Self-calibrating apparatus, system and method for measuring corneal topography

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided, which are configured to uniformly illuminate a biological sample with a patterned illumination source and determine the outline of the biological sample.

Description

[0001] Cross-references This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 589,932, filed October 12, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Background Technology

[0002] Corneal morphology has become a valuable diagnostic parameter for routine eye examinations, preoperative planning and evaluation for laser refractive surgeries (e.g., LASIK and PRK), contact lens fitting, cataract surgery, and evaluation of various corneal diseases such as keratoconus. Commercially available corneal morphology systems (i.e., corneal curvature meters) are typically complex, expensive benchtop systems located in the offices of corneal specialists, laser vision correction surgeons, cataract surgeons, and ophthalmology care professionals (e.g., ophthalmologists or optometrists) who frequently measure the corneal morphology of their patients. Unfortunately, the relatively high cost of these systems ($8,000 to over $500,000) and the need for specially trained medical personnel hinder the widespread use of corneal curvature meters for healthcare professionals in rural areas and resource-limited regions. In such rural areas, patients requiring eye examinations to measure their corneal morphology will need to travel to the nearest large town or city, which may be infeasible or inconvenient for follow-up visits if necessary. Enabling local general practitioners in rural and resource-poor communities to screen their patients' corneal morphology would circumvent such inefficiencies and provide rapid screening and accessibility for local longitudinal monitoring of corneal disease. Therefore, there is an unmet need for rapid, low-cost point-of-care testing systems and devices configured to measure and monitor corneal morphology that do not require expensive instruments and specialized medical personnel. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This article provides a device, system, and method of use for the real-time measurement of corneal morphology without requiring expensive corneal curvature meters or specially trained medical personnel. On one hand, the low cost can be achieved by using a regular smartphone to transmit, detect, and process light signals to determine the corneal morphology. On the other hand, a low-cost light source can be coupled to a smartphone to detect and process reflected light signals. By providing a low-cost, user-friendly, real-time measurement device, system, and method for corneal morphology, a larger patient population can, for example, undergo frequent screening for corneal morphology to monitor and prevent the progression of corneal diseases such as corneal ectasia (which may encompass changes in the cornea after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), clear limbal degeneration, keratoconus, etc.), which would otherwise only be addressed after symptoms appear.

[0004] The aspects disclosed herein provide an apparatus for measuring corneal morphology, comprising: an illuminator configured to be releasably coupled to a mobile device, wherein the illuminator is further configured to (a) project a light pattern onto the cornea of ​​the eye to generate a reflected light pattern and (b) assist the transmission of the reflected light pattern from the cornea to an imaging device on the mobile device for generating a plurality of light signals, wherein the optical axis of the imaging device deviates from (i) a patterned region or (ii) an illumination source on the illuminator. In some embodiments, the deviation between the optical axis of the imaging device and the patterned region or illumination source on the illuminator is from about 1 mm to about 10 mm. In some embodiments, the deviation between the optical axis of the imaging device and the patterned region or illumination source on the illuminator is from about 5 degrees to about 360 degrees. In some embodiments, the illuminator is configured to act as a protective housing for the mobile device. In some embodiments, the light pattern of the illuminator comprises a plurality of lines. In some embodiments, the plurality of lines are linear. In some embodiments, the plurality of lines are circular or radial. In some embodiments, the illuminator includes a quick-release mechanism that enables the illuminator to be releasably coupled to the mobile device. In some embodiments, multiple lines are arranged on the surface of the illuminator. In some embodiments, the illuminator is transparent or translucent. In some embodiments, the illuminator has a diameter of at least 1 cm. -1 The absorption coefficient. In some implementations, multiple lines are opaque.

[0005] The aspects disclosed herein provide a system comprising: the aforementioned apparatus; and one or more processors configured to process multiple optical signals by (i) comparing a projected light pattern with a reflected light pattern to generate a two-dimensional elevation gradient and (ii) using the two-dimensional elevation gradient to generate a three-dimensional topographic map of the cornea. In some embodiments, the one or more processors are located on a mobile phone. In some embodiments, the one or more processors are located on a server remote from the mobile device. In some embodiments, the system further includes the mobile device, and wherein the mobile device includes a depth sensor configured to measure the distance from the cornea to an imaging device.

[0006] The aspects disclosed herein provide a method for measuring corneal morphology, comprising: (a) providing an illuminator having multiple lines, loops, and / or other geometric patterns, as described elsewhere herein; (b) coupling the illuminator to a moving device in a configuration such that the optical axis of an imaging device is deviated from a patterned region on the illuminator or an illumination source on the illuminator; (c) placing the illuminator coupled to the moving device close to the eye of a subject; (d) projecting a light pattern onto the cornea using the illuminator and the illumination source to generate a reflected light pattern; (e) receiving the reflected light pattern using an imaging device on the moving device to generate multiple light signals; and (f) generating a morphological map of the cornea at least partially based on the multiple light signals. In some embodiments, (e) further comprises detecting the distance between the illuminator and the eye of the subject using a depth sensor on the moving device. In some embodiments, the multiple lines on the illuminator are linear. In some embodiments, the multiple lines on the illuminator are circular or radial. In some embodiments, (e) further comprises rotating the imaging device while the imaging device is receiving the reflected light pattern.

[0007] The aspects disclosed herein provide an apparatus for illuminating a target, comprising: a first surface including a plurality of light scattering elements; and a second surface including a plurality of illumination elements in optical communication with the plurality of light scattering elements. The first surface includes a light inlet comprising a curved surface or waveguide configured to (i) receive light emitted from a light source and (ii) guide the light to the plurality of light scattering elements, wherein the plurality of light scattering elements are configured to transmit light to the plurality of illumination elements, and wherein the plurality of illumination elements are configured to generate a light pattern for illuminating the target. In some embodiments, the plurality of light scattering elements includes one or more dome reflectors, scattering particles, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the curved surface or waveguide is configured to receive and distribute light from the light source to the plurality of light scattering elements while reducing or minimizing light hotspots at or near the light inlet or light source. In some embodiments, light hotspots correspond to concentration of light at or near the light inlet. In some embodiments, the second surface includes a reflective coating. In some embodiments, the plurality of illumination elements are spatially arranged in a predetermined pattern. In some embodiments, the plurality of illumination elements include a linear shape. In some embodiments, the plurality of illumination elements include a non-linear shape. In some embodiments, the nonlinear shape includes curves or arcs. In some embodiments, the plurality of light scattering elements includes a two-dimensional array of light scattering elements arranged on a first surface. In some embodiments, the illumination element includes one or more surfaces for illuminating a target or directing light to a target. In some embodiments, the two-dimensional array includes a linear configuration, a nonlinear linear configuration, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the device further includes an optically transparent window in optical communication with the light source. In some embodiments, the light source includes a light-emitting diode (LED). In some embodiments, the light source is located on the mobile device. In some embodiments, the device includes an illumination body configured to act as a protective housing for the mobile device. In some embodiments, the illumination body includes a quick-release mechanism that allows the illumination body to be releasably coupled to the mobile device. In some embodiments, the light pattern generated by the plurality of illumination elements is configured to provide uniform illumination. In some embodiments, uniform illumination includes illumination of one or more regions of the target, such that a first region of the target has a brightness within 10% of the brightness of a second region of the target. In some embodiments, uniform illumination includes illumination of one or more regions of the target, such that a first region of the target has a brightness within 0% of the brightness of a second region of the target. In some embodiments, uniform illumination includes illuminating one or more regions of the target such that a first region of the target has the same or similar brightness as a second region of the target. In some embodiments, the target includes biological tissue. In some embodiments, the biological tissue is a mammalian cornea. In some embodiments, the rapid release mechanism includes a latch. Attached Figure Description

[0008] The novel features of the invention are specifically set forth in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the invention will be obtained by referring to the following detailed description, along with the accompanying drawings, of illustrative examples in which the principles of the invention are utilized, wherein: Figure 1 The illustration depicts a cloud-based system workflow for an instant detection device, configured to measure corneal morphology and remotely report such measurements to a physician, according to some embodiments.

[0009] Figure 2 The workflow of a device system for an instant corneal morphology measurement user device according to some embodiments is shown, the instant corneal morphology measurement user device being configured to measure corneal morphology offline.

[0010] Figures 3A-3B illustrate methods for determining corneal curvature along a specific axis according to some embodiments.

[0011] Figures 4A-4B The illustration shows a cross-sectional geometry, according to some embodiments, for estimating the elevation of the cornea at the reflection of a first source of a light pattern. Figure 4A ), and the geometry used to estimate the corneal elevation at the reflection of sequential sources of light patterns ( Figure 4B ).

[0012] Figures 5A-5B The figure shows an isometric perspective view of an illumination body according to some embodiments. Figure 5A ) and top perspective view ( Figure 5B ).

[0013] Figures 6A-6E Various geometries and implementations of depth sensing features of an illumination body according to some embodiments are illustrated.

[0014] Figure 7 The illustration shows a housing according to some embodiments, which is configured to position and / or couple an illumination body relative to the camera sensor and light source of an imaging device.

[0015] Figure 8 The illustrations show an illuminator optically and / or mechanically coupled to a camera sensor and / or light source of an imaging device, and an illuminator optically coupled to the corneal surface of the eye, according to some embodiments.

[0016] Figure 9 A flowchart illustrating the method for measuring the corneal morphology of a subject is shown.

[0017] Figures 10A-10FThe illustration shows light patterns and depth sensing features projected onto a curved surface (e.g., a test corneal surface) at various distances between an illuminator and the cornea of ​​an object, according to some embodiments.

[0018] Figure 11 Example images of reflected light patterns on the cornea of ​​an object according to some embodiments, captured by the systems, devices and / or methods described herein, are shown, which are used to determine corneal morphology.

[0019] Incorporation All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are incorporated herein by reference to the extent that each individual publication, patent or patent application is specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Corneal morphology measurement can provide a rich dataset of diagnostic and prognostic factors that can significantly impact a subject's quality of life. For example, a subject interested in contact lenses can have their corneal curvature measured using a corneal curvature meter to ensure proper contact lens fit and function. Without proper corneal measurement and an unfit contact lens, a subject may experience blurred vision or pain, as well as potential damage to their eye. Additionally, corneal morphology measurement can also be used as a preventative diagnostic screening tool or to monitor the outcomes of corneal surgery. In some embodiments, the methods for measuring corneal morphology disclosed herein can be used to determine optimal contact lens fit or function. In some embodiments, the methods for measuring corneal morphology disclosed herein can be used to diagnose, monitor, or screen for corneal conditions, corneal diseases, preoperative corneal structure, or postoperative changes in corneal structure. Examples of corneal conditions or diseases may include keratoconus, corneal ectasia, pterygium, limbal dermoid formation, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the systems or methods described herein can be used to analyze preoperative corneal structures and / or to perform LASIK corneal correction surgery prior to the procedure. In some embodiments, the systems or methods described herein can be used to analyze postoperative corneal structures after LASIK surgery to monitor corneal healing and changes in corneal morphology over time.

[0021] In some cases, non-invasive measurements of corneal morphology using expensive corneal curvature meters can limit the availability and frequency of corneal curvature monitoring. Therefore, the present invention disclosed herein addresses this limitation by providing systems, methods, and apparatus for measuring corneal morphology and curvature at an immediate detection site.

[0022] I. Local and cloud-based systems In some implementations, the aspects disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and / or apparatuses that can operate locally offline or on a cloud-based platform, such as Figure 1 As seen. In some implementations, lighting, acquisition, image processing, and data storage can occur locally on the object's mobile computing device 201, such as Figure 2 As seen. In some embodiments, image illumination and acquisition can be performed locally on the object's mobile computing device (100, 201), while image processing and analysis 105 can be performed on a remote server 104 via network 101, such as... Figure 1 As can be seen in the diagram. In some embodiments, the object's data may also be stored in a remote HIPAA-compliant database 102, which interfaces with both the analysis engine 105 and the physician portal 103 via a cloud-based network 101. In some embodiments, the server 104 may include one or more processors capable of processing corneal reflective pattern images of the object. In some embodiments, medical personnel can remotely access the object's corneal morphology data via the physician portal 103. In some embodiments, the physician portal 103 may allow medical personnel to send suggestions and communications after reviewing patient corneal data. In some embodiments, medical personnel can remotely use the analysis engine 105 via network 101 to perform further analysis on the object's corneal reflective pattern images as needed. In some embodiments, the analysis engine 105 may include various processing algorithms. In some embodiments, the various processing algorithms may include processes for denoising, segmentation, deblurring, distortion correction, chromatic aberration correction, and extracting corneal morphology from multiple corneal reflective pattern images. In some implementations, the analysis engine 105, server 104, and database 106 can provide longitudinal processing and monitoring of corneal morphology data over time. In some implementations, longitudinal monitoring can be presented to medical personnel through an intuitive graphical user interface on the physician portal 103. In some implementations, Figure 1 The cloud-based system shown can be integrated with pre-existing electronic health record (EMR) systems.

