Personalized patient interface for ophthalmic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11911103-B2
Application number	US-202017122147-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2020
Priority date	Dec 18, 2019
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

A medical ophthalmic system uses a patient-specific face mask to establish a predefined alignment between the ophthalmic system and an eye of a patient. The patient-specific face mask may optionally provide a light proof enclosure for the eye. The face mask may be coupled directly to an ophthalmic device, or its housing/enclosure, of the ophthalmic system. The face mask may be 3D printed based on a 3D model of the patient's face.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An ophthalmic system comprising:
a patient interface, including a face mask having a nasal bone frame configured to hold a patient's nose at a predefined position relative to the ophthalmic system that establishes a predefined alignment between an aperture of the ophthalmic system and an eye of the patient based on a personalized three-dimensional (3D) face model of the patient that defines a relative position of the patient's eye to the patient's nose.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic system is one of an ophthalmic diagnostic system, ophthalmic treatment, or an ophthalmic medication dispensing system.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the face mask is custom formed based on the 3D face model to custom fit the patient's face.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the face mask has a preconfigured shape based on known contours of the patient's face as determined from the 3D face model and configured to provide a sensation-based feedback system for the patient indicating that the patient's face is in the predefined position that establishes the predefined alignment when a number of pressure points produced by the face mask is minimized.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the face mask is at least partially 3D printed.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the 3D face model is acquired by use of a 3D imaging device that implements one or more of laser triangulation 3D scanning technology, structured light 3D scanning technology, contact-based 3D scanning technology, time-of-flight 3D scanning technology, photogrammetry, a depth-sensing camera, and a multi-camera imaging system.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the 3D imaging device is integral to a smart phone.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the face mask is removable and replaceable in accordance with a patient's identification.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the 3D face model is acquired by use of a mechanical scanning system, including an array of contact probes;
wherein the array of contact probes are displaced in response to the patient pressing their face into the mechanical scanning system, and the displaced positions of the contact probes define a height map stored in electronic memory.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the face mask is embodied within a mechanical system including a plurality of contact probes, a displacement of the contact probes defining the contours of the face mask;
wherein the contact probes are moveable to target positions that define the contours of the face mask based on the 3D face model.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the face mask includes an array of said contact probes covered by a flexible material that defines a surface of the face mask; and
the target positions of the contact probes are lockable in their displaced positions.

12. An ophthalmic system comprising:
a patient interface, including a face mask that establishes a predefined alignment between the ophthalmic system and an eye of the patient;
wherein:
the face mask is embodied within a mechanical scanning system including a plurality of contact probes, a displacement of the contact probes defining the contours of the face mask;
the contact probes are displaced in response to a patient pressing their face into the mechanical scanning system, and the displaced positions of the contact probes are lockable in their displaced positions; and
the displaced positions of the contact probes define a probe height map that is stored in electronic memory, and select contact probes are moveable to target positions specified by their corresponding, previously stored, probe height map.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the electronic memory stores a plurality of probe height maps of different patients, and the face mask is configurable to any select patient, selected from among said plurality of different patients, by moving the select contact probes to their corresponding target positions according to the select patient's stored probe height map.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the system includes an ophthalmic device and a connector coupling the face mask to the ophthalmic device; and
the connector is adapted to receive different types of ophthalmic devices.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the different types of ophthalmic devices include one or more of a tonometer, medication dispenser, fundus imaging system, optical coherence tomography system, optical coherence tomography angiography system, biometry system, refractor, visual field tester, surgical apparatus, ophthalmic laser, and wavefront sensor.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the system includes an ophthalmic device and a connector coupling the face mask to the ophthalmic device;
the face mask is one of multiple personalized face masks each personalized to a different patient; and
the connector is adapted to selectively receive any of the multiple personalized face masks.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the face mask is one of a full face or a partial face mask not encircling the patient's eye socket.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the face mask is a partial face mask configured to align only to boney sections of the patient's face, including the nasal bone.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the face mask is a partial face mask integrated to a patient interface, and a portion of the patient's face not covered by the face mask is fitted to the patient interface.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic system is portable.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic system includes a fixation target.

22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic system includes one or more of a fundus imaging system, an optical coherence tomography system, optical coherence tomography angiography system, a biometry system, refractor, visual field tester, wavefront sensor, tonometer, surgical apparatus, ophthalmic laser, and medication dispenser.

23. The system of claim 1 , wherein the face mask includes a light shield that forms a light proof enclosure shielding the eye from ambient light, and enabling natural dilation of the eye by blocking the ambient light from the eye.

24. The system of claim 1 , wherein the face mask enables natural dilation of the eye by blocking ambient light from the eye.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the system includes an ophthalmic device;
the interior configuration of the face mask is specific to the patient; and
the exterior configuration of the face mask is specific to the device.

26. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the predefined alignment between an aperture of the ophthalmic system and an eye of the patient is established within one tenth of a millimeter in 3D space.

27. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the aperture of the ophthalmic system is divided into an illumination part defining a region through which light that enters the eye passes and a collection part through which light that exits the eye is collected for imaging; and
and the eye is aligned to these parts of the aperture.

28. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predefined position is a single position with a predefined orientation relative to the ophthalmic system.

29. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the ophthalmic system accommodates a plurality of said patients;
each patient has a respective, associated the 3D face model b

Assignees

• Zeiss Carl Meditec Inc

Inventors

• Straub Jochen
• Arianta Kabir M
• Darvishzadeh Varcheie Mahsa

Classifications

• A61B3/0083 Primary

  provided with means for patient positioning · CPC title

• A61B3/0091

  Fixation targets for viewing direction · CPC title

• A61B3/024

  for determining the visual field, e.g. perimeter types · CPC title

• A61B3/102

  for optical coherence tomography [OCT] · CPC title

• A61B3/1015

  for wavefront analysis · CPC title