Apparatus and method for imaging the eye
First Claim
1. Apparatus for imaging the posterior and anterior segments of a person'"'"'s eye comprising:
- a light source;
an optical system having optical elements that can be shifted for delivering light from said light source either on optical axis or slightly off axis from the center of the optical system and return imaging path from the retina or other eye features;
control means coupled to sequentially turn said light source on and off in synchronization with image capture under each condition; and
means for shifting at least one of said optical elements in said optical system;
wherein two images having specular reflection artifacts located in two anatomically different areas of each sequentially acquired image of said segment of the eye are created, and whereby the artifacts in each image are detected by image processing;
wherein images with artifacts are combined with one or more images to create a composite image or video stream that is free of artifacts;
wherein only clear well-focused image sections are combined from one or more images to create a composite image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A slit lamp mounted eye imaging device for viewing wide field and/or magnified views of the retina or the anterior segment through an undilated or dilated pupil. The apparatus images posterior and anterior segments of the eye, and sections/focal planes in between and contains an illumination system that uses one or more LEDs, shifting optical elements, and/or aperture stops where the light can be delivered into the optical system on optical axis or off axis from center of optical system and return imaging path from the retina, thereby creating artifacts in different locations on retina. Image processing is employed to detect and eliminate artifacts from images. The device is well suited for retinal imaging through an undilated pupil, non-pharmacologically dilated, or a pupil as small as 2 mm. Two or more images with reflection artifacts can be created and subsequently recombined through image processing into a composite artifact-free image.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. Apparatus for imaging the posterior and anterior segments of a person'"'"'s eye comprising:
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a light source; an optical system having optical elements that can be shifted for delivering light from said light source either on optical axis or slightly off axis from the center of the optical system and return imaging path from the retina or other eye features; control means coupled to sequentially turn said light source on and off in synchronization with image capture under each condition; and means for shifting at least one of said optical elements in said optical system; wherein two images having specular reflection artifacts located in two anatomically different areas of each sequentially acquired image of said segment of the eye are created, and whereby the artifacts in each image are detected by image processing; wherein images with artifacts are combined with one or more images to create a composite image or video stream that is free of artifacts; wherein only clear well-focused image sections are combined from one or more images to create a composite image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of imaging the posterior and anterior segments of a person'"'"'s eye comprising the steps of:
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providing a light source; providing an optical system having optical elements that can be shifted for delivering light from said light source either on optical axis or slightly off axis from the center of the optical system and return imaging path from the retina or other eye features; providing control means to sequentially turn said light source on and off in synchronization with image capture under each condition; and providing means for shifting at least one of said optical elements in said optical system; wherein two images having specular reflection artifacts located in two anatomically different areas of each sequentially acquired image of said segment of the eye are created, and whereby the artifacts in each image are detected by image processing; wherein images with artifacts are combined with one or more images to create a composite image or video stream that is free of artifacts; wherein only clear well-focused image sections are combines from one or more images to create a composite image. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification