PHYSICAL SCIENCES INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: DHA221-003

Description

Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a significant threat factor in the modern military due to frequent exposure to harmful inhalational environments in various military settings. During the pandemic, it has been observed that COVID-19 causes the sudden onset of OD and a significant increase in long-term OD. Although various olfactory tests have been used to diagnose OD, there is currently no reliable clinical device to assess OD. Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with Tufts University (TU) and Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE), proposes to develop an advanced multimodal optical imaging technology for diagnosing and management monitoring of OD. Our proposed approach is to combine two complementary optical modalities: optical coherence tomography (OCT) and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) to simultaneously acquire real-time, depth-resolved images of the olfactory neuroepithelium (OnE) and sub-cellular details. The Phase I ex-vivo animal study has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed technology for OD diagnosis. OnE morphology changes after injury were clearly revealed by OCT/RCM imaging. During Phase II, an advanced clinical instrument will be developed and tested on in-vivo animal models of OD. Successful development of this technology will contribute to significant improvement in the diagnosis and therapy guidance of OD.