Adjustable chin rest for a visual field system.

Abstract

The present application discloses a chin rest device for a viewing system. The chin rest device may include a base and at least one chin rest insert movably coupled to the base and configured to be adjusted to one of a plurality of head rotation angles and one of a plurality of head tilt angles. The plurality of head rotation angles and the plurality of head tilt angles may be associated with obtaining a view of a subject in the viewing system.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] <CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS> This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 63 / 340,097 (filed May 10, 2022, titled "Adjustable Chin Rest Apparatus for Visual Field System"), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] <Statement Regarding Federally Sponsored Research> none. [Background technology]

[0003] Certain eye diseases, such as glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, optic neuropathy due to trauma, or toxicity due to drugs (e.g., corticosteroids, antibiotics, antineoplastic drugs, antiarrhythmic drugs, etc.), cause peripheral visual field defects. Proper assessment of peripheral visual field defects has broad implications across multiple medical specialties. Ideally, for diseases affecting the visual field, a single visual field scan of an individual's entire visual field from the center to the far periphery can be performed to accurately assess the severity and progression of the disease.

[0004] The visual field is basically the area of ​​space that can be seen simultaneously when one target is focused on. Thus, the visual field is the portion of space in which different colors and sizes of light can be seen while the gaze is fixed in one direction. Visual field testing can be made up of two parts, the central field including the inner 30 degrees of the visual field, and the peripheral field including 100 degrees left and right, 60 degrees inward, 60 degrees upward, and 75 degrees downward. Automated visual field testing can be performed using a visual field device sometimes called a perimeter. In perimetry, the patient is asked to place his chin on the chin rest area of ​​the device and performs the entire visual field test while looking at the target. The basic or standard position is the position in which the vertical axis of the head is perpendicular to the visual field and tangent to the vertical axis of the device.

[0005] Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and has a significant impact on quality of life. Early detection of glaucoma is therefore important to prevent deterioration of vision and preserve visual function. In glaucoma, loss of retinal ganglion cells leads to loss of peripheral vision. Functional assessments to measure the progression of glaucoma include visual field testing. Visual field can be assessed using 24-2, 30-2, and 60-4 test patterns, which differ in the degree of deviation from the central axis measured and the number of test items considered. In particular, the central visual field can be evaluated with 24-2 and 30-2 visual field patterns, while peripheral fields beyond 30 degrees from the central visual axis are evaluated using the 60-4 threshold.

[0006] In clinical practice, assessment of the central visual field is more commonly performed to track the progression of glaucoma. This is partly due to the wide variability in the 60-4 visual field of healthy control subjects and the uncertainty of the appropriate threshold, possibly due to differences in point sensitivity and possible influences on facial structure. Furthermore, in moderate to severe cases of glaucoma, peripheral field defects occur along with central field defects. Unfortunately, in the early stages of glaucoma, central and peripheral field losses may not be correlated, and peripheral defects may appear even in the absence of central field defects. In fact, 11-17% of patients with glaucoma may have peripheral field defects in the absence of central field defects. Detecting glaucoma-related visual field defects in the peripheral region may allow for early detection and treatment of the disease.

[0007] Various factors can affect the ability to perform visual field testing on a patient and the accuracy of the visual field test. For example, patients with head, face, or body deformities may not be able to fully align themselves with the visual field device and therefore may not be able to perform a visual field test. In addition, facial contours (e.g., nose, cheeks, eyebrows, etc.) can affect the results of far peripheral vision, for example when using the 60-4 test pattern. The effect of facial structure on visual field defects can complicate the identification of pathological peripheral visual field defects. Specifically, chiseled facial structures can hide areas of peripheral vision that would be useful for disease monitoring. Both central and peripheral visual field defects have independent diagnostic value and affect quality of life, with peripheral defects increasing the risk of falls and changes in balance. Therefore, achieving accurate visual fields and optimizing the technique to distinguish between visual field defects that depend on facial contour and pathological defects is crucial to detect the progression of eye diseases. It has been described that visual field defects caused by the subject's facial contour can be altered by rotating or tilting the subject's head in the visual field system.

[0008] Therefore, a visual field system is desired that can accommodate patients with head, face, or body deformities and perform visual field tests on such patients to assess peripheral visual field defects, disease severity, and progression. Further, a visual field system is desired that can position the subject's head at a head rotation angle that minimizes peripheral visual field defects related to facial structure (or contour). Mapping the visual field from mild to severe disease and correcting for individual differences in facial contour is crucial to accurately diagnose disease and track its progression. Summary of the Invention

[0009] In one embodiment, a chin rest device for a viewing system includes a base and at least one chin rest insert movably coupled to the base, the at least one chin rest insert configured to be adjusted to one of a plurality of head rotation angles and one of a plurality of head tilt angles, the plurality of head rotation angles and the plurality of head tilt angles can be associated with obtaining a view of a subject in the viewing system.

