38 results about "Bruch's membrane" patented technology

The present invention relates to a composition for implantation in the subretinal space of an eye, the composition including amniotic membrane, which may be cryopreserved human amniotic membrane, and a plurality of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells or RPE equivalent cells present at the amniotic membrane. The amniotic membrane may be intact, epithelially denuded, or otherwise treated. The invention includes the use of amniotic membrane for the culturing of RPE cells thereon, forming a surgical graft for replacement of Bruch's membrane as a substrate, and for the transplanting of RPE cells to the subretinal space. The composition does not elicit immunological reactions to alloantigens or to RPE specific autoantigens; and exerts anti-inflammatory, anti angiogentic, and anti-scarring effects. The invention includes methods and kits for making or using composites including amniotic membrane and RPE cells. Also disclosed is a device for harvesting RPE cells.

An electronic ophthalmoscope combining scanning laser (SLO) and optical coherence (OCT) technologies is further equipped with a pulsed laser source in the femtosecond (fs) range. The goal is primarily to selectively disrupt the photoreceptor mosaic of the retina or Bruch's membrane in a pattern that minimizes loss of visual functioning, and to reduce thereby the metabolic load of the outer retina. Using a beam splitter, one embodiment combines the SLO scanning beams with the therapeutic laser beam and aiming beam. The therapeutic channel uses an independent x/y positioner and micro-deflector. Because the duty cycle is appropriate, a second embodiment can use the SLO scanners to also scan a modulated therapeutic laser beam. A biometric OCT probe, helpful in focusing, can be integrated in both configurations. A method is also disclosed to represent the tilting of the retina at a specified location.

Thin parylene C membranes having smooth front sides and ultrathin regions (e.g., 0.01 μm to 5 μm thick) interspersed with thicker regions are disclosed. The back sides of the membranes can be rough compared with the smooth front sides. The membranes can be used in vitro to grow monolayers of cells in a laboratory or in vivo as surgically implantable growth layers, such as to replace the Bruch's membrane in the eye. The application further provides an implantable cage-like apparatus for culturing cells comprising the parylene membrane.

The invention discloses a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) retina image choroidal neovascularization (CNV) segmentation method based on concavity and convexity, and belongs to the technical field of image processing. The method comprises the following steps: first, estimating the retina and choroid area of an input SD-OCT image, and positioning the internal limiting membrane (ILM) and the choroid-sclera junction (CSJ); then, estimating the retina pigment epithelium (RPE) layer according to the gradual change feature of the reflectivity of the retina image, and estimating the Bruch's membrane (BM) layer based on the concavity and convexity of the RPE layer; and finally, estimating a preliminary CNV region according to the thickness difference between the RPE layer and the BM layer, and correcting the upper border of CNV to get a final CNV segmentation result. The experimental results show that the algorithm proposed in the invention can be used to segment CNV robustly and precisely, and is of great significance to facilitating subsequent CNV quantitative analysis and improving the work efficiency of doctors.

A retinal implant is provided that uses an artificial biocompatible material as a support material on which retinal pigment epithelial cells, iris pigment epithelial cells, and/or stem cells can be deposited either in situ or in vivo. The support material has a surface topology that is rough to promote cell adhesion, has surface pits to allow pigment cells to grow into, and has pores to allow for proper diffusion of materials. The support material serves as a substrate for cell growth and as a patch for damaged basement membrane (Bruch's membrane). This cell-coated membrane or pigment cell-enriched membrane is surgically positioned in the sub-retinal space to rescue or restore photoreceptor cell function that may be damaged or threatened by degenerative diseases of the eye, such as age-related macular degeneration.

The present invention provides ocular scaffolds composed of poly (e-caprolactone) configured to be inserted into the sub-retinal space of a subject, as well as methods for treating eye disease (e.g., age-related macular degeneration) with such scaffolds. The present invention also provides methods of making such scaffolds.

The present invention relates to altering the physical and/or chemical properties of at least part of at least one tissue in the eye. In a specific embodiment, it relates to the treatment of any eye disorder, although in particular embodiments the individual has a thickened Bruch's membrane. An activating energy source is utilized to effect a controlled diffusion enhancement and/or degradation of Bruch's membrane that enables improved diffusional transport between the choroid and retina. The individual is administered an inactivated diffusion-enhancing molecule that becomes associated with the membrane, which is then precisely exposed to an activating energy source, such as light or ultrasound.

