I-Corps: Hand-Held Tonometer for Transpalpebral Intraocular Pressure Measurement

I-Corps：用于经睑眼压测量的手持式眼压计

• 批准号: 1157898
• 负责人: Eniko Enikov
• 金额: $ 5万
• 依托单位: University of Arizona
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-10-01 至 2013-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1157898&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Corps; Hand; Held; Tonometer; Transpalpebral

Elevated IOP is the leading cause of Glaucoma, a disease leading to damage of the optic nerve and subsequently, to blindness. Currently IOP is measured via the Goldman's applanation tonometer, a mechanical device that measures the force required to flatten the cornea to a prescribed contact area. Palpation (digital) tonometry measures the intraocular pressure through the eyelid and therefore, does not require anesthesia and instrument sterilization. Palpation of the IOP is performed by lightly pressing the fingertips of both index fingers onto the upper part of the eye through the eyelid. Typically, the two fingers press in alternating sequence allowing the examiner to "feel" the flexibility of the sclera and gauge its tension. The objective of this innovation proposal is to demonstrate a commercially-viable tactile tonometer that can be used for frequent IOP measurements at home. Specifically, the team proposes to develop an integrated tactile sensor and alignment platform that will allow self-administered digital palpation of the IOP through the eyelid. To date, measurement of the intraocular pressure is only possible under local anesthesia, using the cornea of the eye. Less direct measurements have had limited accuracy and, therefore, had limited diagnostic value. The proposed effort is aimed at the development of a novel self-administered tactile tonometry system, which will extract intraocular pressure and other tissue response parameters via simultaneous measurement from multiple force micro-sensors. The proposed system will also be able to predict the facility of outflow of intraocular fluid (aqueous humor), which is a key indicator of the ability of the eye tocontrol its pressure. Given that there is no such instrument available today; the proposed effort is likely to give new diagnostic tool to ophthalmologists and their patients. Over 4M people in the US alone are diagnosed with glaucoma and require regular eye pressure measurements. Similar incidence levels exist in the rest of the developed countries. If successful, this effort will result in novel tactile tonometry system that can be utilized for continuous monitoring of the intraocular pressure and thus allow of better diagnosis and treatment of Glaucoma. We anticipate a significant economic benefit due to the reduced need for hospital visits as well as better management of episodes of elevated IOP. The proposed technology can also be applied to prostate and breast cancer screening with appropriate modifications. We anticipate that when established, the tactile tonometry system could result in 200M in annual sales in US and similar levels in Europe. The project will also produce online curriculum on innovation and translational research that is likely to assist other investigators in transforming basic research into commercially viable products and services.

眼压升高是青光眼的主要原因，青光眼是一种导致视神经损伤并随后导致失明的疾病。目前，IOP是通过Goldman压平眼压计测量的，这是一种测量将角膜压平到规定接触面积所需的力的机械装置。触诊（数字）眼压测量通过眼睑测量眼内压，因此不需要麻醉和仪器消毒。通过将两个食指的指尖通过眼睑轻轻按压到眼睛的上部来进行IOP触诊。通常，两个手指按交替顺序按压，允许检查者“感觉”巩膜的柔韧性并测量其张力。本创新提案的目的是证明一种商业上可行的触觉眼压计，可用于在家中进行频繁的IOP测量。具体而言，该团队建议开发一种集成的触觉传感器和对准平台，该平台将允许通过眼睑对IOP进行自我管理的数字触诊。 迄今为止，眼内压的测量仅在局部麻醉下使用眼睛的角膜是可能的。不太直接的测量具有有限的准确性，因此具有有限的诊断价值。所提出的努力旨在开发一种新型的自我管理的触觉眼压测量系统，该系统将通过多个力微传感器的同时测量来提取眼内压和其他组织反应参数。所提出的系统还将能够预测眼内液体（房水）流出的便利性，这是眼睛控制其压力的能力的关键指标。考虑到目前还没有这样的仪器;拟议的努力可能会给眼科医生和他们的病人提供新的诊断工具。仅在美国就有超过400万人被诊断患有青光眼，需要定期进行眼压测量。其他发达国家也存在类似的发病率。如果成功，这一努力将导致新的触觉眼压测量系统，可用于连续监测眼内压，从而更好地诊断和治疗青光眼。我们预计，由于减少了对医院就诊的需求以及更好地管理IOP升高事件，将带来显著的经济效益。所提出的技术也可以应用于前列腺和乳腺癌筛查与适当的修改。我们预计，一旦建立，触觉眼压测量系统在美国的年销售额将达到2亿美元，在欧洲达到类似水平。该项目还将制作关于创新和转化研究的在线课程，这可能有助于其他研究人员将基础研究转化为商业上可行的产品和服务。