46 results about "Macular Pigment" patented technology

A macular health measurement and storage system comprises a plurality of macular-pigment measurement machine for measuring macular pigment density in humans, a plurality of computers each of which is associated with a corresponding one the macular-pigment measuring machines, and a central host. The plurality of macular-pigment measurement machines include a device for receiving macular pigment data from a patient, at least one data transfer port, and at least one processor that enables the transfer of the macular pigment data from the transfer port. The plurality of computers include a first port coupled to the data transfer port of the corresponding macular-pigment measurement machine for receiving the macular pigment data. Each of the computers includes a second port for transferring patient data. The central host is coupled to the second ports on each of the plurality of computers. The central host includes a storage device for storing the patient data.

A macular pigment reflectometer is handheld, light, and portable. It can be provided as a part of a self-contained system. The self-contained system includes a docking station in which the macular pigment reflectometer is placed between uses. The docking station is used to recharge the battery of the handheld macular pigment reflectometer. The docking station also has one or more types of communication ports, such as one for a wired or wireless internet connection, through which the handheld macular pigment reflectometer can communicate with a computer or an electronic medical records system. The instrument operates in a pulsed operating mode wherein relative instrument-to-eye motion is reduced and, preferably, nearly eliminated. The handheld macular pigment reflectometer contains an on-board spectrometer which is designed to capture spectra in very short intervals of time. A trigger on the instrument allows for a rapid, intuitive, and sequential alignment followed by rapid data gathering.

Pre-treatment using a xanthin carotenoid (preferably 3R,3′R-zeaxanthin) can improve the benefits and efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses a light-activated drug (such as verteporfin) in patients who suffer from unwanted retinal blood vessel growth, including the “wet” (exudative) form of macular degeneration. Before a PDT treatment, patients are given a regimen of orally-ingested zeaxanthin for a period of at least 1 and preferably at least 2 to 3 weeks, at dosages of at least 3 and preferably at least 10 milligrams per day. Since zeaxanthin imparts a yellowish color to the macula, a preferred dosage should increase a patient's macular pigment density before the PDT treatment is performed.

A reflectometry instrument includes a light source, a spectrometer, and a first and second lens. The light source emits an illumination beam to the macula. The spectrometer measures a detection beam that is a portion of the illumination beam reflected from the eye and is indicative of the eye characteristics (e.g. macular pigment). The first and second lenses transmit the illumination beam to the macula and transmit the detection beam from the macula to the spectrometer. The instrument is used on an undilated pupil and minimizes unwanted reflections by at least one of the following: the first and second lenses include anti-reflection coatings; the illumination and detection beams pass through the first and second lenses at locations offset from their centers; and the illumination and the detection beams remain separated when passing through the first and second lenses. Zeaxanthin, lutein, and the total macular pigment levels are measured by the instrument.

Apparatus for use in measuring the density and spatial distribution of macular pigment in an eye comprises a camera (4) for capturing a colour image of an eye, at least one filter (36) for filtering light reaching the camera (preferably by filtering the light illuminating the eye). The filter (36) has a transmission spectrum with one peak in the region of light absorbed by the pigment and another peak in a region where no such absorption occurs. The filter increases the sensitivity of the camera to macular pigment whilst enabling the effect of other pigments to be reduced or eliminated. A method of measuring macular pigment involves obtaining a colour image of an eye, the image having two colour components each having a spectrum having a respective one of said peaks. Corresponding portions of the components are mathematically combined so as to provide a measurement of macular pigment density and the results of the combination are used to provide an output representative of the contribution of macular pigment to the image.

The invention discloses an eye medicine combination, containing 200-400 parts by weight of lutein, 1-2 parts by weight of DHA, 6-7 parts by weight of vitamin A and 1.5-2.5 parts by weight of selenium. The components of the eye medicine combination provided by the invention have synergic effect, thus being capable of alleviating symptoms such as asthenopia and dry eye syndrome and being capable of racially controlling and preventing eye problems such as cataract, glaucoma, floaters, macular pigment cytopathy and the like as well, thereby improving eyesight.

