SBIR-STTR Award

The construction of a new Anomaloscope will allow the use of research techniques which depend on measurements of color matching. Features unavailable with current instruments, but achievable with the design are: 1) Variable field size and choice of operation mode (protan or deutan matching modes). 2) The ability to perform either side-by-side or alternating color matches. 3) High brightness in Maxwellian view, due to the use of lasers as light sources-as much as 5.5 log Td. This allows measurements of the optical density and kinetics of human foveal cone photopigments. 4) No laser speckle. 5) Low cost: Under $9,000 is the target price for an eventual stand-alone instrument. Competing instruments for pigment measurements at $40,000 are limited in their capabilities. Competing anomaloscopes are about equal in price but have much more limited capabilities. To achieve these goals a prototype instrument will be constructed from commercially available parts. This prototype will need to solve the following problems. a) Compensation of the differential absorption os short wave length sensitive comes by the standard and test fields. b) Smooth control of the relative luminances of the red and green primaries. c) Stability and reliability of the matches and self calibration of the system.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:A commercial high illuminance anomaloscope will be developed. This device will function both as a normal anomaloscope which is currently not readily available and as a device capable of measuring photopigment bleaching and regeneration. Such measurements cannot currently be made except with custom-built hardware. Customers would be major research labs (both academic and industrial) and research hospitals.National Eye Institute (NEI)

In Phase I we built a prototype, modern, computer-controlled, anomaloscope capable of being used both for the diagnosis of congenital and acquired color vision deficiencies and for basic research into the function and structure of the normal and diseased fovea. This anomaloscope uses lasers for light sources, and is capable of measuring the bleaching and regeneration of the cone photopigments. In Phase Il we will further refine the prototype into a stable, research quality instrument and use it for basic investigations Into the structure and function of the photoreceptors in normals, in congenital color deficiency, and in patients with retinal diseases. Working with our consultants we will use this device to 1. Investigate its ability to diagnose congenital color vision defects, comparing its efficiency to a Nagel anomaloscope. 2. Use it to investigate the frequency and nature of large field trichromacy in people classified as dichromats by the Nagel. 3. Study the effect of retinal disease on bleaching and regeneration of the photopigments. Examining the early loss of photopigments in patients with RP and following patients with central serous retinopathy over time. Compare color matching results to results obtained using both flicker photometry and a laboratory-based anomaloscope. 4. Investigate the nature of the kinetics controlling cone photopigment bleaching and regeneration using both the laser anomaloscope and retinal densitometry in normals. 5. Investigate the change in foveal morphology with incipient macular holes, age related macular degeneration, and hereditary macular degeneration. Results will be compared to assessments of foveal function made using the focal ERG. These studies will allow us to evaluate the research and screening potential of the new laser anomaloscope. The results will allow us to assess the ultimate market potential and will also add to our understanding of the foveal cone photopigments and how disease affects them