RAMAN DETECTION OF HUMAN MACULAR CAROTENOID PIGMENTS

该项目的目标是开发一种新的、非侵入性的激光光学技术，用于年龄的早期诊断。相关性黄斑变性(AMD)是美国老年人失明的主要原因。拟议开发的紧凑、低成本的诊断仪器最终可能为眼科和眼科社区提供一种强大的AMD风险新筛查测试。这项新技术使用拉曼光谱来检测人类视网膜中的黄斑类胡萝卜素、叶黄素和玉米黄质。最近的基础和临床科学研究表明，这些类胡萝卜素化合物在保护人类黄斑免受光诱导的氧化损伤方面发挥着关键作用。根据初步结果，拉曼技术有可能提供一种灵敏、快速、定量和客观的黄斑类胡萝卜素光学检测方法。我们建议在第一阶段将拉曼仪器从一个复杂的实验室设备发展成适合用于活体人类和非人类灵长类动物的紧凑可移动设备。这包括集成低功率激光器、全息光散射元件、与CCD阵列探测器的光收集以及基于光纤的光传输和收集光学装置。拟议的商业应用：这项技术有很高的潜力导致一种新的非侵入性诊断工具，用于年龄相关性黄斑变性的筛查和临床研究。潜在的用户是眼科和眼科社区的从业者。

The goal of this project is to develop a novel, non-invasive laser-optical technology for early diagnosis of age. related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the elderly in the United States. The proposed development of a compact, low-cost diagnostic apparatus could ultimately provide the ophthalmologic and optometric communities with a powerful new screening test for AMD risk. The new technology uses Raman spectroscopy to detect the macular carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin in the human retina. Recent basic and clinical science studies have indicated that these carotenoid compounds play a pivotal role in protecting the human macula from light, induced oxidative damage. Based on preliminary results, the Raman technology has the potential to provide a sensitive, fast, quantitative and objective optical detection of macular carotenoids. We propose to develop the Raman instrumentation, in a first phase, from a complex laboratory setup into a compact movable apparatus suitable for use on living humans and non-human primates. This involves the integration of a low-power laser, a holographic light dispersion element, light collection with a CCD array detector, and fiber-based light delivery and collection optics. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: This technology has a high potential of leading to a novel non-invasive diagnostic instrument for screening and clinical studies of age, related macular degeneration. Potential users are practitioners in the ophthalmologic and optometric communities.