AMA Optics Inc. informs that Frost & Sullivan will recognize the company with the 2005 Ocular Diagnostic Devices Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Award at tonight’s second annual Excellence in Medical Devices & Healthcare Awards Banquet. According to the company, “AMA Optics receives the Award for its development of the patented Retinal Acuity Meter® (RAM®) that helps clinicians accurately distinguish between vision loss due to retinal disease and cataract or other opacity problems.”
Here is more about the system, taken from company’s website:
The RAM® viewed through the RAM Pinhole Clip™ accurately forecasts potential vision. The RAM® consists of a brightly illuminated near card with letters indexed from 20/20 to 20/200 in 9 increments. The device is battery powered, hand held, and comfortably fits into a pocket.
Earlier models of this technology were the Illuminated Near Card or INC and a small version was the Mini-INC. The RAM® has retained the critical testing parameters of the INC and the Mini-INC; namely, identical letter size and brightness, so that all research data obtained with these instruments are applicable to the RAM®. The RAM® has the following advancements: an ergonomic molded faceplate with a built-in cradle for the retractor, an improved disc rotating mechanism, high resolution digital photographic lettering, and clearly visible indices to identify the level of acuity being tested.
The RAM® technology is a combination of three basic optical principles: small aperture pinhole, correct visual angle, and bright illumination. The small aperture pinhole places the eye is almost universal focus and near correction is added to maximize resolution. Multiple pinholes allow the patient to select the clearest view through the cloudy media. The letters at 40 cm subtend the same visual angle as Snellen letters at 20 feet. The bright illumination more than compensates for the reduced illumination by the small aperture pinhole and the media opacity.
Investigator have found that the average testing time is fewer than 2 minute in eyes with and without glaucomatous field loss.
More at AMA Optics…
FYI: Medgadget’s very own Dr. Choi and Dr.O are going to Frost & Sullivan 2005 Medical Devices Awards tonight in San Francisco to attempt a live blogging of this important event.