Heidelberg Engineering Inc. plans to develop new ophthalmology products based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) under a licensing agreement with Massachusetts General Hospital.

The agreement grants Heidelberg exclusive global rights to 77 basic patents and patent applications related to swept-source OCT technology developed at the hospital. The company and the hospital's Wellman Center for Photomedicine also plan to partner on future OCT research.

Spectral domain OCT is used by eye care professionals to diagnose diseases of the posterior segment of the eye, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.

Swept-source OCT allows acquisition of comprehensive information about a variety of properties of the anterior part of the eye, especially in patients who have to undergo cataract or refractive surgery.

"Later this year we will introduce a new swept-source technology-based platform product to examine the anterior segment of the eye," said Dr. Tilman Otto, Heidelberg's head of R&D. "It integrates sophisticated imaging and measurement functions, and will be the basis for a growing number of exciting analytical and imaging features in the future."

Heidelberg develops diagnostic instruments for ophthalmologists and optometrists to scan patients’ eyes for signs of disease and to assist in disease management. The company’s core technologies include confocal microscopy, scanning lasers and optics, OCT, and software image analysis.

For more information, visit www.heidelbergengineering.com.