[0023] In some implementations, such as Figure 2As seen, the mobile computing device 201 may include an onboard system configured to illuminate, measure, orient, process, and / or store measurements of the corneal morphology of an object. In some embodiments, the onboard system may include one or more processors 207 electrically communicating with a plurality of sensors 202, onboard memory 210, computing algorithm 208, illumination source 209, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the plurality of sensors 202 may include a camera 203, a gyroscope 204, an accelerometer 205, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the camera may be a CMOS visible light camera sensitive to radiant energy in the visible spectrum. In some embodiments, the camera 203 may be a CCD visible light camera sensitive to radiant energy in the visible spectrum. In some embodiments, the camera 203 may be sensitive to radiant energy in the near-infrared spectrum. In some embodiments, the computing algorithm 208 may include algorithms for segmenting portions of captured image data, filtering and denoising the image data, measuring size parameters of the segmented object, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the measured size parameters may include diameter, area, length, width, distance, circumference, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the segmentation algorithm may include manual segmentation, elliptical and / or line segmentation, Hough transform, color segmentation, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the segmentation algorithm may segment regions of captured image data using similar local pixel neighborhood gradients. In some embodiments, local pixel neighborhood gradients may be aligned with each other to generate smooth pixel clusters. In some embodiments, adjacent smooth pixel clusters may be combined to generate closed contour segments. In some embodiments, the computation algorithm 208 may include an algorithm for calculating the elevation of a reflected light pattern from the cornea of ​​an object using methods described elsewhere herein. In some embodiments, the computation algorithm 208 may include image processing functions such as denoising, blurring, smoothing, binarization, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the computation algorithm may measure the length, width, distance, or any combination thereof of a reflected light pattern from the cornea to measure a given topography at a given meridian. In some embodiments, the computation algorithm 208 may include a highly parallel computational architecture executed on one or more parallel processors 207. In some embodiments, the highly parallel computational architecture may include multiple processing cores, each of which may include multiple processing threads. In some implementations, a first processing thread among multiple processing threads may be configured to perform functions concurrently with a second processing thread among multiple processing threads. In some implementations, processing threads may perform processes such as image acquisition, patterned illumination, image segmentation, image processing, or any combination thereof. In some implementations, computational algorithms may include highly parallel computational structures executed on a graphics processing unit (GPU).In some implementations, the subject's corneal morphology information may be stored locally in memory 210 until further processing or shared with clinicians. In some implementations, the subject's corneal morphology information may be transmitted via network 101 and stored in cloud database 102. In some implementations, memory 210 may be encrypted to store personal health information (PHI) compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In some implementations, HIPAA-compliant PHI may be uploaded to an electronic medical record (EMR) system for further review by clinicians.

[0024] II. Measurement of corneal diameter and morphology This document describes systems, methods, and / or apparatus for calculating the corneal diameter and morphology of an object. In some embodiments, the disclosed aspects may provide a method for determining the corneal diameter of an object by means of scaling, geometric optics, or any combination thereof. A further disclosed aspect may determine the corneal morphology by combining the measured corneal diameter with a deviation of the reflected signal captured by a light pattern of known size and shape, as disclosed in PCT application number PCT / US2021 / 041105, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0025] In some implementations, the diameter of an object's cornea can be determined using geometric optics and ray tracing between the object (e.g., the object's cornea) and imaging system components. In some implementations, determining the object's corneal diameter using geometric optics and ray tracing may depend on the corneal diameter per pixel of the imaging sensor, the pixel / unit length resolution of the captured image, and / or the distance between the object's corneal limbus and the imaging sensor's field of view. In some implementations, the pixel diameter of the object's cornea can be determined by capturing an image of the object's cornea using an imaging sensor with a defined number of pixels. In some implementations, the imaging sensor may include a pixel size of about 1 µm to about 10 µm. In some embodiments, the imaging sensor may include about 1 µm to about 2 µm, about 1 µm to about 3 µm, about 1 µm to about 4 µm, about 1 µm to about 5 µm, about 1 µm to about 6 µm, about 1 µm to about 7 µm, about 1 µm to about 8 µm, about 1 µm to about 9 µm, about 1 µm to about 10 µm, about 2 µm to about 3 µm, about 2 µm to about 4 µm, about 2 µm to about 5 µm, about 2 µm to about 6 µm, about 2 µm to about 7 µm, about 2 µm to about 8 µm, about 2 µm to about 9 µm, about 2 µm to about 10 µm, about 3 µm to about 4 µm, about 3 µm to about 5 µm, about 4 µm to about 6 µm, about 4 ... Pixel sizes of approximately 1 µm to 7 µm, approximately 4 µm to 8 µm, approximately 4 µm to 9 µm, approximately 4 µm to 10 µm, approximately 5 µm to 6 µm, approximately 5 µm to 7 µm, approximately 5 µm to 8 µm, approximately 5 µm to 9 µm, approximately 5 µm to 10 µm, approximately 6 µm to 7 µm, approximately 6 µm to 8 µm, approximately 6 µm to 9 µm, approximately 6 µm to 10 µm, approximately 7 µm to 8 µm, approximately 7 µm to 9 µm, approximately 7 µm to 10 µm, approximately 7 µm to 9 µm, approximately 7 µm to 10 µm, or approximately 9 µm to 10 µm. In some embodiments, the imaging sensor may include pixel sizes of approximately 1 µm, approximately 2 µm, approximately 3 µm, approximately 4 µm, approximately 5 µm, approximately 6 µm, approximately 7 µm, approximately 8 µm, approximately 9 µm, or approximately 10 µm. In some implementations, the imaging sensor may include pixel sizes of at least about 1 µm, about 2 µm, about 3 µm, about 4 µm, about 5 µm, about 6 µm, about 7 µm, about 8 µm, or about 9 µm.In some implementations, the imaging sensor may include pixel sizes of up to about 2 µm, about 3 µm, about 4 µm, about 5 µm, about 6 µm, about 7 µm, about 8 µm, about 9 µm, or about 10 µm.

[0026] In some implementations, the pixel diameter of the cornea can be extracted from the captured image using segmentation image processing methods. In some implementations, the segmentation method may include segmentation using intensity thresholding, gradient thresholding, Canny edge detection, Sobel edge detection, Hough transform, ellipse and line segment detector (ELSD), or any combination thereof. Once the shape of the cornea is segmented, the diameter can be determined by dividing the corneal region across the entire segmented corneal area into multiple parallel horizontal and vertical line segments. In some implementations, the average of the longest lengths of the vertical and horizontal line segments can indicate the pixel diameter of the object's cornea. In addition to the pixel diameter of the object's cornea, the distance between the imaging sensor and the limbus can also be determined to measure the diameter of the object's cornea.

[0027] The limbus is defined as the plane between the cornea (the translucent or transparent area of ​​the eye) and the sclera (the white area of ​​the eye). In some implementations, the distance between the imaging sensor and the limbus can be determined using depth sensing features of the illuminator 500 (502, 600, 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, 1002, 1004), such as... Figures 5A-5B and Figures 6A-6E As shown. In some cases, depth sensing features may include structures that can provide a determined distance between the imaging sensor and the limbus through imaging perspective principles. For example, as Figures 10A-10F As shown, the position 1006, size, skewness, and / or distortion of the light pattern transmitted to the topography and / or curvature sensing feature 1000 relative to the depth sensing features (1002, 1004) on the curved surface (e.g., the cornea of ​​the object) can provide information about the distance between the imaging sensor and the limbus.

[0028] In some implementations, the diameter of an object's cornea can be determined using a geometrical optical mathematical relation that combines the object's corneal diameter per pixel of the imaging sensor, the imaging sensor's angular field of view, the distance between the imaging sensor plane and the limbus, and the pixel / unit length resolution of the captured image. For example, the diameter of the cornea can be expressed by the following equation: Where d is the diameter of the cornea. d' is the pixel diameter of the cornea. φ is the angular field of view of the camera sensor. w is the pixel / unit length resolution of the captured image, and z is the distance from the camera sensor to the limbus.

[0029] In some embodiments, the diameter of the cornea can be determined by proportion. In some embodiments, the method for determining the corneal diameter by proportion includes the following steps: placing a reference marker of known size on the cornea of ​​a neighboring object; capturing an image of the cornea and the adjacent reference marker; segmenting the reference marker from the image; determining the image pixel resolution of the image from the known size of the reference marker; segmenting the cornea from the image; and determining the diameter of the segmented cornea from the calculated image pixel resolution. In some embodiments, the segmentation of the reference marker and the cornea can be achieved using segmentation methods previously disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the reference marker can be a circle, square, rectangle, trapezoid, triangle, ellipse, or other regular and / or irregular polygonal shape. In some embodiments, the reference marker can have a pattern, color, texture, or any combination thereof.

[0030] In some embodiments, corneal morphology can be calculated by capturing a pattern of reflected light from the cornea of ​​an object using an imaging device. In some embodiments, a method for measuring corneal morphology may include the following steps: providing an illuminator 500, such as... Figures 5A-5B and Figure 8As seen, the illuminator is configured to provide a light pattern that may include depth sensing features (502, 600, 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616) (e.g., light stripes) and shape and / or curvature sensing features 710 (e.g., one or more linear and / or circular concentric illumination sources); the illuminator 500 is coupled to an imaging device 704 (e.g., a mobile computing device camera 702) such that the optical axis of the imaging device is aligned with the optical axis of the imaging optical feature 504 (e.g., a notch) of the illuminator 500; the illuminator coupled to the imaging device is placed close to the eye of the object; the depth sensing features (502, 600, 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616) of the illuminator are projected. The imaging device 704 detects the reflected light patterns of depth sensing features (502, 600, 602, 616) and morphology and / or curvature sensing features 710 from the cornea of ​​the object; and generates a morphology map of the cornea of ​​the object based at least in part on the reflected light patterns. In some implementations, the topographic map of the cornea 1100 can be generated by comparing the known spacing of the light patterns (1000, 1002, 1004) with the spacing of the reflected light pattern.

[0031] Turning to Figures 3A-3B, the orientation of the light pattern 301 emitted by the imaging device 704 and the illuminator 500 will now be described. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 3A, the imaging device 704 may include an imaging axis orthogonal to the corneal normal of the object. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 3B, the imaging device 704 may be at an angle θ 303 relative to the horizontal axis of the cornea 302 of the object. In some embodiments, the angle θ 303 may be from about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle θ303 can be about 10 degrees to about 20 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 30 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 50 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 60 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 70 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees, about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 30 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 40 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 50 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 60 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 80 degrees, about 20 degrees to about 90 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 40 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees, about The angle θ 303 can be approximately 10 degrees to about 60 degrees, approximately 30 degrees to about 70 degrees, approximately 30 degrees to about 80 degrees, approximately 30 degrees to about 90 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to about 50 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to about 60 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to about 70 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to about 80 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to about 90 degrees, approximately 50 degrees to about 60 degrees, approximately 50 degrees to about 70 degrees, approximately 50 degrees to about 80 degrees, approximately 50 degrees to about 90 degrees, approximately 60 degrees to about 70 degrees, approximately 60 degrees to about 80 degrees, approximately 60 degrees to about 90 degrees, or approximately 80 degrees to about 90 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle θ 303 can be approximately 10 degrees, approximately 20 degrees, approximately 30 degrees, approximately 40 degrees, approximately 50 degrees, approximately 60 degrees, approximately 70 degrees, approximately 80 degrees, or approximately 90 degrees. In some embodiments, angle θ 303 can be at least about 10 degrees, about 20 degrees, about 30 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 50 degrees, about 60 degrees, about 70 degrees, or about 80 degrees. In some embodiments, angle θ 303 can be at most about 20 degrees, about 30 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 50 degrees, about 60 degrees, about 70 degrees, about 80 degrees, or about 90 degrees. In some embodiments, the orientation of the imaging device 704 and the illuminator 500 relative to the cornea can be determined by onboard sensors of the mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the onboard sensors can include inertial gyroscope sensors, accelerometers, or any combination thereof.

