Device for the examination of an eye using a scheimpflug camera and a slit light projector for photographing slit images of an eye

• US 6,286,958 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2000
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oculus Optikgerate GmbH (Oculus Optikgerate)
• Original Assignee: Oculus Optikgerate GmbH (Oculus Optikgerate)
• Inventors: Koest, Gert, Repnow, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US09/626,321
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 351/206, 351/208, 351/211, 351/212, 351/214, 351/245, 351/246, 600/558
• US Class Current: 351/214
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/135 Slit-lamp microscopes

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the examination of an eye using a Scheimpflug camera and a slit light projector for slit images of an eye. The Scheimpflug camera and the slit light projector are carried by a stand, whereby the slit light projector and the scheimpflug camera are arranged rotatably about a common axis coinciding essentially with the optic axis of the eye. Such a device is improved so that without interruptions and returns of the Scheimpflug camera to an initial position, the eye can be scanned multiply by means of the device. This is achieved by the slit light projector and the Scheimpflug camera being freely rotatable about the axis through more than 360°, and by a voltage supply to both the Scheimpflug camera and the slit light projector occurring through a transmitter.

Claims

1. A device for the examination of an eye using a Scheimpflug camera and a slit light projector for photographing slit images of an eye, all of which is carried by a stand, whereby the slit light projector and the Scheimpflug camera are arranged rotatably about a common axis coinciding essentially with the optic axis of the eye, wherein the slit light projector and the scheimpflug camera are freely rotatable about the axis for more than 360°

, and that a voltage supply to both the Scheimpflug camera and the slit light projector occurs through a transmitter.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a sliding ring transmitter.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein a data transfer path to the scheimflug camera, the slit light projector and/or the computer unit exists through the sliding ring transmitter.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the Scheimpflug camera and the slit light projector are mounted on a rotor rotatably supported on the stand, the axis of rotation of which rotor is the optic axis of the slit light projector.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein a computer unit is mounted on the rotor, which computer is connected to the Scheimpflug camera.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a wireless data transfer path connected to the scheimpflug camera, the slit light projector and/or the computer unit exists.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the Scheimpflug camera is a CCD-camera.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the Scheimflug camera is a C-MOS-camera.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the stand can be moved in three space axes.

10. The device according to claim 1, whereby the slit light projector has a light source, a slit diaphragm arranged in front of the light source, and a lens system arranged in front of the slit diaphragm, wherein the light source consists of several illuminating diodes arranged side-by-side and essentially in longitudinal direction of the slit, namely in the plane of the projected slit.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the illuminating diodes are arranged archlike or circularly in the plane of the projected slit.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the illuminating diodes are arranged paraaxially with respect to the slit diaphragm.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the main beams of the illuminating diodes are inclined relative to the optic axis of the lens system, and the inclination of the main beams corresponds with the distance of the illuminating diodes from the optic axis.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the main beams of the illuminating diodes intersect essentially in one common point.

15. The device according to claim 10, wherein a second slit diaphragm is arranged in front of the lens system, whereby the slit of the second slit diaphragm is aligned with the slit of the first slit diaphragm.

16. The device according to claim 10, wherein a second slit diaphragm is arranged in front of the lens system, whereby the slit of the second slit diaphragm is aligned with the slit of the first slit diaphragm.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the illuminating diode chips are arranged along a straight line, whereby the connecting fields lie on both sides of the straight line.

18. The device according to claim 10, wherein the lens system is astigmatic.

19. The device according to claim 10, wherein the lens system has cylinder lenses.

20. The device according to claim 10, wherein the illuminating diodes produce blue light.

21. The device according to claim 1, wherein a dichroic mirror is provided in the beam path of the light projector and/or the Scheimflug camera.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the curvature of the arc is determined such that as large as possible amounts of light pass through the lens system.

23. The device according to claim 1, wherein the slit of the first slit diaphragm has a width of 50 to 120 μ

m.

24. The device according to claim 1, wherein the aperture angle of the beam concentration exiting from the first slit diaphragm is no longer than 2.9°

.