HEDGEFOG RESEARCH INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: DHP15-016

Description

Ocular injuries have constituted approximately 13% of all casualties from Operation Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom. Of 76 patients that sustained open globe injuries and underwent surgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to restore vision, 38% ultimately went blind.In many cases, severely scarred corneas preclude adequately visualizing the retina and other intraocular structures to allow optimal surgical repair. DHP is seeking to develop a novel tool that will provide the surgeon an intraocular view that will permit state-of-the-art, sophisticated intraocular surgery and is compatible with contemporary ophthalmic surgical techniques and requirements. To address this DHP need, Hedgefog Research Inc. proposes to continue the development of a stereo microendoscope for intraocular visualization for ophthalmic surgery. In the course of Phase I we evaluated several technologies and down-selected the most promising solution, that can be integrated into an ophthalmic surgical environment, and can provide surgeons with an ability to visualize intraocular structures without the use of temporary keratoprosthesis. In Phase II we will continue the development of the stereo microendoscope technology. Our collaboration with eye surgeons from UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute will allow us to develop an intraocular visualization system that can be naturally adopted by ophthalmologists.