Comparison of a MEMS-Based Handheld OCT Scanner With a Commercial Desktop OCT System for Retinal Evaluation

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is crucial for diagnosing various eye conditions.
• Current OCT systems are often large, desktop-bound devices, limiting accessibility.
• Handheld OCT devices offer potential for increased portability and point-of-care diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel handheld optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanner for imaging anterior and posterior eye structures.
• To assess the diagnostic performance of the handheld OCT in visualizing individual retinal layers.
• To compare the handheld OCT's capabilities against a commercial desktop ophthalmic OCT system.

Main Methods:

• Clinical imaging comparison between a prototype handheld OCT and a commercial RTVue desktop OCT system.
• Six patients with diabetes-related retinal pathology underwent bilateral eye imaging with both OCT devices.
• Image analysis focused on identifying retinal layers and pathological features.

Main Results:

• The handheld OCT successfully visualized both anterior and posterior ocular structures.
• Individual retinal layers were discernible, allowing identification of pathologies like retinal edema and vitreomacular traction.
• Image quality was sufficient, with minimal motion artifacts, comparable to the desktop system.

Conclusions:

• The handheld OCT system demonstrates capability for identifying key anatomical structures and pathologies in the human eye.
• Its high resolution and low motion artifacts support diagnostic use for screening and early disease detection.
• This technology can facilitate earlier interventions in primary care settings, potentially preventing disease progression.