 |
| Aurolab |
 The new Aurolab facility Aurolab is all set to move to the new 110,000 square foot facility. The new facility is designed to comply with international standards and provides ample space for future expansions. Aurolab plans to move into the new building in phases, beginning June 2007. Aurolab now has five divisions – Intraocular lens, Suture Needles, Pharmaceuticals, Instruments and Blades divisions - all dedicated to Aravind’s mission of eliminating needless blindness. The Intraocular Lens Division has added a few more products that are important. Apart from the much-welcomed launch of the hydrophobic foldable lens, a few other products like Yellow PMMA lens, Capsular Tension Segment, Modified Capsular Tension Ring, and Jones Tube were also introduced and the feedback has been extremely good. This year was remarkable as this division’s production successfully crossed one million lenses in one year period from April 2006 - March 2007. The Suture Needle Division is making steady progress in the field of microsurgery. New models were introduced in the absorbable range of sutures. Pharmaceutical Division, as always, faced constant demand and has adeptly coped with its increasing orders. Various studies are also being carried out and new products are in the pipeline. They will be successfully launched in the coming year. There have been significant developments in the Blade Division. The process and the quality of the products have remarkably improved. The products have been well appreciated for the quality of sharpness and consistency. The Instruments Division is supplying bipolar coagulators and catering to both national and international markets. NEW PRODUCTS AuroVue |
| India’s first hydrophobic foldable lens with 360-degree posterior square edge that comes with disposable delivery system was launched in 2007 during the 65th All India Ophthalmic Conference held in Hyderabad in February 2007. Ms. Mary LaMar and Mr. Michael Price of Visionary Medical Supplies and Mr. David Green and Mr. Joel Segre of Project Impact extended their valuable support for the development of this lens. The sample lenses are supplied to various hospitals and the postoperative results are very positive. AuroGold |
| Yellow PMMA 360-degree posterior square edge single piece lens is a speciality lens that effectively filters the harmful blue light rays from the visible spectrum and gives enhanced protection to the retina. AuroPed |
| This is a 360-degree square edge lens designed specifically for paediatric patients. The overall diameter of this lens is smaller than regular lenses. AuroRing |
| Two new products were introduced in this category – Capsular Tension Segment and Modified Capsular Tension Ring. These products are variants of Capsular Tension Ring and are implanted in cases of weakened zonules. Aurotube is an artificial tear duct designed for implantation behind the inner corner of the eye lid to drain tears into nose. Aurohook is a disposable device that is used for mechanical dilation of the pupil during surgery. Apart from these new products, Pre-loaded Capsular Tension Ring, Hydrophilic Foldable lens with 360-degree posterior square edge and 7-0 Aurocryl, an absorbable suture needle are the few products awaiting launch. AUDITS |
| Committed to the quality of its products and in strict adherence to quality systems, Aurolab monitors its processes and systems through regular inspection and regular internal and external audits. Last year the ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 13485 audits were conducted from March 13-14. The CE certification audit was conducted from July 18-22. CLINICAL RESEARCH DEPARTMENT |
| Aurolab’s Clinical Research Department was set up in 2005 to coordinate all the activities related to clinical research and the studies concerning new and existing products. These studies are undertaken to authentically ensure the safety and efficacy of the products before their use on patients. Clinical trials from Phase I, Phase II, Phase III and Phase IV studies are being carried out by the department on new products prior to product launch and on the existing products. Randomized controlled trials and double blinded tests are conducted for the products. Clinical investigational plan, patient’s information and clinical data are being prepared in accordance with the standards. Constant interaction with the doctors pursuing the study and focused efforts result in efficient planning, better execution and timely completion of the study as well as achieving reliable results. The trials are registered with Clinical Trials.gov which complies with WHO GCP standards. The participation of the patients in the study is 100% voluntary. The patients participating in the study are compensated for treatment, surgery, medicines, travel, food and inpatient charges. NEWS & EVENTS Registration of Medical Products in China |