[0010] In another embodiment, the viewing system includes an examination bowl, a forehead rest, and a chin rest device. The chin rest device may include a base and at least one chin rest insert movably coupled to the base, the at least one chin rest insert configured to be adjusted to one of a plurality of head rotation angles and one of a plurality of head tilt angles. The plurality of head rotation angles and the plurality of head tilt angles may be associated with obtaining a field of view of a subject in the viewing system.

[0011] The above and other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description. In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the description, and in which preferred embodiments are illustrated. However, since the embodiments do not necessarily describe the entire scope of the present invention, the scope of the present invention should be interpreted by reference to the claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a chin rest device for a visual field system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the chin rest device of FIG. 1A according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1C] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a chin rest device for a visual field system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1D] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a chin rest device for a visual field system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1E] FIG. 2 is a side view of the chin rest device of FIGS. 1C and 1D according to one embodiment. [Figure 1F] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the chin rest device of FIGS. 1C and 1D according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2A is a diagram showing each member of an example of a chin rest device according to one embodiment before assembly, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing each member of the example of the chin rest device according to one embodiment after assembly of the example of the chin rest device according to FIG. 2A. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a visual field system including a conventional chin rest, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a visual field system of an embodiment including the chin rest device of FIGS. 1A to 2B. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a chin rest device for a vision system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 5] 5A shows the chin rest assembly of FIGS. 4A and 4B in a vision system of one embodiment, and FIG. 5B shows a subject positioned in the chin rest device and vision system of FIG. 5A in one embodiment. [Figure 6] 4A and 4B according to an embodiment of the chin rest device of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for acquiring a subject's visual field in one embodiment of the present invention, the system including an adjustable chin rest device to compensate for changes in distance and angle of the visual stimulus from the visual axis. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a method for calculating the pupil-to-test bowl compensation distance of an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 9] FIG. 1A shows an example of a head rotation about a vertical axis in one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1B shows an example series of visual field maps of a subject showing the effect of rotating the subject's head in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for optimizing a subject's head rotation for visual field testing and determining the subject's corrected visual field in one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The present disclosure describes an adjustable chin rest arrangement for a vision system. The adjustable chin rest device is configured to allow the subject's head to be positioned at a desired head rotation angle and / or head tilt angle within the viewing system. In some embodiments, positioning the subject's head at a particular head rotation angle and / or head tilt angle allows a user with a head, face, or body deformity to be perfectly positioned within the viewing system to obtain the subject's visual field. In some embodiments, positioning the subject's head at an optimal head rotation angle allows visual field defects caused by the subject's facial contours to be minimized. The present disclosure further describes a method for using the adjustable chin rest device to mathematically compensate for changes in distance and angle of the visual stimulus from the visual axis in the viewing system caused by positioning the subject's head at a particular head rotation angle or head tilt angle.

[0014] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a chin rest device for a vision system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the chin rest device of FIG. 1A according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the chin rest device 100 can include a body 102. In some embodiments, the body 102 can function as an adapter to allow the chin rest device 100 to be installed (e.g., retrofitted) into an existing vision system. In some embodiments, the chin rest device 100 can be manufactured as part of the vision system. The chin rest device 100 also includes a first chin rest insert 104 and a second chin rest insert 106. In some embodiments, the first chin rest insert 104 and the second chin rest insert 106 can be configured to tilt incrementally to allow the subject's head to be positioned at a desired head tilt angle. As shown in FIG. 1B, the body 102 can have a first cavity 108 and a second cavity 110 on an upper surface 112 of the body 102. The first cavity 108 may be configured to receive the first chin rest insert 104, and the second cavity 110 may be configured to receive the second chin rest insert 106. In some embodiments, the first cavity 108 and the second cavity 110 may be configured to incrementally rotate the first chin rest insert 104 and the second chin rest insert 106, respectively, to position the subject's head at a desired head rotation angle. Thus, when the first chin rest insert 104 is placed in the cavity 108, it may be rotated to achieve a desired head rotation angle. Additionally, when the second chin rest insert 104 is placed in the cavity 110, it may be rotated to achieve a desired head rotation angle. For example, in some embodiments, the first chin rest insert 104 can include an insert tab 107 and the second chin rest insert 106 can include an insert tab 109 that can be rotated (as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1F) to enter labeled slots 111, 113, respectively, in the top surface 112 of the body 102. In some embodiments, the insert tabs 107 and 109 can have a pointed shape, as shown in FIG. 1B.As will be explained below with reference to Figures 9A and 9B, head rotation angle, as used herein, can be defined as the amount of rotation of the subject's head around a vertical axis.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first chin rest insert 104 and the second chin rest insert 106 can compensate for changes in pupil-to-examination bowl distance resulting from tilt and / or rotation. For example, the pupil-to-field distance can be kept constant by incorporating an offset resulting from the above changes into the design of the chin rest inserts of the vision system. Figures 1C-1F show diagrams of a chin rest device for a vision system designed to include an offset of one embodiment. In Figures 1C-1F, the first chin rest insert 104 and the second chin rest insert 106 are designed to shift in a direction toward the examination bowl, and the amount of shift can be based on, for example, the tilt angle of the chin rest inserts 104, 106. Determining the offset or compensation for changes in pupil-to-examination bowl distance due to tilt and / or rotation of the subject's head is more specifically described with reference to Figures 7 and 8.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first chin rest insert 104 and the second chin rest insert 106 may be labeled with the corresponding test eye (i.e., left or right eye) and tilt angle. For example, as described in detail below with reference to FIG. 2A, multiple inserts 104, 106 may be provided, each corresponding to a combination of a particular test eye (i.e., left or right eye) and a particular tilt angle. In some embodiments, an operator may select the insert 104, 106 appropriate for a particular test eye and a desired tilt angle. Advantageously, in some embodiments, the chin rest device 100 may obtain a field of view of a subject having facial, head, and body deformations by positioning the patient's head at a head rotation angle and / or head tilt angle that allows the subject's head to be positioned in the field of view system. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the chin rest device 100 may be used to position the subject's head at a head rotation angle that minimizes field of view defects caused by the subject's facial contours, thereby, for example, correcting and optimizing the subject's field of view.

