A -- LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY LICENSEE TO PRODUCE AND SELL AN ADAPTIVE PHOROPTOR FOR VISION EVALUATION AND CORRECTION

LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY LICENSEE TO PRODUCE AND SELL AN ADAPTIVE PHOROPTOR FOR VISION EVALUATION AND CORRECTION Announcement: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the University of California under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is seeking a company to license and commercialize a MEMS based Adaptive Optics Phoropter (MAOP), which is a system for vision evaluation and correction. This MAOP system has recently received the R&D 100 Award for one of the 100 best new inventions in 2002. Traditional phoropters can only correct for lower order aberrations (defocus and astigmatism). Unlike traditional phoropters, the MAOP system can diagnose and correct for lower and higher order (such as spherical aberrations, coma, etc.) aberrations. Higher order aberrations have been clinically shown to increase with an individual's age and effect factors such as contrast sensitivity. Correcting for higher order aberrations has been shown to be beneficial for patients undergoing laser eye surgery and for those suffering with extremely poor vision. Modules are currently being constructed that would enable the system to also perform retinal imaging. Enhanced retinal imaging would be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration. The MEMS-based Adaptive Optics Phoropter is intended to replace the standard phoropter commonly used today by ophthalmologists and optometrists. Patients will have nearly the same experience as they have today. They will view a visual scene (e.g., an eye chart) through a viewport and then be asked to comment on whether the scene appears clearer (a subjective response). The clinicians experience will also be similar, except they will not need to perform many of the manual steps required with standard phoropters. However, in contrast, the results of the MAOP system will be significantly improved and more precise than today's outcomes. Visual acuity is degraded by aberrations in the cornea and lens of the eye. These aberrations distort the wavefront of the reflected light. The MAOP system is based on the use of adaptive optics to compensate for these aberrations and correct the wavefront. The wavefront corrector (MEMS based deformable mirror) applies the appropriate correction, automatically calculated by the wavefront sensor (Hartmann Shack type). This objective information will then be combined with the subjective response from the patient so that the clinician and patient can attain the best correction and compensate for high-order aberrations. The resulting wavefront information can then be used to specify an individualized prescription for custom contact lenses or custom laser eye surgery. A copy of the most recent journal article is available at: http://www.llnl.gov/tid/lof/documents/pdf/243526.pdf Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Adaptive Phoropter should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following: 1. Company Name and address. 2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact. 3. A description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology. Written responses should be directed to: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Industrial Partnerships and Commercialization P.O. Box 808, L-795 Livermore, CA 94551-0808 Attention: FBO 60-04 Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Adaptive Phoropter.