MIE.31 – An Ophthalmological Device for Viewing Capillary Blood Flow in Patients’ Eyes

• Julian Del Rosario
• Silvestre Diaz
• Mhanna Rabgie
• Rafael Sanchez
• Ty Shishido

Microcirculation, the blood flow through the circulatory system, plays an important role in our lives. Through observation of the cells, arterioles, venules, and capillaries, patients can be evaluated for certain viruses and diseases. Side-stream dark-field (SDF) imaging uses LEDs to illuminate blood vessels and has opened a doorway to explore microcirculation. Therefore, the Edward Hines Jr. Veteran Affairs Hospital requested the team to improve an existing SDF device for clinical use. The device will be able to capture microcirculation video, allowing for observation, and will function as an extension of a slit lamp used at the hospital. The proposed device includes a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, an Arducam HQ Camera, and a BoliOptics 40X Infinity-corrected Objective. Decision matrices were used to evaluate a list of various microprocessors, camera sensors, and camera lenses. The team then analyzed the potential failure modes of the proposed device, such as damage to the user’s eye, inability to record and save the video file, and inability to illuminate the eye. The team identified various modes of control to decrease the device’s risk which will be implemented into a working prototype. The team will validate the prototype’s performance through various experiments in the Microfluidics Laboratory at the University of Illinois Chicago. The verification and validation criteria include the ability to capture a 1 mm wide subject, to capture a video with a resolution of 1080p, and to capture a video with a frame rate of 60 frames per second. A device that meets these specifications will produce a satisfactory image of the eye’s microcirculation.