Eye examination apparatus and method for remote examination of a patient by a health professional

• US 6,003,991 A
• Filed: 02/13/1997
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erik Scott Viirre
• Original Assignee: Erik Scott Viirre
• Inventors: Viirre, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US08/799,859
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 351/246, 351/205, 351/210, 351/209, 351/211, 351/221, 351/200, 364/516.444, 364/571.414
• US Class Current: 351/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/145 by video means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/156 Mixing image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/383 for tracking with gaze detection, i.e. detecting the lines of sight of the viewer's eyes

Abstract

A stereo HMD with an in-dwelling video camera at a patient site, and a stereo camera at a doctor'"'"'s site are provided for performing examinations of a patient'"'"'s eyes over a video link. The patient wears the stereo HMD with cameras. Over the video link, images of the patient'"'"'s eyes are sent to the doctor. The doctor is positioned in front of a stereo camera and an image of the doctor is sent back to the patient for display on the HMD. The doctor can view the external eye structures and can direct the patient to look in various directions. The doctor may move an object in the direction desired. The doctor views the response on a monitor. The doctor may control light to each eye of the patient by covering the appropriate lens of the stereo camera. By alternately covering left and right cameras, the "swinging flashlight" test can be done. Slit light sources built into the HMD are provided to illuminate the front portions of the eyeball, i.e., the anterior chamber, for examination.

Claims

1. Apparatus usable for eye examination of a patient comprising:

head-mounted means having at least a first image generator for providing an image to at least a first eye of said patient;

an image source for providing an image to be generated by said image generator;

camera means for obtaining a first video image of at least said first eye of said patient, and for obtaining a second video image of a second eye of said patient, said camera means being coupled to said head-mounted means; and

wherein said patient is remotely located from a physician and further comprising means for transmitting both said first video image and said second video image over a communication link to a location where both said video image of said first eye of said patient and said video image of said second eye of said patient are displayed for viewing by said physician.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said image generator comprises first and second liquid crystal displays.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said image source comprises a stereo camera.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said camera means is an infrared camera.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising

means for recording at least one of said first and second video images of said patient'"'"'s eyes transmitted over said communication link.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an eye tracker.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for transmitting sound signals over said communication link and headphone means, coupled to said head-mounted display for providing sound based on said sound signals, to the ears of said patient.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least a first light source mounted in said lead-mounted display for illuminating a first portion of at least said first eye of said patient.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said camera means is a visible light camera.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said image source comprises a camera positioned to obtain an image of said physician and wherein said communication link provides said image of said physician to said image generator for display to said patient.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said patient is substantially prevented from seeing a view of the world.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a multiplexer for multiplexing said first video image and said second video image.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for magnifying at least one of said first and second video images for viewing by said physician.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second video images includes an image of the patients eyelids and eye lashes.

15. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a microphone adjacent said patient, and wherein spoken information from said patient is provided to said location of said physician.

16. A method for remote eye examination of a patient by a health professional, said patient being remotely located from said health professional, comprising:

providing a head-mounted display for wearing by said patient, said head-mounted display configured to receive image data and provide said image data to at least a first eye of said patient, and having first and second cameras for obtaining, respectively, a first video image of at least said first eye of said patient and a second video image of a second eye of said patient;

generating image data for displaying to at least said first eye of said patient using said head-mounted display;

transmitting both of said first and second video images over a communication link; and

displaying said first and second video images received over said communication link at a location where said first video image of said first eye of said patient and said second video image of said second eye of said patient are displayed for viewing by said health professional.

17. A method, as claimed in claim 16 further comprising superimposing data over at least one of said first and second video images.

18. Apparatus usable for eye examination of a patient comprising:

a head-mounted display having at least a first image generator which provides an image to at least a first eye of said patient;

an image source which provides an image to be generated by said image generator;

first and second video cameras positioned to provide, respectively, a first video image of at least said first eye of said patient and a second video image of a second eye of said patient, said cameras being coupled to said head-mounted display; and

wherein said patient is remotely located from a physician and further comprising a transmitter transmitting both said first video image and said second video image over a communication link to a location where both said video image of said first eye of said patient and said video image of said second eye of said patient are displayed for viewing by said physician.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 further comprising means for generating an image to be displayed by said head-mounted display for viewing by said patient.