Optical Coherence Elastography of the Cornea

项目摘要 眼睛外膜的基本物理性质决定了眼睛的结构特征。 眼球地球仪并可在几种破坏性疾病状态下改变， 圆锥角膜的病理性变形和角膜屈光手术后的医源性角膜扩张。这些 生物力学组织特征不仅影响我们对诊断测试的临床解释，例如， 测量眼内压，但已被牵连的发展中的重要因素， 青光眼目前，没有可用的可靠方法来进行角膜的定量测量， 体内弹性在这里，我们将开发一种新的方法来评估角膜弹性特性， 可能用于常规临床诊断和治疗。这种方法将利用高度 局部空气压力刺激和压力波传播的超灵敏检测和分析 在角膜后表面和前表面上用线场光学相干断层扫描进行重建， 角膜的体积生物力学特性。我们以前的工作在这方面取得了根本性的进展。 通过一种新方法理解角膜生物力学，在其他领域具有潜在的影响力 学科（例如白内障手术、LAISK、角膜交联和组织移植， 治疗）。拟议的研究将加速该技术向临床的过渡，影响我们的选择 以及角膜手术治疗的应用，并将帮助我们了解 角膜疾病和伤口愈合： 目标1.开发用于超快3D临床成像的线场OCE（LF-OCE）系统。 目标二。兔子的体内研究。 目标3：人类的初步临床研究。 目标4。精细的数值（FEM）和人工智能（AI）模型的深度相关的非线性 角膜的粘弹性。

PROJECT SUMMARY The fundamental physical properties of the outer tunic of the eye determine the structural characteristics of the ocular globe and may be altered in several devastating disease states including axial elongation in myopia, pathological deformation in keratoconus, and iatrogenic keratoectasia following corneal refractive surgery. These biomechanical tissue characteristics not only influence our clinical interpretation of diagnostic tests, e.g. measurement of intraocular pressure, but have been implicated as important factors in the development of glaucoma. Currently, there is no available reliable method to perform quantitative measurement of corneal elasticity in vivo. Here we will develop novel method for the assessment of corneal elastic properties that could potentially be used for routine clinical diagnostic and treatment. This method will take advantages of highly localized air pressure stimulation and ultra-sensitive detection and analysis of the pressure waves propagation on corneal posterior and anterior surfaces with a line-field Optical Coherence Tomography to reconstruct volumetric biomechanical properties of the cornea. Our previous work has made fundamental advances in the understanding of corneal biomechanics through a novel approach with potentially impactful applications in other disciplines (e.g. cataract surgery, LAISK, corneal cross-linking, and tissue transplants with personalize treatments). The proposed studies will accelerate transition of this technology into clinics, influence our selection and application of corneal surgical treatments and will help us to understand the structural consequences of corneal disease and wound healing: Aim 1. Develop a line-field OCE (LF-OCE) system for ultrafast 3D clinical imaging. Aim 2. In vivo studies with rabbits. Aim 3. Preliminary clinical studies in humans. Aim 4. Refine numerical (FEM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) models of the depth-dependent nonlinear viscoelastic properties of the cornea.