Description

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness. When a patient contracts glaucoma, the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thins and loses functionality. Unfortunately, because ganglion cell death is irreversible, blindness often results in the later stages of the disease if left untreated. Therefore, development of methods for early detection is crucial.

The purpose of the invention is to characterize functionality of nerves by measurement of mechanical changes associated with neural activation. The method has been demonstrated and is being developed as a tool that may be applied to diagnose neural pathologies at an early stage. The invention may aid in the early diagnosis of glaucoma, and possibly other neural diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer?s. Moreover, the system may be useful for non-invasive physiologic monitoring in response to the application of pharmacologic agents. The method is applicable to study the functionality of all nervous tissue, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.

Benefits

• Compact
  
• Portable
  
• Easy to align
  
• Early detection of neuropathies
  
• Applicable to all neural structures
  
• Sensitive to action potential propagation
  
• No contrast agent required
  
• Non-contact

Features

• Ability to non-invasively measure neural functionality in vivo
  
• Incorporation of fiber probe
  
• Uses back-reflected light
  
• Measures nerve swelling
  
• Double passage of light
  

Market Potential/Applications

This is a technology that has broad diagnostic applications for a variety of key diseases. Glaucoma is the initial target market, with other applications following.

IP Status

One U.S. Patent Application filed

For further information please contact:

University of Texas,
Austin, USA
Website : www.otc.utexas.edu