I-Corps: Image processing software and slit lamp device for use in optometry

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种智能裂隙灯。在临床验光中，裂隙灯显微镜的使用是必不可少的。每年大约有1.04亿人使用裂隙灯进行定期眼科检查。在有专门设备的情况下，裂隙灯仍因其灵活性而被全球各地的验光师广泛使用。有许多测试可以使用该设备进行，然而，由于其在临床实践中的耗时性质，目前执行的测试数量有限。拟议的智能裂隙灯设备可以让验光师在更短的时间内进行多次测试，并帮助识别和诊断目前使用传统手动分析没有观察到的疾病。拟议的智能裂隙灯可能会提供改进的眼睛护理和在验光领域的进一步研究。这个i-Corps项目是基于用于验光的裂隙灯成像技术和图像分析软件的开发。在验光中，裂隙灯显微镜是用来观察人眼内部的基本设备。验光师、眼科医生和眼库技术人员定期使用这些显微镜来观察人类眼睛不同部位的健康状况。目前的狭缝灯有两种形式：模拟和数字。然而，目前的裂隙灯不提供图像分析软件或自动化。这项拟议的技术旨在提供一种具有成像和图像分析能力的数字裂隙灯，以及更自动化的操作，可以最大限度地减少人工干预，节省时间，同时使诊断更加客观。初步工作表明，建议的技术可以提供一致、准确和客观的测量，从而改善眼睛护理。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a smart slit lamp. In clinical optometry, the use of slit-lamp microscopes is indispensable. Approximately 104 million regular eye exams are performed annually using a slit lamp. In the presence of specialized devices, the slit lamp is still widely used by optometrists across the globe for its flexibility. There are many tests that can be performed using the device, however, due to its time-consuming nature in clinical practice the number of tests performed is currently limited. The proposed smart slit-lamp device may allow optometrists to perform multiple tests in a much shorter time and help to identify and diagnose diseases that are not currently being observed using traditional manual analysis. The proposed smart slit lamp may provide access to improved eye care and further research in the field of optometry. This I-Corps project is based on the development of imaging technologies and image analysis software for slit lamps used in optometry. In optometry, the slit lamp microscope is an essential device that is used to look at the interior of the human eye. Optometrists, ophthalmologists, and eye bank technicians use these microscopes regularly to observe the health of different parts of the human eye. Current slit lamps come in two forms: analog and digital. However, current slit lamps do not provide image analysis software or automation. The proposed technology is designed to provide a digital slit lamp with both imaging and image analysis capabilities and more automatic operation, which may minimize human intervention and save time while making the diagnosis more objective. Preliminary work has shown that the proposed technology may provide a consistent, accurate, and objective measure that will lead to improved eye care.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.