Ophthalmoscope device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9757031-B2
Application number	US-201514960495-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2015
Priority date	Feb 11, 2014
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

An ophthalmoscope device includes a support structure, an image capture device, and a display device. The support structure is configured to be worn by a subject. The image capture device is configured to capture images of the eye fundus of the subject. The display device is configured to overlay images in the field of view of the subject. The overlaid images are used to align the pupil/fovea orientation axis with the optical axis of the image capture device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable device configured to capture eye fundus images, comprising:
a support structure configured to be worn by a subject;
a display device coupled to the support structure, the display device configured to display an overlay image including a cursor in a field of view of the subject, wherein the display device comprises:
a projector configured to project a pattern of light representing the overlay image; and
a prism disposed in the field of view of the subject, the prism configured to direct at least a portion of the pattern of light towards an eye fundus; and

an image capture device coupled to the support structure, the image capture device configured to capture images of the eye fundus of the subject.

2. The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising a control module programmed to:
instruct the image capture device to capture a plurality of images in a first image capture mode; and
process at least a portion of the plurality of images to determine a position of a pupil of the subject.

3. The wearable device of claim 2 , wherein the control module is further programmed to:
instruct the image capture device to capture an image in a second image capture mode when the position of the pupil is substantially aligned with an optical axis of the image capture device.

4. The wearable device of claim 3 , wherein the prism is transparent.

5. The wearable device of claim 3 , wherein the image capture device includes a second prism, the second prism configured to direct light reflected from the subject to a lens of the wearable device.

6. The wearable device of claim 3 , wherein the position of the pupil is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device when an angle formed between the optical axis and a vector formed between a lens of the wearable device and the pupil is less than fifteen degrees.

7. The wearable device of claim 3 , wherein:
the first image capture mode comprises a first resolution, a first illumination condition;
the second image capture mode comprises a second resolution, a second illumination condition;
the second resolution is greater than or equal to the first resolution; and
the second illumination condition is brighter than the first illumination condition.

8. The wearable device of claim 7 , wherein the control module is further programmed to:
transmit at least a portion of the plurality of images to an external display device; and
receive commands from an external input device, wherein the commands comprise at least one of instructions to capture the image with the image capture device and instructions to reposition the overlay image of the cursor in the field of view of the subject.

9. The wearable device of claim 8 , wherein the control module transmits at least a portion of the plurality of images to the external display device by transmitting at least a portion of the plurality of images to a computing device over a network.

10. The wearable device of claim 9 , wherein the prism is semi-transparent.

11. A method for capturing eye fundus images using a wearable device, comprising:
displaying, on a display device coupled to a support structure, an overlay image including a cursor in a field of view of a subject, wherein a projector is configured to project a pattern of light representing the overlay image;
capturing, by an image capture device coupled to the support structure, images of an eye fundus of the subject in a first image capture mode; and
processing, by a control module, at least a portion of the plurality of images to determine a position of a pupil of the subject.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
capturing an image in a second image capture mode when the position of the pupil is substantially aligned with an optical axis of the image capture device, wherein the position of the pupil is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device when an angle formed between the optical axis and a vector formed between a lens of the wearable device and the pupil is less than fifteen degrees.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the first image capture mode comprises a first resolution, a first illumination condition;
the second image capture mode comprises a second resolution, a second illumination condition;
the second resolution is greater than or equal to the first resolution; and
the second illumination condition is brighter than the first illumination condition.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
transmitting at least a portion of the plurality of images to an external display device; and
receiving commands from an external input device, wherein the commands comprise at least one of instructions to capture the image with the image capture device and instructions to reposition the overlay image of the cursor in the field of view of the subject.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein a prism disposed in the field of view of the subject is configured to direct at least a portion of the pattern of light towards the eye fundus, the pattern of light projected by the projector and representing the overlay image.

16. An apparatus for capturing eye fundus images of a subject, comprising:
a support structure configured to be worn by the subject;
a display device coupled to the support structure, the display device configured to display an overlay image including a cursor in a field of view of the subject;
an image capture device coupled to the support structure, the image capture device configured to capture images of an eye fundus of the subject;
a projector configured to project a pattern of light representing the overlay image;
a prism disposed in the field of view of the subject, the prism configured to direct at least a portion of the pattern of light towards the eye fundus; and
a control module programmed to:
instruct the image capture device to capture a plurality of images in a first image capture mode; and
process at least a portion of the plurality of images to determine a position of a pupil of the subject.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the control module is further programmed to:
instruct the image capture device to capture an image in a second image capture mode when the position of the pupil is substantially aligned with an optical axis of the image capture device, wherein:
the first image capture mode comprises a first resolution, a first illumination condition;
the second image capture mode comprises a second resolution, a second illumination condition;
the second resolution is greater than or equal to the first resolution; and
the second illumination condition is brighter than the first illumination condition.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the prism is transparent;
wherein the image capture device includes a second prism, the second prism configured to direct light reflected from the subject to a lens of the apparatus;
wherein the position of the pupil is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the image capture device when an angle formed between the optical axis and a vector formed between the lens of the apparatus and the pupil is less than fifteen degrees; and
wherein the control module is further programmed to:
transmit at least a portion of the plurality of images to an external display device; and
receive commands from an external input device, wherein the commands comprise at least one of instructions to capture the image with the image capture device and instructions to reposition the overlay image of the cursor in the

Assignees

• Welch Allyn Inc

Inventors

• Wang Ynjiun Paul
• Goldfain Ervin
• Petersen Eric G

Classifications

• A61B3/152

  for aligning · CPC title

• A61B3/113

  for determining or recording eye movement · CPC title

• A61B5/6803

  Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles · CPC title

• A61B3/0025

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

• A61B3/145

  by video means · CPC title