A reflectometry instrument includes a light source, a spectrometer, and a first and second lens. The light source emits an illumination beam to the macula. The spectrometer measures a detection beam that is a portion of the illumination beam reflected from the eye and is indicative of the eye characteristics (e.g. macular pigment). The first and second lenses transmit the illumination beam to the macula and transmit the detection beam from the macula to the spectrometer. The instrument is used on an undilated pupil and minimizes unwanted reflections by at least one of the following: the first and second lenses include anti-reflection coatings; the illumination and detection beams pass through the first and second lenses at locations offset from their centers; and the illumination and the detection beams remain separated when passing through the first and second lenses. Zeaxanthin, lutein, and the total macular pigment levels are measured by the instrument.

Methods and apparatus are provided for accurately imaging, assessing and measuring a patient's macular pigment. A multiband filter is employed in combination with a color digital fundus camera to provide a method that operates with a single imaging exposure. The multiband filter has bandpass regions within spectral ranges of the red, green and blue detectors of the CCD array employed within the fundus camera, the bandpass regions being sufficiently sharply defined so as to avoid regions where the CCD detector responses spectrally overlap. This provides three discrete channels of grayscale data corresponding to the bandpass regions of the multiband filter, which can be used to calculate macular pigment topographically. Methods are also disclosed for calculating the optical density of the macular pigment and advantageously displaying the resulting data.

Apparatus for use in measuring the density and spatial distribution of macular pigment in an eye comprises a camera (4) for capturing a color image of an eye, at least one filter (36) for filtering light reaching the camera (preferably by filtering the light illuminating the eye). The filter (36) has a transmission spectrum with one peak in the region of light absorbed by the pigment and another peak in a region where no such absorption occurs. The filter increases the sensitivity of the camera to macular pigment while enabling the effect of other pigments to be reduced or eliminated. A method of measuring macular pigment involves obtaining a color image of an eye, the image having two color components each having a spectrum having a respective one of said peaks. Corresponding portions of the components are mathematically combined so as to provide a measurement of macular pigment density and the results of the combination are used to provide an output representative of the contribution of macular pigment to the image.

A xanthophyll composition that contains macular pigments including trans-lutein and zeaxanthin isomers, namely, (R,R)-zeaxanthin and (R,S)-zeaxanthin, derived from the plant extract / oleoresin containing xanthophylls / xanthophylls esters which is safe for human consumption and useful for nutrition and health care. The composition has at least 80% by weight that is total xanthophylls, of which the ratio of trans-lutein and zeaxanthin isomers being in the range of about 4:1 to about 6:1 and the ratio of the isomers of zeaxanthin being in the range of about 80 to 20:20 to 80.

A macular pigment reflectometer is handheld, light, and portable. It can be provided as a part of a self-contained system. The self-contained system includes a docking station in which the macular pigment reflectometer is placed between uses. The docking station is used to recharge the battery of the handheld macular pigment reflectometer. The docking station also has one or more types of communication ports, such as one for a wired or wireless internet connection, through which the handheld macular pigment reflectometer can communicate with a computer or an electronic medical records system. The instrument operates in a pulsed operating mode wherein relative instrument-to-eye motion is reduced and, preferably, nearly eliminated. The handheld macular pigment reflectometer contains an on-board spectrometer which is designed to capture spectra in very short intervals of time. A trigger on the instrument allows for a rapid, intuitive, and sequential alignment followed by rapid data gathering.

A method of identifying a human subject, more likely than a subject selected at random from the general population, to have one or more of the following: (i) a low macular pigment concentration in the eye or eyes; (ii) a low visual performance, or (iii) an atypical “central dip” macular pigment distribution; the method comprising the steps of: measuring at least one cognitive function of the subject; comparing the measured cognitive function with a pre-determined threshold; and, if the measured cognitive function is below the threshold, declaring the subject as being more likely to have one or more of low macular pigment concentration in the eye or eyes, low visual performance or an atypical ‘central dip’ macular pigment profile.

A retinoscopic device, technique and scale for estimating the reflectance of the macula pigment optical density (MPOD) in normal and abnormal eyes in order to detect early pathology of the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors thus screening for macular pathology the most prevalent of which is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and retinal edema and cystoid macular edema post cataract surgery.

Methods and systems for imaging the fundus of the eye are disclosed, in which the fundus is illuminated through a mask which blocks light from reaching one or more masked regions within a peripheral area surrounding a target area of interest, such as the macular region. An image is obtained of both the target area and the peripheral area. A scattered light value is derived from the image intensity within the masked regions, and this is used to compensate and adjust the measured intensity of light within the target area. When employed in the measurement of macular pigment optical degeneration, an improved measurement is obtained in which the specific image(s) used for measurement have a specifically calculated correction factor applied to compensate for light scatter, rather than relying on population-based average scattering values.

