ophthalmic devices

Abstract

To provide an ophthalmologic device that allows an input operation by five input elements (X, Y, Z, θ, φ) with different displacement modes to be executed intuitively by a single hand when adjusting a relative position of a device body with respect to an eye to be examined.SOLUTION: An ophthalmologic device 10 includes a device body 18, an input operation unit 1, and a control part 20. The device body 18 includes a lateral axis direction driving mechanism, a vertical axis direction driving mechanism, a longitudinal axis direction driving mechanism, an around-vertical-axis swing driving mechanism 31, and an around-lateral-axis elevation driving mechanism 41 with an eye E to be examined as a reference. The input operation unit 1 includes a first lever input operation mechanism 5 having a joystick 13 for executing an adjustment operation of three-dimensional positions of a lateral axis X, a vertical axis Y, and a longitudinal axis Z of the device body 18, and a first slide plate mechanism 7 in which an examiner executes an adjustment operation for a swing angle θ and an elevation angle φ of the device body 18 using a single hand gripping a lever.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an ophthalmic device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is an ophthalmic device that performs an examination by aligning an examination unit at a predetermined position with respect to an eye to be examined, and includes an operation device, a detection device, and a control device. The operation device includes an operation member for moving the examination unit in at least one of the X, Y, and Z directions, and the operation member can receive two-degree-of-freedom input for moving the examination unit in one direction. The detection device includes a first sensor that detects a tilting angle related to one degree of freedom of the operation member and a second sensor that detects a slide position related to the other degree of freedom of the operation member. The control device finely moves the examination unit based on an operation amount detected by one of the first sensor and the second sensor, and coarsely moves the examination unit based on an operation amount detected by the other of the first sensor and the second sensor (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the conventional device, when adjusting the relative position of the device main body with respect to the eye to be examined, as operation forms input to the operation member, there are five types of input operation forms: tilting and sliding in the X-axis direction, rotation around the Y-axis direction, and tilting and sliding in the Z-axis direction. However, the tilting and sliding in the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction are allocated as fine movement and coarse movement of the X-axis movement and the Z-axis movement. Therefore, as a displacement mode for changing the relative position of the device main body with respect to the eye to be examined, there are only input operations by three input elements (X, Y, Z) by movement in three axial directions.

[0005] This disclosure is made in view of the above circumstances and aims to provide an ophthalmic device that allows for intuitive one-handed input operations using five input elements (X, Y, Z, θ, φ) with different displacement modes when adjusting the relative position of the device body with respect to the eye being examined. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the ophthalmic device of this disclosure includes a device body that incorporates an observation optical system for the eye under examination, The aforementioned For the eye being examined The aforementioned An input operation unit operated by the examiner when adjusting the relative positional relationship of the main body of the device, The aforementioned According to the manipulated amount information detected by the manipulated amount sensor in the input operation unit The aforementioned The device comprises a control unit that controls the drive of the main body of the device. The aforementioned The main body of the device is, The aforementioned It has a drive mechanism for the left-right axis, a drive mechanism for the up-down axis, a drive mechanism for the front-back axis, a swivel drive mechanism around the up-down axis, and a tilt-up drive mechanism around the left-right axis, with the eye being examined as the reference point. The aforementioned The input operation unit is, The aforementioned A lever input operating mechanism having levers for adjusting the three-dimensional position of the device body along the left-right axis X, the up-down axis Y, and the front-back axis Z, The lever is integrated with the lever, or positioned close to the lever, It has an angle input operation mechanism for adjusting the swivel angle θ and elevation angle φ of the main body of the device. The input operation unit has an input element switching means that, when switching input operations from the lever input operation mechanism to the angle input operation mechanism, fixes the axis coordinates of X, Y, and Z, which are input elements by the lever input operation mechanism, based on a predetermined switching operation, and at the same time permits input operations of the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ by the angle input operation mechanism. The input element switching means sets the predetermined switching operation to a lever-down operation, and while the lever is down, sliding the input operation unit in the X-axis direction is set to be the input operation of the swivel angle θ, and while the lever is down, sliding the input operation unit in the Z-axis direction is set to be the input operation of the elevation angle φ. It is characterized by the following: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the ophthalmic device of this disclosure, when adjusting the relative position of the device body with respect to the eye under examination, input operations using five input elements (X, Y, Z, θ, φ) with different displacement modes can be performed intuitively with one hand. Furthermore, by having the examiner perform input operations using five input elements (X, Y, Z, θ, φ) with one hand, it is possible to clearly recognize whether they are performing input operations using (X, Y, Z) or (θ, φ). In addition, after performing input operations using the lever for (X, Y, Z), the user can smoothly switch to input operations using (θ, φ) simply by pressing down the lever. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of an ophthalmic device (fundus camera) of Example 1, which is an example of an ophthalmic device relating to this disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system in an ophthalmic device. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of angle change mechanisms (head-to-head drive mechanism, tilt-to-head drive mechanism) in ophthalmic equipment. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship of the drive mechanism (drive motor, worm gear) on the curved rail in a swivel drive mechanism, as viewed from above in the vertical direction. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the guide wheel and the curved arm in the guide mechanism of the elevation drive mechanism. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship of the drive mechanism (drive motor, worm gear) on the curved arm of the elevation drive mechanism, as viewed from the left and right directions. [Figure 7] This is an overall perspective view showing the input operation unit of an ophthalmic device. [Figure 8] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the input operation unit of an ophthalmic device. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view showing the first sliding plate mechanism, which is an example of an angle input operation mechanism within the input operation unit. [Figure 10] This is a plan view showing the first sliding plate mechanism. [Figure 11] This is a plan view showing the input operating member, angle input plate, swivel angle detection plate, and elevation angle detection plate that constitute the first sliding plate mechanism. [Figure 12] This is an explanatory diagram showing the part of the examiner's hand that operates the input control member of the first sliding plate mechanism. [Figure 13] This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a monitor display of a fundus image with a macula. [Figure 14] This flowchart shows the input operation process flow when acquiring fundus images with different macula positions in the control unit of Example 1. [Figure 15] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the input operation unit in the ophthalmic device of Example 2. [Figure 16] This is a cross-sectional view showing the second sliding plate mechanism, which is another example of an angle input operation mechanism within the input operation unit. [Figure 17]It is a plan view showing the second sliding plate mechanism. [Figure 18] It is a flowchart showing the flow of an input operation process when taking a fundus image by changing the position of the macula in the control unit of Example 2. [Figure 19] It is a perspective view showing an input operation unit in the ophthalmic device of Example 3. [Figure 20] It is an explanatory view showing the overall configuration of the ophthalmic device of Example 4 and the tablet terminal.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, as a mode for carrying out the ophthalmic device according to the present disclosure, Examples 1 to 4 in which the ophthalmic device is a fundus camera will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the horizontal axis in the left - right direction when the subject eye E is used as a reference is indicated by the left - right axis X, the vertical axis (vertical axis) in the up - down direction is indicated by the up - down axis Y, and the depth axis orthogonal to the left - right axis X and the up - down axis Y is indicated by the front - rear axis Z. And the angle of rotation around the axis centered on the up - down axis Y is indicated by the head - shaking angle θ, and the angle of rotation around the axis centered on the left - right axis X is indicated by the pitching angle φ.

Example

[0010] First, the overall configuration of the ophthalmic device 10 of Example 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The ophthalmic device 10 of Example 1 is a fundus camera and can acquire a fundus image as eye information of the subject eye E. As shown in FIG. 1, this ophthalmic device 10 includes a base 11 and a gantry 12 mounted on the base 11 so as to be movable in the front - rear, left - right direction (horizontal direction) and the up - down direction. A joystick 13 is installed on the gantry 12. The gantry 12 is moved in the front - rear, left - right, up - down directions on the base 11 when the joystick 13 is operated. An operation button 13a is arranged at the upper end of the joystick 13, and pressing this button is an operation for taking a fundus image.

[0011] The base 11 is provided with a support column 14 that extends vertically. The support column 14 is equipped with a chin rest 15, a forehead rest 16, and an external fixation light 17. The chin rest 15 and forehead rest 16 fix the position of the subject's (patient's) face, i.e., the eye under examination E, relative to the main body of the device 18 (observation and imaging optical system 19), which will be described later, during measurement. The chin rest 15 is where the subject rests their chin, and the forehead rest 16 is where the subject rests their forehead, and both are movable vertically relative to the base 11. The external fixation light 17 is a light source for fixing (fixing the line of sight) on the eye under examination E. In this ophthalmic device 10, the subject rests their forehead on the forehead rest 16 and their chin on the chin rest 15, facing the main body of the device 18, and the external fixation light 17 is turned on as appropriate to perform examination, observation, and imaging of the eye under examination E.

