EARLY DETECTION OF AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

该项目的长期目标是为快速、非侵入性和频繁地测量与老年性黄斑变性(AMD)和老年性黄斑病变(ARM)相关的视网膜和视网膜下改变提供新的成像工具。目前的治疗方法依赖于早期发现。传统的方法要么无法提供明确的检测和定位，要么具有侵入性和成本高昂。这里的方法是将多重散射光断层扫描仪(MSLT)集成到共聚焦成像系统中，以获得ARM和AMD的定性和定量诊断。在第一阶段中，基于地形扫描系统TopSS(激光诊断技术公司)，使用垂直腔面发射激光阵列(VCSEL)作为共焦成像和多散射光成像的照明源，开发了一个原型MSLT系统。进行了临床可行性研究。开发了图像采集软件和初步分析软件。在第二阶段，我们将开发一个产品版本的TopSS/MSLT系统。将探索新的光源，在第一阶段未测试的条件下研究光与组织的相互作用，并将在多个地点进行广泛的临床研究。软件分析工具将被开发并集成到MSLT仪器中，以测量三维视网膜下结构及其随时间的变化。建议的商业应用：随着多重散射光层析成像能力的增加，并将其应用于AMD和其他视网膜疾病的检测，地形扫描系统的市场将会极大地扩展。一旦我们成功地实施了自动成像和量化dmsen的程序，导致了AMD的早期检测，普通眼科医生和验光师似乎有可能更广泛地使用。

The long term objective of this project is to provide novel imaging instrumentation for rapid, noninvasive, and frequent measurements of retinal and subretinal changes associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and age-related maculopathy (ARM). Current treatments depend upon early detection. Conventional methods either fail to provide clear-cut detection and localization, or are invasive and costly. The approach here is to integrate a multiply scattered light tomograph (MSLT) into a confocal imaging system to obtain qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of ARM and AMD. During Phase I, a prototype MSLT system was developed based on Topographic Scanning System TopSS (Laser Diagnostic Technologies, Inc.), using a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser Arrays (VCSELs) as the illumination source for both confocal imaging and multiply scattered light imaging. Clinical feasibility studies were carried out. Image acquisition software and preliminary analysis software were developed. In Phase II, we will develop a product version TopSS/MSLT system. New illumination sources will be explored to study light-tissue interactions under conditions not tested in Phase I. Extensive clinical studies will be performed at multiple sites. The software analysis tools will be developed and integrated into the MSLT instrument to measure 3-dimensional subretinal structures and their changes over time. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: With the added capability of Multiply Scattered Light Tomography and its application to the detection of AMD and other retinal disease, the market for the Topographic Scanning System would vastly expend. Once we successfully implemented an automated procedure to image and quantify dmsen that leads to an early detection of AMD, an even wider use by general ophthalmologists and optometrists seems possible.