[0017] In some embodiments, the chin rest device 100 can be manufactured using a three-dimensional (3D) printing technique, such as, for example, powder bed fusion technology. FIG. 2A illustrates the components of an example chin rest device before assembly in one embodiment, and FIG. 2B illustrates the components of the example chin rest device of FIG. 2A after assembly in one embodiment. In FIG. 2A, the elements of the chin rest assembly 100, i.e., the main body 102, the set 103 of the first chin rest inserts 104, and the set 105 of the second chin rest inserts 106, are shown and can be manufactured using, for example, powder bed fusion 3D printing technology. As mentioned above, in some embodiments, multiple inserts 104, 106 can be provided, each insert corresponding to a combination of a particular test subject's eye (i.e., left or right) and a particular tilt angle. For example, in FIG. 2A, a set 103 of four labeled first chin rest inserts 104 corresponding to the left eye is shown, which tilt the head in increments of 0, 5, 10, and 15 degrees (L0, L5, L10, L15), and a set 105 of four labeled second chin rest inserts 104 corresponding to the right eye is shown, which tilt the head in increments of 0, 5, 10, and 15 degrees (L0, L5, L10, L15). In some embodiments, an operator can select the inserts 104, 106 appropriate for a particular eye to be examined and the desired tilt angle. FIG. 2B shows the chin rest assembly 100 assembled using the body 102, the first chin rest insert 104, and the second chin rest insert 106. For example, the first chin rest insert 104 and the second chin rest insert 106 are disposed within a first cavity 108 and a second cavity 110 in the top surface 112 of the body 102. Once disposed in the first cavity 108 and the second cavity 110, the first chin rest insert 104 and the second chin rest insert 106 can be used to rotate the subject's head in, for example, 0, 5, 10, or 15 degree increments by rotating insert tabs 107 and 109 (e.g., pointed insert tabs), respectively, into labeled slots 111, 113 (shown in FIGS. 1C and 1F ) in the top surface 112 of the body 102.

[0018] As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the body 102 of the chin rest device 100 can be configured to function as an adapter, allowing the chin rest device 100 to be installed (e.g., added) in an existing vision system. FIG. 3A illustrates a vision system including a conventional chin rest, and FIG. 3B illustrates a vision system of an embodiment including the chin rest device 100 of, for example, FIGS. 1A-2B. FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a vision system 120. The vision system 120 includes a conventional chin rest 122, an examination bowl 124, a visor handle 126, and a forehead rest 128. In some embodiments, the vision system 120 can include known mechanisms for moving the chin rest 122 to provide vertical (axial displacement) and lateral (sagittal displacement) displacement of the subject's head. Advantageously, in some embodiments, the chin rest device 100 (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1A-2B) can be retrofitted to an existing chin rest 122 of the vision system 120, as shown in FIG. 3B. For example, the chin rest device 100 can be retrofitted to an existing chin rest using a press fit. In some embodiments, the chin rest device 100 shown in FIG. 3B can be moved to provide vertical and lateral displacement of the subject's head using the existing mechanisms of the vision system 120. As described above, the chin rest device 100 is advantageously configured to provide head rotation and / or head tilt angles. Advantageously, the chin rest device 100 can be operated within the vision system 120 without causing interference between any fixed parts of the vision system 120, and the chin rest device 100 can provide the normal range of motion (e.g., vertical and lateral displacement) of the existing chin rest into which it is fitted. In some embodiments, dynamic stabilization of the subject's forehead can be achieved, for example, by attaching foam to the forehead rest 128.

