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W F March

Publications and source records attributed to W F March.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
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Noninvasive glucose monitoring of the aqueous humor of the eye: Part I. Measurement of very small optical rotations.

We have described the concept of using the aqueous humor glucose as a measure of the blood glucose concentration, with a view to developing a noninvasive glucose monitor for diabetic individuals. We have conceived of a scleral lens that houses a light source, polarizers, other electro-optic units, and a light detector, and which measures the optical rotation of the aqueous humor continuously. We have built an optical bench mock-up of the glucose sensor and assessed the limits of its capabilities. We have described a physical method, employing the Faraday effect, that modulates the incident light and uses a compensator to introduce a feedback mechanism giving a null-point technique capable of measuring extremely small rotations with an accuracy of 0.4 s of arc. We have used this and have measured the optical rotations of glucose solutions from 0.02 to 0.1%, and have demonstrated linearity in both cases. Miniaturization of the technique is discussed.

Animals↗
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Noninvasive glucose monitoring of the aqueous humor of the eye: Part II. Animal studies and the scleral lens.

We have discussed the nature of a scleral lens that will allow us to follow changes in aqueous humor glucose levels in animals by a method based on optical rotation and a technique described in an earlier paper. We have shown how this lens can be micro-miniaturized and can be used in humans as a non-invasive glucose monitor. We have described preliminary experiments designed to show the correlation between the blood glucose assay (BGA) and the aqueous humor glucose concentration as determined by chemical assay (AGA) and by optical rotation determination (ARD). The last mentioned has been obtained by paracentesis directly into a microcell used in conjunction with instrumentation capable of measuring optical rotations as low as 0.0013 degrees (4.5") corresponding to 20 mg/dl glucose with a sensitivity of 0.0001 degrees (0.36"). The variability among normal rabbits as a function of individuality and diurnal changes is described, and the correlation between AGA and ARD shown to be essentially 1.0. Such rabbits are examined when undergoing very rapid decreases in BGA (insulin treatment) or very rapid increases in BGA (bolus of glucose). The AGA and ARD are shown to lag behind the BGA, and this is discussed in terms of the rate of change of BGA with respect to time and its concomitant change in AGA/ARD as well as a simple procedure that would materially reduce this lag.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Non-invasive measurement of corneal hydration.

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of a confocal Raman spectroscopic technique for the noncontact assessment of corneal hydration in vivo in two legally blind subjects. METHODS: A laser beam (632.8 nm; 15 mJ) was maintained on the cornea using a microscope objective lens (25x magnification, NA=0.5, f=10 mm) both for focusing the incident light as well as collecting the Raman backscattered light, in a 180 degrees backscatter configuration. An optical fiber, acting as the confocal pinhole for elimination of light from out-of-focus places, was coupled to a spectrometer that dispersed the collected light onto a sensitive array-detector for rapid spectral data acquisition over a range from 2,890 to 3,590 cm(-1). Raman spectra were recorded from the anterior 100 to 150 microm of the cornea over a period of time before and after topical application of a mild dehydrating solution. The ratio between the amplitudes of the signals at 3,400 cm(-1) (OH-vibrational mode of water) and 2,940 cm(-1) (CH-vibrational mode of proteins) was used as a measure of corneal hydration. RESULTS: High signal-to-noise ratio (SNR 25) Raman spectra were obtained from the human corneas using 15 mJ of laser light energy. Qualitative changes in the hydration of the anterior-most part of the corneas could be observed as a result of the dehydrating agent. CONCLUSION: Confocal Raman spectroscopy could potentially be applied clinically as a noncontact tool for the assessment of corneal hydration in vivo.

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