A system measures macular pigment of a macula of a human eye of a subject. The system comprises a light source having a first light and a second light that modulate at variable frequencies, an input device for receiving an input indicating the frequency at which the user perceives the modulation of the first light and a second light, a display device, at least one processor, and one or more memory devices. The one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the system to (i) display, on the display device, test data corresponding to the user's inputs from the input device, (ii) determine whether the test data are valid or invalid through a curve-fitting algorithm, (iii) automatically indicate that the test data are valid or invalid.

The present invention provides a composition for improving macular pigment optical density and preventing or treating age-related macular optical degeneration. The composition comprises lutein, zeaxanthin and tea extracts, wherein the weight ratio of zeaxanthin to lutein is more than or equal to 1. The composition may prevent formation of choroidal neovascularization to achieve effects on comprehensively preventing or treating age-related macular optical degeneration (AMD).

Imaging apparatus and filters are provided for accurately imaging, assessing and measuring a patient's macular pigment. A multi-band filter is employed in combination with a color digital fundus camera to provide a method that operates with a single imaging exposure. The multiband filter has bandpass regions within spectral ranges of the red, green and blue detectors of the CCD array employed within the fundus camera, the bandpass regions being sufficiently sharply defined so as to avoid regions where the CCD detector responses spectrally overlap. This provides three discrete channels of grayscale data corresponding to the bandpass regions of the multiband filter, which can be used to calculate macular pigment topographically. Methods are also disclosed for calculating the optical density of the macular pigment and advantageously displaying the resulting data.

The invention discloses a lutein ester and sea buckthorn oil composite edible health-care product. The lutein ester and sea buckthorn oil composite edible health-care product mainly comprises the following components: sea buckthorn oil and lutein ester. Health-care products which respectively take the lutein ester and the sea buckthorn oil as main raw materials exist in markets at present, the lutein ester can supplement macular pigment of eyes and protect retina, and the sea buckthorn oil is natural oil extracted from fruits of sea buckthorns which are natural plants, and has effects of improving cardiac contractility, reducing blood fat and blood viscosity and the like. Because two products are used separately, a composite effect cannot be achieved. Functions of the lutein ester and the sea buckthorn oil are combined, the effect of improving human immunity is achieved, and the curative effect on macular degeneration is good.

The present invention provides a composition for improving macular pigment optical density and preventing or treating age-related macular optical degeneration. The composition comprises lutein, zeaxanthin and tea extracts, wherein the weight ratio of zeaxanthin to lutein is more than or equal to 1. The composition may prevent formation of choroidal neovascularization to achieve effects on comprehensively preventing or treating age-related macular optical degeneration (AMD).

The invention relates to the technical field of children milk powder, and discloses a nutritional milk powder for growth of children. The milk powder is prepared from the following nutritional components: whole milk powder, lactose, skim milk powder, fructo-oligosaccharide, galactooligosaccharide, arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, colostrum basic protein, bifidobacterium animalis Bb-12, casein phosphopeptides, xanthophyll, taurine, phospholipid, L-arginine, L-leucine, DL-isoleucine, minerals and vitamins. The colostrum basic protein is added into the milk powder and can promote growth and development of bones, so that the heights of children and adolescents can be increased, and the immunity of a human body can also be improved; the xanthophyll is added into the milk powder, can promote the vision development of children and teenagers, reduces the myopia rate, protects retina, resists the stimulation of blue light, improves the macular pigment density and reduces cataract; and the docosahexaenoic acid is added into the milk powder and can promote the brain development of the children and the teenagers, so that the children and the teenagers are more smart.

An arrangement and method for determining the two-dimensional distribution of fundus pigments, particularly of the xanthophyll macular pigment. The arrangement for carrying out the method comprises an illumination unit which illuminates the retina via an illumination beam path directed to the ocular fundus, observation optics located in the observation beam path proceeding from the ocular fundus, an image processing unit, elements for beam deflection and a central controlling and evaluating unit. In the method, a two-dimensional reflection image of the retina is recorded in a selected narrow-band wavelength region. In evaluating this two-dimensional reflection image, site-specific areas are established for determining the optical density and comparison values. The optical density of the fundus pigment at every fundus location is calculated from the negative logarithmic value of the quotient of the intensity value of the reflection image IR(λ) at this fundus site to a comparison intensity value of the reflection image IR(λ)Comparison. The suggested solution for the objective detection of the two-dimensional distribution of the optical density of the macular pigment xanthophyll is also suitable in principle for determining the distribution of other fundus pigments.

