Novel, handheld biosensor for real time detection of full-thickness corneal injuries in civilian and military personnel

The OcuCheck is a handheld biosensor platform designed to enable rapid, objective diagnosis of anterior globe rupture in military and trauma settings. Anterior globe injuries are time-sensitive and challenging to diagnose without slit-lamp examination, which is unavailable in far-forward medical environments. Current field methods—such as the Seidel test—are unreliable, subjective, and impractical on unconscious or uncooperative patients. OcuCheck addresses this capability gap by detecting aqueous humor (AH) biomarkers in tear film to determine whether full-thickness corneal injury has occurred. The system integrates a disposable electrochemical sensor strip with onboard impedance measurement electronics and provides a binary LED-based output requiring minimal interpretation or training. This Direct to Phase II proposal is supported by completed Phase I-equivalent feasibility work, including: (1) confirmation of ascorbic acid (AA) as a reliable AH biomarker, validated across human, porcine, and contrived fluid models; (2) reproducible benchtop testing of multi-generational sensor strip designs; (3) integration of a microvolume sample collection method; and (4) development of a palm-sized hardware prototype with validated power, signal resolution, and response speed. Prototype testing demonstrated >88% sensitivity and >70% specificity in detecting anterior globe injury under controlled conditions. Phase II work will focus on finalizing the ruggedized prototype, integrating a second biomarker (lactotransferrin) for reflex tear normalization, completing usability testing with medics and generalists, and conducting human validation on ascorbic acid. The system will be tested against MIL-STD-810G and IP76 standards to ensure environmental durability.  OcuCheck is lightweight, field-deployable, and designed to support autonomous triage decisions by medics in Forward Surgical Teams (FSTs) and Combat Support Hospitals (CSHs). The device eliminates reliance on subjective interpretation or fragile optical systems and provides actionable results in under 3 minutes. By improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing unnecessary medical evacuations, OcuCheck enhances warfighter vision preservation, optimizes surgical triage, and strengthens military medical readiness. The platform technology also supports broader use in VA hospitals, emergency departments, EMTs, and ophthalmologists.