Next-generation PERG devices and methods

描述（由申请人提供）：青光眼是导致视网膜神经节细胞（RGC）变性的多种视神经疾病之一，如果不治疗，最终表现为视力功能丧失。 存在许多治疗这些病症的治疗方法，但目前没有临床方法来检测RGC功能障碍的发作。 模式视网膜电图（PERG）是唯一建立的工具，以监测RGC健康在人体内和视神经疾病的实验模型。 PERG反应的监测可以潜在地提供诸如青光眼的退行性视网膜疾病的早期检测，允许在不可逆的功能性视力丧失发生之前开始治疗范例。 PERG广泛用于研究和临床应用的一个关键障碍是缺乏用于记录和数据分析的易于使用的交钥匙设备。 拟议项目的目标是生产用于视觉研究和临床应用的商用设备，这些设备更紧凑，更快，更便宜，更方便用户。 在第一阶段，将追求以下具体目标：1）开发一个硬件平台，包含一个数字信号处理器和必要的放大器，与下一代PERG刺激器接口。 2)用于动物研究的轻型LED PERG刺激器的开发。 3)开发一种基于AMOLED的轻型护目镜PERG刺激器。 4)开发先进的刺激序列，减少杂散串扰分量。 将对原型装置的性能进行评估和优化。 我们研究的成功完成将使广大的临床医生和科学家更容易地利用PERG技术。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Glaucoma is one of a number of optic nerve diseases which lead to retinal ganglion cells (RGC) degeneration, ultimately manifesting in a functional loss of vision if left untreated. There exist a number of therapeutic approaches to treat these conditions, but there are currently no clinical methods to detect the onset of RGC dysfunction. The Pattern Electroretinogram (PERG) is the only established tool to monitor RGC health in vivo in humans and experimental models of optic nerve diseases. The monitoring of PERG responses can potentially provide earlier detection of degenerative retinal disorders such as glaucoma, allowing for treatment paradigms to be initiated before irreversible functional vision loss has occurred. A critical barrier to the widespread adoption of PERG for research and clinical use is the lack of availability of an easy-to-use, turnkey device for recording and data analysis. The goal of the proposed project is to produce commercially available devices for use in both vision research and clinical applications, which are more compact, faster, cheaper and more user-friendly. During Phase I, the following specific aims will pursued: 1) Development of a hardware platform containing a digital signal processor and the necessary amplifiers to interface with the next-generation PERG stimulators. 2) Development of a lightweight LED-based PERG stimulator for animal studies. 3) Development of a lightweight AMOLED-based goggle PERG stimulator for humans. 4) Development of advanced stimulation sequences which will reduce spurious cross talk components. The performance of the prototype devices will be evaluated and optimized. Successful completion of our research will provide allow large community of clinicians and scientists to more easily take advantage of the PERG technique.