STEREOSCOPIC GRADING SYSTEM FOR AGE-RELATED MACULOPATHY

Kestrel正在开发一种基于计算机的商用分级系统，用于数字眼底图像的2D和立体可视化和分析，具有用户可选的自动化水平，适用于ARMD的临床应用和流行病学研究。该项目的具体目标是开发和验证商业质量的Stereo ARMD分级系统（ARMD GS），并进行纵向研究，以证明通过当前基于灯箱的方法无法获得的临床和研究能力。以熟悉的3D格式显示数字图像的能力允许数字技术的优势大大增强传统方法，而不会牺牲手动分级的好处。Kestrel将通过分阶段提供改进的进化路径来增强第一阶段Stereo ARMD GS。初始增强将包括时间序列图像的自动配准，以促进纵向研究和用户指导的病变半自动分割。最后阶段将自动分割整个图像一次没有用户的方向。不同级别的系统自动化将允许用户选择最适合特定应用的工具。最终系统将通过40名受试者的回顾性纵向研究进行演示和验证。拟定商业应用：在世界各地的主要流行病学眼底分级中心，存在计算机辅助分级系统的市场。作为一个筛查和监测系统，2,500个零售眼科中心将从拟议的系统中受益。Kestrel的系统将简化分级中心的流程，从而使中心能够跟上眼科日益增长的研究需求。眼科中心可以提高他们筛查ARMD、糖尿病视网膜病变和其他视网膜疾病的能力。目前，我们已经开始在乔斯林眼科中心、威斯康星州大学和Scheie眼科中心等地进行beta测试。医学图像管理硬件和软件的市场规模估计为25.2亿美元。计算机辅助立体声系统的潜在市场份额估计在十年内为5000万美元。立体视网膜图像可视化和评估系统的应用扩展到需要立体观察的其他视网膜疾病。

Kestrel is developing a commercial computer-based grading system for 2D and stereo visualization and analysis of digital fundus images with a user- selectable level of automation geared toward clinical application and use in epidemiological studies of ARMD. The specific aims of this project are to develop and validate a commercial-quality Stereo ARMD grading system (ARMD GS) and to perform a longitudinal study that will demonstrate clinical and research capabilities not available through current light-box based methods. The ability to display digital images in a familiar 3D format allows the advantages of digital technology to greatly enhance traditional methods without sacrificing the benefits of manual grading. Kestrel will enhance the Phase I Stereo ARMD GS through an evolutionary path that provides improvements in stages. Initial enhancement will include automatic registration of time series images to facilitate longitudinal study and user-directed semi-automatic segmentation of lesions. The final stage will automatically segment the entire image at once without user direction. The various levels of system automation will allow the user a choice as to the most appropriate tool for a given application. The final system will be demonstrated and validated through a retrospective longitudinal study of 40 subjects. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: A market exists for computer-aided grading system at the major epidemiological fundus grading centers throughout the world. As a screening and surveillance system, the 2,500 retail eyecare centers would benefit economically from the proposed system. Kestrel's system will streamline the grading centers' process, thus enabling the centers to keep pace with the growing research requirements in ophthalmology. Eyecare centers could improve their capability for screening for ARMD, diabetic retinopathy, and other diseases presenting in the reitna. At present, we initiated discussions for beta testing at sites such as the Joslin Eye Center, the University of Wisconsin, and Scheie Eye Center. The estimated market size for medical image management hardware and software is 2.52 billion dollars. Potential market share for computer-assisted stereo system is estimated at 50 million dollars over a ten year period. The application of the stereo retinal-image visualization and evaluation system extends to other retinal diseases, which require stereo viewing.