Fast-Switching, High-Contrast, Electrochromic Sunwear for Persons with Age-Relate

描述（由申请人提供）：视网膜相关性黄斑变性（ARMD）困扰着高达40%的老年人群[1-30]。研究[6-30]表明，美国超过70%的视力受损人群超过60岁，其中ARMD是最大的障碍原因。ARMD的一个主要特点是无法适应光明和黑暗。患有ARMD的人在从室内到室外时会经历功能性视力的显著丧失，影响他们的功能[6-25]。如果有了解决方案，40%患有ARMD的老年人的生活质量和福祉将大大改善，使他们能够更加独立、安全地生活。目前没有针对ARMD的药物/手术治疗[1-5]。目前，非常不足的补救措施[6-8]是：（1）繁琐，多层太阳镜，戴上/脱下迅速。(2)非常慢的转换（2 - 5分钟）需要紫外线激活的光致变色镜片。对ARMD患者的光适应疗法也将有助于患有其他年龄相关疾病的患者，例如糖尿病视网膜病变和角膜营养不良[8，25]。在早期的工作中[31-34]，我们的小组在亚特兰大VA中心对年龄> 60岁的患有ARMD的退伍军人进行了广泛的研究，表明与多层太阳镜或光致变色相比，他们可以从快速变暗（< 5 s）的电致变色（EC）眼镜中获益匪浅。然而，在本研究中使用的液晶（LC）玻璃具有严重的问题，例如仅24%/3%的亮/暗范围、重的重量、与处方玻璃不相容、高成本。现在，在最近（2009年），不相关的工作[35-44]中，在我们的前代（< 2008年）技术的突破中，我们还开发了基于导电聚合物（CP）的EC，其具有：（1）典型的68.5%/12%的亮/暗对比度，可“拨号”到这些极端之间的任何值。(2)开关时间瞬时为5秒。(3)可循环性> 10^5次亮/暗/亮循环。(4)出色的光学记忆。(5)薄（< 20 mils）、灵活、耐用、固态。可粘贴到几乎任何表面，例如处方/安全眼镜。(6)非常低的功率（15微瓦/平方厘米），电压（1.2 VDC）。(7)五、便宜，< $80/对。通过在亮/暗对比度上的小幅增强，使用具有光电管输入的电池供电控制器，以及广泛的ARMD主题测试，这些基于CP的EC将是老年ARMD人的可行解决方案。所提出的工作将：（1）制造具有优化的、目标明暗对比度为72%/8%的器件。(2)制造，测试便宜，电池供电的控制器基于微处理器，光电管输入，放置在眼镜或耳后，自动控制黑暗/颜色。(3)对从亚特兰大退伍军人中心招募的ARMD退伍军人进行详细的行动能力、视力和其他测试。(4)进行初步的制造成本调查。最终产品将是应用在现有眼镜上的薄（< 5密耳）层压件，或者戴在这些或裸眼上的安全眼镜，或者两者都有，具有基于微处理器的环境光控制控制器，具有许可的制造商业模式。该公司持有两个CP之一的专利[39]，并正在申请其他专利。提议的工作是本公司和亚特兰大退伍军人康复研发中心的共同努力。老年视力丧失 公共卫生相关性：所提出的产品最终将为ARMD患者提供治疗，ARMD患者占老年人口的40%，目前尚无解决方案[1-30]，同时还可帮助患有其他年龄相关眼病的患者，例如糖尿病视网膜病变和角膜营养不良。这种独特的、高性能的基于CP的电致变色剂的其他潜在应用是在工业安全、娱乐眼镜（例如滑雪、运动）、汽车挡风玻璃和建筑物窗户市场中，这些市场大得多，这将大大降低ARMD患者的成本。二、已确定具体的潜在商业伙伴进行生产。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) afflicts up to 40% of the aging population [1-30]. Studies [6-30] show that > 70% of the visually impaired population in the US is over 60, and within this, ARMD is the largest cause of impairment. A primary characteristic of ARMD is inability to adapt between light and dark. People with ARMD experience a significant loss in functional vision when going from indoors to outdoors, affecting their ability to function [6-25]. With a solution, the quality of life and well-being of the 40% of older adults who are afflicted with ARMD would drastically improve, allowing them to live more independently and safely. There is currently no medical/surgical treatment for ARMD [1-5]. Current, highly inadequate remedies [6-8] are: (1) Cumbersome, multiple layers of sunglasses, put on/taken off rapidly. (2) Very slow-switching (2 - 5 minutes) photochromic lenses which need UV light for activation. Light-adapting remedies for persons with ARMD would also assist persons with other, age-related diseases, e.g. diabetic retinopathy and corneal dystrophy [8, 25]. In earlier work [31-34], our group carried out an extensive study with age > 60 veterans having ARMD at the Atlanta VA Center, showing they could benefit highly from fast-darkening (< 5 s) electrochromic (EC) glasses, when compared to multiple sunglass layers or photochromics. The liquid crystals (LCs) glasses used in this study however had serious problems, e.g. just 24%/3% light/dark range, heavy weight, incompatibility with prescription glasses, high cost. Now in very recent (2009), unrelated work [35-44], in a breakthrough over our prior gen (< 2008) technology, we have also developed ECs based on conducting polymers (CPs) that have: (1) Typical light/dark contrast of 68.5%/12%, "dialable" to any value between these extremes. (2) Switching times instantaneous to 5 s. (3) Cyclability > 10^5 cycles light/dark/light. (4) Excellent optical memory. (5) Thin (< 20 mils), flexible, durable, solid-state. Affixable to virtually any surface, e.g. prescription/safety glasses. (6) Very low power (15 micro-W/cm2), voltage ( 1.2 VDC). (7) V. inexpensive, est. < $80/pair. With a small enhancement in the light/dark contrast, use of a battery-powered Controller with photocell input, and extensive ARMD subject testing, these CP-based ECs would be a viable solution to aged ARMD persons. The proposed work will: (1) Fabricate devices with optimized, targeted light/dark contrast of 72%/8%. (2) Fabricate, test inexpensive, battery-powered Controller based on microprocessor, photocell-input, placed on glasses or behind ear, to automatically control darkness/color. (3) Carry out detailed mobility, visual acuity, other tests with ARMD veterans recruited from Atlanta VA Center. (4) Carry out preliminary cost-of-manufacturing survey. The final product would be either thin (< 5 mil) laminates applied over existing glasses, or safety glasses worn over these or naked eyes, or both, with microprocessor-based, ambient-light-controlled Controller, with a licensed manufacture business model. This firm holds patents for one of the two CPs [39] and is filing others. Pro- posed work is a joint effort between this firm and the Atlanta VA Rehabilitation R&D Ctr. for Aging Vision Loss. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The product proposed will finally provide a remedy for persons with ARMD, who are up to 40% of the aging population and for whom there is no solution at present [1-30], while also assisting persons with other, age- related ocular diseases, e.g. diabetic retinopathy and corneal dystrophy. Other potential applications of such unique, high-performance CP-based electrochromics are in the industrial safety, recreational eyewear, (e.g. ski, sports), automobile windshield and building windows markets, much larger markets which would drastically lower costs for persons with ARMD. Two, specific potential commercial partners have been identified for production.