Hyperspectral Retinal Imaging for Assessment of Retinal Laser Damage

This Phase II program builds upon the success of the Phase I conceptual design effort, in which novel architectures and techniques were developed in order to create a wide-band hyperspectral fundus imager. This device allows hyperspectral retinal images to be collected over the entire transmission range of the eye, an unprecedented capability. The device is designed to allow an adaptive optics module to be included to further improve image quality. As a part of this effort, a unique light box has been designed. The research program refines the Phase I designs, including tolerancing and athermalization tasks, in order to create a robust hardware platform. Kestrel''s existing code base will be leveraged to provide a feature-rich software environment. At the end of the program, the wide-band hyperspectral retinal imager will be delivered to AFRL to support on-going research programs. In addition, this platform and identified derivatives, can be manufactured in Phase III and delivered to combat field hospitals. BENEFIT: The benefits of this research are (a) a family of hyperspectral fundus imagers able to operate over a greatly extended wavelength range, (b) a unique fundus camera able to operate over greatly extended wavelength range (c) the ability to identify (mild) laser eye damage by spectral signature, thus making better damage threshold information possible and enabling more quantitative research into appropriate treatments, and (d) the instruments will be used as standardized platforms for other ophthalmic instruments with similar requirements. Commercially, this research will result in four standard products to be commercialized.