[0032] Figures 4A-4BThe geometry and relationships between an illuminator 401 for calculating corneal morphology, an imaging device 400 (e.g., a mobile computing device), a camera sensor 402, and the cornea 403 of the object are illustrated. In some embodiments, the illuminator 401 may be configured to emit a light pattern onto the cornea 403 of the object. In some embodiments, the light pattern may include a priori known parameters such as size, geometry, thickness, spacing, area, curvature and / or geometry of the illuminator surface, or any combination thereof. The illumination pattern reflected from the cornea 403 of the object can then be captured by the camera sensor 402 of the imaging device 400. In some embodiments, deviations from known parameters of the light pattern can be used to measure corneal morphology.

[0033] In some embodiments, the light pattern may include a series of illumination sources. In some embodiments, the illumination sources may be offset relative to the camera sensor 402. In some embodiments, the offset between the optical axis of the camera sensor 402 of the imaging device 400 and the patterned area or illumination source of the illuminator 401 may be from about 1 mm to about 10 mm. In some embodiments, the deviation between the optical axis of the camera sensor 402 of the imaging device 400 and the patterned area or illumination source of the illuminator 401 can be approximately 1 mm to approximately 2 mm, approximately 1 mm to approximately 3 mm, approximately 1 mm to approximately 4 mm, approximately 1 mm to approximately 5 mm, approximately 1 mm to approximately 6 mm, approximately 1 mm to approximately 7 mm, approximately 1 mm to approximately 8 mm, approximately 1 mm to approximately 9 mm, approximately 1 mm to approximately 10 mm, approximately 2 mm to approximately 3 mm, approximately 2 mm to approximately 4 mm, approximately 2 mm to approximately 5 mm, approximately 2 mm to approximately 6 mm, approximately 2 mm to approximately 7 mm, approximately 2 mm to approximately 8 mm, approximately 2 mm to approximately 9 mm, approximately 2 mm to approximately 10 mm, approximately 3 mm to approximately 4 mm, approximately 3 mm to approximately 5 mm, approximately 3 mm to approximately 6 mm, approximately 3 mm to approximately 7 mm, approximately 3 mm to approximately 8 mm, approximately 3 mm to approximately 9 mm, approximately 3 mm to approximately 10 mm, approximately 4 mm to approximately 5 mm, approximately 4 mm to approximately 6 mm, approximately 4 mm to approximately 7 mm, approximately 4 mm to approximately 8 mm, approximately 4 mm to approximately 9 mm, approximately 4 mm to approximately 9 mm, approximately 4 mm to approximately 10 mm, approximately 4 mm to approximately 5 mm, approximately 4 mm to approximately 6 mm, approximately 4 mm to approximately 7 mm, approximately 4 mm to approximately 8 ... The distances between the optical axis of the camera sensor 402 of the imaging device 400 and the patterned area or illumination source of the illuminator 401 can be approximately 1 mm to 10 mm, approximately 5 mm to 6 mm, approximately 5 mm to 7 mm, approximately 5 mm to 8 mm, approximately 5 mm to 9 mm, approximately 5 mm to 10 mm, approximately 6 mm to 7 mm, approximately 6 mm to 8 mm, approximately 6 mm to 9 mm, approximately 6 mm to 10 mm, approximately 7 mm to 8 mm, approximately 7 mm to 9 mm, approximately 7 mm to 10 mm, approximately 8 mm to 9 mm, approximately 8 mm to 10 mm, or approximately 9 mm to 10 mm. In some embodiments, the deviation between the optical axis of the camera sensor 402 of the imaging device 400 and the patterned area or illumination source of the illuminator 401 can be approximately 1 mm, approximately 2 mm, approximately 3 mm, approximately 4 mm, approximately 5 mm, approximately 6 mm, approximately 7 mm, approximately 8 mm, approximately 9 mm, or approximately 10 mm. In some embodiments, the deviation between the optical axis of the camera sensor 402 of the imaging device 400 and the patterned area or illumination source of the illuminator 401 can be at least about 1 mm, about 2 mm, about 3 mm, about 4 mm, about 5 mm, about 6 mm, about 7 mm, about 8 mm or about 9 mm.In some embodiments, the deviation between the optical axis of the camera sensor 402 of the imaging device 400 and the patterned area or illumination source of the illuminator 401 can be up to about 2 mm, about 3 mm, about 4 mm, about 5 mm, about 6 mm, about 7 mm, about 8 mm, about 9 mm or about 10 mm.

[0034] In some embodiments, the deviation between the optical axis of the camera sensor 402 of the imaging device 400 and the topography and / or curvature sensing features 710 of the illuminator 500 can be from about 5 degrees to about 360 degrees. In some embodiments, the deviation between the optical axis of the camera sensor 402 of the imaging device 400 and the topography and / or curvature sensing features 710 of the illuminator 500 can be approximately 5 degrees to approximately 40 degrees, approximately 5 degrees to approximately 80 degrees, approximately 5 degrees to approximately 120 degrees, approximately 5 degrees to approximately 160 degrees, approximately 5 degrees to approximately 200 degrees, approximately 5 degrees to approximately 240 degrees, approximately 5 degrees to approximately 280 degrees, approximately 5 degrees to approximately 320 degrees, approximately 5 degrees to approximately 360 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to approximately 80 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to approximately 120 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to approximately 160 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to approximately 200 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to approximately 240 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to approximately 280 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to approximately 320 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to approximately 360 degrees, approximately 80 degrees to approximately 120 degrees, approximately 80 degrees to approximately 160 degrees, approximately 80 degrees to approximately 200 degrees, approximately 80 degrees to approximately 240 degrees, approximately 80 degrees Approximately 280 degrees, approximately 80 degrees to approximately 320 degrees, approximately 80 degrees to approximately 360 degrees, approximately 120 degrees to approximately 160 degrees, approximately 120 degrees to approximately 200 degrees, approximately 120 degrees to approximately 240 degrees, approximately 120 degrees to approximately 280 degrees, approximately 120 degrees to approximately 320 degrees, approximately 120 degrees to approximately 360 degrees, approximately 160 degrees to approximately 200 degrees, approximately 160 degrees to approximately 240 degrees, approximately 160 degrees to approximately 280 degrees, approximately 16 The deviation between the optical axis of the camera sensor 402 of the imaging device 400 and the topography and / or curvature sensing features 710 of the illuminator 500 can be approximately 5 degrees, approximately 40 degrees, approximately 80 degrees, approximately 120 degrees, approximately 160 degrees, approximately 200 degrees, approximately 240 degrees, approximately 280 degrees, approximately 320 degrees, or approximately 360 degrees. The deviation between the optical axis of the camera sensor 402 of the imaging device 400 and the topography and / or curvature sensing features 710 of the illuminator 500 can be approximately 5 degrees, approximately 40 degrees, approximately 80 degrees, approximately 120 degrees, approximately 160 degrees, approximately 200 degrees, approximately 240 degrees, approximately 280 degrees, approximately 320 degrees, or approximately 360 degrees. In some embodiments, the deviation between the optical axis of the camera sensor 402 of the imaging device 400 and the topography and / or curvature sensing feature 710 of the illuminator 500 can be at least about 5 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 80 degrees, about 120 degrees, about 160 degrees, about 200 degrees, about 240 degrees, about 280 degrees, or about 320 degrees. In some embodiments, the deviation between the optical axis of the camera sensor 402 of the imaging device 400 and the topography and / or curvature sensing feature 710 of the illuminator 500 can be at most about 40 degrees, about 80 degrees, about 120 degrees, about 160 degrees, about 200 degrees, about 240 degrees, about 280 degrees, about 320 degrees, or about 360 degrees.

[0035] In some embodiments, the first illumination source of the topography and / or curvature sensing feature 710 of the illuminator 500 can be an illumination source at the shortest distance from the camera sensor 402. In some embodiments, the elevation (y0) of the captured first illumination source can be a function of the distance (x0) of the corneal reflection of the first illumination source closest to the camera sensor, and the angle (θ) between the normal of the corneal reflection of the first illumination source and the y-axis. In some embodiments, the angle (θ) between the normal of the corneal reflection of the first illumination source and the y-axis can be a function of the distance (l0) from the first illumination source of the illuminator 401 to the camera sensor, the distance (d) between the camera sensor and the corneal apex, and the distance (x0) of the corneal reflection of the first illumination source closest to the camera sensor, such as... Figure 4A As shown. For example, the following mathematical relationship can provide the elevation of the first lighting source: In some implementations, each subsequent elevation (y1, y2...y) of a series of lighting sources n Iterative calculations can be performed, such as... Figure 4B As shown. In some implementations, (x n -1 y n -1 ) and (x n y n The corneal segment between (y) can be considered as an arc segment along a circle. For example, in some implementations, the nth subsequent elevation (y) n It can be determined through the following mathematical relationship: Where t n It is (x) n y n The angle between the tangent at point () and the horizontal axis In some implementations, t n It can be initially estimated as a / 2, where a is I. n The angle between the nth lighting source and the vertical axis. In some implementations, this estimate can be refined numerically until... It stabilizes below a preset threshold. For example, it can provide t. n The mathematical relationship between the estimated values ​​is as follows: In some embodiments, the threshold value can be in the range of about 0.000001 to about 0.001. In some embodiments, the threshold value can be in the range of about 0.001 to about 0.0001, about 0.001 to about 0.00001, about 0.001 to about 0.00001, about 0.0001 to about 0.00001, about 0.0001 to about 0.000001, or about 0.00001 to about 0.000001. In some embodiments, the threshold value can be in the range of about 0.001, about 0.0001, about 0.00001, or about 0.000001. In some embodiments, the threshold value can be in the range of at least about 0.001, about 0.0001, or about 0.00001. In some embodiments, the threshold value can be in the range of at most about 0.0001, about 0.00001, or about 0.000001.

[0036] III. Corneal morphology measurement device In some embodiments, the systems, apparatuses, and / or methods disclosed herein may include apparatus 700, such as Figure 7 As seen, the device 700 is configured to measure corneal morphology without requiring expensive corneal topometry instruments or specially trained medical personnel. Due to the ubiquity of mobile computing devices, the present invention can utilize a combination of sensors and computing power from mobile computing device platforms. For example, many mobile computing devices (e.g., smartphones) may include a camera, inertial sensors, a light source (e.g., one or more light-emitting diodes), an onboard graphics processing unit, and sufficient processing power to capture and process images in a known spatial orientation.

[0037] In some embodiments, the device 700 may include an illuminator 500 optically and / or mechanically coupled to the imaging device 704. In some cases, the illuminator 500 may be housed, contained in, and / or disposed within the structure 701, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the structure 701 is configured to optically align and mechanically couple the imaging optical features 504 of the illuminator 500 to the sensor 702 (e.g., a camera) of the imaging device 704, such that the sensor of the imaging device can collect, capture, and / or detect reflected light patterns from the cornea of ​​an object. In some cases, the structure 701 may be configured to optically align and mechanically couple one or more input light coupling features 503 of the illuminator 500 to one or more light sources of the imaging device. The structure 701 may be configured to be releasably coupled to the imaging device via a quick-release mechanism that allows the structure and / or illuminator to be quickly attached to and / or removed from the imaging device. The quick-release mechanism may include a snap-fit, lip groove, hook, and latch, or any combination thereof.

[0038] In some cases, structure 701 may include a rigid and / or semi-rigid material configured to mechanically constrain one or more degrees of freedom of the illuminator relative to the imaging device. In some cases, structure 701 may include a mobile device (i.e., a smartphone) housing and / or screen protector configured to cooperate with a mobile device. In some cases, structure 701 may include one or more regions 706 configured to transmit user interactions (e.g., pressing a button and / or moving a slider) from structure 701 to input mechanical structures (e.g., buttons, sliders, etc.) of the imaging device. In some cases, input mechanical structure 707 of the imaging device may initiate, stop, pause, or any combination thereof the actions, methods, and / or processes of the imaging device described elsewhere herein. For example, when engaged and / or interacted by a user (e.g., pressing a button), input mechanical structure 707 may acquire one or more images and / or videos of the cornea of ​​an object illuminated by a light pattern of the illuminator.

