man in the town of Mansouri in southern Lebanon, the National News Agency reported on Wednesday. The injured individual was immediately transported to the Lebanese-Italian Hospital in Tyre for medical treatment.
