Snapshot Spectral Imaging of the Eye

• US 20090225277A1
• Filed: 03/05/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merge Healthcare Incorporated (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tamir Gil
• Inventors: Gil, Tamir
• Granted Patent: US 8,109,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/10 Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14555 specially adapted for the eye fundus
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1213 Filters in general, e.g. dichroic, band
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0208 using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0256 Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/135 based on four or more different wavelength filter elements

Abstract

Obtaining spectral images of an eye includes taking an optical system that images eye tissue onto a digital sensor array and optically fitting a multi-spectral filter array and the digital sensor array, wherein the multi-spectral filter array is disposed between the digital sensor array and an optics portion of the optical system. The resulting system facilitates acquisition of a snap-shot image of the eye tissue with the digital sensor array. The snap shot images support estimation of blood oxygen saturation in a retinal tissue. The resulting system can be based on a non-mydriatic fundus camera designed to obtain the retinal images without administration of pupil dilation drops.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining spectral images of an eye, comprising:

taking an optical system that images eye tissue onto a digital sensor array;

providing a multi-spectral filter array;

optically fitting the multi-spectral filter array and the digital sensor array, wherein the multi-spectral filter array is disposed between the digital sensor array and an optics portion of the optical system; and

facilitating acquisition of a snap-shot image of the eye tissue with the digital sensor array.

2-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A method of facilitating obtaining spectral images of an eye, comprising:

talking an optical system that images eye tissue onto a digital sensor array; and

optically fitting a multi-spectral filter array with the digital sensor array so that light for imaging the eye tissue that reaches the digital sensor array is filtered by the multi-spectral filter array.

24-44. -44. (canceled)

45. A system of eye spectral imaging comprising:

an optical system that images eye tissue onto a digital sensor array; and

a multi-spectral filter array that is optically fitted with the digital sensor array, wherein the multi-spectral filter array is disposed in close proximity to the digital sensor array in the optical path of the optical system.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the multi-spectral filter array comprises at least nine different spectral bands.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein the spectral bands are designed to support estimation of blood oxygen saturation in a retinal tissue.

50. The system of claim 45, wherein the optical system is a fundus camera.

52. The system of claim 45, wherein the optical system is a non-mydriatic fundus camera designed to obtain the retinal images without administration of pupil dilation drops.

53. The system of claim 45, wherein the multi-spectral filter array comprises a plurality of filter elements each of which is optically associated with an integer number of detectors of the digital sensor array.

54. The system of claim 45, wherein optically fitted includes deposited on a light sensing surface of the sensor array.

55. The system of claim 45, wherein optically fitted includes deposited on a cover glass attached to a light sensing surface of the sensor array.

56. The system of claim 45, wherein optically fitted includes deposited on a thin film attached to a light sensing surface of the sensor array.

57. The system of claim 45, further comprising a micro-lenses array attached to the multi-spectral filter array for limiting an angle of light that is transmitted through the multi-spectral filter array.

58. The system of claim 45, further comprising a micro-pinhole array attached to the multi-spectral filter array for limiting an angle of light that is transmitted through the multi-spectral filter array.

60. The system of claim 45, wherein the multi-spectral filter array is divided into unit cells each comprising multi-spectral filters.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein each unit cell comprises at least nine filters of nine different spectral bands.

62. The system of claim 45, wherein the sensor array lies inside a detachable camera back of the optical system.

63. The system of claim 45, wherein the sensor array is a grey level sensor array.

64. The system of claim 45, wherein the sensor array is a color-coated sensor array.

65. The system of claim 45, wherein the long axis of the image of the eye tissue falls on at least 2592 pixels of the sensor array.

67. The system of claim 45, further including a computer capable of reconstructing the spectral images.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein reconstructing the spectral images includes de-mosaicking of spectral data from readings of the digital sensor array.

69. The system of claim 67, further including a program capable of analyzing the spectral images.

47-48. -48. (canceled)

51. (canceled)

59. (canceled)

66. (canceled)