[0012] The main unit 18 (measuring head) is mounted on the stand 12. The main unit 18 houses the observation and imaging optical system 19 and the control unit 20 (see Figure 2), and is supported by the stand 12 via an angle change mechanism 30. The main unit 18 can be moved up, down, left, and right on the stand 12 by the angle change mechanism 30, allowing the observation and imaging positions of the fundus of the eye under examination to be changed by the observation and imaging optical system 19 housed within it. Hereinafter, moving the main unit 18 (observation and imaging optical system 19) in the up and down direction will be referred to as "tilting and tilting," and moving it in the left and right direction will be referred to as "swinging and tilting." The configuration of this angle change mechanism 30 will be described later.

[0013] The main body of the device 18 is provided with an objective lens section 18a and an eyepiece lens section 18b. The objective lens section 18a is composed of the objective lens of the observation and imaging optical system 19 housed in the lens barrel and is positioned opposite the eye to be examined E. The eyepiece lens section 18b is composed of the eyepiece lens of the observation and imaging optical system 19 housed in the lens barrel and is the area where the examiner observes the eye to be examined E.

[0014] Furthermore, a still camera 21 and an imaging device 22 are detachably connected to the main unit 18 of the device. The still camera 21 captures a still image of the fundus of the eye E being examined via the observation and imaging optical system 19, and depending on the purpose of the examination, a digital camera equipped with a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a film camera (for example, 35mm), an instant camera, etc., is used. The imaging device 22 captures moving images of the fundus via the observation and imaging optical system 19, and a television camera, etc., is used. When a digital imaging system is used for the still camera 21 and imaging device 22, the acquired image data can be stored on the recording medium of the ophthalmic device 10 or on an external image recording device such as a computer.

[0015] In the main unit 18 of the device, a monitor 23 is provided on the examiner's side. This monitor 23 displays moving images (and their signals) acquired by the imaging device 22 and can display the fundus image of the eye E under examination. The monitor 23 is preferably thin and lightweight, and as an example, it is made of a liquid crystal display device (LCD monitor) and has a touch panel display screen. In Embodiment 1, the monitor 23 is provided on the surface of the main unit 18 on the examiner's side and is aligned with a plane perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. On the monitor 23, an XY coordinate system with the center of the screen as the origin is displayed superimposed on the fundus image, and coordinate values ​​corresponding to the position touched on the screen are displayed. In addition, under the control of the control unit 20, the monitor 23 appropriately displays the fundus image of the eye E under examination based on image data from the observation and imaging optical system 19, as well as software keys as an operation unit.

[0016] The input operation unit 1 is a unit operated by the examiner when adjusting the relative positional relationship of the device body 18 with respect to the eye E under examination. This input operation unit 1 has a first lever input operation mechanism 5 having a joystick 13 (lever) for adjusting the three-dimensional position of the device body along the left-right axis X, the up-down axis Y, and the front-back axis Z, and a first sliding plate mechanism 7 for the examiner to adjust the swivel angle θ and tilt angle φ of the device body 18 using one hand that is gripping the joystick 13. A detailed explanation of the configuration of the first lever input operation mechanism 5 (an example of a lever input operation mechanism) and the first sliding plate mechanism 7 (an example of an angle input operation mechanism) will be given later.

[0017] Next, the configuration of the control unit 20 will be described with reference to Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the control unit 20 of the ophthalmic device 10 comprehensively controls the operation of the ophthalmic device 10 by loading programs stored in the storage unit 25 or the built-in internal memory 20a onto, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory). The internal memory 20a is composed of RAM or the like. The storage unit 25 is composed of ROM (Read Only Memory) or EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) or the like. The control unit 20 is located inside the base 11 or the stand 12, etc.

[0018] The control unit 20 is connected to the light source of the measurement optical system, the light source of the alignment optical system, and sensors in the observation and imaging optical system 19, and controls them as appropriate. The control unit 20 is also connected to the operating parts of the optical system necessary for measurement in the observation and imaging optical system 19, and drives them (including moving them) as appropriate. The control unit 20 is also connected to the input operation unit 1, the monitor 23, the memory unit 25, the stand position sensor 26, the swivel sensor 27, the elevation sensor 28, the distance sensor 29, the three-dimensional position drive unit 36, and the angle drive unit 46. The control unit 20 then performs drive control to change the relative position of the device body 18 with respect to the eye E under examination according to the operation amount information detected by the operation amount sensor in the input operation unit 1.

[0019] The input operation unit 1 outputs operation amount information from the operation amount sensors it has to the control unit 20. The operation amount sensors include an X-axis potentiometer 24a, a Z-axis potentiometer 24b, and a Y-axis rotary encoder 24c in the first lever input operation mechanism 5. The first sliding plate mechanism 7 includes a swivel input potentiometer 24d and a tilt input potentiometer 24e.

[0020] The X-axis potentiometer 24a detects the tilt angle when the joystick 13 is tilted in the X-axis direction (lateral direction). The Z-axis potentiometer 24b detects the tilt angle when the joystick 13 is tilted in the Z-axis direction (forward and backward direction). The Y-axis rotary encoder 24c detects the rotation angle when the joystick 13 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise around the Y-axis.

[0021] The swivel input potentiometer 24d detects the amount of slide movement when the swivel angle detection plate 73, which detects the swivel angle θ, is slid in the X-axis direction (lateral direction). The elevation input potentiometer 24e detects the amount of slide movement when the elevation angle detection plate 74, which detects the elevation angle φ, is slid in the X-axis direction (forward and backward direction).

[0022] As shown in Figure 3, the frame position sensor 26 detects when the frame 12 is in a predetermined position in the front-rear direction on the base 11 and outputs a signal to the control unit 20. The frame position sensor 26 has a frame-side contact 26a fixedly positioned on the side of the frame 12 and a base-side contact 26b fixedly positioned on the side of the base 11.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3, the swivel sensor 27 detects when the device body 18 is located at the swivel reference position (center position) and outputs a signal to the control unit 20. This swivel reference position is the center of the rotatable range of the second base 42, with the rotation axis 31a as the center of rotation in the swivel drive mechanism 31 of the angle change mechanism 30, which will be described later. The swivel sensor 27 has a rail-side sensor part 27a provided on the upper surface of the worm 38 (curved rail 33), which will be described later, and a rotation-side sensor part 27b provided on the lower surface of the support plate part 34a (second base 42).

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, the elevation sensor 28 detects when the main body of the device 18 is located at the elevation reference position (center position) and outputs a signal to the control unit 20. The elevation reference position is the center of the movable range of the guide mechanism 44 on the curved arm 43, which has the central axis 43a as its rotation center, in the elevation drive mechanism 41 of the angle change mechanism 30. In Embodiment 1, the elevation reference position is the position where the optical axis O of the observation and imaging optical system 19 housed in the main body of the device 18 is horizontal. The elevation sensor 28 has an arm-side sensor part 28a provided on the curved arm 43 and a main body-side sensor part 28b provided on the lower surface of the support plate part 34a of the guide mechanism 34.

[0025] The distance sensor 29 detects the distance from the device body 18 to the subject's face, i.e., the distance between the two, and outputs the signal to the control unit 20. In Embodiment 1, the distance sensor 29 detects the distance from the objective lens portion 18a, which is the part of the device body 18 that protrudes the furthest toward the subject, to the subject's face. The distance sensor 29 is provided, for example, on the surface of the device body 18 facing the subject, and continuously detects the distance (distance) between the device body 18 and the subject's face at least when the angle change mechanism 30 is operating, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 20.

[0026] The three-dimensional position drive unit 36 ​​includes an X-axis drive motor 36a in the left-right axial drive mechanism, a Y-axis drive motor 36b in the up-down axial drive mechanism, and a Z-axis drive motor 36c in the front-rear axial drive mechanism. Here, the left-right axial drive mechanism and the front-rear axial drive mechanism are moved by sliding using a pinion rack mechanism or the like, and the up-down axial drive mechanism is moved up and down using a male-female screw mechanism or the like. Both mechanisms are well known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-61715). Therefore, the illustration and explanation of these drive mechanisms are omitted.

[0027] The angle drive unit 46 includes a swivel angle drive motor 46a in the swivel drive mechanism 31 of the angle change mechanism 30 (described later), and a tilt angle drive motor 46b in the tilt drive mechanism 41 of the angle change mechanism 30 (described later).

[0028] Next, the configuration of the angle change mechanism 30 will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 6. The angle change mechanism 30 comprises a swivel drive mechanism 31 and a tilt drive mechanism 41. The swivel drive mechanism 31 is capable of swinging the tilt drive mechanism 41 left and right, and via the tilt drive mechanism 41, the device body 18 can be rotated horizontally, i.e., swiveled. The tilt drive mechanism 41 allows the device body 18 to be rotated vertically, i.e., tilted.

