CMCC 1273

Pediatric Vision Screener

Inventors: David Hunter, Nadezhda Piskun, Deborah Nassif

Categories: Medical Device

SubCategories: Ophthalmology

Keywords: Pediatric

Invention Description:

The Pediatric Vision Scanner (PVS) is a device developed by Dr. David Hunter and coworkers to screen children for early detection of strabismus and amblyopia. The PVS is an optical device that tests for simultaneous alignment of the eyes. Pilot studies by Dr. Hunter and coworkers have shown that the binocularity score can reliably differentiate normal and amblyopic children.

Applications:

Amblyopia is a condition of subnormal visual acuity, usually in one eye, that cannot be attributed to a structural abnormality in the eye or visual pathway. The condition occurs in childhood, most commonly due to strabismus or asymmetric refractive error (anisometropia). Detected early, amblyopia can be treated with surgery, corrective lenses, occlusive therapy, or some combination of these methods. The PVS would be used to screen children between the ages of 2 and 10.

Competitive Advantages:

The Pediatric Vision Scanner (PVS) is an optical device designed to detect amblyopia rapidly and with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. It offers rapid, objective, and reproducible results. Prevailing efforts to screen for amblyopia have been time-consuming or operator-dependent. Examples include school vision screenings and optometrist’s exams. PVS will likely confer an additional advantage over existing competition given its higher sensitivity and specificity combined with ease of use and interpretation.

Business Opportunity:

Exclusive license

Key Publications: JAMA 2005; 293:1920-1922
Archive Ophthalmology 2006; 124:1-5

IPStatus: Pat. Pend.