Imaging multiple parts of the eye

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11116396-B2
Application number	US-201816213321-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2018
Priority date	Dec 19, 2017
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A lens-sensor array for imaging parts of an eye comprises a lens array disposed onto a sensor array. The lens array transmits a light from a lens towards the sensor array. The lens array comprises a first section configured to direct the light reflected by a first part of the eye to the sensor array, and a second section configured to direct the light reflected by a second part of the eye to the sensor array. The first section comprises first sub-sections, each first sub-section comprising at least one first lenslet. The second section comprises second sub-sections, each second sub-section comprising at least one second lenslet. The sensor array comprises sensors that detect the light from the lens array and generate sensor signals corresponding to the light reflected by the first part of the eye and the light reflected by the second part of the eye.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for imaging parts of an eye, comprising:
a light source and optics configured to direct light towards a plurality of parts of the eye, the parts reflecting the light;
a lens configured to transmit the reflected light; and
a lens-sensor array comprising a lens array disposed onto a sensor array, wherein the lens array is configured to transmit the light from the lens towards the sensor array, the lens array comprising:
a first section having a plurality of first sub-sections, each first sub-section comprising at least one first lenslet; and
a second section having a plurality of second sub-sections, each second sub-section comprising at least one second lenslet;
wherein the first and second sub-sections form a concentric annular pattern including:
a first sub-section that is shaped like a first annular ring, and wherein the at least one first lenslet in the first sub-section is configured to direct light reflected by a cornea of the eye to the sensor array, and
a second sub-section that is shaped like a second annular ring concentric with the first annular ring, and wherein the at least one first lenslet in the second sub-section is configured to direct light reflected by a retina of the eye to the sensor array;

the sensor array further comprising a plurality of sensors configured to:
detect the light from the lens array; and
generate a plurality of sensor signals corresponding to the light reflected by the cornea of the eye and the light reflected by the retina of the eye.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first section has an optical power of zero.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second section has a focal length of 2 to 10 millimeters with a tilt component.

4. A lens-sensor array for imaging parts of an eye, comprising:
a lens array disposed onto a sensor array;
the lens array configured to transmit a light from a lens towards the sensor array, the lens array comprising:
a first section having a plurality of first sub-sections, each first sub-section comprising at least one first lenslet; and
a second section having a plurality of second sub-sections, each second sub-section comprising at least one second lenslet;
wherein the first and second sub-sections form a concentric annular pattern including:
a first sub-section that is shaped like a first annular ring, and wherein the at least one first lenslet in the first sub-section is configured to direct light reflected by a cornea of the eye to the sensor array, and
a second sub-section that is shaped like a second annular ring concentric with the first annular ring, and wherein the at least one first lenslet in the second sub-section is configured to direct light reflected by a retina of the eye to the sensor array;

the sensor array further comprising a plurality of sensors configured to:
detect the light from the lens array; and
generate a plurality of sensor signals corresponding to the light reflected by the cornea of the eye and the light reflected by the retina of the eye.

5. The lens-sensor array of claim 4 , wherein the first section has an optical power of zero.

6. The lens-sensor array of claim 4 , wherein the second section has a focal length of 2 to 10 millimeters with a tilt component.

7. A method for making a lens-sensor array for imaging parts of an eye, comprising:
providing a sensor array as a substrate;
printing a plurality of lens layers onto the substrate to yield:
a first section a plurality of first sub-sections, each first sub-section comprising at least one first lenslet; and
a second section having a plurality of second sub-sections, each second sub-section comprising at least one second lenslet,
wherein the first and second sub-sections form a concentric annular pattern including:
a first sub-section that is shaped like a first annular ring, and wherein the at least one first lenslet in the first sub-section is configured to direct light reflected by a cornea of the eye to the sensor array, and
a second sub-section that is shaped like a second annular ring concentric with the first annular ring, and wherein the at least one first lenslet in the second sub-section is configured to direct light reflected by a retina of the eye to the sensor array.

Assignees

• Novartis Ag
• Alcon Inc

Inventors

• Schmid Stefan
• Warm Berndt

Classifications

• A61B3/12

  for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes (A61B3/13 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B3/117

  for examining the anterior chamber or the anterior chamber angle, e.g. gonioscopes · CPC title

• G02B3/0006

  Arrays (G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B3/0008

  provided with illuminating means (A61B3/117, A61B3/14 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B3/14 Primary

  Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography · CPC title