Macular pigment Raman detector for clinical applications

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Publication Type Journal Article
School or College College of Science; School of Medicine
Department Ophthalmology; Physics
Creator Bernstein, Paul S.; Gellermann, Werner
Other Author Ermakov, Igor; Ermakova, Maia
Title Macular pigment Raman detector for clinical applications
Date 2004
Description Clinical studies of carotenoid macular pigments (MP) have been limited by the lack of noninvasive, objective instruments. We introduce a novel noninvasive optical instrument, an MP Raman detector, for assessment of the carotenoid status of the human retina in vivo. The instrument uses resonant excitation of carotenoid molecules in the visible wavelength range, and quantitatively measures the highly specific Raman signals that originate from the single- and double-bond stretch vibrations of the pi-conjugated carotenoid molecule's carbon backbone. The instrument is a robust, compact device and suitable for routine measurements of MP concentrations in a clinical setting. We characterized and tested the instrument in clinical studies of human subjects to validate its function and to begin to establish its role as a possible screening test for macular pathologies. We also show that the MP Raman spectroscopy technology has potential as a novel, highly specific method for rapid screening of carotenoid antioxidant levels in large populations at risk for vision loss from age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness of the elderly in the developed world.
Type Text
Publisher International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE)
Volume 9
Issue 1
First Page 139
Last Page 148
Subject Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; Equipment Failure Analysis; Sensitivity and Specificity
Subject MESH Carotenoids; Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; Macular Degeneration
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation Ermakov I, Ermakova M, Gellermann W, Bernstein PS. (2004). Macular pigment Raman detector for clinical applications. J Biomed Opt, 9(1), 139-48
Rights Management (c) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers
Format Medium application/pdf
Identifier ir-main,1761
ARK ark:/87278/s6v7032t
Setname ir_uspace
ID 705898
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6v7032t