NONINVASIVE REPAIR OF RETINAL DETACHMENTS

Spontaneous retinal detachments occur in approximately 25,000 Americans annually. In many of these cases invasive surgery is required to reattach the retina and halt a progression of the detachment which would otherwise lead to blindness of the affected eye. Unfortunately, this surgery is both invasive and expensive with an average cost of roughly $7,000 per procedure for scleral buckling and $2,000 per procedure for pneumatic retinopexy. This proposal describes a new technique for the non-invasive repair of retinal detachments. The proposed technique would move the retina into contact with the retinal pigment epithelium using a new technique, ARM, and then form a long term adhesion between these tissues using a well known technique, laser photocoagulation. ARM will be tested in a tissue mimicking phantom, a tissue mimicking phantom including excised porcine retinal tissue and excised porcine eyes. For each experiment the amount of time required to place the retina in contact with the RPE will be recorded. Theoretical analysis will be performed to estimate temperature increases which can be expected for various system configurations. Temperature increases will be correlated with appropriate application times to estimate risk of thermal injury. $ = TOTAL AWARD AMTS & NOT LIMITED TO PORTION OF PROJECT RELATED TO SUBJECT OF SEARCH SUBPROJECT $ = TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT DIVIDED BY NUMBER OF SUBPROJECTS SOURCE: CRISP FORMAT F FY 97 LAST UPDATE 04-07-98 1QUERY 1536 ID SEARCH 06/01/98 PAGE 294 --PROJECT NUMBER......1 R43 EY11586-01 INVESTIGATOR NAME/ADDRESS FY 97 SMITH, THOMAS J IRG/INTRAMURAL UNIT..ZRG1 CONTROL DELIVERY SYSTEMS, INC AWARD AMOUNT......... $96,328 86 ROSEDALE ROAD WATERTOWN, MA 02117 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION: CONTROL DELIVERY SYSTEMS, INC. TITLE PHARMACOLOGICAL INHIBITION OF INTRAOCULAR PROLIFERATION NO ABSTRACT ON FILE $ = TOTAL AWARD AMTS & NOT LIMITED TO PORTION OF PROJECT RELATED TO SUBJECT OF SEARCH SUBPROJECT $ = TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT DIVIDED BY NUMBER OF SUBPROJECTS SOURCE: CRISP FORMAT F FY 97 LAST UPDATE 04-07-98 1QUERY 1536 ID SEARCH 06/01/98 PAGE 295 --PROJECT NUMBER......1 R43 EY11601-01 INVESTIGATOR NAME/ADDRESS FY 97 VO, VAN T IRG/INTRAMURAL UNIT..ZRG1 TECHNOLOGICAL OPHTHALMIC AWARD AMOUNT......... $100,000 280 SILVER HILL RD CONCORD, MA 01742 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION: TECHNOLOGICAL OPHTHALMIC INSTRUMENTS TITLE AUTOMATIC DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR DRY EYES ABSTRACT: The long-term objective of this project is to study the efficacy of a novel method of topical treatment for eye diseases, in particular dry eyes, using a new drug delivery d device. The device is programed to eject a microdroplet of medication into a patient's eyes, either automatically or on demand. The specific aims include the experimental study and mathematical modeling to determine the exact parameters which govern the device principle and the re- engineering of the device to render it more practical and reliable for clinical trials. As eyedrop therapy is vital, much effort has been dedicated to investigate new methods of drug delivery that would effectively administer medication, prolong the medication's effects, improve the patient's compliance, and reduce health care cost. Three major potential commercial applications have been identified. First, as an assisting tool for the estimated 5% plus dry eye patients in the United Stated; second, as a research tool in medical, pharmaceutical and physiological studies; and third, as a industrial hygiene treatment tool for operators of video display terminals who routinely suffer from eye strain and visual fatigue. The proposed auto automatic drug delivery method should greatly benefit the intended population. $ = TOTAL AWARD AMTS & NOT LIMITED TO PORTION OF PROJECT RELATED TO SUBJECT OF SEARCH SUBPROJECT $ = TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT DIVIDED BY NUMBER OF SUBPROJECTS SOURCE: CRISP FORMAT F FY 97 LAST UPDATE 04-07-98 1QUERY 1536 ID SEARCH 06/01/98 PAGE 296 --PROJECT NUMBER......1 R43 EY11681-01A1 INVESTIGATOR NAME/ADDRESS FY 97 SARVER, EDWIN J IRG/INTRAMURAL UNIT..ZRG1 SARVER & ASSOCIATES, INC AWARD AMOUNT......... $100,000 18 BOGART PLACE MERRITT ISLAND, FL 32953 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION: SARVER AND ASSOCIATES, INC. TITLE PROGRAM FOR A 3D SCHEMATIC EYE EMPLOYING TRUE DATA ABSTRACT: DESCRIPTION: The objective of this project is to develop software which models and evaluates the eye's optics with or without correcting lenses. More specifically, the aim is to incorporate examination data from ophthalmic instruments in fast, accurate predictive three-dimensional optical models of the eye. In Phase I, the project will demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by 1) employing corneal topographical data to construct models of real eyes; 2) demonstrating that the internal representation of the corneal topographical data accurately reflects the measured data; and 3) demonstrating near real time calculation of point spread function. In Phase II the analysis will be expanded to include: element powers, image magnification, refractive state, predicted Snellen acuity, aberrations; MTF for any pupil size of interest; and simulated retinal images. The methods for achieving these goals include the development of software algorithms to 1) import clinical data; 2) represent the clinical data in an efficient manner allowing time effective calculations of the eye's optical properties; and 3) provide user friendly interfacing and display of output. The program can be used to: 1) predict the outcomes of proposed surgical and nonsurgical interventions; 2) develop and optimize new strategies for optical correction of the eye; 3) education; and 4) fundamental research. $ = TOTAL AWARD AMTS & NOT LIMITED TO PORTION OF PROJECT RELATED TO SUBJECT OF SEARCH SUBPROJECT $ = TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT DIVIDED BY NUMBER OF SUBPROJECTS SOURCE: CRISP FORMAT F FY 97 LAST UPDATE 04-07-98 1QUERY 1536 ID SEARCH 06/01/98 PAGE 297 --PROJECT NUMBER......1 R43 EY11682-01 INVESTIGATOR NAME/ADDRESS FY 97 SPALLHOLZ, JULIAN E IRG/INTRAMURAL UNIT..ZRG1 SETECH INC AWARD AMOUNT......... $99,692 6105 ELMWOOD AVE LUBBOCK, TX 79424 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION: SETECH, INC. TITLE FIBROSIS MODULATING BIOMATERIALS FOR GLAUCOMA SURGERY ABSTRACT: Uncontrolled glaucoma results in blindness. When medical and laser therapy fail to control glaucoma, a surgical approach is needed for adequate intraocular pressure control. Glaucoma surgery fails because of the development of fibrosis that obstructs the flow of aqueous humor created by the procedure. Wound modulating agents (5-fluorouracil, Mitomycin C) have proven to be efficacious, however, these toxic agents are hard to control and produce undesired side effects. The following proposal is based upon our findings that selenium compounds attached to a solid matrix can inactivate cellular growth factors resulting in wound healing modulation. Preliminary results in vivo indicate that this selenium matrix is able to control fibrosis resulting in the enhancement of glaucoma surgery, without any undesired side effects, This grant proposal represents: 1) a study of the reactions involved in coupling selenium compounds to a solid matrix; 2) an in vivo study of the ability of these immobilized materials to modulate the wound healing process and their interaction with the surrounding tissue; and 3) a study of different support matrices that can be used to bind these bioactive molecules. This research should result in a covalently attached selenium biomaterial for use in human glaucoma filtering surgery. $ = TOTAL AWARD AMTS & NOT LIMITED TO PORTION OF PROJECT RELATED TO SUBJECT OF SEARCH SUBPROJECT $ = TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT DIVIDED BY NUMBER OF SUBPROJECTS SOURCE: CRISP FORMAT F FY 97 LAST UPDATE 04-07-98 1QUERY 1536 ID SEARCH 06/01/98 PAGE 298 --PROJECT NUMBER......1 R43 EY11808-01 INVESTIGATOR NAME/ADDRESS FY 97 KOESTER, CHARLES J IRG/INTRAMURAL UNIT..ZRG1 60 KENT ROAD AWARD AMOUNT......... $99,992 GLEN ROCK, NJ 07452 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION: MISSION RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, LTD TITLE IN VIVO CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE IMAGING OF OCULAR TISSUES ABSTRACT: The long term objective is to develop and market high sensitivity and market high sensitivity microscope systems for imaging ocular tissues, in vivo. Specific aims for this project are: 1. to design, construct, and test high numerical aperture lenses for imaging the anterior and posterior crystalline lens epithelial cells and lens fibers, in vivo, 2. To investigate the feasibility of a high NA, diffraction limited lens system, with strong optical sectioning characteristics, for imaging the posterior retina, in vivo, 3. To develop optical designs of contact elements that will enhance the contrast and detail in images of superficial epithelial cells,and 4. To refine the precision of critical components of the optical system so that the full capabilities for optical sectioning and resolution are available to research and clinical users. The study of cataract formation and the influence of various drugs should be facilitated by the high resolution images and the ability to follow subjects over extended time periods. Retinal images with strong optical sectioning and high resolution will be useful for studies of the macula, the nerve, fiber layer, the disc, and research on retinal cell transplantation. The early diagnosis of infectious corneal diseases such as Acanthamoeba and fungus is a continuing goal.