[0019] 4A and 4B are perspective views of a chin rest device for a vision system of an embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the chin rest device 200 can include a body 202. In some embodiments, the body 202 can function as an adapter to allow the chin rest device 200 to be installed (e.g., added to) an existing vision system (e.g., the vision system 120 shown in FIG. 3A). For example, the chin rest device 200 can be retrofitted to an existing chin rest of a vision system using a press fit. In some embodiments, the chin rest device 200 can be manufactured as part of the vision system. The chin rest device 200 also includes a groove 230 on an upper surface 234 of the body 202 and a chin rest insert 232. The chin rest insert 232 can be configured to be placed in the groove 230 and slide along a path defined by the groove 230. In some embodiments, the groove 230 can form a parabolic path. In some embodiments, the chin rest insert 232 can slide along the groove 230 to provide and adjust a desired head rotation angle of the subject's head, and the chin rest insert 232 can also be configured to tilt so that the subject's head can be positioned at a desired head tilt angle. In some embodiments, the groove 230 can form a parabolic path that allows the head rotation angle to be adjusted up to 13.5 degrees in either direction as the chin rest insert 232 slides along the parabolic path. In some embodiments, the groove 230 and the chin rest insert 232 can be configured to adjust the head tilt angle up to ±45 degrees, and the chin rest insert 232 can be positioned at any angle within this range. Advantageously, in some embodiments, the chin rest device 200 can obtain a visual field for subjects with facial, head, and body deformities by positioning the patient's head at a head rotation angle and / or head tilt angle that allows the subject's head to be positioned in the visual field system. Additionally, in some embodiments, the chin support device 200 can be used to position the subject's head at a head rotation angle that minimizes visual field defects caused by the subject's facial contours, thereby, for example, correcting and optimizing the subject's visual field.

[0020] As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the main body 202 of the chin table device 200 can be configured to function as an adapter, allowing the chin table device 200 to be installed (e.g., added) in an existing vision system. FIG. 5A illustrates the chin table assembly of FIGS. 4A and 4B in a vision system of one embodiment. In FIG. 5A, the main body 202 of the chin table device 200 is placed (e.g., retrofitted) in a vision system 240. For example, in some embodiments, the chin table device 200 can be retrofitted to an existing chin table of the vision system 240. In some embodiments, the vision system 240 can include known mechanisms for moving the chin table 200 to provide vertical (axial displacement) and lateral (sagittal displacement) displacement of the subject's head. In some embodiments, the chin table device 200 shown in FIG. 5A can be moved to provide vertical and lateral displacement of the subject's head using existing mechanisms of the vision system 240. As mentioned above, the chin table device 100 is advantageously configured to provide a head rotation angle and / or a head tilt angle. Advantageously, the chin rest device 200 can be operated within the vision system 240 without interference between any fixed components of the vision system 120, and allows for the normal range of motion (e.g., vertical and lateral displacement, etc.) of the existing chin rest into which it fits. In some embodiments, dynamic stabilization of the subject's forehead can be achieved, for example, by attaching foam to the forehead rest 244 of the vision system 240.

[0021] In Figure 5A, the chin rest insert 232 is positioned along the groove 230 toward the right side of the viewing system 240, and the chin rest insert 232 is positioned at an angle (i.e., at a head rotation angle). The angle of the chin rest insert 232 allows the head of a subject placed on the chin rest insert 232 to be positioned at the same angle within the viewing system 240. Figure 5B shows a subject positioned on the chin rest device 232 and viewing system 240 of Figure 5A.

[0022] In some embodiments, the chin rest device 200 can be manufactured using three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques, such as powder bed fusion techniques. In some embodiments, the chin rest device 200 can be advantageously manufactured as a single 3D printed object, for example, using fused deposition modeling 3D soluble support materials. Figures 6A and 6B are diagrams showing an example model for manufacturing the chin rest device 200 of Figures 4A and 4B in one embodiment. In particular, Figures 6A and 6B show the chin rest device 200 as a single piece incorporating moving parts.

