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

描述（由申请人提供）：年龄相关性黄斑变性（ARMD）困扰着高达40%的老年人口[1-30]。研究[6-30]表明，美国60岁以上的视障人群约占70%，其中ARMD是造成视障的最大原因。ARMD的一个主要特征是不能适应明暗。ARMD患者在从室内到室外的过程中会出现明显的功能性视力丧失，影响其活动能力[6-25]。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，使他们能够更独立、更安全地生活。目前尚无针对ARMD的药物/手术治疗方法[1-5]。目前，严重不足的补救措施[6-8]是：(1)笨重，多层太阳镜，戴上/取下迅速。(2)非常缓慢切换（2 - 5分钟）的光致变色镜片，需要紫外线来激活。针对ARMD患者的光适应疗法也将有助于患有其他与年龄有关的疾病的患者，例如糖尿病视网膜病变和角膜营养不良[8,25]。在早期的研究中[31-34]，我们的研究小组在亚特兰大退伍军人中心对60岁的ARMD退伍军人进行了广泛的研究，结果表明，与多层太阳镜或光致变色眼镜相比，快速变暗（< 5秒）电致变色（EC）眼镜对他们大有好处。然而，本研究中使用的液晶（lc）眼镜存在严重的问题，例如只有24%/3%的明暗范围，重量大，与处方眼镜不兼容，成本高。现在在最近（2009年），不相关的工作[35-44]，在我们的上一代（< 2008）技术的突破中，我们还开发了基于导电聚合物（CPs）的ec，其具有：(1)典型的光/暗对比度为68.5%/12%，“可调”到这些极端之间的任何值。(2)开关时间瞬时至5秒。(3)循环性> 10^5次亮/暗/亮循环。(4)优良的光存储器。(5)薄（< 20mils），灵活，耐用，固态。可粘附于几乎任何表面，例如处方/安全眼镜。(6)极低功率（15微瓦/平方厘米），电压（1.2 VDC）。(7) V.价格便宜，估计< 80美元/双。随着光/暗对比度的小幅增强，使用带有光电池输入的电池供电控制器，以及广泛的ARMD受试者测试，这些基于cp的ec将是老年ARMD患者的可行解决方案。提出的工作将：(1)制造优化的，目标明/暗对比度为72%/8%的器件。(2)制造、测试廉价的、基于微处理器的电池供电控制器，光电池输入，放置在眼镜上或耳后，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、视力等测试。(4)进行初步的制造成本调查。最终产品要么是覆盖在现有眼镜上的薄层压板（小于5毫米），要么是戴在眼镜或裸眼上的安全眼镜，或者两者兼而有之，采用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。该公司拥有两种CPs中的一种b[39]的专利，并正在申请其他专利。提议的工作是该公司和亚特兰大退伍军人康复研发中心之间的共同努力。治疗衰老视力丧失

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.