 Dr. P. Balakrishnan, making presentation to the officials of the Wenzhou Medical College Eye Hospital BEST STALL AWARD for Smaller Stall Category - for Aurolab |
 Dealers Meet at Hyderabad |
| Aurolab held a meeting for its dealers on the sidelines of AIOS conference on the 1st of February, 2007 at Hyderabad. This meeting gave the dealers time to interact amongst themselves and with the management, on promoting Aurolab products in conferences. Team from Essilor at Aurolab |
| A team from the Instruments Division of Essilor, a major plastic spectacle lens manufacturer in France, comprising of Mr. J.C. Robert, Head- International Sales, Essilor Instrument Division, Paris, Mr. Emmanuel Guillet Belaud, Head of Sourcing, Essilor Instrument Division, Shanghai, Mr. P. Srinivasan, Head of Essilor Instrument Division in India, Mumbai, Saugata Banerjee visited Aravind Eye Hospital and Aurolab on April 25, 2006. The purpose of the visit was to explore the possibilities of sourcing components from India and Aurolab for the range of instruments such as edging machines, pupillometers, and vision testers, that Essilor is presently producing for the global market. They also discussed the possibilities of using Aurolab as a resource for contract manufacturing, testing and design for some of their requirements in the near future. Management Program at Harvard Business School |
| Mr. R. D Sriram, Director – Operations, attended a management program at Harvard titled “Strategic Perspectives in Non Profit Management”. He received funding from the “Hanjoerg Wyss Fund for Social Enterprise” instituted by Mr. Hansjoerg Wyss, Chairman and CEO of Synthes-Stratec, a Swiss based medical device company. Participation in National and International Ophthalmology Meets |
 Dr. P. Balakrishnan, Mr.N.Vishnu Prasad, and Mr.Sivanand in the Aurolab booth at AAO, Las Vegas - 21st Congress of Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology at Singapore, - XXIV Congress of European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) at London - Joint Meeting of American Academy of Ophthalmology and Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology at Las Vegas, US, November 11-14 These apart, Aurolab participated in over 5 national level conferences and a variety of state level conferences held at Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, UP, New Delhi, etc. These conferences provided a suitable ground to enhance the visibility of the organization and to promote its existing range and new products. There was a very good response for Aurolab’s products in all these conferences from the delegates. Third International Knowledge Millennium Conference, IKMC 2006 |
 Dr. P. Balakrishnan at Third international knowledge millennium conference, IKMC2006 Dr. P. Balakrishnan spoke on “The Evolution and Impact of Indigenous Intraocular Lenses’ during the second session on Public Health Interventions - Models & Issues in Healthcare Delivery. VISITORS TO AUROLAB |
| The following is the list of visitors who visited Aurolab during this year: - Prof. Abdoulaye Diallo, Institut D’Ophtalmologie Tropicale De L’Afrique and Mr. Mama Garba Tapo, from Republic of Mali - Dr. Pedro Gomez, Chairman Ophthalmology, Insituto de la Vision, Universidad de Montemorelos, Mexico, Medical Adviser CBM-CARO,CBM – Mexico and Central America - Mr. Isam Hussain, Unipharma from Sudan - Mr. Levent Atmaca, Dealer from Turkey - A team from BD Ophthalmics, led by Mr. Doug Lawrence came to Aurolab to explore broader partnership opportunities for the future - Dr.Weeraphan Thanaprachoom, working for a CBM Partner in Thailand - Ms. Gundel Papke, Dipl - Ing, Vertrieb, Klinische Applikation, Carl Zeiss - Dr. Paul Palmberg, Professor of ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine - Mr. Lee Larson, Member of SEVA Foundation, Portland, Oregon - Dr. David Ramsey, Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Illinois, Chicago - A team from Hindustan Latex Limited – Mr. K.C. Jeyakumar, AGM, Mr. Raju Skaria, Group Product Manager, Mr. Pradeep, AGM – Marketing - Dr. Eyad Btiebet, Gazeera and Gulf, Yemen - A team from TYCO, India - Mr. Vithoon Pruengvidhyakarn, Area Vice President (West Asia Division), Mr. S.A.Johnson, Country manager (India & Nepal) and Mr. Ravichandran, Director Sutures & Autosutures. |
| Top |