[0023] In some embodiments, the adjustable chin rest device 100, 200 can be used to compensate (e.g., compensate with a determined offset) for changes in distance and angle from the visual axis to the visual stimulus in the viewing system caused by positioning the subject's head at a particular head rotation or head tilt angle. In one embodiment, the offset caused by the above changes can be incorporated into the design and positioning of the chin rest insert (e.g., chin rest insert 104, 106, 232) of the viewing system to keep the pupil-to-visual distance constant. For example, in some embodiments, the position of the chin rest insert can be shifted toward the examination bowl when the subject's head is tilted upward. In some embodiments, the chin rest insert is designed to shift toward the examination bowl (e.g., as shown in Figures 1C-1F). In some embodiments, the lateral and vertical changes caused by head rotation / tilt can be compensated for by electronically adjusting the position of an existing chin rest of the viewing system in which the chin rest device 100, 200 can be installed as described above. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system for acquiring a subject's visual field according to an embodiment of the present invention, the system including an adjustable chin rest device to compensate for changes in distance and angle of the visual stimulus from the visual axis. System 350 includes a visual field system 352 and a visual axis-visual stimulus compensation module 354. Visual field system 352 includes a chin rest device 300, such as chin rest device 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 1A-3B or chin rest device 200 described above with reference to FIGS. 4A-6B. In some embodiments, each element of system 350 may be implemented on the same device. In other embodiments, different elements may be implemented on different locations or devices and configured to communicate signals via wired or wireless connections. For example, visual axis-visual stimulus compensation module 354 may be implemented as part of visual field system 352 (e.g., using a processor) or may be implemented on a processor of a separate computer system.

[0024] In some embodiments, the processor on which the visual axis-visual stimulus correction module 354 is implemented may be included in any general-purpose computing system or device, such as a personal computer, a workstation, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a laptop, or a tablet. The processor may comprise any suitable hardware and components designed or capable of performing various processing and control tasks, including determining the correction of the distance and angle from the visual axis to the visual stimulus, determining the corrected visual field of the subject, or determining an optimized head rotation angle for determining the visual field of the subject. For example, the processor may include a programmable processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a combination of multiple programmable processors. In some embodiments, the processor may be configured to execute instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. In this regard, the processor may be any device or system designed to integrate various software, hardware, capabilities, and functions. Alternatively, the specific configuration and programming may make the processor a special-purpose system or device. For example, such a special-purpose system or device may include one or more dedicated processing units or processing modules that may be configured (e.g., hard-wired or pro-programmed, etc.) to perform the steps of each aspect of the present disclosure.

[0025] The visual field system 352 may be any visual field system configured to perform various types of visual field tests, each measuring a different peripheral visual field, including, but not limited to, a 10 degree visual field (e.g., 10-2), a 30 degree visual field (e.g., 30-2), a 60 degree visual field (e.g., 60-4), or a combination of multiple visual fields including central, mid peripheral, and / or far peripheral visual fields. The visual field test may be performed on the subject by the visual field system 352 using known methods. The acquired visual fields may be of the subject's right or left eye. The visual fields of the subject acquired using the visual field system 352 may be stored in a data storage device (or memory), such as the data storage device of the visual field system 352 or another computer system. As described above, the chin rest device 300 may be used to position the subject's head at a desired head rotation angle and / or head tilt angle for acquiring visual fields using the visual field system 352.

[0026] The visual axis-visual stimulus compensation module 354 can be configured to determine compensation for changes in distance and angle from the visual axis to the visual stimulus in the visual field system 352 caused by positioning the subject's head at a particular head rotation or head tilt angle using the adjustable chin rest device 300. For example, as described above, a pupil-to-test bowl compensation distance can be calculated, and the compensation distance or offset can be used to position a chin rest insert (or chin rest device) in the visual field system to compensate for changes in distance and angle from the visual axis to the visual stimulus. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a method for calculating the pupil-to-test bowl compensation distance in one embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, the pupil-to-test bowl compensation distance 402 can be calculated based on the subject's head tilt angle and the Sellion-Menton length 8-4 406. In some embodiments, data such as, for example, both pupil widths and Sellion-Menton lengths can be used to obtain average lengths to calculate the pupil-to-test bowl distance, vertical and lateral offset distances as a result of head rotation and tilt. Bilateral pupillary width may be defined as the bilateral distance between the pupil centers of the right and left eyes when looking straight ahead, and Sellion-Menton length may be defined as the midsagittal distance between the Sellion and Mention landmarks when the teeth are in occlusion. By way of example, data regarding bilateral pupillary width and Sellion-Menton length may be provided in the U.S. government document "Head and Face Anthropometry of Adult U.S. Citizens (1993)," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0027] In some embodiments, the offset distance can be calculated using the chin as the center of rotation, the vertical distance between the chin and pupil as the ergonomic mean of the Sellion-Menton distance, and the horizontal distance between the chin and pupil as half the ergonomic mean of the interpupillary distance. As an example, the Sellion-Menton mean = 116mm ± 7mm, which is the average of 195 males and 172 females, and the average interpupillary distance is 60mm ± 2mm, which is the average of 136 males and 102 females. In some embodiments, the head tilt offset distance can be determined using the following formula:

number

number

number

number

[0028] Examples of calculated tilt and rotation offset distances (or compensations) are shown in Table 1 below. [Table 1] Table 1: Independent head tilt and rotation offsets from 1-15 degrees. Examples of calculated offset distances as a function of combinations of tilt and rotation angles are shown in Table 2 below. [Table 2] Table 2: Calculated compensation values ​​for each tilt and rotation angle [mm].

