Device-assisted eye imaging and / or measurement

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure provide improved techniques for assisting in imaging and / or measurement of a subject's eye suitable for use with an imaging and / or measurement device operated by the subject, even in the absence of a clinician or technician, thereby improving access to medical-grade imaging and / or measurement. Some aspects relate to techniques for receiving user input and capturing medical-grade images and / or measurements of the subject's eye in response to receiving the user input. Some aspects relate to techniques for providing visual feedback to a user of the imaging and / or measurement device indicating the location of the subject's eye within the field of view of the imaging and / or measurement device. Some aspects relate to techniques for selectively illuminating a first portion of the subject's eye with illumination light and capturing an image of the first portion of the subject's eye.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to techniques for imaging and / or measuring an eye of a subject, including the retinal fundus of the subject.

Background Art

[0002] Techniques for imaging and / or measuring an eye of a subject benefit from improvements.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method comprising receiving a user input and capturing a medical-grade image and / or measurement value of the user's eye in response to the receipt of the user input.

[0004] Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to an imaging and / or measuring device configured to receive a user input and capture a medical-grade image and / or measurement value of the user's eye in response to the receipt of the user input.

[0005] Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method comprising providing feedback to a user of an imaging and / or measuring device indicating the position of the subject's eye within the field of view of the imaging and / or measuring device.

[0006] Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to an imaging and / or measuring device configured to provide feedback to a user indicating the position of the subject's eye within the field of the imaging and / or measuring device.

[0007] Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method comprising selectively illuminating a first portion of the subject's eye with illumination light and capturing an image of the first portion of the subject's eye. Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to an imaging and / or measuring device configured to selectively illuminate a first portion of the subject's eye with illumination light and capture an image of the first portion of the subject's eye.

[0008] Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method comprising the steps of: using a first illumination light to locate a first portion of a target eye; and using a second illumination light to capture an image and / or measurements of a second portion of the target eye.

[0009] Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to imaging and / or measuring devices configured to use a first illumination light to locate a first portion of a subject eye and to use a second illumination light to capture an image and / or measurements of a second portion of the subject eye.

[0010] Some aspects of this disclosure relate to a method comprising a step of compensating for misalignment between a first scan and a second scan of an eye of a subject captured by an imaging and / or measuring device.

[0011] Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for manufacturing an imaging and / or measuring device, the method comprising the step of configuring the imaging and / or measuring device to provide feedback to a user of the imaging and / or measuring device indicating the position of a target eye within the field of view of the imaging and / or measuring device.

[0012] Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for manufacturing an imaging and / or measuring device, the method comprising the steps of selectively illuminating a first portion of a target eye with illumination light and configuring the imaging and / or measuring device to acquire an image and / or measurement of the first portion of the target eye.

[0013] The above summary is not intended to be limiting. Furthermore, various aspects of this disclosure may be implemented individually or in combination with other aspects. The attached drawings are not intended to be to scale. In the drawings, identical or nearly identical components shown in various drawings are represented by the same numbers. For clarity, not all components may be labeled in all drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1A] An exemplary top perspective view of an imaging device according to several embodiments. [Figure 1B] An exploded assembly diagram of the imaging device shown in Figure 1A, according to several embodiments. [Figure 1C] A side view of the user-operated imaging device shown in Figure 1A, according to several embodiments. [Figure 1D] A side perspective view of the imaging device shown in Figure 1A, mounted on a stand, according to several embodiments. [Figure 1E] A side perspective view of the user-operated imaging device in Figure 1A, showing the imaging device mounted on the user's head, according to several embodiments. [Figure 1F] A side perspective view of the imaging device in Figure 1A, showing the imaging device mounted on a surface according to several embodiments. [Figure 2A] A top perspective view of an imaging device with the housing removed to show the optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging component of the imaging device according to several embodiments. [Figure 2B] A top view of the imaging device shown in Figure 2A, according to several embodiments. [Figure 2C] A side perspective view of the imaging device shown in Figure 2A, according to several embodiments. [Figure 3A] A partial top view of an exemplary imaging device in which the housing portion has been removed to show the white light and fluorescence imaging components of the imaging device according to several embodiments. [Figure 3B] A top view of the imaging device shown in Figure 3A, according to several embodiments. [Figure 4] An exemplary top perspective view of an imaging device according to several embodiments, with the housing removed to show the white light, fluorescence, OCT, and infrared (IR) imaging components of the imaging device. [Figure 5] A partial top view of the imaging device shown in Figure 4, illustrating the white light and fluorescence imaging components of the imaging device according to several embodiments. [Figure 6A]Schematic diagram of the white light and fluorescence imaging component of FIG. 5 with a fixation component according to some embodiments. [Figure 6B] Diagram of an imaging target from the perspective of the white light and fluorescence imaging component of FIG. 6A according to some embodiments. [Figure 6C] Front view of a light source component that may be included in the white light and fluorescence imaging component of FIG. 6A according to some embodiments. [Figure 6D] Front view of an alternative light source component that may be included in the white light and fluorescence imaging component of FIG. 6A according to some embodiments. [Figure 6E] Front view of a plate with an annular window of the white light and fluorescence imaging component of FIG. 6A according to some embodiments. [Figure 6F] Front view of a plate with a masking portion of the white light and fluorescence imaging component of FIG. 6A according to some embodiments. [Figure 6G] Front view of an illumination mirror of the white light and fluorescence imaging component of FIG. 6A according to some embodiments. [Figure 7] Diagram of the fixation display of FIG. 6A from the perspective of a user of an imaging device with a white light and fluorescence imaging component according to some embodiments. [Figure 8A] Schematic diagram of a white light and fluorescence imaging component with a fixation mask according to some embodiments. [Figure 8B] Diagram of a first fixation mask along direction A of the white light and fluorescence imaging component of FIG. 8A according to some embodiments. [Figure 8C] Diagram of a second fixation mask along direction A of the white light and fluorescence imaging component of FIG. 8A according to some embodiments. [Figure 9A] Schematic diagram of an alternative fixation component of the white light and fluorescence component of FIG. 6A according to some embodiments. [Figure 9B] Front view of mask X of FIG. 9A according to some embodiments. [Figure 9C]Front view of beam splitter Y in Figure 9A, according to several embodiments. [Figure 10A] Schematic diagrams of further alternative fixation components to the white light and fluorescence imaging components of Figure 6A, according to several embodiments. [Figure 10B] Front view of the first end of the beam splitter in Figure 10A, according to several embodiments. [Figure 10C] A rear view of the second end of the object in Figure 10A, according to several embodiments. [Figure 11] Schematic diagrams of white light and fluorescence imaging components further comprising an iris sensor component, according to several embodiments. [Figure 12A] A diagram illustrating the exemplary progression of scanning a target eye according to several embodiments. [Figure 12B] Images constructed using scans taken into the progress shown in Figure 12A, according to several embodiments. [Figure 13A] A diagram illustrating the exemplary progression of scanning a target eye, in which misalignment between one of the scans is compensated according to several embodiments. [Figure 13B] Images constructed using scans captured during the process shown in Figure 13A, according to several embodiments. [Figure 14] A diagram illustrating exemplary visual feedback displays provided to an object, according to several embodiments. [Figure 15] Block diagram of an exemplary digital processing circuit that may be configured to compensate for misalignment between scans, according to several embodiments. [Figure 16] A flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for capturing an image of a target eye, according to several embodiments. [Figure 17] A flowchart illustrating alternative exemplary methods for capturing images of a target eye, according to several embodiments. [Figure 18] A flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for acquiring OCT images and / or measurements of a target eye, according to several embodiments. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] I. Introduction Aspects of this disclosure provide improved techniques for assisting the imaging of a subject's eye, suitable for use in imaging devices operated by a subject (and / or a clinician, technician, and / or physician). Some aspects relate to techniques for receiving user input and, in response to the reception of user input, acquiring medical-grade images and / or measurements of the subject's eye. Some aspects relate to techniques for providing the user of an imaging and / or measuring device with visual feedback indicating the location of the subject's eye within the field of view of the imaging and / or measuring device. Some aspects relate to techniques for illuminating a first portion of the subject's eye with illumination light and substantially preventing the illumination light from reaching a second portion of the subject's eye. Some aspects relate to techniques for using light from a first light source to locate a first portion of the subject's eye and using light from a second light source to acquire an image of the second portion of the subject's eye. Some aspects relate to techniques for compensating for misalignment between a first scan and a second scan of the subject's eye. The imaging and / or measurement devices and techniques described herein provide medical-grade imaging quality and can be generated or performed by the subject being imaged, even in the absence of a clinician or technician, thereby improving access to medical-grade imaging. As described herein, medical-grade images may be images of parts of the anatomical structure of the subject (e.g., the subject's eyes) that are useful in determining and / or diagnosing the subject's health condition and / or disease.