[0039] In some cases, device 700 may be configured to measure and / or capture reflected light patterns provided by illuminating illuminator 500. Illuminator 500 may be illuminated by one or more light sources of the imaging device. In some cases, one or more light sources of the imaging device may include one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs). One or more light sources of the imaging device may include the flash of a mobile computing device (i.e., a smartphone or cellular phone). In some cases, one or more light sources of imaging device 704 may be optically coupled to illuminator 500 via one or more input light coupling features 503 of illuminator 500. One or more input light coupling features 503 of illuminator 500 may be configured to couple light emitted from one or more light sources of the imaging device to one or more features of the illuminator to generate a light pattern, as described elsewhere herein. In some cases, one or more light coupling features 503 of illuminator 500 may optically couple light emitted from one or more light coupling features along a direction perpendicular to the surface of the imaging device (i.e., 90 degrees) to one or more features of the illuminator to generate a light pattern. In some embodiments, one or more optical coupling features may include a reflective coating configured to reflect emitted light from one or more light sources of the imaging device to illuminate features in the illuminator that generate a light pattern. In some embodiments, one or more optical coupling features 503 may include a prism cavity. In some embodiments, one or more optical coupling features 503 may include a waveguide that optically couples emitted light from one or more light sources of the imaging device into the illuminator to illuminate features in the illuminator to generate a light pattern. In some embodiments, the waveguide may include a lens-based system to couple light from one or more light sources of the imaging device into the waveguide without light loss due to total internal reflection between the interfaces of the one or more light sources and the waveguide. In some embodiments, up to 10%, up to 20%, up to 30%, up to 40%, up to 50%, up to 60%, up to 70%, up to 80%, up to 90%, or up to 100% of the output light from the integrated illumination source may be coupled into the waveguide. In some embodiments, the lens-based system may include a spherical lens, a fisheye lens, a wide-angle lens, a macro lens, a standard lens, or a telephoto lens.

[0040] In some cases, the illuminator may include one or more features that, when illuminated, can generate a light pattern. In some cases, the light pattern generated by the illuminator 500 may include depth sensing features (502, 600, 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616) and topography and / or curvature sensing features 710. The depth sensing features (502, 600, 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616) and topography and / or curvature sensing features 710 may be provided as a light pattern to the surface of the cornea of ​​an object and collected and / or detected by sensors of an imaging device (e.g., a camera). The reflected light pattern collected from the cornea of ​​the object may be compared with the known geometry and / or shape of the provided light pattern to measure the corneal curvature at a given meridian.

[0041] In some embodiments, the topography and / or curvature sensing feature 710 may include one or more line and / or raised line features coupled to the surface of the illuminator 500. In some embodiments, the line may include a linear line. In some embodiments, the line may be circular, radial, parallel, converging, diverging, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, one or more line and / or raised line features of the topography and / or curvature sensing feature 710 may include one or more loops and / or concentric loop structures. In some cases, one or more line and / or raised line features include opaque line and / or raised line features.

[0042] In some embodiments, the wire may have a length of about 5 mm to about 30 mm. In some embodiments, the wire may have a length of about 5 mm to about 10 mm, about 5 mm to about 15 mm, about 5 mm to about 20 mm, about 5 mm to about 25 mm, about 5 mm to about 30 mm, about 10 mm to about 15 mm, about 10 mm to about 20 mm, about 10 mm to about 25 mm, about 10 mm to about 30 mm, about 15 mm to about 20 mm, about 15 mm to about 25 mm, about 15 mm to about 30 mm, about 20 mm to about 25 mm, about 20 mm to about 30 mm, or about 25 mm to about 30 mm. In some embodiments, the wire may have a length of about 5 mm, about 10 mm, about 15 mm, about 20 mm, about 25 mm, or about 30 mm. In some embodiments, the wire may have a length of at least about 5 mm, about 10 mm, about 15 mm, about 20 mm, or about 25 mm. In some implementations, the line may have a length of up to about 10 mm, about 15 mm, about 20 mm, about 25 mm, or about 30 mm.

[0043] In some implementations, the wire may have a thickness of about 1 mm to about 10 mm. In some embodiments, the wire may have a diameter of about 1 mm to about 2 mm, about 1 mm to about 3 mm, about 1 mm to about 4 mm, about 1 mm to about 5 mm, about 1 mm to about 6 mm, about 1 mm to about 7 mm, about 1 mm to about 8 mm, about 1 mm to about 9 mm, about 1 mm to about 10 mm, about 2 mm to about 3 mm, about 2 mm to about 4 mm, about 2 mm to about 5 mm, about 2 mm to about 6 mm, about 2 mm to about 7 mm, about 2 mm to about 8 mm, about 2 mm to about 9 mm, about 2 mm to about 10 mm, about 3 mm to about 4 mm, about 3 mm to about 5 mm, about 3 mm to about 6 mm, about 3 mm to about 7 mm, about 3 mm to about 8 mm, about 3 mm to about 9 mm, about 3 mm to about 10 mm, about 4 mm to about 5 mm, about 4 mm to about 6 mm, about 4 mm to about 7 mm, about 4 mm to about 8 mm, about 4 mm to about 9 mm, about 4 mm to about 10 mm, about 5 mm to about 6 mm, about 5 mm to about 7 mm, about 5 mm to about 8 mm, about 5 mm to about 6 mm, about 5 mm to about 7 mm, about 5 mm to about 8 mm, about 5 mm to about 6 mm, about 5 mm to about 7 mm, about 5 mm to about 8 mm, about 5 mm to about 10 ... The wire may have a thickness of about 1 mm to about 9 mm, about 5 mm to about 10 mm, about 6 mm to about 7 mm, about 6 mm to about 8 mm, about 6 mm to about 9 mm, about 6 mm to about 10 mm, about 7 mm to about 8 mm, about 7 mm to about 9 mm, about 7 mm to about 10 mm, about 8 mm to about 9 mm, about 8 mm to about 10 mm, or about 9 mm to about 10 mm. In some embodiments, the wire may have a thickness of about 1 mm, about 2 mm, about 3 mm, about 4 mm, about 5 mm, about 6 mm, about 7 mm, about 8 mm, about 9 mm, or about 10 mm. In some embodiments, the wire may have a thickness of at least about 1 mm, about 2 mm, about 3 mm, about 4 mm, about 5 mm, about 6 mm, about 7 mm, about 8 mm, or about 9 mm.

[0044] In some implementations, the wire may have a diameter of approximately 10 mm. 2 approximately 90 mm 2 The area. In some embodiments, the line may have an area of ​​approximately 10 mm. 2 Approximately 20 mm 2 Approximately 10 mm 2 Approximately 30 mm 2 Approximately 10 mm 2 Approximately 40 mm 2 Approximately 10 mm 2 Approximately 50 mm 2Approximately 10 mm 2 Approximately 60 mm 2 Approximately 10 mm 2 approximately 70 mm 2 Approximately 10 mm 2 approximately 80 mm 2 Approximately 10 mm 2 Approximately 90mm 2 Approximately 20 mm 2 Approximately 30 mm 2 Approximately 20 mm 2 Approximately 40 mm 2 Approximately 20 mm 2 Approximately 50 mm 2 Approximately 20 mm 2 Approximately 60 mm 2 Approximately 20 mm 2 approximately 70 mm 2 Approximately 20 mm 2 approximately 80 mm 2 Approximately 20 mm 2 approximately 90 mm 2 Approximately 30 mm 2 Approximately 40 mm 2 Approximately 30mm 2 Approximately 50 mm 2 Approximately 30 mm 2 Approximately 60 mm 2 Approximately 30 mm 2 approximately 70 mm 2 Approximately 30 mm 2 approximately 80 mm 2 Approximately 30 mm 2 approximately 90 mm 2 Approximately 40 mm 2 Approximately 50 mm 2 Approximately 40 mm 2 Approximately 60 mm 2 Approximately 40 mm 2 approximately 70 mm 2 Approximately 40 mm 2 approximately 80 mm 2 Approximately 40 mm 2 approximately 90 mm 2 Approximately 50 mm 2 Approximately 60 mm 2 Approximately 50 mm 2 approximately 70 mm 2 Approximately 50 mm 2 approximately 80mm 2Approximately 50 mm 2 approximately 90 mm 2 Approximately 60 mm 2 approximately 70 mm 2 Approximately 60 mm 2 approximately 80 mm 2 Approximately 60 mm 2 approximately 90 mm 2 Approximately 70 mm 2 approximately 80 mm 2 Approximately 70 mm 2 approximately 90 mm 2 or about 80 mm 2 approximately 90 mm 2 The area. In some embodiments, the line may have an area of ​​approximately 10 mm. 2 Approximately 20 mm 2 Approximately 30 mm 2 Approximately 40 mm 2 Approximately 50 mm 2 Approximately 60 mm 2 Approximately 70 mm 2 Approximately 80 mm 2 or about 90 mm 2 The area. In some embodiments, the line may have a diameter of at least about 10 mm. 2 Approximately 20 mm 2 Approximately 30mm 2 Approximately 40 mm 2 Approximately 50 mm 2 Approximately 60 mm 2 Approximately 70 mm 2 or about 80 mm 2 The area. In some embodiments, the line can have a maximum of about 20 mm. 2 Approximately 30 mm 2 Approximately 40 mm 2 Approximately 50 mm 2 Approximately 60 mm 2 Approximately 70 mm 2 Approximately 80 mm 2 or about 90 mm 2 The area.

[0045] In some implementations, the lines may have a spacing of about 1 mm to about 10 mm between each other. In some embodiments, the lines may be spaced apart from each other by a distance of about 1 mm to about 2 mm, about 1 mm to about 3 mm, about 1 mm to about 4 mm, about 1 mm to about 5 mm, about 1 mm to about 6 mm, about 1 mm to about 7 mm, about 1 mm to about 8 mm, about 1 mm to about 9 mm, about 1 mm to about 10 mm, about 2 mm to about 3 mm, about 2 mm to about 4 mm, about 2 mm to about 5 mm, about 2 mm to about 6 mm, about 2 mm to about 7 mm, about 2 mm to about 8 mm, about 2 mm to about 9 mm, about 2 mm to about 10 mm, about 3 mm to about 4 mm, about 3 mm to about 5 mm, about 3 mm to about 6 mm, about 3 mm to about 7 mm, about 3 mm to about 8 mm, about 3 mm to about 9 mm, about 3 mm to about 10 mm, about 4 mm to about 5 mm, about 4 mm to about 6 mm, about 4 mm to about 7 mm, about 4 mm to about 8 mm, about 4 mm to about 9 mm, about 4 mm to about 10 mm, about 5 mm to about 6 mm, about 5 mm to about 7 mm, about 5 mm to about 8 mm, about 5 ...10 mm, about 5 mm to about 10 mm, about 5 The spacing between the lines can be approximately 1 mm to 9 mm, approximately 5 mm to 10 mm, approximately 6 mm to 7 mm, approximately 6 mm to 8 mm, approximately 6 mm to 9 mm, approximately 6 mm to 10 mm, approximately 7 mm to 8 mm, approximately 7 mm to 9 mm, approximately 7 mm to 10 mm, approximately 8 mm to 9 mm, approximately 8 mm to 10 mm, or approximately 9 mm to 10 mm. In some embodiments, the lines can have a spacing of approximately 1 mm, approximately 2 mm, approximately 3 mm, approximately 4 mm, approximately 5 mm, approximately 6 mm, approximately 7 mm, approximately 8 mm, approximately 9 mm, or approximately 10 mm between them. In some embodiments, the lines can have a spacing of at least approximately 1 mm, approximately 2 mm, approximately 3 mm, approximately 4 mm, approximately 5 mm, approximately 6 mm, approximately 7 mm, approximately 8 mm, or approximately 9 mm between them. In some embodiments, the lines can have a spacing of at most approximately 2 mm, approximately 3 mm, approximately 4 mm, approximately 5 mm, approximately 6 mm, approximately 7 mm, approximately 8 mm, approximately 9 mm, or approximately 10 mm between them.

[0046] In some embodiments, the illuminator 500 may be optically transparent or translucent. In some embodiments, the illuminator may comprise materials from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), acrylic acid, resin, transparent resin, optical grade polycarbonate, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the illuminator may be opaque, transparent, or translucent. The illuminator may consist of transparent or opaque segments. In some embodiments, the transparent or opaque segments may act as waveguides to create illumination patterns.

