HEAD-MOUNTED DISPLAY FOR PERFORMING OPHTHALMIC EXAMINATIONS

• US 20160324416A1
• Filed: 05/07/2015
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Kali Care, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kali Care, Inc.
• Inventors: Fateh, Sina
• Granted Patent: US 10,251,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0025 characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0033 characterised by user input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/005 Constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/032 Devices for presenting test symbols or characters, e.g. test chart projectors A61B3/036 takes precedence

Abstract

Various embodiments relate to systems and methods for performing eye examinations using an HMD that is able to present an image to each eye individually and then to both eyes simultaneously. Because the HMD, rather than a patient, controls conditions (e.g., glare, brightness) during the examination, test results are more likely to be accurate and reliable. In some embodiments, the HMD employs voice recognition to replicate the conversational exchange that would typically occur between the patient and the ophthalmologist or optometrist. The HMD may also be configured to change the visual environment experienced by the patient during testing. Further yet, the HMD, or another distinct computing system, may be configured to identify abnormal test results in real-time and, in some embodiments, the examination is modified accordingly. For example, tests scheduled to be performed during the examination can be modified or removed and new tests can be added.

Claims

1. A head-mounted display (HMD) for conducting eye examinations, the HMD comprising:

a frame configured to support an HMD when positioned upon a head of a patient;

a left optical display surface configured to present images to a left eye;

a right optical display surface configured to present images to a right eye;

an image display system that is able to present a digital image only to the left eye, only to the right eye, and to the left eye and the right eye simultaneously;

an audio sensor configured to record audible responses given by the patient during an eye examination; and

a microphone configured to project an audio recording that can be heard by the patient.

2. The HMD of claim 1, wherein the frame is configured such that when the digital image is presented only to the left eye, nothing can be seen by the right eye.

3. The HMD of claim 1, wherein the frame is configured such that when the digital image is presented only to the right eye, nothing can be seen by the left eye.

4. The HMD of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more sensors configured to track ambient conditions substantially likely to influence test results acquired during the eye examination.

5. The HMD of claim 4, wherein the ambient conditions include glare, brightness, humidity, or some combination thereof.

6. The HMD of claim 1, wherein the patient can select a visual environment that is presented on the left optical display surface, the right optical display surface, or both during some or all of the eye examination.

7. The HMD of claim 6, wherein the visual environment is an artificial virtual environment selected by the patient.

8. The HMD of claim 1, wherein the audio recording is a statement or a question designed to elicit an audible response from the patient.

9. The HMD of claim 8, wherein the audible response is regarding what is being shown on the left optical display surface or the right optical display surface, vision problems experienced by the patient, or both.

10. The HMD of claim 8, wherein the audio sensor is configured to record the audible response to the statement or the question.

11. The HMD of claim 8, further comprising:

a speech recognition module configured to identify one or more relevant keywords within the audible response given by the patient.

12. The HMD of claim 11, further comprising:

an analysis module configured to compare the one or more relevant keywords with a master set of keywords to determine whether the audible response is correct, wherein the master set of keywords is known to be correct.

13. The HMD of claim 11, further comprising:

an analysis module configured to adapt the eye examination based on at least one of the relevant keywords.

14. The HMD of claim 13, wherein the eye examination is adapted in real-time while one or more tests are being performed.

15. The HMD of claim 13, wherein adapting the eye examination includes at least one of:

modifying a test scheduled to be performed during the eye examination;

removing the test scheduled to be performed during the eye examination; and

adding a new test to be performed during the eye examination.

16. A method for conducting eye examinations, the method comprising:

identifying a test to be performed as part of an eye examination;

performing the test using an HMD;

acquiring a result for the test;

determining whether the result is unexpected;

if the result is not determined to be unexpected,

continuing the eye examination by performing another scheduled test using the HMD or ending the eye examination, wherein the scheduled test is already scheduled to be performed during the eye examination;

if the result is determined to be unexpected,

determining one or more potential causes for the unexpected result;

generating a likelihood for each of the one or more potential causes; and

adapting the eye examination based on the unexpected result, the one or more potential causes, the one or more likelihoods corresponding to the one or more potential causes, or some combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the likelihood of a particular potential cause represents an estimated probability the particular potential cause is an actual cause of the unexpected result.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein adapting the eye examination comprises at least one of:

modifying the scheduled test;

removing the scheduled test; and

adding a new test to be performed during the eye examination.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein adapting the eye examination occurs in real-time while the eye examination is being conducted.

20. A method for conducting an eye examination using an HMD, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of tests to be performed during an eye examination of a patient;

performing a test of the plurality of tests, wherein the test is performed using an HMD;

acquiring a result for the test, wherein the result includes an audible response given by the patient;

performing speech recognition on the audible response to identify one or more keywords;

determining whether the eye examination should be adapted based on the one or more keywords;

adapting the eye examination by removing or modifying at least one of the plurality of tests, adding a new test to the plurality of tests, or both; and

storing the result, the one or more keywords, a summary indicating whether the patient passes or failed the test, or some combination thereof, within a database record corresponding to the patient,

wherein the database record is remotely accessible and viewable by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.