[0029] As described above, the calculated compensation value can be used to modify the design and placement of the chin rest insert, for example to shift the head position closer to the screen when the head is tilted up. In some embodiments, compensation can be performed only for head tilt, since this results in the most dramatic change in distance. In some embodiments, an additional chin rest insert can be designed to compensate for the change in pupil-to-examination bowl distance as a function of head rotation. It should be noted that not all subjects match the average Sellion-Menton and interpupillary distance, and advantageously, the integrated offset above may be a practical compromise. In some embodiments, the lateral and vertical changes due to head rotation / tilt can be compensated for by electronically adjusting the position of an existing chin rest of a viewing system to which the chin rest device 100, 200 can be attached as described above.

[0030] As mentioned above, the chin rest device 100, 200 described herein can be used to position the subject's head at a head rotation angle that changes or alters (e.g., minimizes) visual field defects caused by the subject's facial contours. In particular, visual field defects caused by the subject's facial contours can be changed by rotating the head relative to a vertical axis, for example, closer to (i.e., moving temporally) or away from (i.e., moving nasally) the eye being tested using the visual field system. In some embodiments, an optimal head position within the visual field system (e.g., rotating the head to an optimal head rotation angle) can be used to maximize the subject's visual field. The amount of head rotation to maximize the visual field for each individual may be different. FIG. 9A shows an example of head rotation about a vertical axis in one embodiment. In FIG. 9A, a first head rotation 504 is shown to be performed to the right about a vertical axis 502, and a second head rotation 506 is shown to be performed to the left. As mentioned above, the head rotation angle as used herein may be defined as the amount of head rotation about the vertical axis 502. The head rotation may be toward (i.e., temporal) or away from (i.e., nasal) the eye being examined.

[0031] FIG. 9B shows an example series of field maps of a subject showing the effect of rotating the subject's head in one embodiment. In the example of FIG. 6B, field maps 510, 512, 514, 516, and 518 are 60-4 fields. In FIG. 9B, each field map 510, 512, 514, 516, and 518 represents a different head position or head rotation angle of the subject. In this example, field map 510 represents a 25-30° head rotation toward the eye being tested (i.e., in a temporal direction). Field map 512 represents a 10-15° head rotation toward the eye being tested. Field map 514 represents the head in a home position (i.e., no head rotation). Field map 516 represents a 10-15° head rotation away from the eye being tested (i.e., nasal). Field map 518 represents a 25-30° head rotation away from the eye being tested. In the example shown in Figure 9B, head rotation away from the test eye reduced the visual field defect, while rotation towards the test eye increased the visual field defect. By rotating the head around the vertical axis 502 (shown in Figure 9A) away from the test eye, the test eye abducts as it fixates on the central target, thereby minimizing the effect of the nose on the nasal visual field. Thus, a more accurate view of the subject can be obtained when the head is rotated away from the test eye. As mentioned above, each individual will require a different amount of head rotation to maximize the visual field.

[0032] 10 is a block diagram of a system for optimizing head rotation for visual field testing of a subject and determining a corrected visual field of the subject. The system 600 includes a camera 602, a visual field system 604 including an adjustable chin rest device 620, a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction module 606 including a convolutional neural network (CNN) 608, a visual field prediction module 610, a visual field correction module 612, and a head rotation angle optimization module 614. In some embodiments, the elements of the system 600 can be in the same device. In other embodiments, the various elements can be implemented in different locations or devices and communicate signals via wired or wireless connections. For example, the 3D reconstruction module 606, the visual field prediction module 610, the visual field correction module 612, and the head rotation optimization module 614 can be implemented as part of the visual field system 604 (e.g., using a processor) or can be implemented in a processor of a separate computer system.

[0033] As mentioned above, the 3D reconstruction module 606, the field of view prediction module 610, the field of view correction module 612, and the head rotation optimization module 614 can be implemented on one processor. In some embodiments, the processor can be included in a general-purpose computer system or device, such as a personal computer, a workstation, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, etc. The processor can include any suitable hardware and components designed or capable of performing various processing and control tasks, including determining a corrected field of view of the subject, or determining an optimized head rotation angle for determining the field of view of the subject. For example, the processor can include a programmable processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a combination of multiple programmable processors. In some embodiments, the processor can be configured to execute instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. In this regard, the processor can be any device or system designed to integrate various software, hardware, capabilities, and functions. Alternatively, the specific configuration and programming can make the processor a special-purpose system or device. For example, such a special purpose system or device may include one or more dedicated processing units or modules that can be configured (e.g., hard-wired or professionally programmed) to perform the steps of each aspect of the present disclosure.

