Duke researchers develop smallest, lightest handheld OCT device for children

As small as a pack of cigarettes and weighing no more than a few slices of bread, the hand-held device will allow researchers to image the eyes of children as young as 14 months.

“Diagnostic tools that examine and image the retina have been well-designed for adults, but are exceedingly difficult to use in infants and young children who can’t hold the required position or focus for long enough periods of time,” said Cynthia Toth, professor of Ophthalmology and Biomedical Engineering at Duke University and study author. “Before now, it hasn’t been possible to measure the impact of injury or diseases on their photoreceptors.”

The journal Nature Photonics published a study Aug. 1 describing the new ultra-compact device weighing 94 grams.

Based on OCT and other technologies, it uses a new type of smaller scanning mirror with custom lenses, and a novel design that employs converging rather than collimated light, cutting the telescoping length of the device by a third.