Multi-purpose imaging apparatus and adaptors therefor

• US 20050200707A1
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleMedC, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lions Eye Institute Limited
• Inventors: Suplewski, Gabriel, Constable, Ian, Guillon, Jean-Pierre, Yogesan, Kanagasingam
• Granted Patent: US 7,986,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.990
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0075 provided with adjusting devices, e.g. operated by control lever manipulators B25J
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1208 Multiple lens hand-held instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/135 Slit-lamp microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/185 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof

Abstract

Provided is a multi-purpose imaging apparatus (10) comprising a body (14) and imaging means (36) housed within the body (14). The body (14) is adapted to releasably engage an adaptor (12). The adaptor (12) has an aperture (108) extending therethrough that aligns with the optical axis (X) of the imaging means (36) when so engaged, such that at least a portion of the optical axis (X) is not obscured. The adaptor (12) also has optics for illuminating a subject within the optical axis (X) for diagnostic purposes.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose imaging apparatus comprising:

a body; and

imaging means housed within the body,

wherein the body is adapted to releasably engage one of a plurality of adaptors, each adaptor having an aperture extending therethrough that aligns with the optical axis of the imaging means when so engaged such that at least a portion of the optical axis is not obscured and wherein each adaptor has optics for illuminating a subject within the optical axis for a separate diagnostic purpose.

2. The multi-purpose imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging means is a digital camera.

3. The multi-purpose imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a removable memory means for storing images captured by imaging means.

4. The multi-purpose imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body is adapted to be carried in the hand.

5. An adaptor for the multi-purpose imaging apparatus according to claim 1, the adaptor comprising:

optics for illuminating a subject within the optical axis of the imaging means for diagnostic purposes;

means for releasably engaging the body; and

an aperture extending therethrough,

wherein, when releasably engaged with the body, the aperture aligns with the optical axis such that at least a portion of the optical axis of the imaging means is not obscured.

6. The adaptor according to claim 5, having optics arranged to function as a slit-lamp.

7. The adaptor according to claim 6, wherein the optics are arranged to include a first slit lamp device and a second slit lamp device.

8. The adaptor according to claim 6, wherein the optics includes a beam of light generated by at least one solid state lamp.

9. The adaptor according to claim 8, wherein the optics includes structures for defining a narrow slit, the beam of light being laterally trimmed by the narrow slit as it passes therethrough.

10. The adaptor according to claim 9, wherein the position of the structures may be adjusted to correspondingly adjust the width of the narrow slit.

11. The adaptor according to claim 9, wherein the width of the narrow slit is 0.08 mm.

12. The adaptor according to claim 9, wherein the optics further includes focusing means aligned with the narrow slit, the focusing means arranged to focus the laterally trimmed beam of light into a slit of light.

13. The adaptor according to claim 12, wherein the focusing means is a prism of uniform semi-circular cross-section.

14. The adaptor according to claim 6, wherein the optics further includes a light source for providing background illumination to the subject

15. The adaptor according to claim 6, having optics arranged to image red reflex.

16. The adaptor according to claim 15, wherein the optics includes a beam-splitter received within the aperture and a light source positioned substantially at a right angle to the beam splitter.

17. The adaptor according to claim 16, wherein at least a portion of light split by the beam splitter is reflected along the optical axis of the imaging means.

18. The adaptor according to claim 17, having an additional aperture in the same plane as the light source for conveying at least some light not reflected by the beam splitter along the optical axis of the imaging means away from the optical axis of the imaging means.

19. The adaptor according to claim 6, having optics arranged to image the fluorescence of the subject.

20. The adaptor according to claim 19, wherein the optics includes at least one light source that generates a blue light.

21. The adaptor according to claim 20, wherein the optics includes a plurality of light sources that each generate a blue light, the plurality of light sources being disposed about the adaptor such that the subject is evenly illuminated by the blue light.

22. The adaptor according to claim 19, wherein the optics includes at least one yellow filter received within the aperture in the path of the optical axis of the imaging means.

23. The adaptor according to claim 6, having optics arranged to image tear-film.

24. The adaptor according to claim 6, having optics arranged to take a nibut image of the subject.

25. The adaptor according to claim 6, having optics arranged to capture dermatological images.

26. The adaptor according to any one of claims 23 through 25, wherein the optics includes a cylinder having open ends, a plurality of light sources being circumferentially disposed about one of the open ends.

27. The adaptor according to claim 26, wherein the light sources are light-emitting diodes.

28. The adaptor according to claim 26, wherein the disposition of the plurality of light sources is such that a homogenous light source is produced.

29. The adaptor according to claim 24, wherein the optics includes a cylinder having open ends, a plurality of light sources being circumferentially disposed about one of the open ends, and wherein the cylinder is transparent and the internal surface of the cylinder has a grid pattern printed thereon.

30. The adaptor according to claim 24, wherein the optics includes a cylinder having open ends, a plurality of light sources being circumferentially disposed about one of the open ends, and wherein the cylinder is adapted to receive about its internal surface a film having a grid pattern printed thereon.

31. The adaptor according to claim 25, wherein the optics further comprises a magnifying lens positioned such that it intersects the optical axis of the imaging means.

32. The adaptor according to claim 6, having optics arranged to function as a fundus camera.

33. The adaptor according to claim 32, wherein the optics includes a beam-splitter received within the aperture and a light source positioned substantially at a right angle to the beam splitter.

34. The adaptor according to claim 33, wherein at least a portion of light split by the beam splitter is reflected along the optical axis of the imaging means.

35. The adaptor according to claim 34, wherein light reflected along the optical axis of the imaging means is focused by a double convex lens to penetrate the iris and lens of a person'"'"'s eye.

36. The adaptor according to claim 33, having an additional aperture in the same plane as the light source for conveying at least some light not reflected by the beam splitter along the optical axis of the imaging means away from the optical axis of the imaging means.

37. The adaptor according to claim 6, having optics arranged to capture dental images.

38. The adaptor according to claim 37, further comprising at least one angled aperture adapted to receive a dental mirror such that the mirror portion of the dental mirror intersects the optical axis of the imaging means.

39. The adaptor according to claim 38, wherein the adaptor has two angled apertures adapted to receive a dental mirror, the two angled apertures being disposed opposite one another relative to the aperture.

40. The adaptor according to claim 6, having optics arranged to function as an otoscope.

41. The adaptor according to claim 40, wherein the adaptor includes a removable ear plug.

42. The adaptor according to claim 41, wherein the removable ear plug has an opening at a tapered end, and the optics includes a light source that directs a beam of light through the opening to illuminate portions of the ear.

43. The adaptor according to claim 40, wherein the optics includes a lens intersecting the optical axis and focusing means for focusing the image viewable along the optical axis.

44. A multi-purpose imaging system comprising:

the multi-purpose imaging apparatus according to claim 1;

at least one adaptor according to claim 6, releasably engaged to the multi-purpose imaging apparatus; and

a processing unit,

wherein, images captured by the multi-purpose imaging apparatus are transmitted to the processing unit for storage and/or further processing.

45. The multi-purpose imaging system according to claim 44, wherein the components of the system are adapted to be received within pre-formed compartments of a case, the case being further adapted to provide power to the processing unit.