Dr. Krom’s Research

Short-Wave Infrared Imaging for Closed-eyelid Pupillometry in the OR & ICU

Abstract: Continuous monitoring of pupil size and eye movements is essential for assessing brain function, sedation, and analgesia in the OR and ICU. However, current pupillometry is limited to intermittent, open-eye, manual assessments—leaving a critical gap in continuous, real-time monitoring. Dr. Krom’s project addresses this unmet need with a novel, non-contact technology developed by his mentor’s lab that enables continuous pupillometry through closed eyelids using short-wave infrared imaging and machine learning. This breakthrough method tracks pupil size and gaze direction without disturbing the patient and has shown performance comparable to standard open-eye techniques in awake healthy volunteers in the lab environment.  The study aims to optimize and validate this tool for two clinical settings: the operating room and the neurosurgical ICU.  Dr. Krom’s study offers a powerful tool for neuroscience research on sleep, consciousness, and brain injury and holds the potential to transform clinical care by enabling earlier detection of neurological emergencies and providing real-time feedback on sedation and pain levels.