Opthalmoscope device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10159409-B2
Application number	US-201715662363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2017
Priority date	Feb 11, 2014
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

An ophthalmoscope device includes a support structure, an image capture device, and a display device. The support structure is configured to be worn by a subject. The image capture device is configured to capture images of the eye fundus of the subject. The display device is configured to overlay images in the field of view of the subject. The overlaid images are used to align the pupil/fovea orientation axis with the optical axis of the image capture device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An eye fundus imaging apparatus, comprising:
a display device;
an image capture device configured to capture images of an eye fundus of a subject; and
a control module programmed to:
display an overlay image including a cursor at one of a plurality of locations in a field of view of the subject;
determine a pupil orientation;
compare the pupil orientation to an optical axis of the image capture device;
when the pupil orientation is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device, capture a fundus image;
when the pupil orientation is not substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device, determine a delta vector between the pupil orientation and the optical axis of the image capture device; and
based on the delta vector, reposition the cursor at a repositioned cursor location in the field of view of the subject.

2. The eye fundus imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the delta vector corresponds to a difference in position between a current pupil location and a desired pupil location.

3. The eye fundus imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the desired pupil location is an estimated optimal location for fundus imaging.

4. The eye fundus imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein determining the delta vector includes a scaling of the delta vector by a first factor, the first factor correlating an overlay screen distance to a pupil movement distance.

5. The eye fundus imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , with the control module being further programmed to:
determine a repositioned cursor pupil orientation;
compare the repositioned cursor pupil orientation to the optical axis of the image capture device;
when the repositioned cursor pupil orientation is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device, initiate image capture; and
when the repositioned cursor pupil orientation is not substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device, determine a second delta vector between the repositioned cursor pupil orientation and the optical axis of the image capture device.

6. The eye fundus imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a support structure configured to be worn by the subject, the display device being coupled to the support structure and the image capture device being coupled to the support structure.

7. The eye fundus imaging apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the display device comprises:
a projector configured to project a pattern of light representing the overlay image; and
a prism disposed in the field of view of the subject, the prism configured to direct at least a portion of the pattern of light towards the eye fundus.

8. The eye fundus imaging apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the pupil orientation is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device when an angle formed between the optical axis and a vector formed between a lens of the eye fundus imaging apparatus and the pupil orientation is less than fifteen degrees.

9. The eye fundus imaging apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an illumination device configured to generate and direct light towards the subject, and
wherein the control module is further programmed to cause the illumination device to generate light during the capture of the fundus image.

10. A method for imaging an eye fundus of a subject with a fundus imaging apparatus, the method comprising:
displaying a cursor image at one of a plurality of locations in a field of view of the subject;
determining a pupil orientation;
comparing the pupil orientation to an optical axis of an image capture device;
when the pupil orientation is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device, capturing a fundus image;
when the pupil orientation is not substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device, determining a delta vector between the pupil orientation and the optical axis of the image capture device; and
based on the delta vector, repositioning the cursor image at a repositioned location in the field of view of the subject.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the delta vector corresponds to a difference in position between a current pupil location and a desired pupil location; and
wherein the desired pupil location is an estimated optimal location for fundus imaging.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein determining the delta vector includes a scaling of the delta vector by a first factor, the first factor correlating an overlay screen distance to a pupil movement distance.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
determining a repositioned cursor pupil orientation;
comparing the repositioned cursor pupil orientation to the optical axis of the image capture device;
when the repositioned cursor pupil orientation is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device, initiating image capture; and
when the repositioned cursor pupil orientation is not substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device, determining a second delta vector between the repositioned cursor pupil orientation and the optical axis of the image capture device.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the pupil orientation is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device when an angle formed between the optical axis and a vector formed between a lens of a wearable device and the pupil orientation is less than fifteen degrees.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising causing an illumination device to generate light during capturing of the fundus image.

16. An imaging apparatus for imaging an eye fundus of a subject, the imaging apparatus comprising:
a display device;
an image capture device configured to capture images; and
a control module programmed to:
display an overlay image including a cursor image at one of a plurality of locations in a field of view of the subject;
determine a pupil orientation;
compare the pupil orientation to an optical axis of the image capture device;
when the pupil orientation is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device, capture a fundus image;

when the pupil orientation is not substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device, determine a delta vector between the pupil orientation and the optical axis of the image capture device,
wherein the delta vector corresponds to a difference in position between a current pupil location and a desired pupil location; and
wherein the desired pupil location is an estimated optimal location for fundus imaging; and
based on the delta vector, reposition the cursor image at a repositioned location in the field of view of the subject.

17. The imaging apparatus according to claim 16 , the control module being further programmed to:
determine a repositioned cursor pupil orientation;
compare the repositioned cursor pupil orientation to the optical axis of the image capture device;
when the repositioned cursor pupil orientation is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device, initiate image capture; and
when the repositioned cursor pupil orientation is not substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device, determine a second delta vector between the repositioned cursor pupil orientation and the optical axis of the image capture device.

18. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17 ,

Assignees

• Welch Allyn Inc

Inventors

• Wang Ynjiun Paul
• Goldfain Ervin
• Petersen Eric G

Classifications

• A61B3/0041

  characterised by display arrangements · CPC title

• A61B3/0025

  characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models · CPC title

• A61B3/152

  for aligning · CPC title

• A61B3/14

  Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography · CPC title

• A61B5/6803

  Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles · CPC title