Provided is a continuous microalgae culture module, including an outdoor culture unit, a high-density culture unit, a pigment induced unit, and a harvesting unit. A method of culturing microalgae containing macular pigment is also provided, including sequentially culturing microalgae with medium in the outdoor culture unit and the high-density culture unit, producing macular pigment in the pigment induced unit through different light irradiation, and collecting the microalgal biomass containing macular pigment in the harvesting unit.

A computer implemented method of diagnosing whether a human subject is infected with Zika virus, includes: determining a correlation between a fundus test image of an eye of the human subject for presence of gross macular pigment mottling with a known set of Zika virus infected fundus images and with a known set of healthy fundus images, wherein a high correlation / low correlation between the fundus test image and the known set of Zika virus infected fundus images indicates that there is a high probability / low probability that the human subject is infected with Zika virus, wherein a high correlation / low correlation between the fundus test image and the known set of healthy fundus images indicates that there is a low probability / high probability that the human subject is infected with Zika virus.

A method wherein subjects having or at risk for having hyperopia, presbyopia or astigmatism are administered a composition having an effective amount of ocular antioxidants, including specifically macular pigments, to prevent, treat, or delay the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

A reflectometry instrument includes a light source for emitting an illumination beam that illuminates the macula. A portion of the illumination beam is reflected from the macula and forms a detection beam. The detection beam is indicative of macular pigment in the macula. The instrument also includes a first mirror for reflecting the illumination beam toward the macula and for reflecting the detection beam from the macula. The instrument is configured so that the illumination beam and the detection beam remain separated between the macula and the first mirror.

The invention discloses a composition for protecting the retina of eyes and relieving asthenopia and antioxidation, which is mainly composed of the following raw materials in parts by weight: 420 to 430 parts by weight of D-mannitol, 415 to 425 parts by weight of lactose, 90 to 110 parts of blueberry powder, 15 to 25 parts by weight of maltodextrin, 2 to 100 parts of black wolfberry powder, 0.2 to0.5 part by weight of beta-carotene, 10 to 20 parts by weight of magnesium stearate, 1 to 6 parts by weight of lutein ester and 0.5 to 2 parts by weight of (3R, 3'R)-Dihydroxy group-beta-carotene. The composition of the invention has the effects of preventing blue light damage to the retina, relieving asthenopia and resisting oxidation, beta-carotene has the function of tonifying liver and improving eyesight, lutein and (3R, 3'R)-Dihydroxy group-beta-carotene concentrates in macular area of retina through synergistic effect. Macular pigment has the function of preventing blue light damage toretina and relieving asthenopia.

Pre-treatment using a xanthin carotenoid (preferably 3R,3′R-zeaxanthin) can improve the benefits and efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses a light-activated drug (such as verteporfin) in patients who suffer from unwanted retinal blood vessel growth, including the “wet” (exudative) form of macular degeneration. Before a PDT treatment, patients are given a regimen of orally-ingested zeaxanthin for a period of at least 1 and preferably at least 2 to 3 weeks, at dosages of at least 3 and preferably at least 10 milligrams per day. Since zeaxanthin imparts a yellowish color to the macula, a preferred dosage should increase a patient's macular pigment density before the PDT treatment is performed.

A system measures macular pigment of a macula of a human eye of a subject. The system comprises a light source having a first light and a second light that modulate at variable frequencies, an input device for receiving an input indicating the frequency at which the user perceives the modulation of the first light and a second light, a display device, at least one processor, and one or more memory devices. The one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the system to (i) display, on the display device, test data corresponding to the user's inputs from the input device, (ii) determine whether the test data are valid or invalid through a curve-fitting algorithm, (iii) automatically indicate that the test data are valid or invalid.

Described are visible light absorbing compounds. The compounds have a visible light absorption maximum between 430 and 480 nm and a full width half maximum (FWHM) at the visible light absorption maximum of at least 35 nm and up to 100 nanometers, wherein the compounds are photostable. The compounds substantially mimic the visible light absorbance properties of macular pigment while remaining photostable. The compounds may be used in a variety of articles, including ophthalmic devices.