[0016] The inventors have recognized and understood that the human eye provides a window into the body that can be used not only to determine whether a person has an eye disease, but also to determine the person's overall health. In particular, the retina and fundus can provide valuable information through imaging for use in various health decisions. However, conventional systems for imaging the fundus only provide superficial information about the eye in question and are not sufficient to diagnose certain diseases. Therefore, in some embodiments, multiple imaging modes are used to more completely image the fundus of the subject. For example, two or more techniques may be used to image the fundus simultaneously. In some embodiments, optical imaging, fluorescence imaging, and optical coherence tomography techniques may be used to provide multimode imaging of the fundus. The inventors have recognized that by using multimode imaging, a greater amount of information about the fundus can be obtained compared to conventional single-mode imaging, which can be used to determine the health of the subject. In some embodiments, two or more of optical imaging, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescence spectral imaging, and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLI) may be used to provide multimode images of the fundus. For example, a device that uses color optical imaging, infrared (IR) imaging, OCT, fluorescence spectral imaging, and FLI together provides five modes for imaging the fundus.

[0017] It should be understood that the fluorescence imaging and / or measurement techniques described herein may include steps to excite spontaneously luminescent molecules within the eye of the subject and / or luminescent molecules in one or more dyes placed within the eye of the subject, before and / or during imaging and / or measurement. Furthermore, the OCT imaging and / or measurement techniques described herein may, as an alternative or additional measure, include Doppler OCT techniques and / or OCT angiography (OCT-A) techniques.

[0018] The inventors further recognize and understand that making the device portable, handheld, and affordable will have the greatest impact on global health. Countries or regions that cannot provide specialized facilities to diagnose specific diseases and / or lack medical professionals to analyze data from imaging tests are often left behind until the overall health of the entire population is compromised. Portable devices that can be brought into any low-income community will enable greater access to critical healthcare diagnostics. Accordingly, several embodiments are directed toward devices that include multiple modes for imaging the fundus in a housing that is portable and, in some examples, handheld. In some embodiments, the device has a binocular form factor so that a subject can hold the device up to their eye for fundus imaging. In some embodiments, one or more of the imaging modes may share optical components to make the device smaller, more efficient, and more cost-effective. For example, a color optical imaging device and a fluorescence imaging device may be housed in the first half of the binocular housing of the device, and an OCT device may be housed in the second half of the binocular housing.

[0019] Using such a device, both eyes of a subject can be imaged simultaneously using different devices. For example, the subject's left eye may be imaged using an optical imaging device and / or a fluorescence imaging device, while the subject's right eye is imaged using an OCT device. After the initial imaging is complete, the subject can be reversing the orientation of the binocular device so that each eye is measured using a device located in the other half of the binocular housing, for example, the left eye being imaged using an OCT device and the right eye being imaged using an optical imaging device and / or a fluorescence imaging device. To ensure that the device can operate in both orientations, the front of the device, located near the subject's eyes, may be substantially symmetrical. In addition or alternatively, the two halves of the device housing may be connected by hinges that allow the two halves to be adjusted to either orientation.

[0020] The inventors further recognize and understand that conventional eye imaging devices are not suitable for use by subjects to image their own eyes. For example, conventional imaging devices are typically used in a clinical setting where a clinician or technician can instruct the subject on where to position the subject's eyes before, during, and after imaging. Once the clinician or technician is satisfied with the subject's positioning, an image of the subject's eyes may be acquired. When it comes to acquiring a sequence of images, such as an OCT scan sequence, the subject may use an OCT device that is reliably positioned to prevent the OCT device from moving during the scan sequence. If the subject moves during the sequence, the clinician or technician can restart the scan sequence. However, in the absence of a clinician or technician, most subjects are unable to properly position themselves or know when to acquire an image. When not properly positioned, some parts of the subject's eyes may reflect illumination light during imaging, degrading the quality of the acquired image. Also, when using portable devices, the subject's eyes may move relative to the device, thereby destabilizing the OCT scan sequence while it is being acquired.

[0021] To address these problems, the inventors have developed techniques to facilitate imaging of the eye of a subject performed by the subject. In some embodiments, the imaging and / or measuring device described herein may be configured to locate a portion of the eye of a subject and to capture an image of that portion of the eye of the subject. For example, the imaging and / or measuring device may be configured to locate one or more portions of interest of the eye of a subject, such as a portion of the pupil of the subject, and to capture an image of them. In the same or another example, the imaging and / or measuring device may be configured to locate undesirable portions of the eye of a subject, such as the cornea or iris of the subject, so that undesirable portions are not imaged. In some embodiments, the imaging and / or measuring device may be configured to illuminate the eye of a subject with a first illumination light (e.g., infrared light) to locate a first portion of the eye of the subject (e.g., the cornea or iris), and to illuminate a second portion of the eye of the subject with a second illumination light (e.g., white light) to capture an image of the second portion. For example, the imaging and / or measuring device may be configured to determine the location of the first portion using the light reflected by the first portion when illuminated. By pinpointing the location of a specific part of the target eye and capturing its image, the imaging device can be configured to capture higher-quality, medical-grade images of the target eye, even when operated by a novice user (for example, in the absence of a clinician or technician).

[0022] In some embodiments, the imaging and / or measuring device described herein may be configured to adjust one or more light sources to selectively illuminate one or more first portions of a target eye with illumination light, and to capture an image of the first portions of the target eye. For example, the first portions may include the pupil portion of the target. In some embodiments, the imaging and / or measuring device may include at least one light source configured to provide illumination light and an optical component configured to focus the illumination light onto the first portions of the target eye. For example, the light sources may include a plurality of light sources configured to illuminate different portions of the target eye. For example, one or a group of light sources may be arranged in a ring and positioned to illuminate each portion of the target eye such that each light source is configured to illuminate a corresponding ring on the target eye. In some embodiments, the optical component may include a plate having an annular portion and a hood in the center of the annular portion, such that the light sources are configured to illuminate the first portions through the annular portion. By selectively illuminating and imaging one or more portions of the target eye, the imaging and / or measuring device can illuminate only the portion of the target eye desired for imaging, thereby preventing reflections from undesirable portions from degrading the quality of the captured image of the selected portion of the target eye.

[0023] In some embodiments, the imaging and / or measuring devices described herein may be configured to provide feedback to the user of the imaging and / or measuring device, indicating the position of the target eye within the field of view of the imaging and / or measuring device. In some embodiments, the user may be the target. For example, in conventional systems, the user of the imaging device may only be a technician or clinician, but the user of the imaging and / or measuring device described herein may be the target being imaged. In some embodiments, the imaging and / or measuring device may be configured to locate the position of the target eye within the field of view of the imaging and / or measuring device and to provide visual feedback in response to locating the target eye. For example, the imaging and / or measuring device may determine that the target eye is not positioned within a threshold range of the target position (e.g., the target distance from the imaging and / or measuring device to the target eye) and provide feedback to the user to reposition the target eye. In some embodiments, the fixation display component of the imaging and / or measuring device may be configured to display visual feedback to the user. By providing visual feedback to the user, the imaging and / or measuring device can facilitate the operation of the device even by novice users.

[0024] In some embodiments, the imaging and / or measuring device may be configured to compensate for misalignment between scans of the target eye. For example, the imaging and / or measuring device may include an OCT imaging and / or measuring device configured to compensate for misalignment by, for example, adjusting the reference path length and / or positioning of the scan mirror of the OCT imaging and / or measuring device, and / or by providing feedback to the user (e.g., operator and / or subject). By compensating for misalignment between scans of the target eye, the imaging and / or measuring device can acquire high-quality, medically useful images of the target eye even when the target eye and / or the imaging and / or measuring device moves during the scan sequence.

