In the United States, more than a quarter of adults over the age of 40 have an eye disease such as glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, or a chronic health condition that affects the eyes such as diabetic retinopathy. . These conditions put a strain on the health care system as well as the individual’s health, but early diagnosis and management can help prevent more than 90% of severe vision loss.
Chao Zhou, a professor of biomedical engineering at Washington University’s McKelvey School of Engineering in St. Louis, is working on improving optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems that can perform high-resolution imaging of the eye. Now, with a contract worth up to $20 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), he is developing a portable electronic integrated circuit based on photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and custom-designed electronic integrated circuits that can provide advanced functionality. I plan to create an OCT system. Bring eye screening to more patients at a lower cost. This technology could also have other applications such as cardiology, dermatology, dentistry, endoscopy, and urology.
This agreement is part of ARPA-H’s initial call for proposals for unconventional approaches to improving health outcomes across patient populations, communities, diseases, and health conditions through breakthrough research and technological advances. This is his first ARPA-H contract signed with the University of Washington.
Traditional OCT systems are expensive, complex, bulky, and labor-intensive to assemble and calibrate. The proposed system weighs a few pounds, can perform high-resolution 3D scans of the retina in less than a second, and costs a fraction of traditional systems.
The integration of photonic and electronic integrated circuits simplifies the assembly process, reduces manufacturing costs, and makes OCT available to a wider range of medical facilities and patients. Integrating components on photonic chips also improves overall stability and robustness, making these systems less susceptible to environmental influences and wear, increasing longevity and reducing maintenance costs. Masu. ”
Chao Zhou, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis
Zhou’s group invented space-division multiplexed optical coherence tomography (SDM-OCT). The technology acquires multiple high-resolution OCT images simultaneously with a single detector, is at least 10 times faster than existing HE OCT scanners, and has less chance of error. From the patient’s movements. However, these systems require significant time and effort to assemble each channel’s components, which has limited their wide application.
With ARPA-H funding, Zhou and his collaborators will use advances in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes used in the semiconductor industry to assemble components into photonic chips. . This streamlines manufacturing and reduces costs. Once functional, we plan to conduct studies using the device in adult and pediatric patients.
According to the researchers, developing a fully integrated photonic integrated chip (PIC)-OCT system is both so impactful and extremely difficult that the team has , the work was divided into eight parts. At the end of the five-year project, the team plans to develop photonic and electronic chips and portable PIC-OCT prototypes specifically for ophthalmic imaging.
According to the researchers, the proposed system is more than 50 times faster than existing state-of-the-art commercial OCT systems at a fraction of the cost. By optimizing and integrating optical and electronic circuits, researchers create an integrated image acquisition and signal processing engine with benefits that extend to other areas of healthcare, such as glucose sensing and portable skin imaging devices. can.
Zhou is working with:
- Shu-Wei Huang, assistant professor of electrical, computer, and energy engineering and biomedical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder.
- Aravind Naguru, assistant professor of electrical and systems engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering.
- Rithwick Rajagopal, MD, PhD, associate professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
- Margaret Reynolds, MD, assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine.and
- Lan Yang, Edwin H. and Florence G. Skinner Professor of Electrical and Systems Engineering, McKelvey School of Engineering;
Yang said his long-term interest is to translate knowledge from photonics research into technologies and tangible products that have far-reaching societal impact, with applications in healthcare being a top priority.
“This multidisciplinary project aims to develop new OCT systems with capabilities and features enabled by advances in nanofabrication processes for optoelectronic devices driven by industries ranging from telecommunications to data centers to consumer electronics. I’m excited to be a part of this team,” said Yang. . “Our proposed photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based portable OCT system provides advanced and cost-effective ophthalmic screening and extends its benefits to other medical fields.”
Rajagopal said ophthalmologists have benefited from the diagnostic insights provided by OCT technology for the past 15 years, but the system is limited by scan speed and field of view.
Most modern scanners can only image the center of the retina. Macula – also requires a mobile and cooperative patient who can move to and remain stable on a desktop system for at least 30 to 60 seconds (or longer), said Dr. Rajagopal .
“I am excited about the potential clinical benefits offered by Dr. Chou’s new system, as it allows us to perform much higher resolution scans while spending a fraction of the time required. , because it may be possible to include simultaneous scans of the periphery in addition to the center of the retina, “according to currently available systems,” Rajagopal said. “Therefore, patients who are unable to cooperate with traditional eye imaging, such as young children or adults with disabilities, may be able to be scanned without the need for pupil dilation or sedation.”
The team will work with commercial foundries to manufacture optoelectronic integrated circuits.
“This fully integrated PIC-OCT system not only outperforms traditional OCT systems, but is also more manufacturable and robust, and also reduces the device footprint.” Zhou says Mr. “Furthermore, mass production will significantly reduce manufacturing costs, paving the way for widespread adoption in the future.”
The team already has several US and international patents related to SDM-OCT, and is working with the University of Washington’s Office of Technology Management on a patent application for an improved design. We will also collaborate with the ARPA-H Project Accelerator Transition Innovation Office and the Food and Drug Administration on regulatory considerations to pave the way for future clinical translation.
“I am very excited to be part of a world-class team driving this ambitious project that will make OCT a true point-of-care solution,” said Huang. “This is a perfect example of how PIC technology can be transformative in areas beyond communications and computing.”
sauce:
Washington University in St. Louis
