2D Biomedical Hyperspectral Imager - Phase II

描述（由申请人提供）：Kestrel公司的这份提案继续研究用于临床和生物医学研究应用的新型三维（两个空间，一个光谱）高光谱成像仪。Kestrel的三维高光谱视网膜成像仪概念融合了两种发展中的技术，傅里叶变换高光谱成像技术和积分场光谱学。这两种技术允许在二维区域中对成像区域进行空间采样，同时保留每个样本中的光谱信息。然后，这些样本被处理和重新组装，以创建一个完整的三维高光谱数据立方体，包含两个空间维度与所选区域的完整光谱内容。在第一阶段，Kestrel成功地证明了所提出的技术的可行性。第二阶段建立在这一成功的基础上，实施了一种新的视网膜成像仪的原型，可用于推进视网膜疾病机制的知识和管理此类疾病的临床实践。该提案的具体目标是：目标1。解决积分场单元的制造对光谱数据的影响。目标2.为医疗应用获得最佳的集成现场单元配置。目标3.建立一种新型眼底成像仪的原型，可以在单次曝光中收集完整的高光谱数据立方体。目标4。从正常受试者和呈现不同程度的糖尿病视网膜病变和年龄相关性黄斑变性的受试者收集视网膜特征的光谱特征的综合数据库。目标5。通过确定与当前视网膜健康状况评估相关的光谱信息中的特征，证明视网膜光谱成像的临床价值。该技术的应用存在于广泛的生物医学成像中。高光谱医学成像的价值，特别是其在眼科应用中的应用正在慢慢获得认可。然而，这些高光谱设备的当前实施方式限制了它们向广泛的临床和研究体内用途的转变，因为在收集三维数据立方体中采用的技术对于实际目的是不可用的。所提出的技术提供了克服这一限制的潜力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal from KESTREL CORPORATION continues the research work on a new three dimensional (two spatial, one spectral) hyperspectral imager for use in clinical and biomedical research applications. Kestrel's three dimensional hyperspectral retinal imager concept merges two developing technologies, Fourier Transform hyperspectral imaging technology and Integral Field Spectroscopy. The two technologies allow an imaged region to be spatially sampled in a two dimensional area while retaining the spectral information in each sample. These samples are then processed and reassembled to create a full three dimensional hyperspectral data cube containing two spatial dimensions with full spectral content of the selected area. In Phase 1 Kestrel successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed technology. Phase 2 builds on this success by implementing a prototype of a new retinal imager that can be used to advance the knowledge the mechanisms of retinal diseases and the clinical practice to manage such illnesses. The Specific Aims of this proposal are: Aim 1. Address the effects of fabrication of the Integral Field Unit on the spectral data. Aim 2. Obtain the optimum configuration of the Integral Field Unit for medical applications. Aim 3. Build a prototype of a new kind of fundus imager that can collect complete hyperspectral data cubes in single exposures. Aim 4. Collect a comprehensive database of spectral signatures of retinal features from normal subjects and subjects presenting different degrees of diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Aim 5. Demonstrate the clinical value of spectral imaging of the retina by determining features in the spectral information that correlate with the current assessment of retinal health status. Applications for this technology exist across a wide range of biomedical imaging. The value of hyperspectral medical imaging and especially its application in ocular uses is slowly gaining recognition. However, the current implementation of these hyperspectral devices limits their transition to wide spread clinical and research in vivo uses because of the techniques employed in collecting a three dimensional data cube are for practical purposes unusable. The technology proposed offers the potential of overcoming this limitation.