[0025] According to the techniques described herein and further described herein, the imaging and / or measuring device may be used, depending on the subject, to image the subject's own eye. In some embodiments, the imaging and / or measuring device described herein may be configured to receive user input and, in response to the reception of user input, to acquire a medical-grade image and / or measurement of the subject's eye. For example, the user may be the subject being imaged by the imaging and / or measuring device. In some embodiments, the user input may be given using one or more buttons on the imaging device. In some embodiments, the imaging device may include one or more imaging and / or measuring devices such as an OCT device, an IR device, an FLI device, and / or a white light device.

[0026] It should be understood that the techniques described herein may be implemented individually or in any combination. It should also be understood that the techniques described herein may be used in imaging and / or measuring devices that are not necessarily operated by the subject for imaging the subject's own eye. The embodiments described herein are not so limited; for example, the techniques described herein may be used in imaging devices configured for conventional settings such as hospitals and clinics for use assisted by one or more clinicians and / or technicians.

[0027] II. Exemplary imaging and / or measuring devices and components Figures 1A to 1F show an exemplary embodiment of the imaging (and / or measuring) device 100 according to several embodiments. As shown in Figure 1A, the imaging device 100 has a housing 101 which includes a plurality of housing portions 101a, 101b, and 101c. Housing portion 101a has a control panel 125 which includes a plurality of buttons for turning the imaging device 100 on or off and for starting a scan sequence. Figure 1B is an exploded view of the imaging device 100 showing components disposed within the housing 101, such as imaging (and / or measuring) devices 122 and 123 and electronics 120. The imaging devices 122 and 123 may include one or more of white light imaging components, fluorescence imaging components, infrared (IR) imaging components, and / or OCT imaging components according to various embodiments. In one example, imaging device 122 may include an OCT imaging component and / or an IR imaging component, and imaging device 123 may include a white light imaging component and / or a fluorescence imaging component. In some embodiments, the imaging devices 122 and / or 123 may include a fixation component configured to display a visible fixation object to the user's imaging device 100. The imaging device 100 further includes a front housing portion 105 configured to receive a person's eye for imaging, as shown, for example, in Figure 1C. Figure 1D shows the imaging device 100 mounted on a stand 150. Figure 1E shows the imaging device 100 mounted on the head of a subject. Figure 1F shows the imaging device 100 mounted on a surface.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1A to 1F, the housing portions 101a and 101b can substantially surround the imaging device 100, for example, by having all or most of the components of the imaging device 100 disposed between the housing portions 101a and 101b. The housing portion 101c can be mechanically coupled to the housing portions 101a and 101b, for example, by using one or more screws that fasten the housing 101 together. As shown in Figure 1B, the housing portion 101c may have several housing portions therein, such as housing portions 102 and 103 for housing imaging devices 122 and 123. For example, in some embodiments, housing portions 102 and 103 may be configured to hold imaging devices 122 and 123 in place. The housing portion 101c further includes a pair of lens portions on which lenses 110 and 111 are disposed. The housing portions 102 and 103 and the lens portions may be configured to hold the imaging devices 122 and 123 in alignment with the lenses 110 and 111. The housing portions 102 and 103 can accommodate focusing components 126 and 127 for adjusting the focus of the lenses 110 and 111. Some embodiments may further include a locking tab 128. By adjusting the locking tab 128 (e.g., pressing, pulling, pushing, etc.), the housing portions 101a, 101b, and / or 101c can be separated from each other, for example, to access components of the imaging device 100 for maintenance and / or repair purposes. As shown in Figure 1B, the electronics 120 of the imaging device 100 can be configured to perform imaging, measurement, and / or related processing. In some embodiments, the electronics 120 may include one or more processors for, for example, analyzing data acquired using the imaging device. In some embodiments, the electronics 120 may include wired and / or wireless means for electrically communicating with other devices and / or computers, such as mobile phones, desktops, laptops, or tablet computers, and / or smartwatches.For example, the electronics 120 of the imaging device 100 may be configured to establish wired and / or wireless connections to such devices, such as USB and / or a suitable wireless network. In some embodiments, the housing 101 may include one or more openings for housing one or more electrical (e.g., USB) cables. In some embodiments, the housing 101 may have one or more antennas disposed therein for transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals to and from such devices. In some embodiments, the imaging devices 122 and / or 123 may be configured to interface with electrical cables and / or antennas. In some embodiments, the electronics 120 may be configured to process captured image data based on commands received from such a communicatively coupled device or computer. In some embodiments, the imaging device 100 may initiate an image acquisition sequence based on commands received from a device and / or computer communicatively coupled to the imaging device 100. In some embodiments, a device and / or computer communicatively coupled to the imaging device 100 may process image data acquired by the imaging device 100.

[0029] The control panel 125 may be electrically coupled to the electronics 120. For example, the scan button on the control panel 125 may be configured to communicate image acquisition and / or scan commands to the electronics 120 in order to initiate a scan using the imaging devices 122 and / or 123. As another example, the power button on the control panel 125 may be configured to communicate power-on or power-off commands to the electronics 120. As shown in Figure 1B, the imaging device 100 may further include an electromagnetic shield 124 configured to isolate the electronics 120 from sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI) in the environment surrounding the imaging device 100. Including the electromagnetic shield 124 can improve the operation of the electronics 120 (e.g., noise performance). In some embodiments, the electromagnetic shield 124 may be coupled to one or more processors of the electronics 120 to dissipate heat generated by one or more processors.

[0030] As shown in Figure 1C, for example, during the operation of the imaging device 100, a person using the imaging device 100 can position the front housing section 105 against their face so that their eyes are aligned with the lens portion of the imaging device 100. In some embodiments, the imaging device 100 may include a gripping member (not shown) coupled to the housing 101 and configured for gripping by a person's hand. In some embodiments, the gripping member may be formed from a soft plastic material and may be ergonomically shaped to accommodate a person's fingers. For example, a person can grasp the gripping member with both hands and position the front housing section 105 against their face so that their eyes are aligned with the lens portion.

[0031] In some embodiments, the imaging devices described herein may be configured to be mounted on a stand, as shown in the example in Figure 1D. In Figure 1D, the imaging device 100 is supported by a stand 150 which includes a base 152 and a holding portion 158. The base 152 is shown to include a substantially U-shaped support portion and has a plurality of legs 154 attached to the underside of the support portion. The base 152 may be configured to support the imaging device 100 on a table or desk, as shown in the figure. The holding portion 158 may be molded to accommodate the housing 101 of the imaging device 100. For example, the outward-facing side of the holding portion 158 may be molded to fit the housing 101.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1D, the base 152 may be connected to the holding portion 158 by a hinge 156. The hinge 156 may allow rotation about an axis parallel to the surface supporting the base 152. For example, during the operation of the imaging device 100 and stand 150, a person may rotate the imaging device 100 to an angle comfortable for the person to image one or both eyes, on the holding portion 158 on which it is mounted. For example, a person may be seated on a table or desk support stand 150. In some embodiments, a person may rotate the imaging device 100 about an axis parallel to the optical axis along which the imaging device in the imaging device images the person's eye. For example, in some embodiments, the stand 150 may include a hinge parallel to the optical axis, either as an alternative or in addition.

[0033] In some embodiments, the holding portion 158 (or any other portion of the stand 150) may include charging hardware configured to transmit power to the imaging device 100 via a wired or wireless connection. In one example, the charging hardware within the stand 150 may include a power supply coupled to one or more wireless charging coils, and the imaging device 100 may include wireless charging coils configured to receive power from the coils within the stand 150. In another example, the charging hardware within the stand 150 may be coupled to an electrical connector on the side of the holding portion 158 facing outward so that the complementary connector of the imaging device 100 interfaces with the connector of the stand 150 when the imaging device 100 is placed against the holding portion 158. According to various embodiments, the wireless charging hardware may include one or more power converters (e.g., AC to DC, DC to DC, etc.) configured to provide the imaging device 100 with appropriate voltage and current for charging. In some embodiments, the stand 150 may house at least one rechargeable battery configured to supply wired or wireless power to the imaging device 100. In some embodiments, the stand 150 may include one or more power connectors configured to receive power from a standard wall outlet, such as a single-phase wall outlet.

[0034] In some embodiments, the front housing portion 105 may comprise a plurality of portions 105a and 105b. Portion 105a may be formed using a mechanically elastic material, while the front portion 105b may be formed using a mechanically compliant material, thereby making the front housing portion 105 comfortable for the user to wear. For example, in some embodiments, portion 105a may be formed using plastic, and portion 105b may be formed using rubber or silicone. In other embodiments, the front housing portion 105 may be formed using a single mechanically elastic or mechanically compliant material. In some embodiments, portion 105b may be located outside the front housing portion 105, while portion 105a may be located inside portion 105b.