[0047] In some embodiments, the illuminator 500 may include a curved and / or tapered structure configured to fit inside the eye socket of an object's eye.

[0048] The illuminator may include a circular and / or cylindrical structure having a diameter of about 28 mm to about 40 mm. The illuminator may include those having diameters of approximately 28 mm to 30 mm, approximately 28 mm to 31 mm, approximately 28 mm to 32 mm, approximately 28 mm to 33 mm, approximately 28 mm to 34 mm, approximately 28 mm to 35 mm, approximately 28 mm to 36 mm, approximately 28 mm to 37 mm, approximately 28 mm to 38 mm, approximately 28 mm to 39 mm, approximately 28 mm to 40 mm, approximately 30 mm to 31 mm, approximately 30 mm to 32 mm, approximately 30 mm to 33 mm, approximately 30 mm to 34 mm, approximately 30 mm to 35 mm, approximately 30 mm to 36 mm, approximately 30 mm to 37 mm, approximately 30 mm to 38 mm, approximately 30 mm to 39 mm, approximately 30 mm to 40 mm, approximately 31 mm to 32 mm, approximately 31 mm to 33 mm, approximately 31 mm to 34 mm, approximately 31 mm to 35 mm, approximately 31 mm to 36 mm, and approximately 31 mm to 37 mm. mm, about 31 mm to about 38 mm, about 31 mm to about 39 mm, about 31 mm to about 40 mm, about 32 mm to about 33 mm, about 32 mm to about 34 mm, about 32 mm to about 35 mm, about 32 mm to about 36 mm, about 32 mm to about 37 mm, about 32 mm to about 38 mm, about 32 mm to about 39 mm, about 32 mm to about 40 mm, about 33 mm to about 34 mm, about 33 mm to about 35 mm, about 33 mm to about 36 mm, about 33 mm to about 37 mm, about 33 mm to about 38 mm, about 33 mm to about 39 mm, about 33 mm to about 40 mm, about 34 mm to about 35 mm, about 34 mm to about 36 mm, about 34 mm to about 37 mm, about 34 mm to about 38 mm, about 34 mm to about 39 mm, about 34 mm to about 40 mm, about 35 mm to about 36 mm, about 35 mm to about 37 mm, about 35 mm to about 38 mm Circular and / or cylindrical structures with diameters of approximately 35 mm to approximately 39 mm, approximately 35 mm to approximately 40 mm, approximately 36 mm to approximately 37 mm, approximately 36 mm to approximately 38 mm, approximately 36 mm to approximately 39 mm, approximately 36 mm to approximately 40 mm, approximately 37 mm to approximately 38 mm, approximately 37 mm to approximately 39 mm, approximately 37 mm to approximately 40 mm, approximately 38 mm to approximately 39 mm, approximately 38 mm to approximately 40 mm, or approximately 39 mm to approximately 40 mm.The illuminator may include a circular and / or cylindrical structure having a diameter of about 28 mm, about 30 mm, about 31 mm, about 32 mm, about 33 mm, about 34 mm, about 35 mm, about 36 mm, about 37 mm, about 38 mm, about 39 mm, or about 40 mm. The illuminator may include a circular and / or cylindrical structure having a diameter of at least about 28 mm, about 30 mm, about 31 mm, about 32 mm, about 33 mm, about 34 mm, about 35 mm, about 36 mm, about 37 mm, about 38 mm, or about 39 mm. The illuminator may include a circular and / or cylindrical structure having a diameter of at most about 30 mm, about 31 mm, about 32 mm, about 33 mm, about 34 mm, about 35 mm, about 36 mm, about 37 mm, about 38 mm, about 39 mm, or about 40 mm.

[0049] In some embodiments, the illuminator may include segments of material having a high scattering coefficient. In some embodiments, segments of the illuminator with a high scattering coefficient can create light patterns. In some embodiments, the illuminator may have a refractive index of about 1.3 to about 1.5. In some embodiments, the illuminator may have a refractive index of about 1.3 to about 1.32, about 1.3 to about 1.34, about 1.3 to about 1.36, about 1.3 to about 1.38, about 1.3 to about 1.4, about 1.3 to about 1.42, about 1.3 to about 1.44, about 1.3 to about 1.46, about 1.3 to about 1.48, about 1.3 to about 1.5, about 1.32 to about 1.34, about 1.32 to about 1.36, about 1.32 to about 1.38, about 1 .32 to about 1.4, about 1.32 to about 1.42, about 1.32 to about 1.44, about 1.32 to about 1.46, about 1.32 to about 1.48, about 1.32 to about 1.5, about 1.34 to about 1.36, about 1.34 to about 1.38, about 1.34 to about 1.4, about 1.34 to about 1.42, about 1.34 to about 1.44, about 1.34 to about 1.46, about 1.34 to about 1.48, about 1.34 to about 1.5, about 1.36 to about 1.38, about 1.36 to about 1.4, about 1.36 to about 1.42, about 1.36 to about 1.44, about 1.36 to about 1.46, about 1.36 to about 1.48, about 1.36 to about 1.5, about 1.38 to about 1.4, about 1.38 to about 1.42, about 1.38 to about 1.44, about 1.38 to about 1.46, about 1.38 to about 1.48, about 1.38 to about 1.5, about 1.4 to about 1.42. The refractive index may be from about 1.4 to about 1.44, about 1.4 to about 1.46, about 1.4 to about 1.48, about 1.4 to about 1.5, about 1.42 to about 1.44, about 1.42 to about 1.46, about 1.42 to about 1.48, about 1.42 to about 1.5, about 1.44 to about 1.46, about 1.44 to about 1.48, about 1.44 to about 1.5, about 1.46 to about 1.48, about 1.46 to about 1.5, or about 1.48 to about 1.5. In some embodiments, the illuminator may have a refractive index of about 1.3, about 1.32, about 1.34, about 1.36, about 1.38, about 1.4, about 1.42, about 1.44, about 1.46, about 1.48, or about 1.5. In some embodiments, the illuminator may have a refractive index of at least about 1.3, about 1.32, about 1.34, about 1.36, about 1.38, about 1.4, about 1.42, about 1.44, about 1.46, or about 1.48. In some embodiments, the illuminator may have a refractive index of at most about 1.32, about 1.34, about 1.36, about 1.38, about 1.4, about 1.42, about 1.44, about 1.46, about 1.48, or about 1.5.

[0050] In some embodiments, the illuminator may have a diameter of approximately 1 cm. -1 approximately 10 cm -1 The absorption coefficient. In some embodiments, the illuminator can have an absorption coefficient of approximately 1 cm. -1 approximately 2 cm -1 Approximately 1 cm -1 Approximately 3 cm -1 Approximately 1 cm -1 Approximately 4 cm -1 Approximately 1 cm -1 Approximately 5 cm -1 Approximately 1 cm -1 Approximately 6 cm -1 Approximately 1 cm -1 Approximately 7 cm -1 Approximately 1 cm -1 Approximately 8 cm -1 Approximately 1 cm -1 Approximately 9 cm -1 Approximately 1 cm -1 approximately 10 cm -1 Approximately 2 cm -1 Approximately 3 cm -1 Approximately 2 cm -1 Approximately 4 cm -1 Approximately 2 cm -1 Approximately 5 cm -1 Approximately 2 cm -1 Approximately 6 cm -1 Approximately 2 cm -1 Approximately 7 cm -1 Approximately 2 cm -1 Approximately 8 cm -1 Approximately 2 cm -1 Approximately 9 cm -1 Approximately 2 cm -1 approximately 10 cm -1 Approximately 3 cm -1 Approximately 4 cm -1 Approximately 3 cm -1 Approximately 5 cm -1 Approximately 3 cm -1 Approximately 6 cm -1 Approximately 3cm -1 Approximately 7 cm -1 Approximately 3 cm -1 Approximately 8 cm -1 Approximately 3 cm -1 Approximately 9 cm -1 Approximately 3 cm -1 approximately 10 cm -1Approximately 4 cm -1 Approximately 5 cm -1 Approximately 4 cm -1 Approximately 6 cm -1 Approximately 4 cm -1 Approximately 7 cm -1 Approximately 4 cm -1 Approximately 8 cm -1 Approximately 4 cm -1 Approximately 9 cm -1 Approximately 4 cm -1 approximately 10 cm -1 Approximately 5 cm -1 Approximately 6 cm -1 Approximately 5 cm -1 Approximately 7 cm -1 Approximately 5 cm -1 Approximately 8 cm -1 Approximately 5cm -1 Approximately 9 cm -1 Approximately 5 cm -1 approximately 10 cm -1 Approximately 6 cm -1 Approximately 7 cm -1 Approximately 6 cm -1 Approximately 8 cm -1 Approximately 6 cm -1 Approximately 9 cm -1 Approximately 6 cm -1 approximately 10 cm -1 Approximately 7 cm -1 Approximately 8 cm -1 Approximately 7 cm -1 Approximately 9 cm -1 Approximately 7 cm -1 approximately 10cm -1 Approximately 8 cm -1 Approximately 9 cm -1 Approximately 8 cm -1 approximately 10 cm -1 or about 9 cm -1 approximately 10 cm -1 The absorption coefficient. In some embodiments, the illuminator can have an absorption coefficient of approximately 1 cm. -1 Approximately 2 cm -1 Approximately 3 cm -1 Approximately 4 cm -1 Approximately 5 cm -1 Approximately 6 cm -1 Approximately 7 cm -1 Approximately 8 cm -1 Approximately 9 cm -1 or about 10 cm-1 The absorption coefficient. In some embodiments, the illuminator may have an absorption coefficient of at least about 1 cm. -1 Approximately 2 cm -1 Approximately 3 cm -1 Approximately 4 cm -1 Approximately 5 cm -1 Approximately 6 cm -1 Approximately 7 cm -1 Approximately 8 cm -1 or about 9 cm -1 The absorption coefficient. In some embodiments, the illuminator can have an absorption coefficient of up to about 2 cm. -1 Approximately 3 cm -1 Approximately 4 cm -1 Approximately 5cm -1 Approximately 6 cm -1 Approximately 7 cm -1 Approximately 8 cm -1 Approximately 9 cm -1 or about 10 cm -1 The absorption coefficient.

[0051] In some cases, the outer surface of the illuminator 500 may include a coating configured to reflect coupled light from one or more light sources of the imaging device internally within the illuminator to generate a diffuse, uniform illumination pattern, as described elsewhere herein. In some cases, the coating may include a metallic coating. The metallic coating may include a coating of gold, silver, aluminum, titanium, or any combination thereof.

[0052] In some cases, the illuminator 500 may provide uniform illumination of a light pattern to a target (e.g., the surface of an object's cornea) to improve the determination of the shape, spatial topography, and / or contour of the object's cornea. In some cases, uniform illumination includes illumination of one or more regions of the target (e.g., the surface of an object's cornea), such that a first region of the target has a brightness within a range of about 10%, 9%, 8%, 6%, 4%, 2%, 1%, or less of the brightness of a second region of the target. In some cases, the brightness in the first region may be the same as or similar to the brightness in the second region. In some cases, the target may include biological tissue, such as the corneal surface. In some cases, the corneal surface may be a mammalian corneal surface. In some cases, the illuminator may be configured to generate a uniform light pattern from a point source. In some cases, the uniform light pattern may include a light source configured to provide emitted illumination such that the emitted light source may include a constant or near-constant brightness and / or intensity across a region, surface, field of view, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the point source may include one or more light sources of an imaging device, as described elsewhere herein.

[0053] In some cases, one or more optical coupling features of the illuminator can be configured to receive and distribute light from one or more light sources of the imaging apparatus to multiple light scattering elements of the illuminator, while reducing or minimizing light hotspots at or near the emitted light from one or more light sources of the imaging apparatus. In some cases, a light hotspot may correspond to or refer to a concentration of light at or near one or more light sources of the imaging apparatus. In some cases, the refractive index of one or more optical coupling features may include a refractive index different from that of the illuminator. In some cases, one or more optical coupling features can guide light emitted from the light source toward one or more light scattering elements of the illuminator. In some cases, the geometry of one or more optical coupling features may be determined by the geometry and light emission characteristics of one or more light sources of the imaging apparatus. For example, two light sources with different extents may require variations in the geometry of one or more optical coupling features.