[0029] The swivel drive mechanism 31 comprises a first base 32, a curved rail 33, a guide mechanism 34, and a drive mechanism 35. The swivel drive mechanism 31 has a rotation axis 31a that extends in the vertical direction. This rotation axis 31a is the center of rotation for the swivel motion of the swivel drive mechanism 31, and is positioned in front of the observation and imaging optical system 19 in the front-to-back direction, intersecting the optical axis O of the observation and imaging optical system 19 (see Figure 3).

[0030] The first base portion 32 is the location on the frame 12 to which the curved rail 33 is attached, and is movable together with the frame 12 on the base 11 in the forward, backward, left, right (horizontal) and up and down directions.

[0031] The curved rail 33 guides the movement of the swivel drive mechanism 31. In Embodiment 1, it is formed by curving a plate-shaped member, creating an arc with the rotation axis 31a as the center of curvature (see Figure 4). Therefore, by aligning the horizontal position of the rotation axis 31a (or its extension) with the pupil center Ep of the eye E being examined, the curved rail 33 can be positioned to draw an arc with the pupil center Ep (see Figures 3 and 4) as the center of curvature. The curved rail 33 is fixed to the first base 32.

[0032] The guide mechanism 34 allows the device body 18 to move along the curved rail 33 and is provided in accordance with the curved rail 33. The guide mechanism 34 has a support plate portion 34a and a plurality of guide wheel portions 34b. The support plate portion 34a is a plate-shaped member provided along the corresponding curved rail 33, and rotatably supports each guide wheel portion 34b and is fixed to the elevation drive mechanism 41 (the second base portion 42 described later).

[0033] Each guide wheel portion 34b is wheel-shaped and is positioned against both end edges 33a of the curved rail 33, allowing it to move along each end edge 33a. At least three guide wheel portions 34b are provided on the curved rail 33, with at least one on the front and rear sides in the front-rear direction and at least two on the other side, so that the curved rail 33 is sandwiched between them in the front-rear direction. The guide mechanism 34 of Embodiment 1 has four guide wheel portions 34b, two on the front and two on the rear. As a result, the guide mechanism 34 can move the device body 18 on the curved rail 33 in a rotational direction with the rotation axis 31a as the center of rotation.

[0034] The guide mechanism 34 is provided with a rotation stopper as a fail-safe device for the swivel motion of the drive mechanism 35, limiting the range of rotation relative to the curved rail 33. This rotation stopper limits the range of movement of the guide mechanism 34 on the curved rail 33. In Embodiment 1, a convex portion is provided on the curved rail 33, and this convex portion contacts the guide mechanism 34, thereby limiting the movement of the guide mechanism 34 on the curved rail 33. The rotation stopper is positioned so as to be within an equal angular range in both the left and right rotation directions, centered on the swivel reference position (center position) detected by the swivel sensor 27. As a result, the guide mechanism 34 can move the device body 18 within a predetermined range in the rotation direction with the rotation axis 31a of the curved rail 33 as the center of rotation.

[0035] The drive mechanism 35 moves the guide mechanism 34 on the curved rail 33 and stops (fixes) the guide mechanism 34 at any position on the curved rail 33, and is provided in correspondence with the curved rail 33 and the guide mechanism 34. The drive mechanism 35 has a swivel angle drive motor 46a and a worm gear 37. The swivel angle drive motor 46a is a drive device that outputs a driving force for moving the guide mechanism 34 in the drive mechanism 35, and in Embodiment 1 a stepping motor is used. The swivel angle drive motor 46a is attached to the support plate portion 34a of the guide mechanism 34 and is movable on the curved rail 33 together with the guide mechanism 34. The swivel angle drive motor 46a is driven under the control of the control unit 20, and when driven, it rotates the output shaft as appropriate.

[0036] The worm gear 37 has a worm 38 and a wheel 39. The worm 38 is a screw gear, and worm-side gear teeth 38a are provided on its outer circumference. The worm 38 is attached to the output shaft of the swivel angle drive motor 46a, and when the swivel angle drive motor 46a is driven, it rotates together with the output shaft.

[0037] The wheel 39 is a helical gear (worm wheel) and works in cooperation with the worm 38 to form a worm gear 37. The wheel 39 is a plate-shaped member extending in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and is mounted on a curved rail 33. On the wheel 39, the outer edge 39a on the worm 38 side (opposite the subject in the front-rear direction) follows an arc centered on the rotation axis 31a (see Figure 4). Wheel-side gear teeth 39b are provided on this outer edge 39a. The wheel-side gear teeth 39b are capable of meshing with the worm-side gear teeth 38a of the worm 38.

[0038] In this drive mechanism 35, when the swivel angle drive motor 46a is driven under the control of the control unit 20, the worm 38 attached to its output shaft rotates and transmits the force to the wheel 39 as a driving force in the tangential direction to the outer edge 39a of the wheel 39. As a result, the drive mechanism 35 fixes the worm 38 to the support plate portion 34a of the guide mechanism 34 and fixes the wheel 39 to the curved rail 33, so the guide mechanism 34 can be moved on the curved rail 33. In this way, the worm gear 37 converts the rotational force output by the swivel angle drive motor 46a into a rotational force that rotates the wheel 39 around the rotation axis 31a. Furthermore, since the drive mechanism 35 of Embodiment 1 uses a stepping motor for the swivel angle drive motor 46a, the guide mechanism 34 can be moved or fixed to any position on the curved rail 33 by combining it with an encoder or the like. This allows the drive mechanism 35 to adjust the pivot angle θ of the optical axis O of the observation and imaging optical system 19 housed in the main body 18 with respect to the optical axis OE of the eye E under examination on the horizontal plane.

[0039] The elevation drive mechanism 41 comprises a second base 42, a curved arm 43, a guide mechanism 44, and a drive mechanism 45. The elevation drive mechanism 41 has a central axis 43a that extends in the left-right direction. This central axis 43a is the rotation center for the elevation movement of the elevation drive mechanism 41, and is positioned to extend in the left-right direction while passing through the point where the rotation axis 31a (and its extension) of the swivel drive mechanism 31 intersects with the optical axis O of the observation and imaging optical system 19 (see Figure 3).

[0040] The second base portion 42 is rotatable horizontally by a swivel drive mechanism 31 and is the location to which the curved arm 43 is attached. In Embodiment 1, the second base portion 42 is fixed to the support plate portion 34a of the guide mechanism 34 and is movable along the curved rail 33 together with the support plate portion 34a.

[0041] The curved arm 43 guides the movement of the elevation drive mechanism 41. In Embodiment 1, it is formed by curving a plate-shaped member, and is an arc with its central axis 43a (see Figure 3) as the center of curvature. The lower end of the curved arm 43 is attached to the mounting portion 42a of the second base 42, and it traces an arc that extends upward in the vertical direction as it moves towards the rear in the front-rear direction from the mounting portion 42a. Therefore, by aligning the position of the central axis 43a on a plane perpendicular to the left-right direction with the pupil center Ep of the eye under examination, the curved arm 43 can be positioned to trace an arc with the pupil center Ep as the center of curvature.

[0042] The guide mechanism 44 allows the device body 18 to move along the curved arm 43 and is provided in accordance with the curved arm 43. The guide mechanism 44 has a support plate portion 44a and a plurality of guide ring portions 44b. The support plate portion 44a is a plate-shaped member provided along the corresponding curved arm 43, and rotatably supports the guide ring portions 44b and is fixed to the device body 18.

[0043] Each guide wheel portion 44b is wheel-shaped and is positioned against both end edges 43b of the curved arm 43, allowing it to move along each end edge 43b. At least three guide wheel portions 44b are provided on the curved arm 43, with at least one on the upper side and at least two on the lower side in the vertical direction, so as to sandwich the curved arm 43. As a result, each guide wheel portion 44b can move along the curved arm 43, allowing the guide mechanism 44 to move in a rotational direction with the central axis 43a as the center of rotation. In the first embodiment, the guide mechanism 44 has four guide wheel portions 44b, two on the front and two on the rear, and supports the device body 18 on the curved arm 43 by sandwiching the curved arm 43 with each guide wheel portion 44b.

[0044] The guide mechanism 44 is provided with a movement stopper as a fail-safe device for the elevation movement of the drive mechanism 45. This movement stopper limits the range of movement of the guide mechanism 44 on the curved arm 43. In Embodiment 1, a convex portion is provided on the curved arm 43, and this convex portion contacts the guide mechanism 44 to limit the movement of the guide mechanism 44 on the curved arm 43. The movement stopper is positioned so as to be within an equal angular range in both the vertical and horizontal rotation directions, centered on the elevation reference position (center position) detected by the elevation sensor 28.

