Fiscal Year:
2002
Title:
SOFTWARE TO AID ASSESSMENT OF MACULAR EDEMA
Agency:
HHS
Contract:
1R43EY014083-01
Award Amount:
$99,958.00
Abstract:
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Of the 5 percent of North Americans who
develop diabetes, 4-15 percent develop macular edema about 8000 per annum
register as legally blind. It is simple for the clinician to diagnosis
localized (rather than diffuse) edema that has a marked (2 fold or higher)
increase in retinal thickness. However, sensitivity to small increases and
diffuse edema is not possible. These limits prevent early diagnosis, follow-up
monitoring and the accuracy and completeness of laser photocoagulation
treatment. A software algorithm is proposed which, in conjunction with scanning
laser tomography, will help the physician detect subtle or diffuse increases in
thickness by providing and absolute measure of it and by providing a mapping of
it over the retinal field of high x, y resolution (about 10 microns). This will
help the physicians to see edema early and improve the utility and completeness
of laser treatment. Profiles of reflected laser-light intensity, which
represent the reflectance of tissue along the z axis (depth into the retina),
are collected within a series of optically sectioned images. These profiles are
affected by the retinal thickness and have information about the thickness
contained within them. They will be processed using a special maximum
likelihood parameter estimation algorithm to extract the retinal thickness
across the retina, and especially in the region in the around the macula. The
objective of this research is to implement prototype software and test this
software for feasibility of its principles. The feasibility criterion is based
upon showing that the resulting retinal thickness measurements agree with
benchmark measurements taken by optical coherence tomography.
Small Business Information at Submission:
AUTOQUANT IMAGING, INC.
AUTOQUANT IMAGING, INC. 877 25TH ST WATERVLIET, NY 12189
EIN/Tax ID:
043738319
DUNS:
N/A
Number of Employees:
N/A
Woman-Owned:
No
Minority-Owned:
No
HUBZone-Owned:
No