[0054] In some cases, the illuminator 500 described herein may include one or more light scattering elements disposed on a surface of the illuminator. In some cases, the one or more light scattering elements may include a two-dimensional array of light scattering elements. In some cases, the two-dimensional array of one or more light scattering elements may include a linear configuration, a nonlinear configuration, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the one or more light scattering elements may include one or more dome reflectors, scattering particles, prisms, mirrors, dome reflectors, or any combination thereof.

[0055] In some cases, the curvature or composition of a light scattering element can provide the geometry of incident light onto one or more scattering elements or the redistribution and / or redirection of light scattering. In some cases, one or more light scattering elements can isotropically scatter or redistribute incident photons. In some cases, a light scattering element can participate in Rayleigh, Mie, or any combination thereof light scattering interactions. In some cases, the light scattering interaction with incident light can be determined by the refractive index difference between the light scattering element and the surrounding medium.

[0056] The refractive index difference between the light scattering element and the surrounding medium of the illuminator can include a refractive index difference of about 0.1 to about 2. The refractive index difference between the light scattering element and the surrounding medium of the illuminator can include about 0.1 to about 0.2, about 0.1 to about 0.3, about 0.1 to about 0.4, about 0.1 to about 0.5, about 0.1 to about 0.6, about 0.1 to about 0.7, about 0.1 to about 0.8, about 0.1 to about 0.9, about 0.1 to about 1, about 0.1 to about 1.5, about 0.1 to about 2, about 0.2 to about 0.3, about 0.2 to about 0.4, about 0.2 to about 0.5. About 0.2 to about 0.6, about 0.2 to about 0.7, about 0.2 to about 0.8, about 0.2 to about 0.9, about 0.2 to about 1, about 0.2 to about 1.5, about 0.2 to about 2, about 0.3 to about 0.4, about 0.3 to about 0.5, about 0.3 to about 0.6, about 0.3 to about 0.7, about 0.3 to about 0.8, about 0.3 to about 0.9, about 0.3 to about 1, about 0.3 to about 1.5, about 0.3 to about 2, about 0.4 to about 0.5, About 0.4 to about 0.6, about 0.4 to about 0.7, about 0.4 to about 0.8, about 0.4 to about 0.9, about 0.4 to about 1, about 0.4 to about 1.5, about 0.4 to about 2, about 0.5 to about 0.6, about 0.5 to about 0.7, about 0.5 to about 0.8, about 0.5 to about 0.9, about 0.5 to about 1, about 0.5 to about 1.5, about 0.5 to about 2, about 0.6 to about 0.7, about 0.6 to about 0.8, about 0.6 to about 0.9 The refractive index difference between the light scattering element and the surrounding medium of the illuminator may include a refractive index difference of about 0.6 to about 1, about 0.6 to about 1.5, about 0.6 to about 2, about 0.7 to about 0.8, about 0.7 to about 0.9, about 0.7 to about 1, about 0.7 to about 1.5, about 0.7 to about 2, about 0.8 to about 0.9, about 0.8 to about 1, about 0.8 to about 1.5, about 0.8 to about 2, about 0.9 to about 1, about 0.9 to about 1.5, about 0.9 to about 2, about 1 to about 1.5, about 1 to about 2, or about 1.5 to about 2. The refractive index difference between the light scattering element and the surrounding medium of the illuminator may include a refractive index difference of at least about 0.1, about 0.2, about 0.3, about 0.4, about 0.5, about 0.6, about 0.7, about 0.8, about 0.9, about 1, or about 1.5. The refractive index difference between the light scattering element and the surrounding medium of the illuminator may include a refractive index difference of at most about 0.2, about 0.3, about 0.4, about 0.5, about 0.6, about 0.7, about 0.8, about 0.9, about 1, about 1.5, or about 2.

[0057] In some cases, light scattering elements may include a geometry configured to redirect or redistribute incident photons across all spherical vector trajectories or subsets of those scattering or reflected light between the incident light and one or more light scattering elements. One or more light scattering elements may diffuse and / or redistribute light in a manner that generates a uniform light pattern emitted from the illuminator.

[0058] In some cases, dome reflectors may include a radius of about 0.1 mm to about 1.5 mm. In some cases, the dome reflector 108 may include a diameter of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.2 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.3 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.4 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.5 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.6 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.7 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.8 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.9 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1.2 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1.5 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.3 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.4 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.5 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.6 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.7 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.8 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.9 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 1 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 1.2 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 1.5 mm, and approximately 0.3 mm. mm to about 0.4 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 0.5 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 0.6 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 0.7 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 0.8 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 0.9 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 1.2 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 0.5 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 0.6 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 0.7 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 0.8 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 0.9 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 1.2 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 0.6 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 0.7 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 0.8 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 0.9 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 1.2 mm. mm, about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.6 mm to about 0.7 mm, about 0.6 mm to about 0.8 mm, about 0.6 mm to about 0.9 mm, about 0.6 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.6 mm to about 1.2 mm, about 0.6 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.7 mm to about 0.8 mm, about 0.7 mm to about 0.9 mm, about 0.7 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.7 mm to about 1.2 mm, about 0.7 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.8 mm to about 0.9 mm, about 0.8 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.8 mm to about 1.2 mm, about 0.8 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.The radius may be from about 9 mm to about 1 mm, from about 0.9 mm to about 1.2 mm, from about 0.9 mm to about 1.5 mm, from about 1 mm to about 1.2 mm, from about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm, or from about 1.2 mm to about 1.5 mm. In some cases, the dome reflector 1108 may include a radius of about 0.1 mm, about 0.2 mm, about 0.3 mm, about 0.4 mm, about 0.5 mm, about 0.6 mm, about 0.7 mm, about 0.8 mm, about 0.9 mm, about 1 mm, about 1.2 mm, or about 1.5 mm. In some cases, the dome reflector may include a radius of at least about 0.1 mm, about 0.2 mm, about 0.3 mm, about 0.4 mm, about 0.5 mm, about 0.6 mm, about 0.7 mm, about 0.8 mm, about 0.9 mm, about 1 mm, or about 1.2 mm. In some cases, the dome reflector 108 may include radii of up to about 0.2 mm, about 0.3 mm, about 0.4 mm, about 0.5 mm, about 0.6 mm, about 0.7 mm, about 0.8 mm, about 0.9 mm, about 1 mm, about 1.2 mm, or about 1.5 mm.

[0059] In some cases, dome reflectors may include a depth of about 0.1 mm to about 1.5 mm. In some cases, the dome reflector 108 may include a diameter of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.2 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.3 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.4 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.5 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.6 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.7 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.8 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.9 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1.2 mm, approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1.5 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.3 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.4 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.5 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.6 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.7 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.8 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 0.9 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 1 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 1.2 mm, approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 1.5 mm, and approximately 0.3 mm. mm to about 0.4 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 0.5 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 0.6 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 0.7 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 0.8 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 0.9 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 1.2 mm, about 0.3 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 0.5 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 0.6 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 0.7 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 0.8 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 0.9 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 1.2 mm, about 0.4 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 0.6 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 0.7 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 0.8 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 0.9 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 1.2 mm. mm, about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.6 mm to about 0.7 mm, about 0.6 mm to about 0.8 mm, about 0.6 mm to about 0.9 mm, about 0.6 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.6 mm to about 1.2 mm, about 0.6 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.7 mm to about 0.8 mm, about 0.7 mm to about 0.9 mm, about 0.7 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.7 mm to about 1.2 mm, about 0.7 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.8 mm to about 0.9 mm, about 0.8 mm to about 1 mm, about 0.8 mm to about 1.2 mm, about 0.8 mm to about 1.5 mm, about 0.The depth can be from about 9 mm to about 1 mm, from about 0.9 mm to about 1.2 mm, from about 0.9 mm to about 1.5 mm, from about 1 mm to about 1.2 mm, from about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm, or from about 1.2 mm to about 1.5 mm. In some cases, the dome reflector 108 may include a depth of about 0.1 mm, about 0.2 mm, about 0.3 mm, about 0.4 mm, about 0.5 mm, about 0.6 mm, about 0.7 mm, about 0.8 mm, about 0.9 mm, about 1 mm, about 1.2 mm, or about 1.5 mm. In some cases, the dome reflector may include a depth of at least about 0.1 mm, about 0.2 mm, about 0.3 mm, about 0.4 mm, about 0.5 mm, about 0.6 mm, about 0.7 mm, about 0.8 mm, about 0.9 mm, about 1 mm, or about 1.2 mm. In some cases, dome reflectors may include depths of up to approximately 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, 1 mm, 1.2 mm, or 1.5 mm.

[0060] In some embodiments, the illuminator 500 may include depth sensing features (502, 600, 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616), such as Figures 5A-5B and Figures 6A-6E As seen. In some cases, depth sensing features may include a surface 612 angled relative to the planar surface 613 of the illuminator 500, such as Figure 6AAs seen, the angled surface 612 can provide an illumination area, wherein light coupled from one or more light sources of the imaging device can be reflected and diffused into uniform illumination before exiting the illuminator as a light pattern. In some cases, the angled surface 612 may comprise an angle of about 28 degrees to about 50 degrees relative to the planar surface 613 of the illuminator 500. In some cases, the angled surface 612 may comprise about 28 degrees to about 30 degrees, about 28 degrees to about 32 degrees, about 28 degrees to about 34 degrees, about 28 degrees to about 36 degrees, about 28 degrees to about 38 degrees, about 28 degrees to about 40 degrees, about 28 degrees to about 42 degrees, about 28 degrees to about 44 degrees, about 28 degrees to about 46 degrees, about 28 degrees to about 48 degrees, about 28 degrees to about 50 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 32 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 34 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 36 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 38 degrees, Approximately 30 degrees to approximately 40 degrees, approximately 30 degrees to approximately 42 degrees, approximately 30 degrees to approximately 44 degrees, approximately 30 degrees to approximately 46 degrees, approximately 30 degrees to approximately 48 degrees, approximately 30 degrees to approximately 50 degrees, approximately 32 degrees to approximately 34 degrees, approximately 32 degrees to approximately 36 degrees, approximately 32 degrees to approximately 38 degrees, approximately 32 degrees to approximately 40 degrees, approximately 32 degrees to approximately 42 degrees, approximately 32 degrees to approximately 44 degrees, approximately 32 degrees to approximately 46 degrees, approximately 32 degrees to approximately 48 degrees, approximately 32 degrees to approximately 50 degrees, approximately 34 degrees to approximately 36 degrees, approximately 34 degrees to approximately 38 degrees, approximately 34 degrees to about 40 degrees, about 34 degrees to about 42 degrees, about 34 degrees to about 44 degrees, about 34 degrees to about 46 degrees, about 34 degrees to about 48 degrees, about 34 degrees to about 50 degrees, about 36 degrees to about 38 degrees, about 36 degrees to about 40 degrees, about 36 degrees to about 42 degrees, about 36 degrees to about 44 degrees, about 36 degrees to about 46 degrees, about 36 degrees to about 48 degrees, about 36 degrees to about 50 degrees, about 38 degrees to about 40 degrees, about 38 degrees to about 42 degrees, about 38 degrees to about 44 degrees, about 38 degrees to about 46 degrees, about 3 Angles of approximately 8 degrees to about 48 degrees, approximately 38 degrees to about 50 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to about 42 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to about 44 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to about 46 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to about 48 degrees, approximately 40 degrees to about 50 degrees, approximately 42 degrees to about 44 degrees, approximately 42 degrees to about 46 degrees, approximately 42 degrees to about 48 degrees, approximately 42 degrees to about 50 degrees, approximately 44 degrees to about 46 degrees, approximately 44 degrees to about 48 degrees, approximately 44 degrees to about 50 degrees, approximately 46 degrees to about 48 degrees, approximately 46 degrees to about 50 degrees, or approximately 48 degrees to about 50 degrees. In some cases, the angled surface 612 may include angles of approximately 28 degrees, approximately 30 degrees, approximately 32 degrees, approximately 34 degrees, approximately 36 degrees, approximately 38 degrees, approximately 40 degrees, approximately 42 degrees, approximately 44 degrees, approximately 46 degrees, approximately 48 degrees, or approximately 50 degrees. In some cases, the angled surface 612 may include an angle of at least about 28 degrees, about 30 degrees, about 32 degrees, about 34 degrees, about 36 degrees, about 38 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 42 degrees, about 44 degrees, about 46 degrees, or about 48 degrees.In some cases, the angled surface 612 may include angles of up to about 30 degrees, about 32 degrees, about 34 degrees, about 36 degrees, about 38 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 42 degrees, about 44 degrees, about 46 degrees, about 48 degrees, or about 50 degrees.

