I-Corps: A portable, self-administered ophthalmic imaging device for remote diagnosis of vision threatening disease

这个I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发眼科护理提供技术，赋予患者权力，并将诊断和管理的各个方面转移到家庭。目前，患者还没有远程、自用的眼部成像选项。视网膜相关性黄斑变性（AMD）、糖尿病性视网膜病变（DR）和青光眼是美国不可逆视力丧失的主要原因。早期发现、持续随访和及时治疗对预防失明至关重要。远程监控消除了与亲自访问相关的患者障碍，例如工作和儿童保育的时间和旅行成本，并提供了提高护理质量的机会。研究表明，增加频率的家庭测试可以比传统测试早1.5年检测到青光眼进展。早期的家庭AMD监测研究也表明，新生血管疾病的检出率较高，视力丧失率较低。在美国，获得眼科护理的机会仍然有限; 1200万美国糖尿病患者中只有不到一半接受视网膜病变筛查，估计有240万美国人患有未被发现的青光眼。AMD、青光眼和DR的发病率持续急剧上升，解决眼科护理中日益扩大的健康公平性差距需要新的解决方案。这个I-Corps项目是基于开发一种便携式、自我管理的眼前节和眼底成像设备，以便于使用远程医疗评估威胁视力的疾病，如糖尿病视网膜病变（DR）、年龄相关性黄斑变性（AMD）和青光眼。拟议的设备包括仪器和软件，可以自动进行眼科检查，允许患者自我成像。从患者家中，患者接受远程筛查和潜在致盲状况的监测。除了这个设备，该团队还计划建立一个数据平台，以收集、使用和共享远程眼科服务的数据，从而促进与提供者的远程评估。该设备的一个核心方面是独特的视线跟踪技术，它允许自动获取图像，并通过保持以眼睛为中心来提高准确性/精度，同时还允许评估眼睛健康的其他关键方面。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of eye care delivery technology empowering patients and shifting aspects of diagnosis and management to the home. Currently, there are no remote, self-use eye imaging options available to patients. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and glaucoma represent leading causes of irreversible vision loss in the US. Early detection, consistent follow-up, and timely treatment are essential in preventing blindness. Remote monitoring removes the patient barriers associated with in-person visits such as time off from work and child care and travel costs and presents an opportunity to improve the quality of care. Studies have demonstrated that home-based testing with increased frequency can detect glaucoma progression over 1.5 years sooner than traditional testing. Early studies in home-based AMD monitoring have also demonstrated higher detection rates for neovascular disease and lower rates of vision loss. In the US, access to ophthalmologic care remains limited; Fewer than half of the 12 million Americans with diabetes undergo screening for retinopathy, and an estimated 2.4 million Americans have undetected glaucoma. Rates of AMD, glaucoma and DR continue to rise precipitously, and addressing the widening gaps in health equity in ophthalmologic care requires new solutions.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a portable, self-administered anterior segment and retinal fundus-imaging device to facilitate evaluation of vision threatening diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma using telemedicine. The proposed device includes instrumentation and software that automates the eye exam, allowing patients to self-image. From the patient’s home, the patient receives remote screening and monitoring of potentially blinding conditions. Alongside this device, the team plans to build a data platform to enable collection, use and sharing of data for tele-ophthalmology services to facilitate remote evaluation with providers. A core aspect of the device is the unique gaze tracking technology which allows automated acquisition of images and improved accuracy/precision by remaining centered on the eye while also allowing assess to other key aspects of ocular health.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.