Intuitive techniques and apparatus for ophthalmic imaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9986910-B2
Application number	US-201615090054-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2016
Priority date	Dec 13, 2010
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

Apparatus and techniques can include using one or more of a portable or fixed optical system to obtain images of a desired anatomical target, such as the fundus region of a human eye. The optical system can include one or more of a laser-based focusing target, a laser-based fixation target, or a removable or adjustable alignment assembly. Such an alignment assembly can provide or allow user alignment based on using anatomical landmarks other than the fundus being imaged. One or more of the apparatus or techniques can be implemented in an optical assembly included as a portion hand-held fundus camera, such as including or using a consumer or commercial digital camera to capture an image.

First claim

The claimed invention is:

1. An optical apparatus, comprising:
an optical lens system configured to relay an image of an anatomical target to an image acquisition assembly via an optical imaging path provided by the optical lens system, the optical lens system including:
an objective lens configured to be located near the anatomical target; and
an alignment assembly configured to be user-positionable at least partially in the optical imaging path;
wherein an image presented via the optical imaging path includes a first field of view to provide an image of an anatomical landmark when the alignment assembly is included at least partially in the optical imaging path, and a second field of view to provide the image of the anatomical target when the alignment assembly is substantially excluded from the optical imaging path;
wherein a focusing target is produced by the optical lens system and is presented to the image acquisition assembly without use of a prismatic focusing aid;
wherein the image acquisition assembly comprises a digital camera configured to automatically obtain a focus on a desired portion of the anatomical target using a reflection of the focusing target relayed to the image acquisition assembly via the optical lens system without using a prismatic focusing aid; and
wherein, the optical apparatus is configured to automatically perform at least one of repositioning the alignment assembly, enabling a projection of the focusing target onto the anatomical target for at least a specified duration during which the digital camera obtains focus, or disabling projection of the focusing target after the digital camera obtains focus.

2. The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the anatomical target includes a fundus region of a human eye;
the alignment assembly includes a lens; and
the first field of view is wider than the second field of view, including a first field of view sufficiently wide to show at least an iris-scleral border.

3. The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical apparatus is configured to be positionable by the user so that an alignment target appears to be located at or near the anatomical landmark when the optical apparatus is in a desired orientation for acquisition of an image of the fundus region.

4. The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical lens system comprises a laser module that produces the focusing target.

5. The optical apparatus of claim 4 , comprising a beam splitter located along the optical imaging path, the beam splitter configured to direct at least a portion of a beam comprising the focusing target to the anatomical target via at least a portion of the optical imaging path including the objective lens.

6. The optical apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an assembly to generate a focusing target comprising patterned illumination using a light source wherein the patterned illumination is within the visible spectrum.

7. The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more of an intensity or a pattern of the focusing target is established to provide a fixation target visible to an imaging subject when the fixation target is projected at an eye of the subject.

8. The optical apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the image acquisition assembly, wherein the image acquisition assembly is configured to automatically obtain a focus on a desired portion of the anatomical target using the reflection of the focusing target relayed to the image acquisition assembly via the optical lens system.

9. The optical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical lens system is included as a portion of an optical assembly configured for mechanical attachment to the image acquisition assembly.

10. The optical apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the optical assembly is mechanically attached to the digital camera, wherein the combination of the digital camera and the optical assembly is sized and shaped to be hand-held, and wherein the combination is configured for acquisition of an image of the anatomical target when hand-held.

11. The optical apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the digital camera includes a user input configured to trigger an acquisition of a fundus image; and
wherein the optical apparatus is configured to automatically perform at least one of repositioning the alignment assembly, enabling a projection of the focusing target onto the anatomical target for at least a specified duration during which the digital camera obtains focus, or disabling projection of the focusing target after the digital camera obtains focus, in response to the user input to trigger acquisition.

12. An optical apparatus, comprising:
an optical lens system configured to relay an image of an anatomical target to an image acquisition assembly via an optical imaging path provided by the optical lens system, the optical lens system including:
an objective lens configured to be located near the anatomical target; and
an alignment assembly configured to be user-positionable at least partially in the optical imaging path;
wherein an image presented via the optical imaging path includes a first field of view to provide an image of an anatomical landmark when the alignment assembly is included at least partially in the optical imaging path, and a second field of view to provide the image of the anatomical target when the alignment assembly is substantially excluded from the optical imaging path;
wherein the optical lens system produces a focusing target on the anatomical target;
wherein the alignment assembly includes a lens;
wherein the first field of view is wider than the second field of view;
wherein the optical lens system is included as a portion of an optical assembly configured for mechanical attachment to the image acquisition assembly;
wherein the image acquisition assembly comprises a digital camera, wherein the optical assembly is mechanically attached to the digital camera, wherein the combination of the digital camera and the optical assembly is sized and shaped to be hand-held, and wherein the combination is configured for acquisition of an image of the anatomical target when hand-held;
wherein the digital camera includes a user input configured to trigger an acquisition of a fundus image;
wherein the digital camera is configured to automatically obtain a focus on a desired portion of the anatomical target using the reflection of the focusing target relayed to the image acquisition assembly via the optical lens system without using a prismatic focusing aid; and
wherein, in response to the user input to trigger an acquisition, the optical apparatus is configured to automatically perform at least one of repositioning the alignment assembly, enabling a projection of the focusing target onto the anatomical target for at least a specified duration during which the digital camera obtains focus, or disabling projection of the focusing target after the digital camera obtains focus.

13. A method, comprising:
relaying an image of an anatomical target to an image acquisition assembly via an optical imaging path provided by an optical lens system including:
an objective lens configured to be located near the anatomical target; and
an alignment assembly configured to be user-positionable at least partially in the optical imaging path;
generating a focusing target comprising patterned illumination using a light source;
directing light comprising the focusing target to the anatomical target via at least a portion of the optical imaging path including the objective lens;
presenting a first field of view to a user when the alignment assembly is included at least partially in the optical imaging path, the first fi

Assignees

• Univ Virginia Patent Foundation

Inventors

• Yates Paul Andrew
• Tran Kenneth

Classifications

• H04N23/672

  based on the phase difference signals · CPC title

• H04N23/673

  based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method · CPC title

• A61B3/14

  Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography · CPC title

• A61B3/0091

  Fixation targets for viewing direction · CPC title

• A61B3/12

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