[0061] In some cases, depth sensing features (502, 600, 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616) may include a first region that allows and / or transmits light (600, 604, 608, 612) and / or a second region that may block, attenuate, and / or filter one or more wavelengths of emitted light from one or more light sources of the imaging device in front of an illuminator that serves as a light pattern emitting light. In some cases, such as Figure 6D As shown, the depth sensing features (608, 610) may include an array of one or more alternating first regions 608 and / or second regions 610 of the depth sensing features. In some cases, such as Figure 6E As shown, depth sensing features (614, 612) can be configured to filter emitted light from one or more light sources of the imaging device to change the output wavelength of the depth sensing features of the light pattern. In some cases, the filter can be configured to filter the emitted light from one or more light sources to visible color wavelengths, such as red, green, blue, purple, orange, and / or yellow, before emitting the filtered light as a light pattern from the illuminator. The resulting light pattern emitted from the illuminator of the depth sensing feature can include a combination of a first region and a second region, wherein the contrast and / or difference of the light signal between the first region and / or the second region of the depth sensing feature superimposed on the topography and / or curvature sensing feature 710 can provide the distance of the illuminator and / or imaging device from the cornea of ​​the object.

[0062] In some cases, depth sensing features may include one or more shapes and / or geometries. These shapes and / or geometries may include linear (600, 602, 608, 610, 612, 614), circular (606, 604), and / or any other polygonal shape. In some cases, the circular depth sensing feature shape may include concentric and / or collinear circular first and second region shapes, such as... Figure 6C As seen. In some cases, depth sensing features may include one or more shapes and / or geometries arranged at a fixed angle, for example, two depth sensing feature shapes placed 180 degrees apart (600, 602, 608, 610), such as Figure 6A and Figure 6D As shown, and / or the four depth sensing feature shapes are placed at 90 degrees apart, as... Figure 6BAs shown. In some cases, depth sensing features may include three depth sensing feature shapes placed 120 degrees apart.

[0063] In some implementations, depth sensing features (502, 600, 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616) may include width and depth. Depth can be measured from the upper or lower surface of the illuminator to a corresponding highest and / or lowest point of the angled depth sensing feature. In some cases, the depth of the depth sensing feature can alter the sensitivity of distance measurements between the illuminator and / or imaging device and the cornea of ​​the object. For example, a deeper depth sensing feature may provide higher sensitivity in determining the distance of the illuminator and / or imaging device from the cornea compared to a shallower depth sensing feature. In some cases, the width of the depth sensing feature can alter the accuracy of determining and / or detecting the position of the depth sensing feature superimposed on the light pattern generated by the topography and / or curvature sensing feature 710. For example, a thinner depth sensing feature may provide more information and / or data regarding rotation of the illuminator and / or imaging device toward and / or away from a plane perpendicular to the corneal surface of the object. On the other hand, coarser depth sensing features can provide a larger area for detection by one or more processes and / or algorithms, as described elsewhere in this article.

[0064] In some cases, the width of the depth sensing feature can be from about 1 mm to about 12 mm. In some cases, the width of the depth sensing feature can be approximately 1 mm to 2 mm, approximately 1 mm to 3 mm, approximately 1 mm to 4 mm, approximately 1 mm to 5 mm, approximately 1 mm to 6 mm, approximately 1 mm to 7 mm, approximately 1 mm to 8 mm, approximately 1 mm to 9 mm, approximately 1 mm to 10 mm, approximately 1 mm to 11 mm, approximately 1 mm to 12 mm, approximately 2 mm to 3 mm, approximately 2 mm to 4 mm, approximately 2 mm to 5 mm, approximately 2 mm to 6 mm, approximately 2 mm to 7 mm, approximately 2 mm to 8 mm, approximately 2 mm to 9 mm, approximately 2 mm to 10 mm, approximately 2 mm to 11 mm, approximately 2 mm to 12 mm, approximately 3 mm to 4 mm, approximately 3 mm to 5 mm, approximately 3 mm to 6 mm, approximately 3 mm to 7 mm, approximately 3 mm to 8 mm, approximately 3 mm to 9 mm, approximately 3 mm to 10 mm, approximately 3 mm to 11 mm, approximately 3 mm to 12 mm, approximately 4 mm to 5 mm, approximately 4 mm to 6 ... mm to about 7 mm, about 4 mm to about 8 mm, about 4 mm to about 9 mm, about 4 mm to about 10 mm, about 4 mm to about 11 mm, about 4 mm to about 12 mm, about 5 mm to about 6 mm, about 5 mm to about 7 mm, about 5 mm to about 8 mm, about 5 mm to about 9 mm, about 5 mm to about 10 mm, about 5 mm to about 11 mm, about 5 mm to about 12 mm, about 6 mm to about 7 mm, about 6 mm to about 8 mm, about 6 mm to about 9 mm, about 6 mm to about 10 mm, about 6 mm to about 11 mm, about 6 mm to about 12 mm, about 7 mm to about 8 mm, about 7 mm to about 9 mm, about 7 mm to about 10 mm, about 7 mm to about 11 mm, about 7 mm to about 12 mm, about 8 mm to about 9 mm, about 8 mm to about 10 mm, about 8 mm to about 11 mm, about 8 mm to about 12 mm, about 9 mm to about 10 mm, about 9 mm to about 11 mm, about 9 mm to about 12 mm, about 10 mm to about 11 mm, about 10 ... The width of the depth sensing feature can be approximately 1 mm to about 12 mm or approximately 11 mm to about 12 mm. In some cases, the width of the depth sensing feature can be approximately 1 mm, approximately 2 mm, approximately 3 mm, approximately 4 mm, approximately 5 mm, approximately 6 mm, approximately 7 mm, approximately 8 mm, approximately 9 mm, approximately 10 mm, approximately 11 mm, or approximately 12 mm.In some cases, the width of the depth sensing feature may be at least about 1 mm, about 2 mm, about 3 mm, about 4 mm, about 5 mm, about 6 mm, about 7 mm, about 8 mm, about 9 mm, about 10 mm, or about 11 mm. In other cases, the width of the depth sensing feature may be at most about 2 mm, about 3 mm, about 4 mm, about 5 mm, about 6 mm, about 7 mm, about 8 mm, about 9 mm, about 10 mm, about 11 mm, or about 12 mm.

[0065] In some cases, the depth of the depth sensing feature can be from about 1 mm to about 12 mm. In some cases, the depth of the depth sensing feature can be approximately 1 mm to 2 mm, approximately 1 mm to 3 mm, approximately 1 mm to 4 mm, approximately 1 mm to 5 mm, approximately 1 mm to 6 mm, approximately 1 mm to 7 mm, approximately 1 mm to 8 mm, approximately 1 mm to 9 mm, approximately 1 mm to 10 mm, approximately 1 mm to 11 mm, approximately 1 mm to 12 mm, approximately 2 mm to 3 mm, approximately 2 mm to 4 mm, approximately 2 mm to 5 mm, approximately 2 mm to 6 mm, approximately 2 mm to 7 mm, approximately 2 mm to 8 mm, approximately 2 mm to 9 mm, approximately 2 mm to 10 mm, approximately 2 mm to 11 mm, approximately 2 mm to 12 mm, approximately 3 mm to 4 mm, approximately 3 mm to 5 mm, approximately 3 mm to 6 mm, approximately 3 mm to 7 mm, approximately 3 mm to 8 mm, approximately 3 mm to 9 mm, approximately 3 mm to 10 mm, approximately 3 mm to 11 mm, approximately 3 mm to 12 mm, approximately 4 mm to 5 mm, approximately 4 mm to 6 ... mm to about 7 mm, about 4 mm to about 8 mm, about 4 mm to about 9 mm, about 4 mm to about 10 mm, about 4 mm to about 11 mm, about 4 mm to about 12 mm, about 5 mm to about 6 mm, about 5 mm to about 7 mm, about 5 mm to about 8 mm, about 5 mm to about 9 mm, about 5 mm to about 10 mm, about 5 mm to about 11 mm, about 5 mm to about 12 mm, about 6 mm to about 7 mm, about 6 mm to about 8 mm, about 6 mm to about 9 mm, about 6 mm to about 10 mm, about 6 mm to about 11 mm, about 6 mm to about 12 mm, about 7 mm to about 8 mm, about 7 mm to about 9 mm, about 7 mm to about 10 mm, about 7 mm to about 11 mm, about 7 mm to about 12 mm, about 8 mm to about 9 mm, about 8 mm to about 10 mm, about 8 mm to about 11 mm, about 8 mm to about 12 mm, about 9 mm to about 10 mm, about 9 mm to about 11 mm, about 9 mm to about 12 mm, about 10 mm to about 11 mm, about 10 ... The depth of the depth sensing feature can be approximately 1 mm to about 12 mm or approximately 11 mm to about 12 mm. In some cases, the depth of the depth sensing feature can be approximately 1 mm, approximately 2 mm, approximately 3 mm, approximately 4 mm, approximately 5 mm, approximately 6 mm, approximately 7 mm, approximately 8 mm, approximately 9 mm, approximately 10 mm, approximately 11 mm, or approximately 12 mm.In some cases, the depth of the depth sensing feature can be at least about 1 mm, about 2 mm, about 3 mm, about 4 mm, about 5 mm, about 6 mm, about 7 mm, about 8 mm, about 9 mm, about 10 mm, or about 11 mm. In other cases, the depth of the depth sensing feature can be at most about 2 mm, about 3 mm, about 4 mm, about 5 mm, about 6 mm, about 7 mm, about 8 mm, about 9 mm, about 10 mm, about 11 mm, or about 12 mm.

[0066] In some embodiments, the imaging device may include a sensor (e.g., a camera) providing an optical power of about 5 diopters to about 40 diopters. In some embodiments, the optical power may be about 5 diopters to about 10 diopters, about 5 diopters to about 15 diopters, about 5 diopters to about 20 diopters, about 5 diopters to about 25 diopters, about 5 diopters to about 30 diopters, about 5 diopters to about 35 diopters, about 5 diopters to about 40 diopters, about 10 diopters to about 15 diopters, about 10 diopters to about 20 diopters, about 10 diopters to about 25 diopters, about 10 diopters to about 30 diopters, about 10 diopters to about 35 diopters, about 10 diopters to about 40 diopters, or about 15 diopters to about 20 diopters. Diopter, about 15 diopter to about 25 diopter, about 15 diopter to about 30 diopter, about 15 diopter to about 35 diopter, about 15 diopter to about 40 diopter, about 20 diopter to about 25 diopter, about 20 diopter to about 30 diopter, about 20 diopter to about 35 diopter, about 20 diopter to about 40 diopter, about 25 diopter to about 30 diopter, about 25 diopter to about 35 diopter, about 25 diopter to about 40 diopter, about 30 diopter to about 35 diopter, about 30 diopter to about 40 diopter or about 35 diopter to about 40 diopter. In some embodiments, the optical power can be about 5 diopters, about 10 diopters, about 15 diopters, about 20 diopters, about 25 diopters, about 30 diopters, about 35 diopters, or about 40 diopters. In some embodiments, the optical power can be at least about 5 diopters, about 10 diopters, about 15 diopters, about 20 diopters, about 25 diopters, about 30 diopters, or about 35 diopters. In some embodiments, the optical power can be at most about 10 diopters, about 15 diopters, about 20 diopters, about 25 diopters, about 30 diopters, about 35 diopters, or about 40 diopters.

[0067] In some embodiments, the method described herein may include a method 900 for measuring the corneal diameter and morphology of a subject using a corneal morphology measurement device, such as... Figure 9As can be seen, the process includes: superimposing a reference marker over the cornea of ​​the object 901; measuring the corneal diameter of the object 902; horizontally positioning the imaging device (e.g., a mobile computing device) 903; aligning the angle of the imaging device with the horizontal marker 904; illuminating the cornea of ​​the object with a light pattern 905; capturing an image of the reflected light pattern from the cornea of ​​the object 906; and calculating the corneal curvature and morphology of the object 907. In some embodiments, a continuous video of the corneal reflected light pattern can be acquired instead of discrete images.

