AO-based High Resolution Retinal Imager for Rodent Eye

Project Summary Abstract Physical Sciences IncPSIproposes to develop and demonstrate a new prototype of our Multimodal Adaptive Optics Small Animal ImagingMAOSIplatform suitable for commercializationMAOSI is a flexiblehigh resolutionandltmbenchtop retinal imaging system with up to four confocal reflectance Adaptive Optics Scanning Light OphthalmoscoperAOSLOand or fluorescence AOSLOfAOSLOchannels with simultaneous AO OCT for routine laboratory imaging applications in animal researchNovel platform design elements includes such features asindependent software controlled focal depths for rAOSLO and fAOSLO channels with near diffraction limited axial resolutionandltmhigh dynamic range time gated wavefront sensing with dynamic AO correctiona three galvanometer scan engine with software adjustable scan patterns with moveable rasters fromdeg todegselectable scan objectives and pupil sizestommon a novel small animal stageSimultaneousco scanning AO OCT SLO rasters provide significant benefits for image guidancecross modal registration and averaging for enhanced detection sensitivity and ease of use in anesthetized animalsThe Phase II platform will incorporate bright fielddark field and multi aperture AOSLO modalities easily configured by multi aperturemulti core fiber cable distribution to multiple detectors for improved phase gradient imagingThe system is configurable either for multiple discrete laser and SLD sources or for a single commercial supercontinuum sourceSCSfor maximum flexibilityA tunable SDOCT spectrometer and SCS equipped platform will enable a wide variety of novel spectral measurements in selected visible wavelength bands and new functional modalities to be incorporatedThe ability to use low light levelsalong with the use of contact lenses and animal body temperature maintenance in a custom animal stage holderprevent damage to retina and minimize cornea and lens opacificationsProject Narrative A successful Phase II program will result in a commercializable MAOSI benchtop platform with simultaneous AO OCTmulti wavelength rAOSLOfAOSLOand advancedflexible AO control and detection schemes forD structural and functional imagingA high throughput small animal imaging device that can be brought to the lab bench has immediate research and drug discovery applications and markets