[0034] The camera 602 can be any standard camera known in the art that is used to capture two-dimensional (2D) images (i.e., photographs) of a subject. In particular, the camera 602 can be used to capture one or more 2D images of the subject's face. In one embodiment, the 2D images are RGB images. The 2D images of the subject's face captured by the camera 602 can be stored, for example, in a data storage device of the camera 602, the viewing system 604, or in a data storage device (or memory) of another computer system. In some embodiments, the 2D images of the subject's face can be stored as high-resolution JPEG images.

[0035] The visual field system 604 may be any visual field system configured to perform various types of visual field tests, each measuring a different peripheral visual field, including, but not limited to, a 10 degree visual field (e.g., 10-2), a 30 degree visual field (e.g., 30-2), a 60 degree visual field (e.g., 60-4), or a combination of multiple visual fields including a central visual field, a mid peripheral visual field, and / or a far peripheral visual field. The visual field test may be performed on the subject by the visual field system 604 using known methods. The acquired visual fields may be of the subject's right or left eye. The visual fields of the subject acquired using the visual field system 604 may be stored in a data storage device (or memory), such as the visual field system 604 or another computer system. The visual field system 604 may include a chin rest device 620, such as the chin rest device 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 1A-3B or the chin rest device 200 described above with reference to FIGS. 4A-6B. As described above, the chin rest device 620 can be used to position the subject's head at a desired head rotation angle and / or head tilt angle for obtaining a field of view using the field of view system 604. In some embodiments, the desired head rotation angle can be an optimal head rotation angle determined using the head rotation angle optimization module 614.

[0036] The 3D reconstruction module 606 is configured to receive one or more 2D images (i.e., photographs) of the subject's face from the camera 602. The 2D images of the subject's face can be, for example, transmitted from the camera 602 via a communication link or retrieved from a data storage device (or memory). The 3D reconstruction module 606 includes a convolutional neural network (CNN) 608 configured to generate a 3D reconstruction of the subject's face using the 2D image (or images) of the subject's face. The CNN 608 can be trained using known or developed methods. The 3D reconstruction of the subject's face can be stored in a data storage device, such as, for example, a data storage device (or memory) of the vision system 604 or other computer system. The 3D reconstruction of the subject's face generated by the 3D reconstruction module 606 can be provided to a head rotation angle optimization module 614 coupled to the 3D reconstruction module 606.

[0037] The head rotation angle optimization module 614 may be configured to determine an optimal head rotation angle for the subject based on a 3D reconstruction of the subject's face. In some embodiments, multiple angles theta (θ) of 360° surrounding the visual axis on the 3D reconstruction may be calculated. Thus, angles theta (θ) are calculated for all points around the visual axis on the 3D reconstruction of the face. In one embodiment, the angle θ may be stored in a data structure along with the coordinates of the points. A minimum angle theta may be identified from the calculated angles theta. An optimal head rotation angle K may be identified based on this minimum angle θ. As described above, the head rotation angle may be defined as the amount of head rotation around a vertical axis. The head rotation may be in a direction toward (i.e., temporal) or away from (i.e., nasal) the eye being examined. In some embodiments, the optimal head rotation angle K may be determined by subtracting the minimum angle θ from a preset angle (e.g., 60 degrees).

[0038] In some embodiments, the optimal head rotation angle determined by the head rotation angle optimization module 614 may be an angle that maximizes the subject's field of view acquired using, for example, the vision system 604. In one embodiment, the subject's head may be positioned at an optimal head rotation angle in the vision system 604 when acquiring the field of view to minimize field of view defects caused by facial contours. The optimal head rotation angle may be provided to the vision system 604. In some embodiments, an operator may then position the subject's head at an optimal angle in the vision system 604 and perform a visual field test to acquire the subject's field of view using the vision system. In some embodiments, the subject's head may be positioned at an optimal viewing angle in the vision system 604 using the chin rest device 620. For example, the subject's head may be adjusted by rotation and tilt to overcome facial anatomy to map maximum far peripheral vision. After acquiring a field of view (e.g., acquired using field of view system 604) with the subject's head in the optimal position determined by head rotation angle optimization module 614, the field of view at this acquired optimal head position can be corrected to eliminate field of view defects of all remaining facial contours, e.g., using field of view prediction module 610 and field of view correction module 612.

