Apparatus and methods for performing enhanced visually directed procedures under low ambient light conditions

• US 10,398,598 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2015
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TrueVision Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Tripathi, Ashok B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Safaipour, Bobbak
• Application Number:
  US14/923,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20160038337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0025 characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0058 for multiple images
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1015 for wavefront analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/13 Ophthalmic microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/145 by video means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00853 Laser thermal keratoplasty or radial keratotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/361 Optical details, e.g. image relay to the camera or image sensor G02B21/364 takes precedence; illumination details G02B21/06 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for performing enhanced visually directed procedures under low ambient light conditions are disclosed. An example method includes acquiring at least one real-time high resolution video signal representing at least one view of an eye in at least one wavelength of light outside of the wavelengths of visible light. The example method also includes converting the at least one view corresponding to the at least one real-time high resolution video signal at the at least one wavelength of light outside of the wavelengths of visible light into at least one wavelength of visible light. The at least one real-time high resolution video signal is acquired after light conditions are low enough such that a pupil of the eye does not constrict substantially from its maximum pupillary diameter.

Claims

1. A method for performing an enhanced visually directed procedure under low ambient visible light on a patient'"'"'s eye, the method comprising:

instructing, via the processor, or causing an intensity of ambient visible light for imaging the patient'"'"'s eye to be low enough such that a pupil of the eye does not constrict substantially from its maximum pupillary diameter,

acquiring, from at least one high resolution photosensor, at least one first real-time high resolution video signal representing at least one view of the eye in at least one wavelength of light outside of the wavelengths of visible light;

acquiring, from the at least one high resolution photosensor or a different high resolution photosensor, at least one second real-time high resolution video signal representing the at least one view of the eye in visible light;

converting, via a processor, the at least one view corresponding to the at least one first real-time high resolution video signal at the at least one wavelength of light outside of the wavelengths of visible light into at least one wavelength of visible light;

combining, via the processor, the at least one wavelength of visible light with the visible light of the least one second real-time high resolution video signal to form at least one third real-time high resolution video signal; and

displaying, via the processor, the at least one view corresponding to the at least one third real-time high resolution video signal including the at least one wavelength of visible light, wherein the display of the at least one third real-time high resolution video signal is brighter than a display of the at least one second real-time high resolution video signal and enables the intensity of the ambient visible light to be low enough such that a pupil of the eye does not constrict substantially from its maximum pupillary diameter.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inspecting the eye of the patient; and

performing an ocular procedure on the eye.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the procedure is laser surgery.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the procedure is laser assisted in situ keratomileusis.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein inspecting includes determining a waveform for the eye.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the ambient visible light includes light having a wavelength of about 700 nanometers to about 1400 nanometers.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ambient visible light includes light having a wavelength of about 700 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one third real-time high resolution video signal is displayed in high definition.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one third real-time high resolution video signal represents at least two views of the eye, and wherein the views are presented in high definition on a three dimensional video display.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the intensity of the ambient visible light is essentially eliminated.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the intensity of ambient visible light for imaging the patient'"'"'s eye to be low enough includes prompting a surgeon, via a video screen, to lower the intensity of ambient visible light.

10. A method for enhancing control of a visually directed eye procedure on a patient'"'"'s eye having a pupil under low ambient visible light, the method comprising:

instructing, via a processor, or causing an intensity of ambient visible light for imaging the patient'"'"'s eye to be low enough such that the pupil of the eye does not constrict substantially from its maximum pupillary diameter;

acquiring, from at least one high resolution photosensor, at least one first real-time high resolution video signal representing at least one view of the eye in at least one wavelength of light outside of the wavelengths of visible light;

acquiring, from the at least one high resolution photosensor or a different high resolution photosensor, at least one second real-time high resolution video signal representing the at least one view of the eye in visible light;

converting, via a processor, at least one view of the eye in the at least one wavelength of light outside of the wavelengths of visible light into at least one wavelength of visible light;

combining, via the processor, the at least one wavelength of visible light with the visible light of the least one second real-time high resolution video signal to form at least one third real-time high resolution video signal;

displaying the at least one view corresponding to the at least one third real-time high resolution video signal in the at least one wavelength of visible light, wherein the display of the at least one third real-time high resolution video signal is brighter than a display of the at least one second real-time high resolution video signal;

enabling an inspection the eye of the patient under light conditions such that the intensity of the ambient visible light is insufficient to cause the pupil of the eye to constrict substantially from its maximum pupillary diameter; and

enabling a performance of an ocular procedure on the eye under light conditions substantially identical to the light conditions for inspecting the eye.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the intensity of the ambient visible light is selected to reduce or remove at least one of phototoxicity or dyschromatopsia in the patient.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the intensity of the ambient visible light is selected to reduce at least one of glare or high contrast shadows related to illuminating or imaging the patient'"'"'s eye.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one high resolution photosensor includes a camera or a stereoscopic image acquisition device.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising preventing visible light from a display from illuminating the patient'"'"'s eye.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the ambient visible light includes light having a wavelength of about 700 nanometers to about 1400 nanometers or light having a wavelength of about 700 nanometers to about 1 micrometer.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one third real-time high resolution video signal is displayed at least one of stereoscopically or in high definition.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one third real-time high resolution video signal represents at least two views of the eye, and wherein the views are presented in high definition on a three dimensional video display.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the ocular procedure includes a laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (“

LASIK”

) procedure.