Diagnosis of optically identifiable ophthalmic conditions

• US 8,702,234 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• 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): Martinez, Joseph P
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, BRANDI N
• Application Number:
  US12/793,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20100238405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 351/208, 351/209, 351/212, 351/222, 351200-206, 351/211, 351/216, 351/221, 351/233, 351/239, 351/245, 600/356, 600/558, 600/559, 606/5, 606/6, 606/204.25
• 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 for performing multiple procedures involving the eye. The apparatus includes a data collection apparatus and a data analysis module. The data collection apparatus for collecting a data set corresponding to at least a portion of an eye of a patient is configured to provide data indicative of at least two neurological disorders 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. The data analysis module interrelates the data indicative of at least two neurological disorders to provide an interpretive result.

Claims

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

a data collection apparatus for collecting a data set corresponding to at least a portion of an eye of a patient which is a real or apparent loss of ganglion cells associated with a neuronal loss in the brain, the data collection apparatus configured to provide the data set that is indicative of at least two neurological disorders including glaucoma and Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, and further indicative of inappropriate responses to frequency doubling contrast sensitivity patterns; and

a data analysis module that interrelates the data indicative of said at least two neurological disorders to provide an interpretive result.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a map generation module for generating a map indicative of the presence of a selected one of glaucoma, macular degeneration, and inappropriate responses to frequency doubling contrast sensitivity patterns.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a measurement module for measuring response that can be interpreted as a real or apparent loss of ganglion cells associated with a neuronal loss in a brain with a selected one of Parkinson'"'"'s disease and Alzheimer'"'"'s disease.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a measurement module for generating data indicative of the presence of a selected one of dyslexia, multiple sclerosis, diabetic retinopathy, and optic neuritis.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a data output module that reports the interrelated data from the data set.

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

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a single output module that reports the interrelated data from the data set and the interpretive result.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a superposition module for superimposing data obtained from at least two data sets.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, further comprising a display configured for displaying the superimposed data obtained from at least two data sets.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing data.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the memory for storing data is configured to store and to selectively retrieve data from at least one data set for determining changes in contrast sensitivity induced in response to an applied stress.

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

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the memory for storing data is configured to selectively retrieve data from at least one data set for trending analysis purposes.

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

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

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said data analysis module comprises a scaling module for providing a scaled estimation of an extent of the abnormality.

17. 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.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data set is indicative of an abnormality appearing to involve, at least in part, a retinal portion of the eye.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said abnormality actually involves, at least in part, an abnormality of the brain.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least two neurological disorders are selected from the group consisting of glaucoma, Parkinson'"'"'s disease and Alzheimer'"'"'s disease.