[0045] The drive mechanism 45 moves the guide mechanism 44 on the curved arm 43 and stops (fixes) the guide mechanism 44 at any position on the curved arm 43. As shown in Figure 6, it is provided in correspondence with the curved arm 43 and the guide mechanism 44. The drive mechanism 45 has an elevation angle drive motor 46b and a worm gear 47. The elevation angle drive motor 46b is a drive device that outputs a driving force to move the guide mechanism 44 in the drive mechanism 45, and in Embodiment 1, a stepping motor is used. The elevation angle drive motor 46b is attached to the support plate portion 44a of the guide mechanism 44 and is movable on the curved arm 43 together with the guide mechanism 44. The elevation angle drive motor 46b is driven under the control of the control unit 20, and when driven, it rotates the output shaft as appropriate.

[0046] The worm gear 47 has a worm 48 and a wheel 49. The worm 48 is a screw gear, and worm-side gear teeth 48a are provided on its outer circumference. The worm 48 is attached to the output shaft of the elevation angle drive motor 46b, and when the elevation angle drive motor 46b is driven, it is rotated together with the output shaft.

[0047] The wheel 49 is a helical gear (worm wheel) and works in cooperation with the worm 48 to form a worm gear 47. The wheel 49 is a plate-shaped member perpendicular to the left-right direction and is mounted on the curved arm 43. In the wheel 49, the outer edge 49a on the worm 48 side (opposite the subject in the front-rear direction) follows a circular arc centered on the central axis 43a. Wheel-side gear teeth 49b are provided on this outer edge 49a. These wheel-side gear teeth 49b are capable of meshing with the worm-side gear teeth 48a of the worm 48.

[0048] In this drive mechanism 45, when the elevation angle drive motor 46b is driven under the control of the control unit 20, the worm 48 attached to its output shaft rotates and transmits the driving force to the wheel 49 as a tangential driving force to the outer edge 49a of the wheel 49. As a result, the drive mechanism 45 fixes the worm 48 to the support plate portion 44a of the guide mechanism 44 and fixes the wheel 49 to the curved arm 43, so the guide mechanism 44 can be moved on the curved arm 43. In this way, the worm gear 47 converts the rotational force output by the elevation angle drive motor 46b into a rotational force that rotates the wheel 49 around the central axis 43a. Furthermore, since the drive mechanism 45 of Embodiment 1 uses a stepping motor for the elevation angle drive motor 46b, the guide mechanism 44 can be moved or fixed to any position on the curved arm 43 by combining it with an encoder or the like. This allows the drive mechanism 45 to adjust the elevation angle φ of the optical axis O of the observation and imaging optical system 19 housed in the main body 18 relative to the optical axis OE of the eye E under examination on a vertical plane.

[0049] Next, the configuration of the input operation unit 1 of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figures 7 to 12. The input operation unit 1 of Embodiment 1 is an alignment adjustment unit that combines the first lever input operation mechanism 5 and the first sliding plate mechanism 7 to adjust the relative position of the device body 18 with respect to the eye E under examination.

[0050] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the first lever input operation mechanism 5 is a mechanism that includes a joystick 13 for adjusting the three-dimensional position of the device body 18 along the left-right axis X, the up-down axis Y, and the front-back axis Z, and a mounting support structure for the joystick 13 built into the lever case 50.

[0051] As shown in Figure 8, the joystick 13 comprises a lever inner shaft 51 having a switch mounting member 51a, a lever outer shaft 52 having a gripping portion 52a and a base portion 52b, and a pair of upper and lower bearings 53 that rotatably support the lever outer shaft 52 relative to the lever inner shaft 51. The lower end of the lever inner shaft 51 has a frame support shaft 54 ​​and a movable shaft 56 that is provided to move up and down relative to the frame support shaft 54 ​​via a coil spring 55. Furthermore, the lower end of the movable shaft 56 is spherical 56a and is pressed against the mortar-shaped concave surface 57a of a receiving member 57 fixed to the lever case 50 by the biasing force of the coil spring 55. Therefore, when the hand is released from the tilted joystick 13, the spherical surface 56a of the movable shaft 56 returns to the position of the bottom of the mortar-shaped concave surface 57a of the receiving member 57 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 55, and the joystick 13 returns to its home position. Furthermore, when a downward force is applied to the joystick 13, the coil spring 55 is compressed, pushing it down by the gap between the frame support shaft 54 ​​and the movable shaft 56. Then, when the downward force applied to the joystick 13 is released, the biasing force of the coil spring 55 pushes it back up to its original position.

[0052] The X-axis tilting frame 58 and the Z-axis tilting frame 59 are fixed to the frame support shaft 54. The X-axis tilting frame 58 is mounted on the lever case 50 so as to be tiltable about the pin axis by a two-part X-axis tilting pin 60. The Z-axis tilting frame 59 is mounted on the lever case 50 so as to be tiltable about the pin axis by a two-part Z-axis tilting pin 61.

[0053] As shown in Figure 7, the X-axis tilt pin 60 is provided with an X-axis potentiometer 24a that detects the tilt angle when the joystick 13 is tilted in the X-axis direction (lateral direction). As shown in Figure 8, the Z-axis tilt pin 61 is provided with a Z-axis potentiometer 24b that detects the tilt angle when the joystick 13 is tilted in the Z-axis direction (forward and backward direction). Furthermore, a slit plate 62 is provided horizontally on the base 52b. A Y-axis rotary encoder 24c is then placed on the slit plate 62, as shown in Figure 8, that detects the rotation angle when the joystick 13 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise around the Y-axis.

[0054] Here, the input operation unit 1 has an input element switching means that, when switching input operations from the first lever input operation mechanism 5 to the first sliding plate mechanism 7, fixes the axis coordinates of X, Y, and Z, which are input elements by the first lever input operation mechanism 5, based on a predetermined switching operation, and at the same time allows input operations of the swivel angle θ and elevation angle φ by the first sliding plate mechanism 7. Furthermore, when returning the input operation from the first sliding plate mechanism 7 to the first lever input operation mechanism 5, the input element switching means blocks the input operations of the swivel angle θ and elevation angle φ by the first sliding plate mechanism 7, based on a predetermined switching operation return operation, and at the same time allows input operations by the first lever input operation mechanism 5.

[0055] In Embodiment 1, the input element switching means is configured such that a predetermined switching operation is performed by pressing down a lever that pushes down the joystick 13. The lever operation lock structure 63 locks the tilting of the first lever input operation mechanism 5 in the X-axis and Z-axis directions relative to the lever case 50 by the lever operation, and releases the lock when the user releases their hand from the joystick 13 that was being pressed down. As shown in Figure 7, the lever operation lock structure 63 consists of a pinion 63a provided on the X-axis tilting pin 60 and a rack gear 63b provided on the lever case 50 that meshes with the pinion 63a when the lever is pressed down. In other words, the X-axis coordinate is fixed by locking the movement of the X-axis tilting pin 60 by the lever operation. Although not shown in the figure, the lever operation lock structure 63 is also provided for the Z-axis tilting pin 61 in the same way as for the X-axis tilting pin 60.

[0056] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the first sliding plate mechanism 7 of the input operation unit 1 is positioned where the joystick 13 is attached to the base 12, and is sandwiched between the two base plate plates 12a that make up the base 12. The first sliding plate mechanism 7 is an angle input operation mechanism that is separated and independent from the first lever input operation mechanism 5, as it has a lever through-hole 70 through which the joystick 13 passes in the Y-axis direction, and is positioned directly below the joystick 13. This first sliding plate mechanism 7 is a mechanism that combines an angle input plate 72 that moves together with the input operation member 71 operated by the examiner's hand, a swivel angle detection plate 73 that detects the swivel angle θ, and an elevation angle detection plate 74 that detects the elevation angle φ.

[0057] The input operating member 71 is molded from a synthetic resin material or the like, has a lever through-hole 70 on its inner surface through which the joystick 13 passes, and has a stepped cylindrical shape on its outer surface in which the outer diameter of the upper cylinder is smaller than the outer diameter of the lower cylinder. This stepped cylindrical shape is determined with consideration for the ease of sliding operations in the left-right and front-back directions, which are performed by contacting the input operating member 71 with the hypothenar eminence or fist ring of one of the examiner's hands that is pressing down the joystick 13. The hypothenar eminence refers to the area of ​​the palm that extends from the little finger and is close to the wrist, as shown in Figure 12(a). The fist ring refers to the lateral area from the little finger to the wrist when a fist is made, as shown in Figure 12(b).

[0058] As shown in Figure 11(a), the angle input plate 72 is a rectangular plate to which the input operating member 71 is integrally fixed, and three swivel angle input pins 75 and three elevation angle input pins 76 are provided protruding downward from the top surface of the plate. The amount of downward protrusion of both angle input pins 75 and 76 is the sum of the plate thickness of the swivel angle detection plate 73 and the plate thickness of the elevation angle detection plate 74. If the two sides of the angle input plate 72 that are opposite each other in the X-axis direction are 72a and 72b, then two swivel angle input pins 75 are provided along side 72a and one swivel angle input pin 75 is provided along side 72b. If the two sides of the angle input plate 72 that are opposite each other in the Z-axis direction are 72c and 72d, then two elevation angle input pins 76 are provided along side 72c and one is provided along side 72d.