Methods of stabilizing and organizing collagen fibrils in extracellular matrix of retinal tissues, particularly Bruch's membranes, and stabilizing retinal pigment epithelial layers lining Bruch's membrane are disclosed. The stabilization and organization may be effected by treating retinal tissues with a protein that crosslinks and organizes collagen fibrils, such as decorin. The stabilization and organization methods include treatment of retinal tissues before, during, or after diagnosis of dry macular degeneration, diagnosis of early stages of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema to prevent, retard, or limit progression of disorganization of Bruch's membrane and disorganization of retinal pigment epithelial cells lining Bruch's membrane.

An electronic SLO/OCT ophthalmoscope is equipped with a femtosecond (fs) laser for intra- or preretinal therapeutic use in the posterior segment of the eye. In one application the retina photoreceptor mosaic or Bruch's membrane is disrupted in such pattern that minimizes loss of visual functioning but reduces metabolic load of the outer retina. Using a beam splitter, one embodiment combines the SLO/OCT scanning beams with the therapeutic fs beam and an aiming beam. The therapeutic channel uses an independent x/y positioner and micro-deflector. Because the duty cycle is appropriate, a second embodiment can use the SLO/OCT scanners to also simultaneously scan a modulated therapeutic laser beam. A biometric OCT probe can be integrated in both configurations for focusing purpose.

Another embodiment can selectively and systematically disrupt or ablate the vitreous body of an eye in a predetermined (programmed) 3-D pattern that minimizes the risk of inadvertently damaging the retina or anterior segment of the eye.

The invention discloses a method for measuring the depth of the front surface of lamina cribrosa based on active contour and energy constraint. A Bruch's membrane opening point determination approachbased on K-means clustering and active contour and a lamina cribrosa front surface segmentation approach based on energy constraint are adopted. First, the clustering map of K-means clustering is taken as the initial contour of a C-V active contour model, and a Bruch's membrane opening point in the contour is extracted. Then, a region of interest segmented from the front surface of lamina cribrosais obtained according to the position of the opening point, and the front surface of lamina cribrosa is segmented out through an energy constraint approach. Finally, the depth of the front surface oflamina cribrosa is measured according to the structure of the two steps. The result of the invention is better than that of the existing method, and is consistent with the manual calibration result of experts. The problem that it takes time and energy for experts to measure the depth of the front surface of lamina cribrosa through manual calibration in clinical diagnosis is solved. The method isof positive significance to the early screening and clinical diagnosis of glaucoma.

The present invention provides a method for producing a cell sheet, including

(1) a step of preparing mammal-derived cells, and

(2) a step of seeding the prepared cells on a plane substrate in high density, and culturing the cells, a cell sheet produced by the method, a material for transplantation, Bruch's membrane and the like.

The present invention involves the identification of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) based on lectin binding patterns in choroidal and/or Bruch's membranes. The use of lectins to target therapeutic agents to CNV also is disclosed.

The present invention provides a method for treating macular degeneration utilizing a therapeutic agent delivery system that is disposed in proximity of the sclera after which one or more therapeutic agents are injected or diffused into the sclera to provide for the dissolution of waste products in Bruch's membrane.

The present invention relates to a composition for preventing and treating a Bruch's membrane dysfunction-associated disease, which includes a sea cucumber extract as an active ingredient, and more particularly, to a composition for preventing and treating a Bruch's membrane dysfunction-associated disease, which includes a sea cucumber extract having effects of regenerating the Bruch's membrane of an eye and improving a transport function. The composition according to the present invention improves the transport function of the Bruch's membrane and promotes the regeneration of the Bruch's membrane, thereby delaying or reversing an eye aging process, and thus has excellent effects on the prevention and treatment of a disease such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Sorsby's fundus dystrophy, Malattia Levintanese (ML), Stargardt disease, Best's vitelliform retinal dystrophy and Doyne's honeycomb retinal dystrophy (DHRD), which occurs due to the age-related dysfunction of the Bruch's membrane.

The treatment of age-related macular degeneration with the chronic administration of the neurotrophic peptidergic compound P021. Chronic treatment of animal models for age-related macular degeneration prevented the pathological changes associated with age-related macular degeneration, including photoreceptor degeneration, lipofuscin granules, vacuoles and atrophy in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), Bruch's membrane (BM) thickening, rosette-like structure formation, microgliosis and astrogliosis.