[0035] In some embodiments, the imaging device 100 may be supported by a mount configured to be positioned relative to a portion of a subject. For example, as shown in Figure 1E, the imaging device 100 is mounted to the subject's head by a strap 172. In some embodiments, the mounting component, such as the strap 172, can be mechanically fixed to one or more positions on the imaging device 100. It should be understood that other forms of the mounting component, such as goggles and / or face masks, configured to attach to the imaging device 100, may be used. In some embodiments, the mounting component may be manually adjustable so that the subject can move the imaging device 100 in one or more directions. In some embodiments, the mounting component may be automatically adjustable, such as by including a motor configured to move the imaging device 100 in one or more directions. For example, after locating one or more portions of the subject's eyes as described herein, the imaging device 100 may be configured to move in various directions before and / or during imaging to correspond to the position of the subject's eyes.

[0036] In some embodiments, the imaging device may be supported by a mount configured to be positioned on a surface. For example, as shown in Figure 1F, the imaging device 100 is mounted on a surface 176 by a stand 174. In some embodiments, the surface 176 may be the top surface of a table or desk, a ceiling surface (for example, the imaging device 100 may hang from an upper surface), or a floor surface. In some embodiments, the imaging device 100 may be fixed to the stand 174 at multiple positions of the imaging device 100. In some embodiments, the stand 174 may be manually adjustable so that the object can move the imaging device 100 in one or more directions. In some embodiments, as described in relation to Figure 1E, the stand 174 may be automatically adjustable, for example, by including a motor configured to move the imaging device 100 in one or more directions.

[0037] Figures 2A to 2C show exemplary imaging devices 200 comprising an OCT source component 210, a sample component 220, a reference component 240, a detection component 250, and a fixation display 270, according to several embodiments. Figure 2A is a top perspective view of the imaging device 200 with the housing portion of the imaging device 200 removed to show the OCT component of the imaging device 200; Figure 2B is a top view of the imaging device 200 in the configuration shown in Figure 2A; and Figure 2C is a side perspective view of the imaging device 200 in the configuration shown in Figure 2A.

[0038] The source component 210 may be configured to generate and supply light to the sample component 220 for focusing toward the eye of the object, and to the reference component 240 for focusing toward one or more reference planes of the reference component 240. In some embodiments, the source component 210 may include one or more light sources, such as superluminescent diodes, and optical components configured to focus the light from the source. Of the source component 210, a light source 212, a cylindrical lens 216, and a beam splitter 218 are shown in Figures 2A to 2C. The light source 212 may be configured to supply light to the beam splitter 218 via the cylindrical lens 216. The beam splitter 218 may be configured to optically couple the light from the light source 212 toward the sample component 220 and the reference component 240.

[0039] In some embodiments, the sample component 220 may be configured to deliver light from the source component 210 to the target eye via one or more optical components, receive the reflected light from the target eye, and deliver the reflected light to the detection component 250. Of the sample component 220, the scan mirror 222 and the fixation dichroic 224 are shown in Figures 2A to 2C. The scan mirror 222 may be configured to direct light from the beam splitter 218 of the source component 210 toward the target portion of the target eye. The fixation dichroic 224 may be configured to optically couple light from the fixation display 270 to the target eye. In Figure 2C, the imaging device 200 is configured to display light from the fixation display 270 and from the source component 210 to the target eye along the same optical path. In some embodiments, the sample component 220 may also include an infrared (IR) dichroic configured to couple light from an IR imaging component to the target eye. For example, the IR imaging component can share at least a portion of the optical path from the IR dichroic to the target eye. In some embodiments, the source component 210 and the sample component 220 may be configured to illuminate a line crossing the target eye in a first direction, and the scan mirror 222 may be configured to scan a line crossing the target eye in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. For example, the first direction may be transverse, and the second direction may be vertical.

[0040] In some embodiments, the reference component 240 may be configured to direct light from the source component 210 to one or more reference surfaces via one or more optical components. Of the reference component 240, a dispersion compensator 242, a cylindrical lens 244, a folding mirror 246, and a reference surface 248 are shown in Figures 2A to 2C. The dispersion compensator 242, the cylindrical lens 244, and the folding mirror 246 may be configured to focus light from the beam splitter 218 toward the reference surface 248 and to direct the light reflected from the reference surface 248 to the detection component 250 via the beam splitter 218.

[0041] In some embodiments, the detection component 250 may be configured to receive reflected light from the sample component 220 and reference component 240 in response to supplying light from the source component 210 to the sample component 220 and reference component 240. Of the detection component 250, an aspherical lens 252, a plano-concave lens 254, an achromatic lens 256, a transmission grating 258, an achromatic lens 260, and an image sensor 268 are shown in Figures 2A to 2C. The aspherical lens 252, the plano-concave lens 254, and the achromatic lenses 256 and 260 can be configured to focus the received light toward the image sensor 268. The transmission grating 258 may be configured to transmit received light at a Littrow angle that can enhance the noise performance of the transfer function of the image sensor 268. The image sensor 268 may include an interferometer (e.g., a Michelson and / or Mach-Zehnder) configured to determine the phase difference between the light received through the sample component 220 and the light received through the reference component 240. In some embodiments, the detection component 250 may also include an IR sensor configured to capture an IR image using IR light received via the sample component 220. In some embodiments, the detection component 250 may be configured to generate an image using reflected light from an illumination line that crosses the target eye to point to depth information along the illumination line. In some embodiments, as the scan mirror 222 scans the illumination line across the target eye (e.g., vertically), the detection component 250 may be configured to generate an image for each scanned line, thereby creating a depth image in two dimensions (e.g., lateral and vertical, and / or any other pair of orthogonal dimensions).

[0042] Figures 3A and 3B are top views of the white light and fluorescence imaging component 304 of an exemplary imaging apparatus 300 according to several embodiments. Figure 3A is a partial top view of the imaging apparatus 300 with the housing removed to show the white light and fluorescence imaging component 304 according to several embodiments. Figure 3B is a top view of the imaging apparatus of Figure 3A according to several embodiments. As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the white light and fluorescence imaging component 304 includes a white light source component 310, an excitation source component 320, a sample component 330, a fixation display 342, and a detection component 350. In some embodiments, the white light source component 310 and the excitation source component 320 may be configured to illuminate the eye of a subject via the sample component 330 so that reflected light and / or fluorescence from the retina fundus of the subject can be imaged using the detection component 350. In some embodiments, the fixation display 342 may be configured to provide a fixation object that the subject focuses on during imaging.

[0043] In some embodiments, the white light source component 310 may be configured to illuminate the fundus of the target retina so that light reflected and / or scattered by the fundus of the retina can be captured and imaged by the detection component 350, as described herein. As shown in Figures 3A-3B, the white light source component 310 includes a white light source 312, a collimating lens 314, and a laser dichroic 316. In some embodiments, the white light source 312 may include a white light-emitting diode (LED). In some embodiments, the white light source 312 may include a plurality of color LEDs combined to substantially cover the visible spectrum, thereby approximating a white light source. In some embodiments, the white light source 312 may include one or more blue lasers or ultraviolet (UV) lasers.

[0044] In some embodiments, the excitation source component 320 may be configured to excite fluorescence in one or more molecules of interest within the retina fundus of the subject so that the fluorescence can be captured by the detection component 350. As shown in Figures 3A-3B, the fluorescence source component includes a laser 322, a collimating lens 324, and a mirror 326. In some embodiments, the laser 322 may be configured to generate light at one or more wavelengths corresponding to the fluorescence properties of one or more molecules of interest within the retina fundus of the subject. In some embodiments, such molecules may occur naturally within the retina fundus. In some embodiments, such molecules may be biomarkers configured for fluorescence imaging. For example, the laser 322 may be configured to generate excitation light having a wavelength of 405 nm to 450 nm. In some embodiments, the laser 322 may be configured to generate light having a bandwidth of 5 to 6 nm. It should be understood that some embodiments may include multiple lasers configured to generate light having different wavelengths.