[0059] As shown in Figure 11(b), the swivel angle detection plate 73 is a rectangular plate positioned in contact with the lower surface of the angle input plate 72, and has a first pin slot 75a, a second pin slot 75b, and a third pin relief hole 76c formed therein. If the two sides of the swivel angle detection plate 73 facing each other in the X-axis direction are 73a and 73b, the first pin slot 75a is formed along side 73a and has a hole diameter and length that engages with two swivel angle input pins 75. The second pin slot 75b is formed along side 73b and has a hole diameter and length that engages with one swivel angle input pin 75. If the two opposing sides of the swivel angle detection plate 73 are designated as 73c and 73d in the Z-axis direction, then two third pin relief holes 76c are formed on the side 73c and one on the side 73d, and these holes have a large diameter to absorb the sliding movement of the three elevation angle input pins 76 in the X-axis direction. Therefore, when the swivel angle detection plate 73 receives a sliding input in the X-axis direction from the swivel angle input pins 75, it slides in the X-axis direction.

[0060] As shown in Figure 10, the swivel angle detection plate 73 is provided with an X-axis limiting plate 73f that restricts the sliding movement of the detection plate to the X-axis direction. A rack gear 73g is provided on one side of the swivel angle detection plate 73 parallel to the X-axis, and a swivel input potentiometer 24d is provided on a pinion gear 73h that meshes with the rack gear 73g. Therefore, the swivel input potentiometer 24d detects the amount of sliding movement when the swivel angle detection plate 73 is slid in the X-axis direction (lateral direction).

[0061] As shown in Figure 11(c), the elevation angle detection plate 74 is a rectangular plate positioned in contact with the lower surface of the swivel angle detection plate 73, and has a first pin slot 76a, a second pin slot 76b, and a third pin relief hole 75c formed therein. If the two sides of the elevation angle detection plate 74 that face each other in the Z-axis direction are 74c and 74d, then the first pin slot 76a is formed along side 74c and has a hole diameter and length that engages with two elevation angle input pins 76. The second pin slot 76b is formed along side 74d and has a hole diameter and length that engages with one elevation angle input pin 76. If the two sides of the elevation angle detection plate 74 facing each other in the X-axis direction are designated as 74a and 74b, then two third pin relief holes 75c are formed on side 74a and one on side 74b, and these holes have a large diameter to absorb the sliding movement of the three swivel angle input pins 75 in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, when the elevation angle detection plate 74 receives a sliding input in the Z-axis direction from the elevation angle input pins 76, it slides in the Z-axis direction.

[0062] As shown in Figure 10, the elevation angle detection plate 74 is provided with a Z-axis limiting plate 74f that restricts the sliding movement of the detection plate to the Z-axis direction. A rack gear 74g is provided on one side of the elevation angle detection plate 74 parallel to the Z-axis, and an elevation input potentiometer 24e is provided on a pinion gear 74h that meshes with the rack gear 74g. Therefore, the elevation input potentiometer 24e detects the amount of sliding movement when the elevation angle detection plate 74 is slid in the Z-axis direction (forward and backward direction).

[0063] Thus, the first sliding plate mechanism 7 is a sliding plate mechanism in which the left-right and forward-backward movement operations performed by contacting the hypothenar eminence or fist ring of one of the examiner's hands, which is pressing down the joystick 13, with the input operation member 71 are used as angle input operations. When the angle input plate 72 is slid in the X-axis direction to adjust the swivel angle θ of the device body 18, only the swivel angle detection plate 73 slides in the X-axis direction. Also, when the angle input plate 72 is slid in the Z-axis direction to adjust the elevation angle φ of the device body 18, only the elevation angle detection plate 74 slides in the Z-axis direction.

[0064] Next, an example of the fundus image acquisition process will be explained with reference to Figures 13 and 14. Each step in the flowchart shown in Figure 14 will be explained.

[0065] In step S1, following the start, the examiner grasps the joystick 13 and performs three-dimensional XYZ position adjustments while viewing the fundus image displayed on the monitor 23 (see Figure 13). In the case of Embodiment 1, the X-axis position adjustment is performed by tilting the joystick 13 sideways, and the Z-axis position adjustment is performed by tilting the joystick 13 forward and backward. At this time, the control unit 20 determines the amount of movement in the X-axis direction and the amount of movement in the Z-axis direction based on the tilt angle and tilt time of the joystick 13, according to the 20-segment speed increase / decrease motor control law. The Z-axis position adjustment is performed by rotating the joystick 13 to the right (raising the device body 18) or to the left (lowering the device body 18). At this time, the control unit 20 determines the amount of vertical movement in the Y-axis direction, which is proportional to the amount of rotation.

[0066] In step S2, following the three-dimensional position adjustment of the XYZ in step S1, a fundus image centered on the macula is captured by pressing down the operation button 13a located on the top surface of the joystick 13.

[0067] In step S3, following the acquisition of the fundus image in step S2, the joystick 13 is pressed down to lock the three-dimensional adjustment position of XYZ. The reason for locking the three-dimensional adjustment position of XYZ is that when there are five input elements, X, Y, Z, θ, and φ, if they can be operated simultaneously, it is difficult for the examiner looking at the fundus image to recognize whether the X, Y, Z input elements or the θ, φ input elements are in effect. Therefore, having a means to switch between (X, Y, Z input) and (θ, φ input) makes it easy for the examiner to recognize whether it is (X, Y, Z input) or (θ, φ input).

[0068] In step S4, following the locking of the three-dimensional adjustment position of XYZ in step S3, the input operating member 71 is moved forward, and the elevation angle φ of the device body 18 is set upward (the device body 18, which is the measuring unit, is lowered). In other words, the examiner uses one hand to press down on the joystick 13 and slides the input operating member 71 in the Z-axis direction. When the examiner performs this elevation angle input operation, the elevation angle detection plate 74 receives a slide input in the Z-axis direction from the elevation angle input pin 76 provided on the angle input plate 72 and slides in the Z-axis direction. When the elevation input potentiometer 24e detects this amount of slide movement, the control unit 20 drives the elevation angle drive motor 46b in the elevation drive mechanism 41 based on the operation amount information from the elevation input potentiometer 24e. The elevation angle φ of the device body 18 is controlled upward by the drive of the elevation angle drive motor 46b.

[0069] In step S5, following the upward adjustment of the tilt angle φ in step S4, an image of the upper part of the macula is captured by pressing down the operation button 13a located on the top surface of the joystick 13.

[0070] In step S6, following the acquisition of the upper macula fundus image in step S5, the input operating member 71 is moved further to the left, setting the swivel angle θ of the device body 18 to the left. That is, the examiner uses one hand to press down on the joystick 13 and slides the input operating member 71 in the X-axis direction. When the examiner performs this swivel angle input operation, the swivel angle detection plate 73 receives a slide input in the X-axis direction from the swivel angle input pin 75 provided on the angle input plate 72 and slides in the X-axis direction. When the swivel input potentiometer 24d detects this amount of slide movement, the control unit 20 drives the swivel angle drive motor 46a in the swivel drive mechanism 31 based on the operation amount information from the swivel input potentiometer 24d. The swivel angle θ of the device body 18 is controlled to the left by the drive of the swivel angle drive motor 46a.

[0071] In step S7, following the leftward adjustment of the head rotation angle θ in step S6, an image of the upper and right side of the macula is captured by pressing down the operation button 13a located on the top surface of the joystick 13.

[0072] In this way, when adjusting the relative position of the device body 18 with respect to the eye E under examination, the X-axis sliding operation, which moves the input operating member 71 left and right, is used as the input operation for the swing angle θ, so that the examiner's sense of operation matches the movement of the device body 18. The Z-axis sliding operation, which moves the input operating member 71 back and forth, is used as the input operation for the tilt angle φ. Therefore, when adjusting the relative position of the device body 18 with respect to the eye E under examination, the five input elements (X, Y, Z, θ, φ) can be intuitively performed using one hand by the examiner.

[0073] For example, if a fundus camera is only capable of three-dimensional position adjustment using XYZ coordinates, the fundus image obtained will only be a predetermined fundus image with the macula positioned centrally for each subject. Therefore, it cannot meet the demand for obtaining multiple fundus images of the area around the macula, with the macula positioned differently.

[0074] In contrast, the ophthalmic device 10 of Example 1 allows input operations using five input elements (X, Y, Z, θ, φ) with different displacement modes, thus enabling the acquisition of multiple fundus images with different macula positions, as described above. This ability to acquire multiple fundus images leads to improved examination accuracy and ensures appropriate treatment for the patient.

