Widefield handheld eye scanner for infants and patients who can't sit still
A Widefield, Handheld OCT system for Patients who are Unable to Cooperate
This project builds a lightweight, fast handheld retinal scanner to capture wide views of the back of the eye for infants, young children, and patients who cannot use standard tabletop machines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Theia Imaging LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11388237 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I am an infant or someone who cannot cooperate with tabletop eye equipment, this project aims to give me a small, easy-to-hold scanner that can image a larger portion of my retina. Engineers are designing faster optics and software to make the device lighter and able to capture widefield retinal images quickly at the bedside. Doctors will pilot the device in clinics and neonatal units, including with babies at risk for retinopathy of prematurity, to collect real patient images. The goal is to make retinal imaging possible for patients who currently are excluded from standard OCT exams.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include premature infants and newborns at risk for retinopathy of prematurity, young children, and adults who cannot sit or fixate for tabletop OCT imaging.
Not a fit: Patients who can already tolerate standard tabletop OCT or whose eye problems do not require retinal imaging are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this device.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable earlier and easier detection of retinal disease in infants and other patients who cannot use standard OCT, helping prevent avoidable vision loss.
How similar studies have performed: Handheld OCT has already produced useful clinical insights in infants and ROP, but current devices are slower, heavier, and have limited peripheral field, so a high-speed widefield handheld scanner is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Theia Imaging LLC — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Viehland, Christian — Theia Imaging LLC
- Study coordinator: Viehland, Christian
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.