Glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration may become easier to diagnose thanks to a new scanner being developed to capture real-time and artifact-free eye images. Teaming up with photonics innovation hub ACTPHAST 4R, scientists at Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam are progressing their scanner concept to a demonstrator stage in order to acquire data faster than existing optical imaging technologies. This new real-time scanner aims to create a full image of a moving eye but without any blurring.
Eye specialists currently use Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a non-invasive imaging technique that uses light to build up an image of the retina via cross-sectional image ‘slices’. However, because the eye is constantly moving, the images suffer from blurring and often only partial pictures are possible. OCT technology has never been fast enough to take a full image of a moving eye without blurring or expecting the patient to sit incredibly still.
“Diagnoses of eye diseases that could lead to blindness require good quality images at an early stage. Eye abnormalities can be so very subtle in the early phase that standard OCT can miss these tiny changes. Because our eyes are constantly moving to refresh the visual input, even at a microscopic level, it makes eye imaging very difficult without having blurred images,” said Dr. Imran Avci, Lead Researcher and Assistant Professor from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at VU Amsterdam.
“Our scanner is different: with the data acquired fast enough, the overall goal is to have a real-time imaging system. The rapid switch will enable us to perform real-time high quality moving footage, or a ‘video’ of your eye.”
To overcome this limitation, the scanner works by acquiring data from the light signal at rapid speeds by ‘bundling’ groups of information together. By taking 100 to 120 reference points, the scanner 'bundles' them together, acquiring 20 arms at a time. A patented 'switch' then moves from bundle to bundle in nanoseconds, providing the ability to quickly acquire the images in real-time.
“We can speed up the traditional OCT imaging system while keeping its sensitivity at a reasonable value. Our imaging speed improves while the signal to noise ratio is not sacrificed too much. The faster speed makes it possible to image dynamic situations or fast-moving parts of the body, like the eye. The OCT we have today uses a process called ‘eye-tracking’ which can be tricky and involves many elements to do it right. However, if we can manage to create an image before the eye moves (in 5-10 sec or so) then there is no need for tracking schemes,” said Dr. Avci.
ACTPHAST 4R is an EU innovation hub designed to give European academic researchers access to top-level expertise and technologies in photonics to produce demonstrators for their scientific breakthroughs. By working with ACTPHAST 4R, Dr. Avci’s team has been able to access the right technical and business coaching expertise to advance the scanner concept towards an actual product.
“The ACTPHAST 4R support is crucial to bridging the gap between concept and demonstrator. Only an innovation hub like ACTPHAST 4R can provide the unique cross-border connections for bridging the innovation valley of death and accelerated TRL advancement,” said ACTPHAST 4R Coordinator, Prof Hugo Thienpont of the Brussels Photonics Team (B-PHOT) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).
“ACTPHAST 4R has been essential in helping us develop our product because it has de-risked the investment we have to make. ACTPHAST 4R has given us access to the right know-how and equipment to overcome critical photonics challenges, including the invaluable opportunities for hands-on training at the facilities of the top competence centres in the key photonics technologies for our application. They make a huge difference to small research teams like ours,” said Dr. Avci.
ACTPHAST 4R operates a continuous open call for researchers who wish to apply for innovation support. Applications can be made online via the ACTPHAST 4R website.