HEDGEFOG RESEARCH INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: 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 develop and test two complementary technologies for intraocular visualization for ophthalmic surgery. The first technology is a stereo scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SteSLO) with a miniature fiberoptically connected optical head that can be used as an attachment to an existing surgical microscope. The second technology is an endoscopic SLO (eSLO) that uses miniature beam deflectors for endoscopic imaging of the eye. In Phase I we will conduct the feasibility testing of both proposed technologies and will work closely with the DHP to down-select one or both of the concepts to mature into a pre-production prototype in Phase II.