[0045] As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the white light source 312 is configured to generate white light and transmit it to the laser dichroic 316 via the collimating lens 314. The laser 322 is configured to generate excitation light and transmit it to the mirror 326 via the collimating lens 324, which reflects the excitation light to the laser dichroic 316. The laser dichroic 316 may be configured to transmit white light and reflect the excitation light so that the white light and the excitation light share an optical path to the retina fundus of the target eye. In some embodiments, the laser dichroic 316 may be configured as a long-pass filter.

[0046] In some embodiments, the fixation display 342 may be configured to display the fixation object that the subject focuses on during imaging. The fixation display 342 may be configured to supply fixation light to the fixation dichroic 344. In some embodiments, the fixation dichroic 344 may be configured to transmit fixation light and reflect white light and excitation light such that the fixation light, white light, and excitation light all share an optical path from the fixation dichroic 344 to the retina fundus of the subject.

[0047] In some embodiments, the sample component 330 may be configured to deliver white light and excitation light to the target retina fundus, and to deliver reflected light and / or fluorescence from the target retina fundus to the detection component 350. As shown in Figures 3A-3B, the sample component 330 includes an achromatic lens 332, an aperture 334, an illumination mirror 336, and an achromatic lens 338. In some embodiments, the achromatic lenses 332 and 338 may be configured to focus the white light, excitation light, and fixation light onto the target retina fundus. In some embodiments, the aperture 334 may be configured to scatter some of the white light, excitation light, and / or fixation light so that light from different sources is focused onto each portion of the target retina fundus. In some embodiments, the illumination mirror 336 may be adjustable, for example, by moving a positioning component 337 in a direction parallel to the imaging axis. In some embodiments, the achromatic lens 338 may be further configured to deliver reflected light and / or fluorescence from the target retina fundus to the detection component 350.

[0048] The detection component 350 may be configured to focus and capture light from the target retina fundus in order to create an image using the received light. As shown in Figures 3A-3B, the detection component 350 includes an achromatic lens 352, a dichroic lens 354, a focusing lens 356, and a camera 358. In some embodiments, the achromatic lens 352 and the focusing lens 356 may be configured to focus the received light toward the camera 358 so that the camera 358 can capture an image using the received light. In some embodiments, the dichroic lens 354 may be configured to transmit white light and fluorescence and to reflect excitation light so that the excitation light does not reach the camera 358. In some embodiments, the camera 358 may be configured to capture white light and fluorescence. In some embodiments, a separate detection component 350 may be included for capturing white light and fluorescence images. For example, the dichroic may be positioned within the detection path and configured to transmit white light to a white light and / or color camera, and fluorescence to a monochrome camera and / or fluorescence lifetime sensor. In some embodiments, the detection component 350 may include a white light camera and a monochrome camera configured to receive light of different wavelengths, such as infrared light, in the monochrome camera, and to use the light captured by the white light camera and the monochrome camera to generate a fluorescence spectral image (e.g., an autofluorescence spectral image). In one example, the light source used for automated fluorescence imaging may have wavelengths of 490 nm, 520 nm, and / or 636 nm.

[0049] Figure 4 is a top perspective view of an exemplary imaging device 400 with the housing removed to show an OCT and infrared (IR) imaging component 402 and a white light and fluorescence imaging component 404, according to several embodiments. The imaging device 400 may be configured to image each of the target eye using two or more imaging devices. For example, in Figure 4, the OCT and IR imaging component 402 is positioned on the side of the imaging device 400 and configured to image the target's left eye 401 via an eye portion aligned with the target's left eye 401, and the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 is positioned on the other side of the imaging device 400 and configured to image the target's right eye via an eye portion aligned with the target's right eye (not shown). In some embodiments, the OCT and IR imaging component may be configured in the manner described for the OCT component in Figures 2A-2C. In some embodiments, the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 may be configured in the manner described for the white light and fluorescence imaging component 304 in relation to Figures 3A-3B.

[0050] Figure 5 is a partial top view of an imaging apparatus 400 showing a white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 according to several embodiments. In Figure 5, the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 includes light sources 412 and 422, a collimating lens 414, a mirror 416, an illumination mirror 436, a fixation dichroic 448, and a camera 458. In some embodiments, Figure 5 also shows a fixation display mount 441 in which a fixation display (e.g., 442 in Figure 6A) can be positioned, as well as a housing member 408 supporting the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404.

[0051] In some embodiments, the light sources 412 and 422 may be white light sources and / or fluorescent light sources, respectively. For example, the light sources 412 and 422 may be configured to generate light to illuminate and / or excite molecules in the target eye via a collimating lens 414. In some embodiments, the mirror 416 may be configured to reflect light from the light sources 412 and 422 toward an illumination mirror 436. In some embodiments, the fixation dichroic 448 may be configured to reflect light from the fixation display toward the target eye. In some embodiments, the illumination mirror 436 may be configured to transmit light received from the target eye to a camera 458. For example, in some embodiments, the illumination mirror 436 may have a hole positioned so that light received from the light sources 412 and 422 is reflected to a portion of the illumination mirror 436 and light received from the target eye passes through the hole.

[0052] It should be understood that in some embodiments, the imaging apparatus described herein may have fewer imaging components than those shown in Figures 4-5, and / or different combinations of imaging components than those shown in Figures 4-5. For example, the imaging apparatus may have only white light and / or fluorescence imaging components. In another example, the disclosure is not so limited, and the imaging apparatus may have white light, fluorescence, OCT, and / or IR imaging components positioned on the same side of the imaging apparatus.

[0053] III. Techniques for determining eye position and / or reducing unwanted reflections The inventors have developed techniques for positioning portions of a subject eye before, during, and / or after imaging, and for adjusting one or more light sources to selectively illuminate portions of the subject eye to produce higher quality and more medically useful images of the subject eye, as further described herein, including with reference to the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404. It should be understood that the techniques described herein for the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 may be used in conjunction with any or all imaging modalities described herein, including white light, fluorescence, OCT, IR, and / or other modalities, and / or any combination of these modalities and / or other modalities, as the embodiments described herein are not so limited.

[0054] Figure 6A is a schematic diagram of a white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 with a fixation component 440 according to several embodiments. In Figure 6A, the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 includes source components 410 and 420, a sample component, a fixation component 440, and a detection component 450. In some embodiments, the source components 410 and 420 may be configured to generate light and transmit the light to the target eye via the sample component, and the detection component 450 may be configured to receive light from the target eye and use the received light to acquire an image. In some embodiments, the fixation component 440 may be configured to display a fixation object to the target before, during, and / or after imaging.

[0055] In Figure 6A, source components 410 and 420 include light sources 412 and 422, collimating lenses 414a and 414b, a mirror 416, and focusing lenses 418a and 418b. In some embodiments, light sources 412 and 414 may be white light and fluorescent light sources, respectively. The collimating lenses 414a and 414b are shown in Figure 6A as achromatic and plano-convex lenses, respectively, which can be configured to collimate light from light sources 412 and 422. The mirror 416 is shown in Figure 6A, which is configured to reflect light from light sources 412 and 422 toward the illumination mirror 436 of source component 430. The focusing lenses 418a and 418b are shown in Figure 6A as achromatic and plano-convex lenses, respectively, which can be configured to focus light from light sources 412 and 422 toward at least a portion of the illumination mirror 436. Figure 6A shows focusing lenses 418a and 418b that focus light onto at least two portions of the illumination mirror 436 without transmitting light to the center of the illumination mirror 436.

[0056] In Figure 6A, the sample component includes an illumination mirror 436 and an objective lens 438. In some embodiments, the illumination mirror 436 may be configured to reflect light from source components 410 and 420 toward the target eye. In some embodiments, the objective lens 438 may be configured to focus light from the illumination mirror 436 toward the target eye and to focus light received from the target eye toward the illumination mirror 436. The illumination mirror 436 may be further configured to transmit light received from the target eye via the objective lens 438 toward the detection component 450.

[0057] In Figure 6A, the fixation component 440 includes a fixation display 442, a fixation mirror 444, a fixation focusing lens 446, and a fixation dichroic 448. In some embodiments, the fixation display 442 may be configured to display the fixation object to the target eye before, during, and / or after imaging. In some embodiments, the fixation mirror 444 may be configured to reflect the fixation light from the fixation display toward the fixation dichroic 448, and the fixation dichroic 212 may be configured to deliver the fixation light to the target eye along the illumination path, and the target eye is illuminated by light from source components 410 and 420 along the illumination path. In some embodiments, the fixation focusing lens 446 may be configured to focus the fixation light toward the target eye. In Figure 6A, since the sample component 430 transmits the fixation and illumination light through the objective lens 438, the fixation component 440 shares at least a portion of the optical path with the source components 410 and 420. In Figure 6A, the detection component 450 includes a camera 458 and a lens configured to focus the light received from the target eye onto the camera 458.

