Design and Implementation of a Synchronously Updated 3-D Source for Retinal Electrodiagnostic Testing

The electroretinogram (ERG) is a diagnostic test that measures the evoked potentials in the retina in response to a light stimulus. The presence of various pathologies can be diagnosed through the study of an ERG recording since anomalies in amplitude and timing of the measured evoked potential waveform appear. The present work foresees the design and implementation of a 3D stimulation source for electroretinographic applications to allow an early diagnosis of retinal diseases by involving the entire visual field under test, including the peripheral regions of the retina, where alterations and the first signs of glaucoma occur. The highly configurable device would be capable of executing the various protocols used in the clinic, e.g flash ERG, pattern ERG, multifocal ERG, thus enclosing the different capabilities of the stimulators present on the market today in a single device. The mechanical design optimizations, the software and the hardware developed will be discussed. The cutting of materials and a partial assembly of the device have been performed, and, finally, the fulfillment of ISCEV standards for ERG testing in terms of luminance uniformity of the device LED-based stimulation presented to the retina will be addressed.