I-Corps: A portable, self-administered ophthalmic imaging device for remote diagnosis of vision threatening disease

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是眼睛护理交付技术的发展，使患者能够获得帮助，并将诊断和管理的各个方面转移到家庭。目前，患者还没有远程、自用的眼部成像选项。老年性黄斑变性(AMD)、糖尿病视网膜病变(DR)和青光眼是美国不可逆转视力丧失的主要原因。早期发现、持续跟踪和及时治疗是预防失明的关键。远程监测消除了与面对面探视相关的患者障碍，如休假、儿童保育和旅行费用，并提供了提高护理质量的机会。研究表明，增加频率的家庭检测可以比传统检测更快地发现1.5年后青光眼的进展。基于家庭的AMD监测的早期研究也表明，新血管疾病的检测率较高，视力损失率较低。在美国，获得眼科护理的机会仍然有限；在1200万美国糖尿病患者中，只有不到一半的人接受了视网膜病变的筛查，估计有240万美国人患有未被发现的青光眼。AMD、青光眼和DR的发病率继续急剧上升，解决眼科保健中日益扩大的健康差距需要新的解决方案。这个i-Corps项目基于开发一种便携式、自我管理的眼前节和视网膜眼底成像设备，以便于使用远程医疗评估威胁视力的疾病，如糖尿病视网膜病变(DR)、老年性黄斑变性(AMD)和青光眼。拟议中的设备包括自动化眼睛检查的仪器和软件，允许患者自我成像。在患者的家中，患者接受远程筛查和潜在致盲情况的监测。除了这一设备，该团队计划建立一个数据平台，以收集、使用和共享远程眼科服务的数据，以促进与提供商的远程评估。该设备的一个核心方面是独特的凝视跟踪技术，该技术允许自动获取图像，并通过保持以眼睛为中心来提高精确度/精确度，同时还允许评估眼睛健康的其他关键方面。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 eye care delivery technology empowering patients and shifting aspects of diagnosis and management to the home. Currently, there are no remote, self-use eye imaging options available to patients. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and glaucoma represent leading causes of irreversible vision loss in the US. Early detection, consistent follow-up, and timely treatment are essential in preventing blindness. Remote monitoring removes the patient barriers associated with in-person visits such as time off from work and child care and travel costs and presents an opportunity to improve the quality of care. Studies have demonstrated that home-based testing with increased frequency can detect glaucoma progression over 1.5 years sooner than traditional testing. Early studies in home-based AMD monitoring have also demonstrated higher detection rates for neovascular disease and lower rates of vision loss. In the US, access to ophthalmologic care remains limited; Fewer than half of the 12 million Americans with diabetes undergo screening for retinopathy, and an estimated 2.4 million Americans have undetected glaucoma. Rates of AMD, glaucoma and DR continue to rise precipitously, and addressing the widening gaps in health equity in ophthalmologic care requires new solutions.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a portable, self-administered anterior segment and retinal fundus-imaging device to facilitate evaluation of vision threatening diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma using telemedicine. The proposed device includes instrumentation and software that automates the eye exam, allowing patients to self-image. From the patient’s home, the patient receives remote screening and monitoring of potentially blinding conditions. Alongside this device, the team plans to build a data platform to enable collection, use and sharing of data for tele-ophthalmology services to facilitate remote evaluation with providers. A core aspect of the device is the unique gaze tracking technology which allows automated acquisition of images and improved accuracy/precision by remaining centered on the eye while also allowing assess to other key aspects of ocular health.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.