[0075] As described above, the ophthalmic device 10 of Example 1 provides the following effects.

[0076] (1) An ophthalmic device 10 comprising a device body 18, an input operation unit 1, and a control unit 20, wherein the device body 18 has a left-right axis drive mechanism, a up-down axis drive mechanism, a front-back axis drive mechanism, a swivel drive mechanism 31 around the up-down axis, and a left-right axis tilt drive mechanism 41 with respect to the eye E under examination. The input operation unit 1 has a first lever input operation mechanism 5 having a lever (joystick 13) for adjusting the three-dimensional position of the device body 18 on the left-right axis X, up-down axis Y, and front-back axis Z, and an angle input operation mechanism (first sliding plate mechanism 7) for the examiner to adjust the swivel angle θ and tilt angle φ of the device body 18 using one hand that grasps the lever. Therefore, when adjusting the relative position of the device body with respect to the eye E under examination, input operations using five input elements (X, Y, Z, θ, φ) with different displacement modes can be intuitively performed with one hand.

[0077] (2) When the input operation unit 1 switches the input operation from the lever input operation mechanism (first lever input operation mechanism 5) to the angle input operation mechanism (first sliding plate mechanism 7), it has an input element switching means that, based on a predetermined switching operation, fixes the axis coordinates of X, Y, and Z, which are input elements by the lever input operation mechanism, and at the same time allows the input operation of the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ by the angle input operation mechanism. Therefore, when an examiner performs input operations using the five input elements (X, Y, Z, θ, φ) with one hand, they can clearly recognize whether they are performing an input operation of (X, Y, Z) or an input operation of (θ, φ) by performing a switching operation.

[0078] (3) The input element switching means has a lever operation lock structure 63 which determines a predetermined switching operation as a downward operation of the lever (joystick 13), locks the tilt of the first lever input operation mechanism 5 in the X-axis and Z-axis directions relative to the lever case 50 by the downward operation, and releases the lock when the hand is released from the lever that was being pressed down. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly switch to an input operation of (θ,φ) simply by pressing down the lever after an input operation of (X,Y,Z) with the lever (joystick 13). In addition, the lever operation lock structure 63 which is linked to the lever (joystick 13) allows the X and Z axis coordinates to be mechanically fixed by pressing down the lever, and the mechanical lock can be released by releasing the lever.

[0079] (4) The angle input operation mechanism is a sliding plate mechanism (first sliding plate mechanism 7) which combines an angle input plate 72 that moves together with an input operation member 71 operated by the examiner's hand, a swivel angle detection plate 73 that detects the swivel angle θ, and a tilt angle detection plate 74 that detects the tilt angle φ. By adopting this sliding plate mechanism, when the angle input plate 72 is slid in the X-axis direction when adjusting the swivel angle θ of the device body 18, only the swivel angle detection plate 73 slides in the X-axis direction. Also, when the angle input plate 72 is slid in the Z-axis direction when adjusting the tilt angle φ of the device body 18, only the tilt angle detection plate 74 slides in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the swivel angle θ and tilt angle φ of the device body 18 can be adjusted by sliding the input operation member 71 with one hand that is holding the lever (joystick 13).

[0080] (5) The lever input operation mechanism is a first lever input operation mechanism 5 having a lever (joystick 13) that returns to an upright position when released. The sliding plate mechanism is a first sliding plate mechanism 7 having a lever through-hole 70 through which the lever passes, and making left-right and front-back movement operations performed by contacting the input operation member 71 with the hypothenar eminence or fist of the examiner's hand that is pressing down the lever into angle input operations. Therefore, angle input operations for the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ can be made into a simple one-handed operation by sliding the input operation member 71 while keeping the lever (joystick 13) pressed down. That is, the sliding movement performed by contacting the input operation member 71 with the hypothenar eminence or fist of the examiner's hand that is not used while gripping the lever into angle input operations can be made into angle input operations. [Examples]

[0081] Embodiment 2 is a lever input operation mechanism in which the lever does not return to an upright position, and moreover, the angle input operation for the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ is performed by a lever tilt operation while the lever is pressed down.

[0082] First, the configuration of the input operation unit 1 of Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 17. The input operation unit 1 of Embodiment 2 is an alignment adjustment unit that combines a second lever input operation mechanism 5' and a second sliding plate mechanism 7' to adjust the relative position of the device body 18 with respect to the eye E under examination.

[0083] The second lever input operation mechanism 5', as shown in Figure 15, is a mechanism comprising a joystick 13 for adjusting the three-dimensional position of the device body 18 along the left-right axis X, the up-down axis Y, and the front-rear axis Z, and a mounting support structure for the joystick 13 built into the lever case 50. In Embodiment 1, as shown in Figure 8, a spherical surface 56a formed at the lower end of the movable shaft 56 is pressed against a mortar-shaped concave surface 57a of a receiving member 57 fixed to the lever case 50 by the biasing force of a coil spring 55. In contrast, in Embodiment 2, as shown in Figure 15, the spherical surface formed at the lower end of the movable shaft 56 is a soft spherical surface 56b with a diameter to the center of the sphere that is longer than that of Embodiment 1. The concave spherical surface formed on the receiving member 57 fixed to the lever case 50 is pressed against a soft concave spherical surface 57b that matches the soft spherical surface 56b by the biasing force of a coil spring 55. Therefore, even if the biasing force of the coil spring 55 acts when the hand is released from the joystick 13 in a tilt angle range below a predetermined angle, the soft spherical surface 56b of the movable shaft 56 remains in contact with the soft concave spherical surface 57b of the receiving member 57, and the joystick 13 does not return to the home position. Here, below a predetermined angle refers to, for example, ±15 degrees or less. Note that the other components of the second lever input operation mechanism 5' are the same as those of the first lever input operation mechanism 5 in Embodiment 1, so their description is omitted.

[0084] As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the second sliding plate mechanism 7' of the input operation unit 1 is positioned where the joystick 13 is attached to the base 12, and is sandwiched between the two base plates 12a that make up the base 12. The second sliding plate mechanism 7' has an input operation member 71 fixed to the joystick 13, and each of the plates 72, 73, and 74 other than the input operation member 71 has a lever through hole 70, and is a mechanism in which the lever tilting operation performed while the joystick 13 is pressed down becomes an angle input operation.

[0085] The input operating member 71 is molded from a synthetic resin material or the like, has a lever fixing hole 77 on its inner surface, and has a stepped cylindrical shape on its outer surface in which the outer diameter of the upper cylinder is smaller than the outer diameter of the lower cylinder.

[0086] As shown in Figure 16, the angle input plate 72 is a rectangular plate positioned with a vertical gap between it and the input operating member 71, and has three swivel angle input pins 75 and three elevation angle input pins 76 protruding downward from the top surface of the plate. Here, the vertical gap between the input operating member 71 and the angle input plate 72 is set to the gap at which the input operating member 71 and the angle input plate 72 are pressed together when the joystick 13 is pressed down. Note that the other configurations of the second sliding plate mechanism 7' are the same as those of the first sliding plate mechanism 7 in Embodiment 1, so their description is omitted.

[0087] Next, an example of the fundus image acquisition process will be explained with reference to Figure 18. Each step of the flowchart shown in Figure 18 will be explained. Note that steps S1, S2, S3, S5, and S7 are the same as the corresponding steps in the flowchart shown in Figure 14, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0088] In step S4', following the locking of the three-dimensional adjustment position of XYZ in step S3, the joystick 13, which is still pressed down, is pulled forward to set the elevation angle φ of the device body 18 upward (the device body 18, which is the measuring part, goes down). In other words, the examiner uses one hand to press down the joystick 13 to press the input operating member 71 against the angle input plate 72, and while maintaining that pressure, the joystick 13 is used to tilt the input operating member 71 in the Z-axis direction. When this elevation angle input operation is performed by the examiner, the elevation angle detection plate 74 receives a slide input in the Z-axis direction from the elevation angle input pin 76 provided on the angle input plate 72 and slides in the Z-axis direction. In this way, the angle input operation of the elevation angle φ can be performed with a simple one-handed operation by tilting the joystick 13 in the forward and backward directions while keeping it pressed down.

[0089] In step S6', following the acquisition of the upper fundus image of the macula in step S5, the input operating member 71 is moved to the left, setting the head sway angle θ to the left. That is, the examiner uses one hand to press down the joystick 13 and tilts the joystick 13 in the X-axis direction while keeping it pressed down. When the examiner performs this head sway angle input operation, the head sway angle detection plate 73 receives a slide input in the X-axis direction from the head sway angle input pin 75 provided on the angle input plate 72 and slides in the X-axis direction. In this way, the angle input operation for the head sway angle θ can be performed with a simple one-handed operation of tilting the joystick 13 left or right while keeping it pressed down.

