long as the application requires short exposure times, it is okay,’ he explained. ‘Wavefront analysis, for example, requires short exposure times, so CMOS sensors may be used in the future for these applications.’


See the eye, see the brain Diagnosing systemic disease by examining the eye is a well established technique, but one company is working to extend the capability of an eye test to be able to diagnose brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Phoenix Research provides imaging systems to researchers studying the effects of these brain diseases on the eye, and, using these systems, researchers have demonstrated the detection of Alzheimer’s in mice through a simple eye exam. According to the company’s chairman and CEO, Dr Bert Massie, there has been early clinical data stating that Alzheimer’s also presents in the eye of humans: ‘To put this in perspective, this [eye exams] would deliver a very inexpensive means to diagnose Alzheimer’s as opposed to the current means of expensive brain scans,’ he commented. ‘As a second major advance, again using the Phoenix Research imager, is the ability to observe the existence and growth of Parkinson’s through eye imaging.’ Phoenix Research’s range of instruments,


which have been designed for rodent eyes three millimetres in diameter, can be used for retinal microscopy, fluorescent imaging, electrophysiology, and anterior segment imaging. Te platform for this set of instruments is


the Micron IV retinal imaging microscope, with other modalities added to the instrument as attachments. Because the system is used for such a range of functionalities as well as in the near infrared, a three-chip CCD camera is used, explained Massie. ‘Tis choice was driven by the need to provide full resolution into the red region of fluorescence and a single chip sensor with a Bayer pattern would not accomplish this,’ he said. Te three CCD chip was modified to sense the near infrared spectral region at 850nm, capturing long wavelength fluorophores and angiograms. For detecting Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s


in humans, the retinal microscope would be based on the same imaging platform, Massie noted. ‘All of [the technologies] mimic the


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instruments used in the clinics, assisting in the eventual transfer of these technologies to human use,’ he commented. ‘Tere is a company already working to commercialise this for human application.’


Observing movement But this is not the only instance where equipment initially developed for research purposes may, in the future, be used for clinical diagnosis. SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) produces gaze and eye tracking systems, including Eye Tracking Glasses that are used for visual perception and visual orientation studies. Tese types of studies provide an insight into how visual orientation works in real-life settings, or to analyse differences between people, for example. ‘Tere are so many direct relations between


Gaze and eye


tracking systems are used for visual perception and visual orientation studies


the eye and other important parts of the body,’ said Eberhard Schmidt, managing director of SensoMotoric Instruments. ‘For example, the eye is a platform that is linked to the inner ear and the balance system − so if the balance system isn’t working properly, you can learn about any dysfunction by studying the eye movement response to changing g-force vectors. Tat is just one example, and there are a number of others.’ Te tracking glasses


contain, in a spectacle type of frame, a camera that looks at each eye and one camera that looks forward to capture the visual view of the person. ‘Ten, the eye focusing cameras capture eye images based on an infrared illumination which is located in the rim of the spectacle. Te soſtware calculates – using the infrared image acquired from each eye camera − the position of the eyeball and the size of the pupil, for example, and the gaze direction,’ explained Schmidt. ‘In general our systems are working in the infrared light domain, so we’re using digital image sensors that are specifically designed to work well in the infrared light domain.’ Te SMI Eye Tracking Glasses are currently


only used in specific research areas rather than for clinical diagnosis, but there are plans for this technology to be used in clinical settings, Schmidt added. ‘We are working with a number of research


partners and universities on potential clinical applications. So, we expect our systems to be used in diagnostic and treatment settings in the next years.’ O


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