Apparatus and method of diagnosis of optically identifiable ophthalmic conditions

• US 7,575,321 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Newman, Richard W., Fahrenkrug, Corinn C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman; Scott J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas; Brandi N
• Application Number:
  US11/224,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 351/205, 351/206, 351/211, 351/216, 351/221, 351/222, 351/233, 351/239, 351/245, 351/246
• US Class Current: 351/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0025 characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0058 for multiple images
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0091 Fixation targets for viewing direction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/10 Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/12 for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes A61B3/13 takes precedence
• 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 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0068 Confocal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4082 Diagnosing or monitoring movement diseases, e.g. Parkinson, Huntington or Tourette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4088 Diagnosing of monitoring cognitive diseases, e.g. Alzheimer, prion diseases or dementia
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/48 NMR imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2985 In depth localisation, e.g. using positron emitters; Tomographic imaging (longitudinal and transverse section imaging; apparatus for radiation diagnosis sequentially in different planes, steroscopic radiation diagnosis); using external radiation sources A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

An apparatus that can measure images of at least a portion of an eye and record data sets indicative of a neurological condition. A method interrelates an image and a data set to provide an interpretive result. The apparatus and method thereby provide guidance as to the presence of a medical condition in a patient. The apparatus and method can be used in an iterative measurement process, in which the apparatus attempts to discern normal health from a state of health that is not normal health. If the interpretive result is consistent with normal health, the process terminates, information is recorded, and an optional report is given. If the interpretive result is not consistent with normal health, the apparatus and method attempts to distinguish which condition is consistent with the data and images used, and can iterate with additional measurements and information to attempt to provide a useful interpretive result.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person, comprising the steps of:

receiving at a testing venue a person whose condition is to be evaluated;

testing said person at said testing venue with an apparatus having at least one imager for imaging at least a portion of an eye of said person and at least one data collection apparatus for collecting from said eye a data set indicative of a neurological disorder, said testing comprising observing with said apparatus at least two disparate kinds of information selected from one or more images and one or more data sets; and

wherein said at least one imager is configured to provide image data comprising at least one first image data type selected from the group consisting of data from ophthalmic images using confocal microscopy data, retinal polarimetry data, optical coherence tomography data, thermal image data, spectroscopic image data, refractometry data and visible image data; and

interrelating said at least two disparate kinds of information selected from one or more images and one or more data sets to obtain said interpretive result relating to said condition of said person.

2. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 1, wherein said at least one imager for imaging at least a portion of an eye of said person is configured to provide image data further comprising at least one second image data type selected from the group consisting of data from ophthalmic images using confocal microscopy data, retinal polarimetry data, optical coherence tomography data, thermal image data, spectroscopic image data, refractometry data, and visible image data.

3. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 1, wherein said data set indicative of a neurological disorder is selected from the group consisting of data indicative of a selected one of macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, non-Alzheimer'"'"'s dementia, dyslexia, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, optical neuroma, ALS, head trauma, diabetes, and inappropriate responses to contrast sensitivity patterns.

4. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 1, wherein said interpretive result comprises providing an indication of a selected one of normal health, the early (or onset) stage of said disease condition, and the development of said disease condition up to a frilly presented disease condition.

5. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 1, further comprising the step of recording in a memory at least one of said at least two disparate kinds of information selected from one or more images and one or more data sets.

6. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 5, further comprising the step of retrieving as information from said memory at least one of said at least two disparate kinds of information selected from one or more images and one or more data sets.

7. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 6, further comprising the step of comparing retrieved information with current information to monitor a selected one of a rate of evolution and an extent of evolution of a disease condition in said person.

8. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 1, further comprising the step of applying a stress to said person.

9. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 8, wherein applying a stress to said person comprises applying a stress selected from the group consisting of an intra ocular pressure variation, a blood pressure variation, an oxygen concentration variation, performing exercise, a flashing light, an administration of a drug, an administration of insulin, and an administration of glucose.

10. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 8, further comprising the step of observing a response of said person to said stress on said person.

11. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 8, further comprising the step of observing a time evolution of said response of said person to said stress on said person.

12. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing a selected one of displaying said interpretive result and reporting said interpretive result.

13. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 12, further comprising the step of receiving financial compensation for performing a selected one of displaying said interpretive result and reporting said interpretive result.

14. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving financial compensation for performing said testing.

15. The method of obtaining an interpretive result relating to a condition of a person of claim 1, wherein said interpretive result comprises providing an indication of a tendency to develop a disease condition.

16. A testing venue for testing a condition of a person, comprising:

a venue wherein a test of a condition of a person is performed;

an apparatus located at said venue having at least one imager for imaging at least a portion of an eye of said person and at least one data collection apparatus for collecting from said eye a data set indicative of a neurological disorder, said apparatus configured to obtain at least two disparate kinds of information selected from one or more images and one or more data sets with said apparatus; and

wherein said at least one imager is configured to provide image data comprising at least one first image data type selected from the group consisting of data from ophthalmic images using confocal microscopy data, retinal polarimetry data, optical coherence tomography data, thermal image data, spectroscopic image data, refractometry data and visible image data; and

a data analysis module that receives and interrelates said at least two disparate kinds of information selected from one or more images and one or more data sets to provide said interpretive result relating to said condition of said person.

17. The testing venue for testing a condition of a person of claim 16, wherein said at least one imager for imaging at least a portion of an eye of said person is configured to provide image data comprising at least one second image data type selected from the group consisting of data from ophthalmic images using confocal microscopy data, retinal polarimetry data, optical coherence tomography data, thermal image data, spectroscopic image data, refractometry data, and visible image data.

18. The testing venue for testing a condition of a person of claim 16, wherein said data set indicative of a neurological disorder is selected from the group consisting of data indicative of a selected one of macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, non-Alzheimer'"'"'s dementia, dyslexia, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, optical neuroma, ALS, head trauma, diabetes, and inappropriate responses to contrast sensitivity patterns.

19. The testing venue for testing a condition of a person of claim 16, further comprising a memory for recording at least one of said at least two disparate kinds of information selected from one or more images and one or more data sets with said apparatus.

20. The testing venue for testing a condition of a person of claim 19, wherein at least one of said at least two disparate kinds of information selected from one or more images and one or more data sets recorded in said memory can be retrieved as information.

21. The testing venue for testing a condition of a person of claim 20, wherein said data analysis module is configured to compare retrieved information from said memory with current information to monitor a selected one of a rate of evolution and an extent of evolution of a disease condition in said person.

22. The testing venue for testing a condition of a person of claim 16, further comprising a display for displaying said interpretive result.

23. The testing venue for testing a condition of a person of claim 16, further comprising a reporting module for reporting said interpretive result.

24. The testing venue for testing a condition of a person of claim 16, wherein said apparatus having at least one imager for imaging at least a portion of an eye of said person and at least one data collection apparatus for collecting from said eye a data set indicative of a neurological disorder is configured to observe a response to a stress applied to said person.

25. The testing venue for testing a condition of a person of claim 24, wherein a stress applied to said person comprises a stress selected from the group consisting of an intra ocular pressure variation, a blood pressure variation, an oxygen concentration variation, performing exercise, a flashing light, an administration of a drug, an administration of insulin, and an administration of glucose.

26. The testing venue for testing a condition of a person of claim 24, wherein said apparatus having at least one imager for imaging at least a portion of an eye of said person and at least one data collection apparatus for collecting from said eye a data set indicative of a neurological disorder is configured to observe a time evolution of said response of said person to said applied stress.

27. The testing venue for testing a condition of a person of claim 16, wherein said interpretive result comprises an indication of a selected one of normal health, the early (or onset) stage of said disease condition, and the development of said disease condition up to a fully presented disease condition.

28. The testing venue for testing a condition of a person of claim 16, wherein said interpretive result comprises an indication of a tendency to develop a disease condition.