| Hyperspectral Imaging Puts Focus on Diagnosing Eye Diseases |
|
|
| Feb 01 2008 | |
|
Page 1 of 2
advertisement: A technique commonly used for producing detailed images of the Earth could allow doctors to see eye disorders and diseases at their earliest stages. Through a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) funded Kestrel Corp. (Albuquerque, NM) to develop its hyperspectral imaging technology for assessing the effectiveness of the Airborne Laser, a plane-mounted laser designed to intercept missiles. The company’s innovation also shows promise for analyzing the human eye, giving medical experts more information, and providing it more quickly. How it Works Hyperspectral imaging allows airborne and satellite sensors to snap images of the Earth’s surface using hundreds of spectral bands at very narrow bandwidths. Imagery is then analyzed to detect subtle color differences between soil composition or vegetation cover, for example. The technique effectively measures the amount of electromagnetic energy that is reflected, emitted, or absorbed by a surface — and it measures the energy level at hundreds of points on that surface. Hyperspectral imaging technology developed by Kestrel could help doctors make better diganoses of eye health The company already has provided an instrument to the medical school at the University of Iowa, which is looking at spectral signatures in an effort to determine whether people have eye diseases or disorders before signs would become apparent during a normal eye examination. The same approach would work for examining skin or other tissue, according to the company. |
