The Dynamic Laminometer will be the first instrument that can measure the pulsatile biomechanical displacements of the lamina cribrosa, giving hints for likeliness of developing glaucoma.
Organization: Univalor, QC, CA
Inventors: Mark Lesk, MD., Marcelo Wasjzilber, MD., Tsuneyuki Osaki, Ph.D.; Montreal, QC, CA
Primary Market: Health & Medical Devices, Glaucoma diagnosis
Technology contact: Anne-Marie Larose, Ph. D. MBA., Univalor, QC, CA
Overview courtesy of Anne-Marie Larose, Univalor, CA
The Dynamic Laminometer will be the first instrument that can measure the pulsatile biomechanical displacements of the lamina cribrosa, giving hints for likeliness of developing glaucoma.
The recent studies of Dr. Lesk demonstrated that the biomechanical compliance of the lamina cribrosa differs dramatically between patients with rapidly deteriorating glaucoma and patients with stable glaucoma. The lamina cribrosa is the porous disc of specialized sclera through which the axons composing the optic nerve leave the eye. It is also the main entry of the capillaries and blood vessels feeding the eye. The finding of Dr. Lesk indicates that high-risk patients have a less rigid lamina cribosa.
The technology consists in diagnostic apparatus and a method that will measure the biomechanical properties of the optic nerve head, by measuring the displacement of the lamina cribrosa synchronous with the cardiac cycle.
Status of development...
An engineered prototype, called the “Dynamic Laminometer” (DL), composed of a device based on an optical interferometry to detect the pulsatile displacements of the lamina cribrosa synchronous with the cardiac cycle is being optimized.
The objective sought is to improve the DL prototype so that it can measure the pulsatile motion of the lamina cribrosa and its surrounding tissue. Clinical proof of concept is expected in the next months.
Competitive advantages...
The DL will be the first instrument that can measure the pulsatile biomechanical displacements of the lamina cribrosa. As it seems evident that the measurement of these displacements could be a key element for the early diagnosis and follow up of glaucoma, the DL has the potential to become a gold standard in glaucoma diagnosis.
Companies into ophthalmologic diagnostic devices are the most likely to licence this technology and bring it on the market. A commercial partner will most likely build a marketable DL based on our technology.
We propose the following fields of application:
