High Resolution Phase Contrast Imaging of Phase Objects in the Human Eye for Glaucoma Diagnosis, Cellular and Microcirculation Imaging (“HR-PCI”)

New Market Opportunity
The human eye is a challenging and constrained optical system within which to perform optical imaging. One of the greatest challenges in applied optics has been to image, in vivo, using optical coherence tomography (OCT), certain transparent cells and the aqueous humour in the eye, a challenging and constrained optical system. Of specific interest are: (i) the imaging of ganglion cells and their axons, which are particularly vulnerable to the degenerative disease glaucoma, which is the second leading cause of blindness in the world (estimated up to 70 million sufferers worldwide, some 50% of whom are estimated to be undiagnosed); and (ii) imaging of the transparent blood vessel walls and the layer free of red blood in the retinal microcirculation, which is affected by most ocular diseases and has similar characteristics to the brain microcirculation, and is therefore also of interest to scientists studying stroke. The underlying cause of glaucoma is a build-up of intraocular pressure due to an excess of aqueous humour which fails to drain correctly due to one or more of a variety of underlying causes. The excessive pressure in the eye compromises the optic nerve by various mechanisms, and untreated can lead to the death of ganglion cells in the axon of the eye and ultimate blindness. High Resolution Phase Contrast Imaging is a novel enabling technology for cellular imaging, capable of imaging transparent cells. Applications for this breakthrough technology include:
• Intraocular transparent cell/matter imaging
• Imaging of the inner retina for glaucoma diagnosis
• Non-opthalmic transparent cell imaging
• Microcirculation and vascular imaging

Market Size:
The market size for the nearest competitive technique Optical Coherence Tomography is compelling. According to "Optical Coherence Tomography -- Technology, Markets, and Applications: 2008-2012," (published February 2008) by the publishers of BioOptics World, a new report that quantifies this rapidly growing market for the first time, the global market for OCT systems is currently around $200 million and growing at an annual rate of 34%, with revenues topping $800 million by 2012. Market Scope LLC’s “2007 Comprehensive Report on the Global Glaucoma Device Market”, published in January 2007, gives a global estimate of 70 million glaucoma sufferers, and quantifies that the total worldwide device revenues for products used to diagnose and treat glaucoma are expected to reach nearly $362 million in 2007 and $470 million in 2012.

Technology Description:
Researchers in the Applied Optics Group at NUI Galway have invented a novel technology for imaging phase objects in the eye, based on an improved optical design and adaptive optics. The High Resolution Phase Contrast Imaging technology has been specifically invented to work within the constraints of the human eye, the most challenging of which is the short distance between the fundus of the eye, the scattered light from which constitutes the secondary light source, and the inner retina which constitutes the phase object to be imaged. The imaging of phase objects within the human eye requires a secondary light source, realised by scattering focussed light from the fundus of the eye with a high degree of spatial coherence. Previous optical systems have failed to realise the degree of spatial coherence required and have suffered from design flaws. Prior to this invention, no practical, commercial system had been devised to apply optical coherence methods to the problem of imaging transparent phase objects (e.g. cells) in the eye. This technology opens up a new market for optical imaging in the early diagnosis of glaucoma, among other applications. The technology is also available for licence in non-ophthalmology fields.

Competitive Advantage and IP Status:
The High Resolution Phase Contrast Imaging technology has major advantages over existing technologies for phase contrast imaging and over other methods of imaging specific transparent cells of diagnostic importance for ocular diseases such as glaucoma:
• optimum optical design for maximum spatial coherence of secondary (retinal) light source
• optical separation of phase object from source
• highest resolution of phase contrast image in eye
• enables imaging of ganglion cells and their axons
• enables imaging of transparent layer in the retina

Inventors: Prof. Chris Dainty, Eric Logean, Applied Optics Group, School of Physics. A patent application has been filed to protect this IP owned by NUI Galway.

Type of Business Sought
Licensing opportunities, joint development project.

Inventor(s): Prof. Chris Dainty, Eric Logean

Type of Offer: Licensing



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