Method of and apparatus for determining the topology of a cornea
First Claim
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1. A method of determining the topology of a cornea, comprising the steps of:
- forming a first image of a natural corneal topography;
providing a probe which is program-controlled with depth- or pressure-dependent stored data;
indenting at least one area of the cornea by the probe to effect a momentary deformation of the anterior corneal surface;
forming a second image of the deformation of the anterior corneal surface;
measuring the deformation to produce commensurate topological-dependent data;
processing and storing the data for identifying property of the cornea; and
signaling to an operator the data for diagnostic evaluation by at least one unit selected from the group consisting of visual means and acoustic means.
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Abstract
A method of analyzing the condition of a cornea by employing a probe for indenting the cornea. The topology of each indentation is registered and processed in the form of images and/or displayed on a monitor. A analyzing apparatus for carrying out the method includes a video keratoscope which has attached thereon a positioning device comprised of electromotive drives and adjustment members, for moving the probe.
85 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of determining the topology of a cornea, comprising the steps of:
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forming a first image of a natural corneal topography; providing a probe which is program-controlled with depth- or pressure-dependent stored data; indenting at least one area of the cornea by the probe to effect a momentary deformation of the anterior corneal surface; forming a second image of the deformation of the anterior corneal surface; measuring the deformation to produce commensurate topological-dependent data; processing and storing the data for identifying property of the cornea; and signaling to an operator the data for diagnostic evaluation by at least one unit selected from the group consisting of visual means and acoustic means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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8. The method of claim I wherein said processing step includes forming a combination of data from the stored data of individual indentations analog and in form of single frames and/or sequence of contiguous frames, acoustic signals or characteristic data.
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19. Apparatus for determining topological data of a cornea to be analyzed, comprising:
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a positioning device driven by an electromotor; a mounting having one end secured to the positioning device and another end; a probe supported by the other end of the mounting and having a pointed end for applying an indentation force on the cornea to realize a deformation of the anterior corneal surface, said probe being program controlled with depth- or pressure dependent data from which the topology of the cornea can be determined; an electromagnet positioned between the mounting and the probe and so interacting with the probe as to withdraw the probe from a sphere of influence of the electromagnet to thereby disengage the pointed end from the anterior corneal surface when the indentation force exceeds a predetermined level; and detection means for determining and measuring a deformation of the anterior corneal surface realized by the probe during indentation of the cornea. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification