Wavefront generation for ophthalmic applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10694936-B2
Application number	US-201815996322-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2018
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments of this invention relate to the generation of wavefronts for measurements, diagnostics, and treatment planning for ophthalmic applications. In some embodiments, a wavefront generator generates light having a uniform wavefront, which is focusable on the retina of an emmetropic eye by the normal function of the emmetropic eye. In some embodiments, the wavefront generator can generate light having a custom wavefront which is not focusable on the retina of the emmetropic eye. In some embodiments, the wavefront generator can receive information relating to an optical aberration of the eye, generate a custom wavefront, and project light having this custom wavefront, which in combination with the optical aberration of the eye is focusable on the retina.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving image data corresponding to an image;
obtaining a matrix/retina position relationship between a matrix of light sources of a wavefront generator and corresponding locations within a retina of a subject's eye which are illuminated by the light sources when the wavefront generator activates the light sources and images the light sources onto the retina;
mapping the image onto the subject's retina by applying the matrix/retina position relationship to the image data; and
the wavefront generator projecting light from the matrix of light sources onto the retina with a custom wavefront corresponding to the mapping so as to focus the image onto the retina of the subject's eye.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the matrix/retina position relationship comprises retrieving the matrix/retina relationship from a memory.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the matrix/retina position relationship comprises, for each of the locations within the retina:
projecting a beam of coherent light onto the location within the retina;
receiving at a matrix of detectors a reflected light from the location within the retina; and
identifying positions of one or more of the detectors within the matrix of detectors which are activated by the reflected light from the location within the retina.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the matrix/retina position relationship comprises:
obtaining data indicating an aberration of the subject's eye;
determining Zernike coefficients which describe the aberration; and
determining the matrix/retina position relationship from the Zernike coefficients.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sensing a distance between the wavefront generator and the subject's eye, and
adjusting the custom wavefront according to the sensed distance so as to focus the image onto the retina of the subject's eye.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sensing an angle between the wavefront generator and the subject's eye, and
adjusting the custom wavefront according to the sensed angle so as to focus the image onto the retina of the subject's eye.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining first locations of unhealthy regions among the locations within the retina of the subject's eye;
determining second locations of healthy regions among the locations within the retina of the subject's eye;
determining the custom wavefront such that the image is projected only onto the second locations within the retina of the subject's eye.

8. A device, comprising:
a matrix of light sources each configured to emit light;
a lenslet array configured to project the light from the matrix of light sources onto a retina of a subject's eye; and
a processor configured to:
receive image data corresponding to an image,
obtain a matrix/retina position relationship between the matrix of light sources and corresponding locations within the retina of the subject's eye which are illuminated by the light sources when the light sources are activated and imaged onto the retina,
map the image onto the subject's retina by applying the matrix/retina position relationship to the image data, and
control the matrix of light sources to project the light onto the retina with a custom wavefront corresponding to the map so as to focus the image onto the retina of the subject's eye.

9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a memory, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the matrix/retina position relationship by retrieving the matrix/retina relationship from the memory.

10. The device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a coherent light source configured to emit a coherent light beam; and
a matrix of detectors configured to detect a reflected light from the retina,
wherein the device is configured to obtain the matrix/retina position relationship by, for each of the locations within the retina:
projecting the coherent light beam onto the location within the retina;
receiving at the matrix of detectors the reflected light from the location within the retina; and
identifying positions of one or more of the detectors within the matrix of detectors which are activated by the reflected light from the location within the retina.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the device is configured to obtain the matrix/retina position relationship by:
obtaining data indicating an aberration of the subject's eye;
determining Zernike coefficients which describe the aberration; and
determining the matrix/retina position relationship from the Zernike coefficients.

12. The device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a sensor configured to sense a distance between the lenslet array and the subject's eye,
wherein the processor is configured to adjust the custom wavefront according to the sensed distance so as to focus the image on the retina of the subject's eye.

13. The device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a sensor configured to sense an angle between the lenslet array and the subject's eye, and
wherein the processor is configured to adjust the custom wavefront according to the sensed angle so as to focus the image on the retina of the subject's eye.

14. The device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine first locations of unhealthy regions among the locations within the retina of the subject's eye;
determine second locations of healthy regions among the locations within the retina of the subject's eye; and
determine the custom wavefront such that the image is projected only onto the second locations within the retina of the subject's eye.

Assignees

• Amo Groningen Bv

Inventors

• Bogaert Theophilus

Classifications

• G02B2027/014

  comprising information/image processing systems · CPC title

• A61B3/0025 Primary

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

• A61B3/028

  for testing visual acuity; for determination of refraction, e.g. phoropters · CPC title

• A61F9/008

  using laser · CPC title

• G02B2027/0178

  Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C) · CPC title