Retinal image capturing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021345875-A1
Application number	US-202117379404-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 19, 2021
Priority date	May 24, 2018
Publication date	Nov 11, 2021
Grant date	—

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

• A61B3/152

  for aligning · CPC title

• A61B3/12 Primary

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

• A61B3/0091

  Fixation targets for viewing direction · CPC title

• A61B3/0008

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

• A61B3/14

  Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography · CPC title