Non-contact, THz Sensing of Corneal Hydration

描述(申请人提供)：这项提案的目标是开发一种太赫兹成像系统，以成像和空间映射角膜水化。目前角膜水合作用是使用超声测厚仪测量的，并且是根据中央角膜厚度和可用的水化数据之间的经验关系得出的。这项提议将使用角膜光谱学和反射率数据来改进角膜太赫兹反射率的模型。这些模型将使用幻影和活体兔角膜进行评估。初步数据显示，太赫兹成像可以测量0.1%的精度和600微米的空间分辨率的角膜水化。模拟和模型模型以及动物研究将被用来评估该方法的可行性，并验证角膜THz成像识别角膜疾病特征的水合变化的能力。太赫兹辐射的优点之一是其极低的光子能量。它是眼睛安全的，在10-20微瓦的功率下运行。为了确保人类使用的安全性，我们将评估50 5W太赫兹照射兔的角膜，并对角膜进行组织学和蛋白质组学分析。一旦我们确认了安全性并获得了必要的IRB批准，我们将在正常志愿者身上进行初步的人类角膜成像试验。在获得正常患者(N=60)的基线信息后，我们将继续研究DSEK手术前后(N=20)以及LASIK手术前后(N=20)患者的水化情况。这些研究积累的数据将被分析，以评估太赫兹成像作为疾病状态的函数来监测水合水平的可行性。1

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this proposal is to develop a THz imaging system to image and spatially map the hydration of the cornea. Corneal hydration is currently measured using ultrasound pachymetry and is derived from an empiric relationship between central corneal thickness and available hydration data. This proposal will use corneal spectroscopy and reflectance data to improve models of THz reflectivity from the cornea. These models will be evaluated using phantoms and in-vivo rabbit corneas. Preliminary data suggest that THz imaging can measure corneal hydration with 0.1% accuracy and a spatial resolution of 600 um. The simulations and phantom models, and animal studies will be used to evaluate the feasibility of the approach and verify the ability of corneal THz imaging to discern hydration changes characteristic of corneal diseases. One of the advantages of THz radiation is its extremely low photon energy. It is eye safe and operates at 10 - 20 uW. To ensure safety for human use we will evaluate THz illumination on the cornea of rabbits at 50 5W and examine the corneas with histology and proteomic analysis. Once we have confirmed safety and obtained necessary IRB approvals we will conduct initial human corneal imaging trials in normal volunteers. After obtaining baseline information from normal patients (N = 60) we will proceed to study hydration in patients before and after DSEK surgery (N = 20), and before and after LASIK surgery (N = 20). Data accumulated from these studies will be analyzed to assess the feasibility of THz imaging to monitor hydration levels as a function of disease state. 1