Heidelberg, Germany – October 20, 2011 – Heidelberg Engineering has released a new software for the SPECTRALIS product line. The version 5.4 adds the RegionFinder software to over 2,500 installed confocal laser scanning ophthalmoscopes with BluePeak Blue Laser Autofluorescence module.
The RegionFinder allows the instrument to quantify and track dark areas on BluePeak images, typically used for following progression of geographic atrophy. The BluePeak technology helps clinicians to assess the health of the retina and helps to identify dry and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Tracking geographic atrophy in dry AMD may be beneficial for determining use of a host of emerging therapeutics. At least 16 new therapies are under development to help slow or stop progression to wet AMD.
“The RegionFinder has been validated at our reading center to measure the primary endpoint in clinical trials on potential treatments of dry AMD,” said Glenn Jaffe, Professor of Ophthalmology, Chief, Vitreoretinal Service and Director, Duke Reading Center.
Frank Holz, Professor of Ophthalmology and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Bonn added, “Heidelberg Engineering recognized early on the clinical importance of Blue Laser Autofluorescence in the management of AMD and supported the collaborative development of the RegionFinder with our department and reading center”.
Literature Reference Semiautomated image processing method for identification and quantification of geographic atrophy in age-related macular degeneration. Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Brinkmann CK, Alten F, Herrmann P, Stratmann NK, Göbel AP, Fleckenstein M, Diller M, Jaffe GJ, Holz FG. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011 Sep 29;52(10):7640-6.