Retinal image capturing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11779209-B2
Application number	US-202117379404-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2021
Priority date	May 24, 2018
Publication date	Oct 10, 2023
Grant date	Oct 10, 2023

Abstract

An apparatus for producing a fundus image includes: a processor and a memory; an illumination component including a light source; a camera; and a display, the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: display a target element on the display; display a light source reflection from a cornea of an eye on the display; update a position of the light source reflection on the display as a caregiver manipulates a position of the apparatus relative to the eye; as time elapses, modify the display to allow the light source reflection to more easily be positioned within the target element; and automatically initiate fundus image capture with the camera when the light source reflection is within the target element on the display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for producing a fundus image, the apparatus comprising:
at least one processing unit; and
a system memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the apparatus to:
display a target element on a display;
display a reflection from an eye on the display;
update a position of the reflection on the display as a position of the apparatus relative to the eye is manipulated;
present a control to modify the display allowing the reflection to more easily be positioned within the target element; and
capture the fundus image when the reflection is within the target element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control when selected increases a size of the target element.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the control is selectable to increase the size of the target element by 20 percent, by 50 percent, or by 100 percent.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the control is selectable to increase the size of the target element multiple times in periodic intervals.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the fundus image is automatically captured when the reflection is detected within the target element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reflection is of a cornea.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the reflection is produced by an infrared light source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control is selectable to reduce a threshold contrast of the reflection that must be satisfied for the capture of the fundus image.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the control is selectable to reduce the threshold contrast of the reflection to be less than 20 percent relative to a remaining image of the eye.

10. A method for capturing a fundus image, the method comprising:
displaying a target element;
displaying a reflection from an eye;
updating a position of the reflection on a display as a position of an apparatus relative to the eye changes;
presenting a control to modify the display allowing the reflection to more easily be positioned within the target element; and
capturing the fundus image when the reflection is within the target element.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
increasing a size of the target element in response to receiving a selection of the control.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the size of the target element is increased by 20 percent, by 50 percent, or by 100 percent in response to receiving the selection of the control.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
decreasing a threshold contrast of the reflection that must be satisfied in response to receiving a selection of the control.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the reflection is of a cornea.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
generating the reflection by using an infrared light source.

16. An apparatus for producing a fundus image, the apparatus comprising:
at least one processing unit; and
a system memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the apparatus to:
display a target element on a display;
display a reflection from an eye on the display;
update a position of the reflection on the display as a position of the apparatus relative to the eye is manipulated;
modify the display allowing the reflection to more easily be positioned within the target element after a specified time has elapsed without capture of an image; and
capture the fundus image when the reflection is within the target element.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the display is automatically modified to increase a size of the target element after the specified time has elapsed.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the size of the target element is increased multiple times in periodic intervals to assist in positioning the reflection within the target element.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the fundus image is automatically captured when the reflection is detected within the target element.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein a threshold contrast of the reflection that must be satisfied for the capture of the fundus image is decreased after the specified time has elapsed.

Assignees

• Welch Allyn Inc

Inventors

• Wang Ynjiun Paul

Classifications

• A61B3/12 Primary

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

• A61B3/0008

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

• A61B3/0041

  characterised by display arrangements · CPC title

• A61B3/0091

  Fixation targets for viewing direction · CPC title

• A61B3/14

  Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography · CPC title