Email	palanker@stanford.edu
	Phone	(650) 725-0059
	URL	https://web.stanford.edu/~palanker/
	Address	Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory 452 Lomita Mall, room 135 Stanford, CA 94305-4085

Professional Interests

Optical and electronic technologies for diagnostic, therapeutic, surgical and prosthetic applications, primarily in ophthalmology:

• Electro-Neural interfaces: Photovoltaic Retinal Prosthesis; Electronic Control of Vasculature and of the Glands
• Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy: Interferometric detection of neural activity
• Laser-Tissue Interactions:
  • Non-damaging retinal laser therapy
  • Ultrafast laser surgery of transparent tissues
• Retinal plasticity:
  • Cellular preservation and proliferation in response to therapy
  • Transplanation of retinal cells and neural rewiring

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Current research projects

• Photovoltaic Restoration of Sight - optoelectronic subretinal prosthesis
• Interferometric imaging of neural activity
• Laser-Tissue Interactions – mechanisms and therapeutic applications

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Some of the previous research projects

• Electronic Control of Organs
• Retinal Plasticity - migration and rewiring of the retinal neurons
• Pulsed Electron Avalanche Knife (PEAK)
• Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) Microscopy
• Optical detection of physiological stress (based on light scattering spectroscopy)
• Plasma-mediated electroporation
• Pulsed liquid microjet
• Near-field Infrared Microscopy with:
  • Transient optical elements (using photo-induced reflectivity)
  • Tapered fibers
  • Solid-immersion microlenses
• ArF excimer laser-based system for vitreoretinal surgery and for skin debridement
• Laser-assisted in-vitro fertilization:
  • Photolysis of zona pellucida using the ArF excimer laser-based system
  • Thermolysis using a microheater-based system
• Laser poration of cellular membrane: parallel permeabilization of millions of cells using an array of microapertures
• Statistical approach to sub-wavelength measurements using an array of near-field apertures (This idea later inspired rapid DNA sequencing: SMRT™ technology)

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Teaching

• Introduction to Electro-neural Interfaces (OPTH 207, NEPR 230)
• Bay Area Ophthalmology Course (lectures on Ophthalmic Lasers and Restoration of Sight)
• Augmenting Human Senses: Enhancing Perception with Technology and Bioscience (Lecture on restoration of sight through biotechnology)

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STARTUPS and Technology Transfer

More than 70 patents became foundation of 7 platform technologies transferred to industrial development and manufacturing via startups. The following technologies are currently in clinical use world-wide:

• Pattern Scanning Laser Photocoagulator (PASCAL, Iridex)
• Pulsed Electron Avalanche Knife (PEAK PlasmaBlade, Medtronic Inc.)

• OCT-guided Femtosecond Laser for Cataract Surgery (Catalys, OptiMedica Corp.)

• Neural stimulation for enhanced tear secretion (TrueTear, Allergan Inc.)

   

Others are in clinical trials:

• Photovoltaic Restoration of Sight in Age-related Macular Degeneration (PRIMA, Pixium Vision Corp.)