[0090] As explained above, the ophthalmic device 10 of Example 2 provides the following effects in addition to the effects of (1) to (4) of Example 1.

[0091] (6) The lever input operation mechanism is a second lever input operation mechanism 5' which has a lever (joystick 13) that, when released in a tilt angle range of less than a predetermined angle, does not return to the upright position but maintains the tilt angle at that time. The sliding plate mechanism is a second sliding plate mechanism 7' in which an input operation member 71 is fixed to the lever, and each plate other than the input operation member has a lever through hole 70, and the lever tilt operation performed while the lever is pressed down is used as an angle input operation. As a result, angle input operations for the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ can be performed with a simple one-handed operation by tilting the lever (joystick 13) in the left / right direction or the front / back direction while keeping it pressed down. That is, by fixing the input operation member 71 to the lever and making the lever pressing operation an input switching operation, the left / right tilt and the front / back tilt of the pressed lever can be converted into sliding movements of the swivel angle detection plate 73 and the elevation angle detection plate 74. [Examples]

[0092] Embodiment 3 is an example in which a switch is used as the input element switching means, and a lever input operation mechanism is used as the angle input operation mechanism, thereby inputting the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ by lever input operation.

[0093] The configuration of the input operation unit 1 of Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to Figure 19. Embodiment 3 uses an input element switching switch 64 as the input element switching means. The input element switching switch 64 is installed in a position that can be reached with one hand while the examiner is holding the joystick 13, and outputs a switch signal to the control unit 20 which performs the input element switching processing. The input element switching switch 64 has a first switching position 64a (dotted line position in Figure 19) that allows input operation of the axial positions of X, Y, and Z, and a second switching position 64b (solid line position in Figure 19) that allows input operation of the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ. The first switching position 64a allows input operation of the axial positions of X, Y, and Z, while fixing the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ. The second switching position 64b allows input operation of the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ, as well as input operation of the Z-axis position, while fixing the axial positions of X and Y. Here, "permission" and "fixing" are performed in the control unit 20, which receives the switch signal from the input element switching switch 64, by processing to allow or prohibit rewriting of each axis position information (X-axis position, Y-axis position, Z-axis position) and each angle information (swiveling angle θ, elevation angle φ).

[0094] With the input element switching switch 64 switched to the second switching position 64b, of the three input operations to the joystick 13, two operations are assigned to the input operations for the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ, and the remaining operation is assigned to the input operation for the Z-axis position (focusing operation). The assignment methods are as follows: Option 1: The lever tilt operation in the X-axis direction is assigned to the input operation for the swivel angle θ, the lever tilt operation in the Z-axis direction is assigned to the input operation for the elevation angle φ, and the lever rotation operation is assigned to the input operation for the Z-axis position. Alternatively, Option 2: The lever tilt operation in the X-axis direction is assigned to the input operation for the swivel angle θ, the lever tilt operation in the Z-axis direction is assigned to the input operation for the Z-axis position, and the lever rotation operation is assigned to the input operation for the elevation angle φ. Either Option 1 or Option 2 of the assignment method may be adopted.

[0095] As in Examples 1 and 2, the XYZ position is adjusted using the lever, and after capturing a fundus image centered on the macula, when capturing the upper part of the macula, the input element switching switch 64 is switched from the first switching position 64a to the second switching position 64b. In the case of Proposal 1, tilting the lever in the Z-axis direction results in input of the elevation angle φ, allowing the upper part of the macula to be captured. Furthermore, tilting the lever in the X-axis direction results in input of the swivel angle θ, allowing the upper and right side of the macula to be captured. In the case of Proposal 2, the input of the swivel angle θ is the same as in Proposal 1, but the input of the elevation angle φ becomes a lever rotation operation.

[0096] As explained above, the ophthalmic device 10 of Example 3 provides the following effects in addition to the effects of (1) and (2) of Example 1.

[0097] (7) The input element switching means is an input element switching switch 64 having a first switching position 64a that allows input operation of axial positions in X, Y, and Z, and a second switching position 64b that allows input operation of the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ. The angle input operation mechanism is set to a switching state in which the input operation of the input element switching switch 64 allows input operation of the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ, and two of the input operations of the three-dimensional position of the left / right axis X, up / down axis Y, and front / back axis Z performed on the lever (joystick 13) in the switching state are distributed to the input operation of the swivel angle θ and the input operation of the elevation angle φ.

[0098] Embodiment 3 is configured such that, by switching the input element switching switch 64 (input element switching means), in addition to input operations for the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ, an input operation for adjusting the position in the Z-axis direction is permitted. Of the three operations on the lever in this switched state, two operations are assigned to input operations for the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ, and the remaining operation is assigned to the Z-axis adjustment operation (focusing). Therefore, when there is a misalignment (focus shift) in the Z-axis direction between the eye under examination E and the device body due to angle adjustment of the swivel angle θ or the elevation angle φ, the input element switching state can be addressed while remaining in the angle adjustment operation state without having to return to the three-dimensional position adjustment operation state. [Examples]

[0099] Example 4 is an example that includes a remote control device 80 used in remote examination mode, where the examiner, who is located at least a social distance away from the subject, remotely operates the ophthalmic device 10'.

[0100] The remote control device 80 is a device that transmits input information wirelessly to the control unit 20 located in the ophthalmic device 10'. The remote control device 80 uses a tablet terminal 81 having a touch panel display screen 81a and a remote input operation unit 82 that works in conjunction with the tablet terminal 81.

[0101] The remote input operation unit 82 is detachably attached to the tablet terminal 81 and can be attached or detached and placed close to it. It is operated by an examiner located relative to the subject when adjusting the relative position of the device body 18 with respect to the eye E under examination, and has the same functions as the input operation unit 1 provided on the ophthalmic device 10'. In other words, the remote input operation unit 82 has a lever input operation mechanism 84 and an angle input operation mechanism 85. The lever input operation mechanism 84 is equipped with a joystick 83 (lever) with operation buttons 83a and is used to adjust the three-dimensional position of the device body 18 on the left-right axis X, up-down axis Y, and front-back axis Z. The angle input operation mechanism 85 is used by the examiner to adjust the swivel angle θ and tilt angle φ of the device body 18 using one hand that is gripping the joystick 83. The detailed configurations of the lever input mechanism 84 and the angle input mechanism 85 are the same as, for example, the first lever input mechanism 5, the second lever input mechanism 5', and the first sliding plate mechanism 7 and the second sliding plate mechanism 7' in Embodiments 1 and 2, so their illustration and description are omitted.

[0102] As explained above, the ophthalmic device 10' of Example 4 provides the following effects in addition to the effects of Examples 1, 2, and 3.

[0103] (8) A remote input operation unit 82 having a lever input operation mechanism 84 and an angle input operation mechanism 85 is provided on the tablet terminal 81 of the remote operation device 80 which transmits operation amount information to be output to the control unit 20 via wireless communication. Therefore, when an examiner located at a distance from the ophthalmic device 10' adjusts the relative position of the device body 18 with respect to the eye E being examined by remote examination, the input operation using five input elements (X, Y, Z, θ, φ) with different displacement modes can be performed intuitively with one hand. In other words, even though it is a remote examination, the relative position of the device body 18 can be adjusted with the same feeling as the input operation operation to the input operation unit 1 of the ophthalmic device 10'.

[0104] The ophthalmic apparatus of this disclosure has been described above based on Examples 1 to 4. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these examples, and changes or additions to the design are permitted as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention as described in each claim of the patent.

[0105] In Examples 1 and 2, the input element switching means is a pressing operation of the joystick 13, which locks the tilting of the first lever input operating mechanism 5 in the X-axis and Z-axis directions relative to the lever case 50. The example shows a lever operation lock structure 63 that releases the lock when the hand is released from the pressing joystick 13. However, the input element switching means is not limited to the configuration of Examples 1 and 2, as long as it is a means that, when switching the input operation from the lever input operating mechanism to the angle input operating mechanism, fixes the axis coordinates of the input elements X, Y, and Z by the lever input operating mechanism based on a predetermined switching operation, and at the same time allows input operations of the swivel angle θ and elevation angle φ by the angle input operating mechanism.

[0106] For example, to fix the Y-axis coordinate, a joystick locking mechanism may be added to the lever operation locking mechanism to fix the Y-axis coordinate, which changes in conjunction with the lever pressing operation. Alternatively, regarding the fixing of the Y-axis coordinate, the control unit may, upon detecting a lever pressing operation, perform a process to fix the Y-axis coordinate stored in the control unit at that time. Furthermore, as the input element switching means, a switch operation on a joystick, or a button located near the joystick, may be used as the input element switching operation. In this case, when the control unit detects a switch-on operation, it performs a process to fix the XYZ axis coordinates stored in the control unit at that time, and when it detects a switch-off operation, it performs a process to fix the angle values ​​of θ and φ stored in the control unit at that time.