[0068] In some embodiments, the methods described herein may include a method for segmenting and / or determining the location of a reflected light pattern of a depth sensing feature superimposed on a topography and / or curvature sensing feature. In some cases, the method may include detecting the location of a depth sensing feature by matching one or more image pixel data of a reflected light pattern from the cornea of ​​an object with one or more template image pixel data to identify the location of the depth sensing feature, as described elsewhere herein. In some cases, the method may further include identifying the length of a depth sensing feature, which, together with the location of the depth sensing feature relative to the topography and / or curvature sensing feature, can provide the distance between the illuminator and / or imaging device and the cornea of ​​the object.

[0069] IV. Graphical User Interface Suite In some implementations, the apparatus for measuring corneal morphology may include a mobile device application with a graphical user interface (GUI) suite to guide the subject or operator to properly measure corneal morphology.

[0070] In some implementations, the GUI may include a marketplace where an individual can purchase recommended contact lenses based on measured corneal diameter and corneal morphology. In some implementations, the marketplace may include a series of different windows displaying contact lens products from multiple vendors. In some implementations, the marketplace GUI may include a set of customer reviews and ratings of various contact lens products offered by multiple vendors.

[0071] Corneal morphology measurement can provide a rich dataset of diagnostic and prognostic factors that can significantly impact a subject's quality of life. For example, subjects interested in obtaining contact lenses can have their corneal curvature measured using a corneal curvature meter to ensure proper lens fit and function. Without proper corneal measurement and an unfit contact lens, a subject may experience blurred vision or pain, as well as potential damage to their eye. Corneal morphology measurement can also be used as a preventative diagnostic screening tool or to monitor the outcomes of corneal surgery. For accurate and repeatable measurement of a subject's corneal curvature, a robust and uniform light source is required. In some cases, the apparatuses and systems disclosed herein may include devices configured to provide uniform illumination.

[0072] In some cases, a uniform illumination source is crucial when measuring the profile or morphology of a surface. For repeatable and accurate measurements of the surface profile or morphology, a structured light pattern should provide a constant spatial intensity, i.e., uniform illumination. The uniformity of an illumination source can be determined by the ratio of the brightest region of intensity in a given field of view to the darkest region of intensity in that same field. For a given illumination source, a ratio close to 1 indicates that the source is uniform. The spatial distribution of the light intensity of the illumination source can be used to describe a uniform illumination source. In some cases, the uniformity of the illumination source can be described using the spatial gradient of intensity generated by the illumination source in a field of view far from the source. In some cases, a uniform illumination source may include spatial gradient variations of up to about 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 1%, or less. A uniform illumination source with such a spatial intensity profile can improve the accuracy of image or data processing methods that determine the profile or morphology of a surface by measuring reflected light or light patterns from the surface. This improvement in accuracy enhances the reliability of such processing methods.

[0073] In some cases, the device may be configured to couple with a pre-existing light source. In some cases, the light source may be the light source of a smartphone device. In some cases, the light source may be a stand-alone light source. In some cases, the light source may include a light-emitting diode (LED), a superluminescent diode laser (SLD), a laser, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the LED may be configured to output a spectrum of light, such as UV, visible, NIR, or any combination thereof.

[0074] Unless otherwise defined, all terms, symbols, and other technical and scientific terms or technical terms used herein are intended to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed subject matter pertains. In some instances, terms with their commonly understood meanings are defined herein for clarity and / or for ease of reference, and the inclusion of these definitions herein should not necessarily be construed as materially different from their commonly understood meanings in the art.

[0075] In this application, various embodiments may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is for convenience and brevity only and should not be construed as a rigid limitation on the scope of disclosure. Therefore, a description of a range should be considered as specifically disclosing all possible subranges within that range as well as individual numerical values. For example, a description of a range such as 1 to 6 should be considered as specifically disclosing subranges such as 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 1 to 5, 2 to 4, 2 to 6, 3 to 6, etc., as well as individual numerical values ​​within that range, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

[0076] As used in the specification and claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, the term “a sample” includes multiple samples, including mixtures thereof.

[0077] The terms “determine,” “measure,” “assess,” “evaluate,” “evaluate,” “determine,” and “analyze” are generally used interchangeably in this document to refer to forms of measurement. Terms include determining the presence of an element (e.g., detecting). These terms can include quantitative, qualitative, or both quantitative and qualitative determinations. Evaluations can be relative or absolute. In addition to determining whether something is present or not based on context, “detecting the presence of…” can include determining the quantity of its presence.

[0078] The terms “object,” “individual,” or “patient” are generally used interchangeably in this document. An “object” can be a biological entity containing expressed genetic material. This biological entity can be a plant, animal, or microorganism, including, for example, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. An object can be a tissue, cell, or its progeny obtained in vivo or cultured in vitro from a biological entity. An object can be a mammal. A mammal can be a human. An object may be diagnosed with a disease or suspected of being at high risk of having a disease. In some cases, an object may not necessarily be diagnosed with a disease or suspected of being at high risk of having a disease.

[0079] The term "body" is used to describe events that occur within the body of an object.

[0080] The term "ex vivo" is used to describe events that occur outside the body of an object. Ex vivo measurements are not performed on the object. Instead, they are performed on a sample separated from the object. An example of an ex vivo measurement performed on a sample is an "in vitro" measurement.

[0081] The term "in vitro" is used to describe events that occur within a container holding a laboratory reagent, thereby separating it from the biological source of the material from which it was obtained. In vitro assays can encompass cell-based assays that use live or dead cells. In vitro assays can also encompass cell-free assays that do not use intact cells.

[0082] As used herein, the term “about” refers to a number plus or minus 10% of that number. The term “about” refers to a range minus 10% of its lowest value and the range plus 10% of its highest value.

[0083] The use of absolute or sequential terms, such as “will,” “will not,” “should,” “should not,” “must,” “must not,” “first,” “initial,” “next,” “following,” “before,” “after,” “finally,” and “end,” is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein, but is merely illustrative.

[0084] Any systems, methods, software, components, and platforms described herein are modular and not limited to sequential steps. Therefore, terms such as “first” and “second” do not necessarily imply priority, order of importance, or sequence of actions.

[0085] As used herein, the terms “therapy” or “treatment” are used to refer to a drug or other intervention intended to achieve a beneficial or desired outcome in the recipient. Beneficial or desired outcomes include, but are not limited to, therapeutic and / or preventative benefits. A therapeutic benefit may refer to the elimination or relief of symptoms or an underlying condition being treated. A therapeutic benefit may also be achieved by eliminating or relieving one or more of the physical symptoms associated with the underlying condition, thereby observing improvement in the subject, although the subject may still have the underlying condition. Preventative effects include delaying, preventing, or eliminating the onset of a disease or condition, delaying or eliminating the onset of symptoms of a disease or condition, slowing, interrupting, or reversing the progression of a disease or condition, or any combination thereof. For preventative benefits, subjects at risk of developing a specific disease or reporting one or more of the physical symptoms of a disease may also experience treatment, even if a diagnosis of that disease may not have been made.

[0086] The chapter titles used in this article are for organizational purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the subject matter.

Claims

1. A device for measuring corneal morphology, comprising: An illuminator configured to be releasably coupled to an imaging device, wherein the illuminator is further configured to (a) project a light pattern onto the cornea of ​​the eye to generate a reflected light pattern and (b) assist the transmission of the reflected light pattern from the cornea to a sensor of the imaging device for generating a plurality of light signals, and wherein the light pattern includes illumination of a depth sensing feature configured to generate a depth sensing light pattern of the light pattern, the depth sensing light pattern providing the distance of the illuminator from the surface of the cornea of ​​the eye.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light pattern comprises illumination generated by a topography or curvature sensing feature of the illuminator, the topography or curvature sensing feature of the illuminator being configured to generate a plurality of light signals to determine the topography of the cornea.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depth sensing feature comprises a linear or circular feature.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depth sensing feature includes a first region configured to transmit illumination and a second region configured to suppress illumination.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depth sensing feature comprises one or more depth sensing features.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more depth sensing features are positioned at 90 degrees, 120 degrees or 180 degrees apart from each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical axis of the sensor of the imaging apparatus is deviated from the light pattern emitted by the illuminator.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the deviation between the optical axis of the sensor of the imaging apparatus and the light pattern emitted by the illuminator is about 1 mm to about 10 mm.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the deviation between the optical axis of the sensor of the imaging apparatus and the light pattern emitted by the illuminator is about 5 degrees to about 360 degrees.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illuminator is disposed in a structure configured to serve as the housing of the imaging apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light pattern emitted by the topography or curvature sensing feature of the illuminator comprises a plurality of lines.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of lines are linear.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of lines are circular or radial.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of lines comprises one or more concentric loops.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illuminator includes a quick-release mechanism that allows the illuminator to be releasably coupled to the imaging apparatus.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the quick-release mechanism comprises a latch.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of lines are disposed on the surface of the illuminator.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illuminator is transparent or translucent.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the illuminator has a diameter of about 1 cm. -1 approximately 10 cm -1 The absorption coefficient.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of lines are opaque.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light pattern is generated by illuminating the illuminator with one or more light sources of the imaging apparatus.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the one or more light sources of the imaging apparatus comprise one or more light-emitting diodes.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the one or more light sources of the imaging apparatus are optically coupled to the illuminator through one or more optical coupling features of the illuminator.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the one or more optical coupling features of the illuminator include a prism cavity.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illuminator comprises a plurality of light scattering elements configured to generate uniform illumination of the light pattern.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the plurality of light scattering elements comprises one or more dome reflectors, scattering particles, or any combination thereof.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the plurality of light scattering elements comprises a two-dimensional array of light scattering elements arranged on the first surface.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the two-dimensional array comprises a linear configuration, a nonlinear linear configuration, or any combination thereof.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein one or more optical coupling features of the illuminator are configured to receive and distribute light from one or more light sources of the imaging apparatus to the plurality of light scattering elements, while reducing or minimizing light hotspots at or near the one or more light sources of the imaging apparatus.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the light hotspot corresponds to a concentration of light at or near the location of the one or more light sources of the imaging apparatus.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface of the illuminator comprises a reflective coating.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the reflective coating comprises a metallic coating.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the metal coating comprises a gold, silver, titanium, or aluminum coating.

34. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the uniform illumination of the light pattern comprises illumination of one or more regions of the target, such that a first region of the target has a brightness within 10% of the brightness of a second region of the target.

35. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the uniform illumination of the light pattern comprises illumination of one or more regions of a target, such that a first region of the target has a brightness within 0.5% of the brightness of a second region of the target.

36. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the uniform illumination of the light pattern comprises illumination of one or more regions of the target, such that a first region of the target has the same or similar brightness as a second region of the target.

37. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the target comprises biological tissue.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the biological tissue is a mammalian cornea.

39. A system comprising: The apparatus according to claim 1; as well as One or more processors configured to process the plurality of light signals by (i) comparing the light pattern emitted by the illuminator with the reflected light pattern from the cornea to generate a two-dimensional elevation gradient and (ii) using the two-dimensional elevation gradient to generate a three-dimensional topographic map of the cornea.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the one or more processors are located on the imaging device.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the imaging device includes a mobile computing device.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the one or more processors are located on a server remote from the mobile device.

43. A method for measuring corneal morphology, comprising: (a) A light source is coupled to an imaging device, wherein the light source includes a depth sensing feature configured to provide a light pattern to the surface of the cornea that determines the distance between the light source and the cornea; (b) Position the illuminator coupled to the mobile device close to the object's eye; (c) Transmitting light from the light source of the imaging device to the illuminator to generate the light pattern on the cornea, wherein the light source of the imaging device is optically coupled to the illuminator that provides the light pattern to the cornea; (d) Using the sensor of the imaging device to receive reflected light from the light pattern of the cornea to generate multiple light signals; as well as (e) The topographic map of the cornea is generated at least in part based on the plurality of optical signals.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the illuminator includes a topography or curvature sensing feature configured to generate a light pattern, the light pattern being used in conjunction with the depth sensing feature light pattern to generate the topography map of the cornea.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the illuminator comprises a plurality of lines configured to provide the light pattern.

46. ​​The method of claim 45, wherein the plurality of lines comprises one or more concentric loops.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the plurality of lines of the illuminator are linear.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the plurality of lines on the illuminator are circular or radial.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the imaging device includes a mobile computing device.

50. The method of claim 43, wherein the light source of the imaging apparatus comprises a light-emitting diode.

51. The method of claim 43, wherein the light source comprises one or more light sources of the imaging device.

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