[0058] Figure 6B shows the imaging target 470 from the viewpoint of a white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 according to several embodiments. In some embodiments, the imaging target 470 may be the eye of a subject. In some embodiments, the imaging target 470 may be a part of the eye of a subject, such as the pupil of the eye. In Figure 6B, the imaging target 470 includes first parts 472a and 472b and a second part 474.

[0059] The inventors have recognized that certain parts of the eye of a subject generate undesirable reflections when illuminated during imaging, and that these reflections can degrade the quality of the image captured when the eye is illuminated. For example, the cornea and / or iris of the eye of a subject may generate very bright reflections that can be transmitted to the imaging sensor along with the desired reflections from the part of interest of the eye, which may be less bright than the corneal and / or iris reflections, thereby degrading the image of the part of interest.

[0060] To address these problems, the inventors have developed techniques for selectively illuminating and imaging one or more portions of the target eye, thereby preventing some or substantially all of the illumination light from reaching undesirable portions and causing reflections that reach the imaging sensor. In some embodiments, the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 may be configured to selectively illuminate the first portions 472a and / or 472b with illumination light. For example, the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 may not illuminate the second portion 474 so that the illumination light does not substantially reach the second portion 474. In some embodiments, the light sources 412 and / or 422 may be configured to provide illumination light, and the lenses 414a and 414b and 418a and 418b and the objective lens 438 may be configured to focus the illumination light onto the first portions 472a and / or 472b. In some embodiments, the light sources 412 and / or 422 may be configured to transmit illumination light through plates 462 and 464 (Figures 6E and 6F, respectively), as further described herein. In some embodiments, the illumination mirror 546 (Figure 6G) may be configured to prevent at least some of the light reflected from the second portion 474 from reaching the detection component 450.

[0061] The inventors have also developed techniques for determining the location of a portion of interest and / or an undesirable portion of a target eye so that the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 can selectively illuminate the portion of interest. In some embodiments, the imaging device including the white light and fluorescence imaging component may be configured to determine the location of an undesirable portion of a target eye by illuminating the undesirable portion of the target eye and using the light reflected from the undesirable portion to determine its location. For example, the imaging device may be configured to illuminate multiple portions of the target eye and determine that the undesirable portion is the portion that produces the brightest reflection. In some embodiments, the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 may be configured to illuminate and determine the location of an undesirable portion of a target eye using light from an IR light source (e.g., light sources 412 and 422) and / or a fixation component 440 (e.g., for sensing using the iris sensor 483 in Figure 11). In some embodiments, the fluorescence imaging component 404 may be configured to illuminate and determine the location of an undesirable portion of a target eye using white light that is dimmer than the white light used to illuminate the portion of interest.

[0062] In some embodiments, the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 may be configured to illuminate one or more portions of interest of the target eye using illumination light (e.g., the white light sources of light sources 412 and 422) different from that used to locate undesirable portions, in order to image the portions of interest. For example, once the location of undesirable portions is identified, the portions of interest can be imaged. In some embodiments, the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 may be configured to adjust the illumination of the target eye (e.g., adjust several illuminated light sources 412 and / or 422) to selectively illuminate the portions of interest of the target eye. In some embodiments, the imaging device may be configured to capture an image of the target using reflected light from the selectively illuminated portions of the target eye.

[0063] Figure 6C is a front view of a light source component including light sources 412a and 412b, which may be contained within a white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 according to several embodiments. In Figure 6C, light sources 412a and 412b are in a group of light sources arranged in a ring. In some embodiments, the light sources may be white LEDs and / or IR LEDs. In some embodiments, the light sources may be independently controllable and configured to illuminate portions of the target eye. For example, each light source, or each of several groups of light sources, may be configured to illuminate different portions of the target eye, or some of the light sources may be configured to overlap illumination across different portions of the target eye. In some embodiments, the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 may be configured to selectively illuminate one or more of the light sources in order to selectively illuminate one or more portions of the target eye.

[0064] In some embodiments, the light source in Figure 6C may be configured to illuminate one or more second portions of the target eye so that light reflected from the second portion can be used to determine the position of the second portion. In some embodiments, the light source in Figure 6C may be adjustable to selectively illuminate one or more first portions of the target eye so that light reflected from the first portion can be captured for imaging of the first portion. For example, light source 412b may be configured to illuminate the second portion 474 of the imaging target 470 shown in Figure 6B so that the position of the second portion 474 can be determined using light reflected from the second portion 474. In this example, light source 412a may be configured to illuminate the first portion 472a based on determining the position of the second portion 474. In some embodiments, light source 412a may be configured to illuminate the first portion 472a using brighter white light than that light source 412b can use to illuminate the second portion 474. For example, the brightness of the light source may be controllable. The inventors recognize that dimmer white light may be used to illuminate and determine the location of an undesirable portion of the eye of a subject where the undesirable portion reflects substantially more light than the desired portion, and that, where possible, it is preferable to use dimmer white light to reduce the intensity of illumination to which the eye of the subject is exposed.

[0065] Figure 6D is a front view of an alternative light source component, including light sources 412a, 412b, 422a, and 422b, which may be included within the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 according to several embodiments. The light sources in Figure 6D can be configured in the manner described for the light source in Figure 6C. In some embodiments, light sources 412a and 412b may be white light sources, and light sources 422a and 422b may be IR light sources. For example, light sources 412a and / or 412b may be configured to illuminate first portions 472a and 472b, respectively, and light sources 422a and 422b may be configured to illuminate a second portion 474.

[0066] It should be understood that in some embodiments, the light source may, as an alternative or in addition, include a light source positioned at the center of the ring shown in Figures 6C and 6D. Figure 6E is a front view of a plate 462 of a white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 according to several embodiments. In Figure 6E, the plate 462 includes an outer portion 462a and an inner portion 462c, with an annular window 462b between the outer portion 462a and the occluding portion 462c. In Figure 6A, the plate 462 is positioned between light sources 412 and 422 and collimating lenses 414a and 414b. In some embodiments, the light sources 412 and 422 may be configured to transmit light through the annular window 462b to the collimating lenses 414a and 414b. In some embodiments, the collimating lenses 414a and 414b, focusing lenses 418a and 418b, and / or the objective lens 438 may be configured to transmit light through the annular window 462b to one or more first portions of the target eye (e.g., first portions 472a and / or 472b in Figure 6B). For example, the transmitted light can illuminate the annular portion above the eye of the object. In some embodiments, the light source may be adjustable to selectively illuminate only a portion of the annular window 462b, such as by selectively illuminating a subset of the light sources shown in Figures 6C and 6D. In some embodiments, the light sources 412 and / or 422 may include a display screen, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, configured to selectively transmit light through at least a portion of the annular window 462a, such as in the manner described in relation to the light sources in Figures 6C and 6D.

[0067] In some embodiments, as an alternative to or in addition to the light sources and / or plate 462 in Figure 6E, the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 may include an illumination control device, such as a digital micromirror device and / or a digital light projector, configured to selectively illuminate one or more portions of the target eye, as described herein with respect to the light sources and LCD screen in Figures 6C and 6D. For example, the illumination control device may receive illumination light from one or more light sources 412 and / or 422 and be configured to selectively direct the illumination light to one or more portions of the target eye.

[0068] Figure 6F is a front view of a plate 464 with a hood for the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404, according to several embodiments. As shown in Figure 6F, the plate 464 includes a hood 464a. In Figure 6A, the plate 464 is positioned between the collimating lenses 414a and 414b and the mirror 416. In some embodiments, light from at least a portion of the light source may be prevented from reaching the target eye by the hood 464a. The inventors recognize that an objective lens that focuses the light transmitted to the target eye may cause undesirable reflections to reach the image sensor when certain portions of the objective lens are illuminated. To address this problem, the hood 464a can prevent illumination light from reaching at least a portion of the objective lens, thereby reducing undesirable reflections reaching the image sensor.

