APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMAGING AN EYE

• US 20110234977A1
• Filed: 03/22/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NeuroVision Imaging, LLC
• Original Assignee: Steven Roger Verdooner
• Inventors: Verdooner, Steven Roger
• Granted Patent: US 8,714,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0058 for multiple images
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0083 provided with means for patient positioning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0091 Fixation targets for viewing direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/024 for determining the visual field, e.g. perimeter types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/102 for optical coherence tomography [OCT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1208 Multiple lens hand-held instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/132 in binocular arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/135 Slit-lamp microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/145 by video means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/152 for aligning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/158 of corneal reflection

Abstract

The present invention is a slit lamp mounted eye imaging, a slit lamp integrated, a handheld, OCT integrated, or attached to a separate chinrest-joystick assembly apparatus and method for producing a wide field and/or magnified views of the posterior or the anterior segments of an eye through an undilated or dilated pupil. The apparatus images sections and focal planes and utilizes an illumination system that uses one or more LEDs, shifting optical elements, flipping masks, and/or aperture stops where the light can be delivered into the optical system on optical axis or off axis from center of optical system and return imaging path from the eye, creating artifacts in different locations on the eye image. Image processing is employed to detect and eliminate artifacts and masks from images. The apparatus can be used in combination with an OCT, microscope and can be disposed in a hand-held housing for hand-held use.

Claims

1. An apparatus that produces an image of a posterior or an anterior segment of an eye, comprising:

a light source;

an optical system with a center having optical elements that can be shifted to deliver light from said light source on an optical axis or slightly off said optical axis from said center of optical system and return an imaging path from said posterior and anterior segments;

a means for sequentially turning said light source on and off in synchronization with image capture under each condition;

a means for inserting a flipping mask that momentarily blocks unwanted reflections in small areas of an image while leaving the majority areas of the image illuminated;

a means for detecting said artifacts in one image (without flipping mask), and detecting said flipping artifact mask in second image, and combining images to create a composite image that is artifact-free;

a means for tilting or swinging the optical head, changing patient fixation to generate views with artifacts in different locations on each image, averaged images, or movie stream, and

a plurality of shifting optical elements, masks and light sources where two or more images having specular and other reflection artifacts located in two or more anatomically different areas of each sequentially acquired image of said eye segments are created, said artifacts in said images are detected by image processing, said images are combined with one or more other images to create a composite image, a stereo image, a panoramic image from multiple images or video stream, or generating a video stream panning the retina without artifacts, where relatively clear well-focused image sections are combined from one or more said other images or video streams to create said composite image or movie.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light source is momentarily laterally shifted to generate artifacts in different locations.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said light source is laterally shifted and rotated, synchronized with image capture to generate artifacts in different locations.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said light source has at least two or more light sources that are sequentially triggered, generating artifacts in different locations.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said alternate illuminating and imaging paths enter said pupil at an angle in comparison to said optical center axis but are shifted by optical elements to create artifacts in different locations.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said position of light sources and said imaging paths are of variable size, position and shape depending upon pupil size and can be manually or automatically adjusted dynamically in combination with apertures and masks based on said pupil size and desired field of view.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a spatial light modulator is provided for positioning and shaping said light source according to said sensed location and dimensions of said pupil.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an IR filter or a near IR filter or light source is provided to allow non-mydriatic operation, to align and flip out to allow other spectral wavelengths to pass through and allow subsequent image capture with visible light or specifically defined wavelengths.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a flexible eye cup made of flexible material is positioned to surround said eye to create a darkened environment with compressible protruding aspects at 6 o'"'"'clock and 12 o'"'"'clock positions used to hold a person'"'"'s eyelids open during said eye imaging.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said focus is varied and stepped to allow capture at multiple focal planes in said eye and recombined into a single image, a plenoptic image, a stereo image, or a movie.

11. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said focus is varied by a series of micro lenses of differing focal lengths and is placed on an image sensor and said images subsequently captured at multiple focal lengths.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said apparatus attaches to or is combined with an existing slit lamp, a microscope, a OCT device, a direct ophthalmoscope, an indirect ophthalmoscope, an adaptive optics imaging device, or a fundus camera and utilizes a portion of said imaging elements to capture and process said image.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said apparatus is fitted with said light sources and filters that utilizes color fundus imaging, fluorescein angiography, red-free, red, blue, ICG angiography, all wavelengths of auto fluorescence, flavoprotein fluorescence, 2-photon imaging, curcumin fluorescence imaging, multi-spectral imaging, hyper-spectral imaging, functional imaging, lens imaging, cornea and other anterior segment imaging, tear film imaging, optical coherence tomography, dark-adaptation rod and cone sensitivity testing, micro-perimetry, optical character recognition of name, and ultra-wide field imaging, and that also serves as a guidance and planning system to treat various conditions.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said apparatus is utilized to detect amyloid in said retina.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said apparatus contains a flipping internal fixation pointer containing LEDS, a motorized tilt and a swing mechanism to pan said retina and a set of masks that dynamically adjusts to small pupils and creates still images, averaged images, or movies.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for sequentially turning on said light source and one or more cameras is a computer system or a tablet computer that is on and off in synchronization with said flipping masks and optics with image capture under each said condition.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is utilized in combination or integrated with an OCT device, a microscope, a slit lamp, a direct or an indirect ophthalmoscope, a microperimetry device, or an existing fundus camera.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus has a hand-held housing and is utilized as a hand-held device either as a standalone device or incorporated with an existing direct or an indirect ophthalmoscope.

19. A computerized method for producing an image of a posterior and an anterior segment of an eye in combination with an image producing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

entering patient demographics;

beginning image or movie capture;

optimizing masks and illumination position to pupil size

executing autofocus, or intentional focus shift for plenoptic image;

executing auto-exposure;

activating sequential illumination;

activating optical shift;

activating mask flip

ending image or movie capture;

identifying artifacts, masks and clear portions of images;

identifying relatively well focused and well illuminated portions of said images; and

combining said image sections to create an artifact-free composite, plenoptic, averaged, or stereo image/movie.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said apparatus is a hand-held apparatus either as a standalone device or incorporated with an existing direct or an indirect ophthalmoscope.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein said apparatus is used in combination with a microscope, a slit lamp, an OCT, a microscope, a direct or indirect ophthalmoscope, a microperimetry device, or an existing fundus camera.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein said apparatus is used in detecting amyloid in said retina.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said apparatus is used in said detecting of amyloid in said retina utilizing light sources, filters, spectrometer and sensors that allow curcumin fluorescence imaging, auto fluorescence imaging, hyper spectral imaging, multi-spectral imaging, or OCT and subsequent image segmentation for identification of amyloid associated with either ocular or brain conditions.