[0039] The 3D reconstruction of the subject's face generated by the 3D reconstruction module 606 may also be provided to a visual field prediction module 610 coupled to the 3D reconstruction module 606. The visual field prediction module 610 may be configured to generate a predicted visual field of the subject showing visual field defects predicted from the contours (or structures) of the subject's face, such as nose, cheeks, eyebrows, etc. The contours of the subject's face may be affected by factors such as age, race, and gender. The predicted visual field is generated using the 3D reconstruction of the subject's face. In some embodiments, the predicted visual field is a 60-4 visual field. The predicted visual field may be of the subject's right eye or left eye. The predicted visual field of the subject may be stored in a data storage (or memory), such as a data storage of the visual field system 604 or other computer system.

[0040] The field of view correction module 612 is coupled to the field of view prediction module 610. The subject's predicted field of view can be provided to the field of view correction module 612. Additionally, the field of view correction module 612 can be configured to receive the subject's acquired field of view from the field of view system 604 (e.g., a field of view acquired using an optimal head rotation angle determined by the head rotation angle optimization module 114). The subject's acquired field of view can be transmitted from the field of view system 604 via a communication link or acquired from a data storage device (or memory), for example. In an embodiment, the acquired field of view can be a central, mid-peripheral, far-peripheral, or combination thereof. The field of view correction module 612 can be configured to generate a corrected field of view for the subject. In some embodiments, the corrected field of view can be generated by subtracting the subject's predicted field of view from the subject's acquired field of view. In some embodiments, the corrected field of view can be generated using a numerical correction method. Thus, field of view defects due to facial contours can be removed from the acquired field of view. In some embodiments, the acquired field of view at the optimal head position can be corrected to eliminate any residual facial contour field of view defects. The corrected field of view can be for the subject's right or left eye. The subject's corrected field of view can be stored in a data storage device (or memory), such as a data storage device of the vision system 604 or other computer system. In one embodiment, the subject's corrected field of view can be displayed on a display, such as the vision system 604 or other computer system.

[0041] It should be understood that the present disclosure is of one or more preferred embodiments, and that many equivalents, alternatives, variations, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A chin rest device for a vision system, comprising: With the base, at least one chin rest insert movably coupled to the base, the at least one chin rest insert configured to be adjusted to one of a plurality of head rotation angles and one of a plurality of head tilt angles; It is equipped with The plurality of head rotation angles and the plurality of head tilt angles are associated with obtaining a view of a subject in the viewing system. A chin rest device comprising:

2. the at least one jaw insert includes a first chin rest insert and a second chin rest insert; 2. The chin rest device according to claim 1.

3. the base has an upper surface, a first cavity formed on the upper surface and configured to receive the first chin rest insert, and a second cavity formed on the upper surface and configured to receive the second chin rest insert.

3. The chin rest device according to claim 2.

4. the first chin rest insert is for a left eye of the subject, and the second chin rest insert is for a left eye of the subject; 4. The chin rest device according to claim 3.

5. the first chin rest insert is configured to rotate within the first cavity and the second chin rest insert is configured to rotate within the second cavity.

4. The chin rest device according to claim 3.

6. The base has an upper surface and a groove formed in the upper surface.

2. The chin rest device according to claim 1.

7. The groove forms a parabolic path.

7. The chin rest device according to claim 6.

8. the at least one jaw insert includes a jaw insert configured to be received within and move along the groove; 7. The chin rest device according to claim 6.

9. The chin rest insert moves along the groove, thereby changing the position of the chin rest insert, and the chin rest insert is adjusted to the desired head rotation angle. The chin rest device according to claim 8.

10. The base and the chin rest insert are fabricated as a single piece. The chin rest device according to claim 8.

11. 1. A vision system comprising: Inspection bowl; With a frame stand, A chin rest device; It is equipped with The chin rest device is With the base, at least one chin rest insert movably coupled to the base, the at least one chin rest insert configured to be adjusted to one of a plurality of head rotation angles and one of a plurality of head tilt angles; It is equipped with The plurality of head rotation angles and the plurality of head tilt angles are associated with obtaining a view of a subject in the viewing system. A vision system characterized by:

12. the at least one jaw insert includes a first chin rest insert and a second chin rest insert; The viewing system of claim 11.

13. the base has an upper surface, a first cavity formed on the upper surface and configured to receive the first chin rest insert, and a second cavity formed on the upper surface and configured to receive the second chin rest insert.

13. The viewing system of claim 12.

14. the first chin rest insert is configured to rotate within the first cavity and the second chin rest insert is configured to rotate within the second cavity.

13. The viewing system of claim 12.

15. The base has an upper surface and a groove formed in the upper surface. The viewing system of claim 11.

16. the at least one jaw insert includes a jaw insert configured to be received within and move along the groove; 16. The viewing system of claim 15.

17. The chin rest insert moves along the groove, thereby changing the position of the chin rest insert, and the chin rest insert is adjusted to the desired head rotation angle.

17. The viewing system of claim 16.

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