[0069] Figure 6G is a front view of the illumination mirror 436 of the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 according to several embodiments. As shown in Figure 6G, the illumination mirror 436 includes a hole 436a. In some embodiments, focusing lenses 418a and 418b may be configured to focus the light received from light sources 412 and 422 toward the portion of the illumination mirror 436 other than the hole 436a so that the light is reflected toward the eye of the subject. In some embodiments, the objective lens 438 may be configured to focus the light received from the eye of the subject toward the hole 436a so that the received light is transmitted through the hole 436a to the detection component 450 (e.g., camera 458). In some embodiments, when an undesirable portion of the eye of the subject is illuminated during selective illumination of other portions of the eye of the subject, the mirror 436 can prevent reflections from the undesirable portion from reaching the detection component 450. For example, substantially all of the undesirable reflection may be reflected from the portion of the mirror 436 other than the hole 436a.

[0070] Figure 16 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 1600 for capturing an image of a subject's eye, according to several embodiments. In Figure 16, the method 1600 includes, in step 1602, locating a first portion of the subject's eye; in step 1604, illuminating a second portion of the subject's eye with illumination light; and in step 1606, capturing an image of the second portion of the subject's eye. In some embodiments, the method 1600 may be performed using imaging and / or measuring devices described herein. For example, the method 1600 may be performed in response to and / or automatically receiving input from a user (e.g., a subject and / or a clinician).

[0071] In some embodiments, step 1602, the step of locating the first portion of the target eye, may include illuminating the first portion of the target eye and determining the location of the first portion using light reflected from the first portion of the target eye. For example, an imaging and / or measuring device can illuminate multiple portions of the target eye before determining that one of the portions is the first portion of the target eye and thereby locating the first portion of the target eye. In this example, the first portion may be determined from among the multiple portions by reflecting more light than at least the majority of the multiple portions. Referring to Figure 6B, the first portion may be the second portion 474. In some embodiments, step 1602, the step of illuminating the first portion of the target eye, may include illuminating the first portion with IR light from an IR light source using multiple IR optical components, such as a subset of IR light sources shown in Figure 6D. In some embodiments, the first portion may be illuminated using white light, such as using a subset of white light sources shown in Figure 6C. In some embodiments, the first portion may be located on the pupil of the target eye. For example, the first part may include the cornea of ​​the subject.

[0072] In some embodiments, the step of illuminating the second portion of the target eye with illumination light in step 1604 may include the step of illuminating the second portion with white light from a white light source. For example, the imaging and / or measuring device may illuminate the second portion with illumination light in accordance with the location of the first portion of the target eye. In some embodiments, the imaging and / or measuring device may selectively illuminate the second portion with illumination light from a subset of light sources shown in Figure 6C or Figure 6D. In some embodiments, the second portion may be located on the pupil of the target eye. In some embodiments, the first portion of the target eye may be located using white light in step 1602, and the second portion may be illuminated in step 1604, wherein the white light used to illuminate the second portion in step 1604 is brighter than the white light used to illuminate the first portion in step 1602. In some embodiments, the location of the second portion of the target eye may be determined by referring to the location of the first portion of the target eye determined in step 1602. For example, the first part of the eye in question may include a subset and / or portion of the pupil of the eye in question, excluding the cornea.

[0073] In some embodiments, the step of capturing an image of the second portion of the target eye in step 1606 may include receiving illumination light reflected from the second portion of the target eye and capturing an image using the reflected illumination light. For example, the reflected illumination light may be received by an imaging and / or measuring sensor. In some embodiments, a mirror with a hole can prevent illumination light reflected by the second portion of the target eye from contributing to the image captured during step 1606.

[0074] IV. User Feedback Technology In some embodiments, the imaging device described herein may be configured to provide feedback to the user of the imaging device. As stated above, the imaging device described herein may be operated by the subject to image the subject's own eye. The inventors have developed techniques for providing feedback to the subject to facilitate the acquisition of medically useful images of the subject's eye even in the absence of a medical professional or technician. In some embodiments, the imaging device may be configured to provide feedback to the user of the imaging device (e.g., the subject, a clinician, a technician, and / or a physician) indicating the position of the subject's eye within the imaging device's field of view. For example, the subject may move its eye within the imaging device's field of view in response to receiving feedback in order to acquire images of different parts of the subject's eye. In some embodiments, the imaging device may be configured to pinpoint the position of the subject's eye within the field of view and provide visual feedback in response to pinpointing the position of the subject's eye. For example, the imaging device may be configured to provide visual feedback automatically rather than requiring user input to prompt visual feedback.

[0075] In some embodiments, the imaging device may be configured to determine a target position of the target eye. For example, the imaging device may be configured to locate the areas of interest and / or undesirable areas of the target eye and determine a target position as the position where the target eye should be positioned relative to the imaging device (e.g., the imaging device's white light and fluorescence imaging components), thereby enabling illumination of the area of ​​interest and preventing light from reaching the undesirable area. In some embodiments, the imaging device may be configured to display an indication of the target position and / or the current position of the target eye to the user. For example, the indication may be displayed to the user via the fixation component 440 of the white light and fluorescence component 404. In some embodiments, the imaging device may be configured to capture an image of the target eye when the current position of the target eye is within a threshold range of the target position, such as after automatic adjustment of the current position by the imaging device and / or manual repositioning by the user in response to visual feedback.

[0076] According to various embodiments, the target position and current position may be in any or each of the following directions, in which the imaging device is configured to transmit illumination light: the depth direction, the transverse direction perpendicular to the depth direction, the vertical direction perpendicular to the depth direction and the transverse direction, the roll direction rotatably oriented about the depth direction, the pitch direction rotatably oriented about the transverse direction, and the yaw direction rotatably oriented about the vertical direction.

[0077] The user feedback techniques described herein in relation to the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 may be used in relation to any or all imaging modalities described herein, including white light, fluorescence, OCT, IR, and / or other modalities, and / or any combination of these modalities and / or other modalities, as the embodiments described herein are not so limited.

[0078] Figure 7 shows a fixation display 442 from the viewpoint of an object being imaged using a white light and fluorescence imaging component 404, according to several embodiments. In Figure 7, the fixation display 442 shows a concentric first ring 482 and a second ring 484. The first ring 482 is shown to have a larger diameter than the second ring 484. In some embodiments, the first ring 482 and the second ring 484 can point to the respective positions of the object's eye. For example, the first ring 482 may point to the current position of the object's eye, and the second ring 484 may point to the target position of the object's eye. In this example, the first ring 482 can collapse toward the second ring 484 as the position of the object's eye moves closer to the target position. Assuming the target position is at the target distance from the white light and fluorescence imaging component to the target eye, and the current position is at the current distance from the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 to the target eye, for example, as the current distance approaches the target distance, the first ring 482 may collapse toward the second ring 484. In some embodiments, the user can physically move the target eye closer to the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 in response to visual feedback provided by the fixation display 442.

[0079] In some embodiments, the imaging device may be configured to use a light source on a fixation mask to display an indication of the target position and / or the current position of the target eye. For example, the indications of the target position and / or current position may be displayed in relation to each other, such as an indication when the current position is within a threshold range of the target position. In some embodiments, the imaging device may be configured to display to the user a first or second color to indicate that the current position of the target eye is not within a threshold range of the target position, and a third color to indicate that the current position is within a threshold range. For example, as further described herein, when the current position is within a threshold range of the target position, the first and second colors may be mixed to display a third color.

[0080] Figures 8A to 8C show fixation masks 443a and 443b of a white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 according to several embodiments. Figure 8A is a schematic diagram of a white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 according to several embodiments, with fixation masks 443a and 443b positioned between a fixation display 442 and a fixation mirror 444. In Figure 8A, the fixation mask 443a is positioned between the fixation display 442 and the fixation mask 443b along the optical path from the target eye to the fixation display 440.

[0081] Figure 8B is a diagram of a fixation mask 443a aligned with the direction shown in Figure 8A, according to several embodiments. Figure 8C is a diagram of a fixation mask 443b aligned with direction A, according to several embodiments. As shown in Figure 8B, the fixation mask 443a includes a hole 486a and light sources 488a arranged around the hole 486a. Similarly, in Figure 8C, the fixation mask 443b includes a hole 488a and light sources 488b arranged around the hole 488a. In Figures 8B to 8C, the hole 486a has a larger diameter than the hole 488a. Similarly, the light sources 486b and 488b are arranged within their respective rings, and the ring of light source 486b has a larger diameter than the ring of light source 488b. In some embodiments, the light sources 486b and 488b may be configured to emit light of different wavelengths than the fixation display 440. Alternatively or in addition, in some embodiments, light sources 486b and 488b may be configured to emit light of different wavelengths. For example, light source 486b may be configured to emit blue light, light source 488b may be configured to emit yellow light, or vice versa.