[0107] In Examples 1 and 2, the angle input operation mechanism was shown to be a sliding plate mechanism in which an angle input plate 72 that moves together with an input operation member 71 operated by the examiner's hand, a swivel angle detection plate 73 that detects the swivel angle θ, and a tilt angle detection plate 74 that detects the tilt angle φ are superimposed. However, the angle input operation mechanism is not limited to the sliding plate mechanism shown in Examples 1 and 2, as long as it is a mechanism in which the examiner uses one hand that is gripping a lever to adjust the swivel angle θ and tilt angle φ of the device body. For example, if a lever that tilts when X, Y, Z is input switches to a lever that slides when the operation is switched to θ, φ input, the lever's sliding mechanism may also be used as the angle input operation mechanism.

[0108] In Example 1, an example was shown in which the angle changing mechanism 30 is configured by providing a tilt-up drive mechanism 41 on top of the swivel drive mechanism 31. However, the angle changing mechanism may also be configured in any way, for example, by reversing the orientation of the swivel drive mechanism and the tilt-up drive mechanism, and providing the tilt-up drive mechanism below the swivel drive mechanism. As long as it is a drive mechanism that enables both swivel and tilt movements in the main body of the device (observation and imaging optical system), it is not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0109] In Embodiment 3, an example was shown in which an input element switching means is an input element switching switch 64 that is installed in a position reachable by the examiner with one hand while gripping the lever and operated by a slide. However, the input element switching switch may also be a switch operated by a button, installed in a position reachable by the examiner with one hand while gripping the lever. In Embodiment 1, the first sliding plate mechanism 7 may be omitted, and an input element switching switch that is switched in conjunction with the lever pressing operation may be used as the input element switching means. In this case, the switch operation to the input element switching switch becomes a lever operation by pressing down and returning the lever, and all operations, including XYZ input operation, angle input operation, and switching operation, can be performed as one-handed lever input operations.

[0110] Examples 1-3 show an application to a fundus camera incorporating an observation and imaging optical system 19 as an ophthalmic device. However, the application to ophthalmic devices is not limited to fundus cameras, but can be applied to various ophthalmic devices that incorporate at least an observation optical system. For example, it can be applied to an ophthalmic device called an autorefractometer, which has two measurement heads and integrates an autorefractometer, a non-contact tonometer, and corneal thickness measurement into one unit, allowing three test results to be obtained in a single measurement. In the case of this ophthalmic device, the swivel angle θ can be used when setting the adjustment amount for downward rotation and convergence / divergence. Here, "convergence / divergence" refers to the eye movements in which both eyes move in different directions when the gaze is moved to an object at different distances (depths) from the subject. "Convergence" is when both eyes come together when looking at something close, and "divergence" is when both eyes move apart when looking at something far away. Furthermore, it can also be applied to dilated fundus cameras, subjective optometry devices, luminance meters, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0111] 1. Input operation unit 5. First lever input operating mechanism (lever input operating mechanism) 50 Lever Case 63 Lever operation lock structure (input element switching means) 64 Input element switching switch (input element switching means) 7. First sliding plate mechanism (angle input operation mechanism) 70 Lever through hole 71 Input operating member 72 Angle Input Plate 73 Swivel Angle Detection Plate 74. Elevation Angle Detection Plate 5' Second lever input mechanism (lever input mechanism) 7' Second sliding plate mechanism (angle input operation mechanism) 10,10' ophthalmological equipment 13. Joystick (lever) 18 Main unit of the device 20 Control Unit 31 Swivel drive mechanism 41 Elevation drive mechanism 80 Remote control device 81 Tablet devices 82 Remote Input Operation Unit 83. Joystick (lever) 84 Lever input operation mechanism 85 Angle input operation mechanism E. Eye being examined X left and right axis Y vertical axis Z front-rear axis θ Swivel angle φ Elevation angle

Claims

1. An ophthalmic apparatus comprising: a main body containing an observation optical system for the eye under examination; an input operation unit operated by the examiner to adjust the relative positional relationship of the main body to the eye under examination; and a control unit that performs drive control of the main body according to operation amount information detected by an operation amount sensor in the input operation unit, The device body includes a left-right axis drive mechanism, a up-down axis drive mechanism, a front-back axis drive mechanism, a swivel drive mechanism around the up-down axis, and a tilt-up drive mechanism around the left-right axis, with respect to the eye being examined. The input operation unit comprises a lever input operation mechanism having a lever for adjusting the three-dimensional position of the device body along the left-right axis X, the up-down axis Y, and the front-rear axis Z, and an angle input operation mechanism, which is integrated with or positioned close to the lever, for adjusting the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ of the device body. The input operation unit has an input element switching means that, when switching input operations from the lever input operation mechanism to the angle input operation mechanism, fixes the axis coordinates of X, Y, and Z, which are input elements by the lever input operation mechanism, based on a predetermined switching operation, and at the same time permits input operations of the swivel angle θ and elevation angle φ by the angle input operation mechanism. The input element switching means defines the predetermined switching operation as a lever depressing operation, the operation of sliding the input operation unit in the X-axis direction while the lever is depressing as an input operation for the swivel angle θ, and the operation of sliding the input operation unit in the Z-axis direction while the lever is depressing as an input operation for the elevation angle φ. An ophthalmic device characterized by the following features.

2. In the ophthalmic device described in Claim 1, The input element switching means has a lever operation lock structure that locks the tilting of the lever input operation mechanism in the X-axis and Z-axis directions relative to the lever case when the push-down operation is performed, and releases the lock when the hand that was pressing down on the lever is released. An ophthalmic device characterized by the following features.

3. In the ophthalmic device described in Claim 1, The angle input operation mechanism is a sliding plate mechanism comprising an angle input plate that moves together with an input operation member operated by the examiner's hand, a swivel angle detection plate that detects the swivel angle θ, and a tilt angle detection plate that detects the tilt angle φ. An ophthalmic device characterized by the following features.

4. In the ophthalmic device described in Claim 3, The lever input operation mechanism is a first lever input operation mechanism having a lever that returns to an upright position when released. The sliding plate mechanism has a lever through-hole through which the lever passes, and the first sliding plate mechanism is an angle input operation that is performed by bringing the hypothenar eminence or fist ring of one of the examiner's hands, which is pressing down the lever, into contact with the input operating member, thereby performing left-right and forward-backward movement operations. An ophthalmic device characterized by the following features.

5. In the ophthalmic device described in Claim 3, The lever input operation mechanism is a second lever input operation mechanism having a lever that, when released in a tilt angle range of a predetermined angle or less, does not return to the upright position but maintains the tilt angle at that time. The aforementioned sliding plate mechanism is a second sliding plate mechanism in which the input operating member is fixed to the lever, each plate other than the input operating member has a lever through hole, and the lever tilting operation performed while the lever is pressed down is used as an angle input operation. An ophthalmic device characterized by the following features.

6. An ophthalmic apparatus comprising: a main body of an apparatus having an observation optical system for the eye to be examined; an input operation unit operated by an examiner when adjusting the relative positional relationship of the main body of the apparatus with respect to the eye to be examined; and a control unit that performs drive control of the main body of the apparatus according to operation amount information detected by an operation amount sensor in the input operation unit, The device body includes a left-right axis drive mechanism, a up-down axis drive mechanism, a front-back axis drive mechanism, a swivel drive mechanism around the up-down axis, and a tilt-up drive mechanism around the left-right axis, with respect to the eye being examined. The input operation unit comprises a lever input operation mechanism having a lever for adjusting the three-dimensional position of the device body along the left-right axis X, the up-down axis Y, and the front-rear axis Z, and an angle input operation mechanism, which is integrated with or positioned close to the lever, for adjusting the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ of the device body. The input operation unit has an input element switching means that, when switching input operations from the lever input operation mechanism to the angle input operation mechanism, fixes the axis coordinates of X, Y, and Z, which are input elements by the lever input operation mechanism, based on a predetermined switching operation, and at the same time permits input operations of the swivel angle θ and elevation angle φ by the angle input operation mechanism. The input element switching means is an input element switching switch installed in a position reachable by the examiner with one hand while gripping the lever, and having a first switching position that allows input operations for the axial positions of X, Y, and Z, and a second switching position that allows input operations to adjust the position in the Z axis direction in addition to input operations for the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ, and with the input element switching switch switched to the second switching position, two of the three input operations to the lever are allocated to input operations for the swivel angle θ and the elevation angle φ, and the remaining one is allocated to input operation for the Z axis position. An ophthalmic device characterized by the following features.

7. In an ophthalmic device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, A remote input operation unit having the lever input operation mechanism and the angle input operation mechanism is provided in a tablet terminal of a remote operation device that transmits the operation amount information to be output to the control unit via wireless communication. An ophthalmic device characterized by the following features.

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