Summary:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering have developed an intraocular device for accurate and precise sensing during intraocular surgical procedures.
Background:
Intraocular surgical procedures rely on accurate imaging of the surgical environment for improved patient outcome. Traditional imaging modalities include mounting an optical coherence tomography device onto a microscope, which provides only a limited view of the ocular environment. This is particularly limiting in retinal and cataract surgeries and can result in surgical complications and insufficient knowledge of the intraocular environment due to inaccuracies in visualization. Modern techniques are insufficient for performing real-time tooltip and tissue sensing and detection in a dynamic surgical environment. There remains an unmet need for an intraocular multimodal sensing system for real-time localization and imaging during surgical procedures.
Innovation:
UCLA researchers in the department of mechanical engineering developed a novel multimodal system for intraocular sensing. The device provides precise localization and in situ calibration of multimodal OCT measurements. This technology provides not only three-dimensional position information of the tooltip with respect to intraocular tissues, but also provides the capability of differentiating intraocular structures. It offers increased surgical control and safety, and reduced uncertainty. Through enhanced sensory detection and feedback, the proposed approach provides comprehensive, real-time information for intraocular surgeries, improving overall outcomes.
Potential Applications:
- Cataract surgery
- Retinal surgery
- Real-time surgical information
Advantages:
- Enhanced visualization
- Real-time localization
- Boundary identification
- Real-time calibration
- Multimodal approach
Development To Date:
First demonstration of technology is complete as of June 30, 2023.
Reference:
UCLA Case No. 2024-014
Lead Inventor:
Tsu-Chin ("T.C") Tsao
Relevant Publications:
1. Chen, C.W., Lee, Y.H., Gerber, M.J., Cheng, H., Yang, Y.C., Govetto, A., Francone, A.A., Soatto, S., Grundfest, W.S., Hubschman, J.P. and Tsao, T.C., 2018. Intraocular robotic interventional surgical system (IRISS): semiautomated OCT-guided cataract removal. The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery, 14(6), p.e1949.
2. Gerber, M. J., Hubschman, J. P., & Tsao, T. C. (2021). Robotic posterior capsule polishing by optical coherence tomography image guidance. The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery, 17(3), e2248.
3. Lee, Y.H., Lai, Y.T., Gerber, M.J., Dodds, J., Hubschman, J.P., Rosen, J. and Tsao, T.C., 2023. Accurate Robotic Posterior Capsule Polishing With Tissue Stabilization. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics.