Non-Contact Ophthalmic Optical Pachymeter

描述（由申请人提供）：准确的人体角膜厚度测量（pachymetry）是眼科重要的诊断程序。角膜厚度测量是LASIK等屈光手术的重要前提，在LASIK手术中，角膜厚度决定了合适的皮瓣厚度设置，并设定了激光消融的上限。最近发表的由nei赞助的高眼压治疗研究（OHTS）发现，角膜厚度和眼压一样是青光眼发生的危险因素。由于OHTS的结果，视厚测量已成为眼科高血压和其他青光眼疑似患者临床检查的标准部分。基于低相干干涉测量（类似于光学相干断层扫描或OCT）的新一代光学测厚仪有望为测厚术带来更高分辨率和非接触式测量的好处。这个第一阶段的小企业创新研究应用程序建议开发新技术，通过使用一种新颖的共程光谱干涉测量系统设计，将显著推进光学测厚，该系统设计提供易用性（手持式或缝灯式探头，减少轴向定位的限制）和高分辨率（预计小于下午3点的重复性），在一个强大而廉价的封装中（无移动部件，预计成本< 1万美元/单位）。我们的研究团队包括光电器件表征和制造方面的专家，以及我们的顾问，包括OCT技术开发和视网膜和前段成像应用的学术和临床先驱。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Accurate in-vivo measurement of human corneal thickness (pachymetry) is an important diagnostic procedure in ophthalmology. Pachymetry is an important precursor to refractive surgery procedures such as LASIK, where the corneal thickness determines the appropriate flap thickness setting and sets the upper limit for laser ablation. The recently published NEI-sponsored Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) found that corneal thickness is just as important as intraocular pressure as a risk factor for the development of glaucoma. As a results of OHTS, pachymetry has become a standard part of the clinical examination for ocular hypertensives and other glaucoma suspects. A new generation of optical pachymeters based on low-coherence interferometry (similar to optical coherence tomography or OCT) is poised to bring the benefits of higher resolution as well as noncontact measurement to pachymetry. This Phase I Small Business Innovative Research application proposes to develop new technology, which will significantly advance optical pachymetry by use of a novel, common-path spectral interferometric system design which delivers ease of use (hand-held or slitlamp-mounted probe, reduced constraints on axial positioning) and high resolution (projected <3 p.m repeatability) in a robust and inexpensive package (no moving parts, projected cost <$10K/unit). Our team of investigators includes experts in optoelectronic device characterization and manufacturing, as well as our consultants who include academic and clinical pioneers in OCT technology development and applications in retinal and anterior segment imaging. The specific aims of the proposal are to: 1. Construct a novel common-path spectral interferometric optical pachymeter engine featuring high resolution (<3 microns repeatibility) and high scan rate (20 Hz), with robust and inexpensive components; 2. Design and construct two handheld pachymeter probe prototypes suitable for evaluation for glaucoma, presurgical, and intra-surgical applications; 3. Develop user-friendly software enabling automatic A-scan capture and corneal thickness calculation; 4. Demonstrate pachymeter operation in calibrated reference reflectors and two eye bank eyes in vivo, and provide a prototype device to our clinical consultant for in vivo testing under separate NIH support.