Diagnosis of optically identifiable ophthalmic conditions

• US 8,439,501 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Newman, Richard W., Fahrenkrug, Corinn C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martinez, Joseph P
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, BRANDI N
• Application Number:
  US12/794,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20100238404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 351/200, 351/205, 351/206, 351/208, 351/209, 351/212, 351/222
• US Class Current: 351/200
• 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 for performing multiple procedures involving the eye. The apparatus includes an imager for imaging at least a portion of an eye of a patient, a data collection apparatus for collecting a data set corresponding to at least a portion of an eye of a patient, and a data analysis module. The imager is configured to provide image data. The data collection apparatus is configured to provide data indicative of a neurological disorder. The data analysis module interrelates the image data and the data indicative of a neurological disorder to provide an interpretive result.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing multiple procedures involving the eye, the apparatus comprising:

an imager for imaging at least a portion of an eye of a patient, the imager configured to provide image data;

a data collection apparatus for collecting a data set corresponding to at least a portion of an eye of a patient, the data collection apparatus configured to provide said data set that is indicative of a neurological disorder; and

a data analysis module that interrelates the image data and the data indicative of a neurological disorder to provide an interpretive result.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the image data comprising a 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 apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the neurological disorder is selected from the group consisting of glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, dyslexia, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, LDS, head trauma, diabetes, and inappropriate responses to contrast sensitivity patterns.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a display module that provides a display of analyzed data to a user.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a report module that reports the interpretive result.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an output module that reports the interrelated data from the image data, the data indicative of a neurological disorder and the interpretive result.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a superposition module for superimposing data obtained from an image and data indicative of a neurological disorder.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising a display for displaying the superimposed data obtained from the image and the data indicative of a neurological disorder.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing data, the data comprising at least one of image data and data indicative of a neurological disorder.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the memory for storing data is configured to store and to selectively retrieve data for determining changes induced in response to an applied stress.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, where the applied stress is selected from the group consisting of intra ocular pressure variation, blood pressure variation, oxygen concentration variation, exercise, flashing light, drug administration, administration of insulin, and administration of glucose.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for aligning the image of the eye of a patient.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the alignment means operates automatically based on the movement of the eye of a patient relative to the imaging means.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for performing at least one objective eye-related interpretive procedure.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus displays to an eye of a patient a test pattern comprising a fixation signal and a moving pattern during an OKN procedure.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the data analysis module is configured to automatically determine a presence of an abnormality.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the data analysis module comprises a scaling module for providing a scaled estimation of an extent of the abnormality.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an information input module for inputting other patent-related information including at least one from the group of tonometer intraocular pressure, patient-history, family history, blood pressure, vital signs, medication and pupillometry.

19. A method of treating a patient, comprising the steps of:

performing an examination of a patient using the apparatus of claim 1; and

treating said patient based at least in part on a result obtained from said examination.

20. The method of treatment of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing the treatment based at least in part on information stored in a memory.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data set is indicative of an abnormality appearing to involve a retinal portion of the eye.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said abnormality actually involves, at least in part, an abnormality of the brain.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 where said data set includes at least a first data type that is visible image data and a second data type that is data indicative of an inappropriate response to contrast sensitivity patterns.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein a combination of said first data type and said second data type is interrelated to indicate a presence of glaucoma or Alzheimer'"'"'s disease.