[0082] In some embodiments, fixation masks 443a and 443b may be configured to display light of a first wavelength that indicates the current position of the target eye. For example, at a first position in the field of view of the imaging device, only light from fixation mask 443b can reach the target eye, and substantially all light from fixation mask 443a is blocked by fixation mask 443b. In some embodiments, fixation masks 443a and 443b may be further configured to display light of a second color that indicates a target position of the target eye. For example, fixation masks 443a and 443b may be positioned so that when the target eye is within a threshold range of the target position, light from both fixation masks 443a and 443b reaches the target eye and mixes to form a second color. In these examples, the user may be able to determine whether the current position of the target eye is within a threshold range of the target position based on whether the first or second color is displayed to the user.

[0083] Figures 9A to 9C show alternative fixation components that may be included in the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 according to several embodiments. Figure 9A is a schematic diagram of an alternative fixation component 404' of the white light and fluorescence component 440 according to several embodiments. As shown in Figure 9A, the fixation component 440' includes a fixation display 442, a fixation mirror 444', a fixation light source 445a and a mask 445b, a fixation focusing lens 446, and a fixation dichroic 448. In some embodiments, the fixation light source 445a may be configured to display light of a different wavelength than that of the fixation display 442. In some embodiments, the fixation mirror 444' has holes arranged so that light from the fixation display 442 is reflected by the fixation mirror 444' and light from the fixation light source 445a is transmitted through the holes to the target eye. For example, the fixation mirror 444' is positioned between the fixation display 442 and the fixation light source 445a and is shown in Figure 9A.

[0084] Figure 9B is a front view of a mask 445b according to several embodiments. Figure 9C is a front view of a fixation mirror 444' according to several embodiments. A mask 445b including holes 492a, 492b, and 492c is shown in Figure 9B, where hole 492a is arranged in an outer ring, hole 492b is arranged in an inner ring, and hole 492c is at the center of the mask 445b. Similarly, a fixation mirror 444' including holes 494a, 494b, and 494c is shown in Figure 9C, where hole 494a is arranged in an outer ring, hole 494b is located in an inner ring, and hole 494c is at the center of the mirror 444'. In some embodiments, the outer ring and central hole 492c of hole 492a of the mask 445b can be aligned with the outer ring and central hole 494c of hole 494a of the fixation mirror 444'. In some embodiments, the inner ring of hole 492b in mask 445b may have a larger diameter than the inner ring of hole 494b in fixation mirror 444'.

[0085] In some embodiments, the fixation component 440' may be configured to display a first configuration of light indicating the current position of the target eye. For example, at a first position in the field of view of the imaging device, only light from the fixation display 442 reflected by the fixation mirror 444' and light from the fixation light source 445a transmitted through the central holes 492c and 494c can reach the target eye, while substantially all light from the fixation light source 445a transmitted through the inner ring of hole 492b is blocked by the fixation mirror 444'. In some embodiments, the fixation component 440' may be further configured to display a second configuration of light indicating a target position of the target eye. For example, the mask 445b and the fixation mirror 444' may be configured so that when the target eye is within a threshold range of the target position, light from the fixation light source 445a is transmitted through the inner ring of hole 492b of the mask 445b and the inner ring of hole 494b of the fixation mirror 444' to reach the target eye. In these examples, the user may be able to determine whether the target eye's current position is within a threshold range of the target position based on whether the first or second configuration of light is visible to the user.

[0086] Figure 10A is a schematic diagram of a further alternative fixation component 440'' for the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404, according to several embodiments. In Figure 10A, the fixation component 440'' includes a fixation display 442, a fixation mirror 444', a fixation light source 445, a beam splitter 447, a fixation focusing lens 446, and a fixation dichroic 448. The beam splitter 447 is shown positioned between the fixation display 442 and the fixation light source 445. In some embodiments, the fixation light source may be configured in the manner described for the fixation light source 445a in relation to Figures 9A-9C. In some embodiments, the beam splitter 447 may be formed using a material that is at least partially opaque.

[0087] Figure 10B is a front view of the beam splitter 447 at a first end 447a adjacent to the fixation light source 445, according to some embodiments. Figure 10C is a rear view of the beam splitter 447 at a second end 447b adjacent to the fixation mirror 444', according to some embodiments. As shown in Figure 10B, the first end 447a of the beam splitter 447 has holes 496a, 496b, and 496c, with hole 496a arranged in an outer ring, hole 496b arranged in an inner ring, and hole 496c located in the center of the first end 447a. Similarly, the second end 447b of the beam splitter 447 is shown in Figure 10C having holes 498a, 498b, and 498c, where hole 498a is arranged within the outer ring, hole 498b is arranged within the inner ring, and hole 498c is at the center of the second end 447b. In some embodiments, channels within the beam splitter 447 can have holes 496a, 496b, and 496c connected to holes 498a, 498b, and 498c, respectively.

[0088] In some embodiments, the fixation component 440'' may be configured, like the fixation component 440'', to display a first light configuration indicating the current position of the target eye and a second light configuration indicating the target position of the target eye. For example, at a first position in the field of view of the imaging device, only light from the fixation display 442 reflected by the fixation mirror 444' and light from the fixation light source 445 transmitted through the central holes 496c and 498c can reach the target eye, while substantially all light from the fixation light source 445 transmitted through the inner ring of hole 496b is blocked by the fixation mirror 444'. In some embodiments, the fixation component 440'' may be further configured to display a second light configuration indicating the target position of the target eye. For example, the beam splitter 447 and the fixation mirror 444' may be configured so that when the target eye is within a threshold range of the target position, light from the fixation light source 445 reaches the target eye through the inner ring of the hole 496b at the first end 447a of the beam splitter 447, the inner ring of the hole 498b at the second end 447b of the beam splitter 447, and the inner ring of the hole 494b of the fixation mirror 444'. In these examples, the user may be able to determine whether the current position of the target eye is within a threshold range of the target position based on whether the configuration of the first or second light is visible to the user.

[0089] V. Iris sensing technology Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 further comprising an iris sensor component 480, according to several embodiments. As shown in Figure 11, the iris sensor component 480 is positioned between the fixation focusing lens 446 and the fixation dichroic 448 of the fixation component 440. In some embodiments, the iris sensor component 480 may be configured to capture an image using light received from the target eye and reflected toward the fixation component 440 by the fixation dichroic. For example, in Figure 11, the iris sensor component comprises an iris dichroic 481 and an iris sensor 483, the iris dichroic being configured to transmit light from the fixation display 442 to the fixation dichroic 448 and reflect light from the fixation dichroic toward 483. In some embodiments, the iris dichroic 481 may be configured to transmit light at wavelengths of light transmitted by the fixation display 442 and to reflect light at wavelengths of light configured to be received by the iris sensor 483.

[0090] In some embodiments, the white light and fluorescence imaging component 404 may be configured to image the iris of the target eye using the iris sensor component 480. In some embodiments, as described herein, the imaging device including the white light and fluorescence component 404 may be configured to locate different parts of the target eye. For example, the imaging device may be configured to locate the iris of the target and / or prevent at least some of the illumination light from reaching the iris of the target to prevent reflection from the iris from degrading the quality of the captured image of other parts of the target eye. In some embodiments, the fixation component 440 may be configured to illuminate the iris of the target, and the iris sensor component 480 may be configured to image the iris of the target. For example, light reflected from the iris of the target may be reflected toward the iris sensor 483 by the fixation dichroic 448 and the iris dichroic 481, and other light reflected by the target eye may be transmitted through the fixation dichroic 448 toward the detection component 450. In some embodiments, an image of the iris of a subject may be used alone or in combination with an image of the retina of the subject to identify the subject. For example, the image of the iris of the subject may provide a second security layer, where the first security layer is the image of the retina of the subject.

[0091] Figure 17 is a flowchart of an alternative exemplary method 1700 for capturing an image of a subject's eye, according to several embodiments. In Figure 17, method 1700 includes, in step 1702, receiving user input from a user; in step 1704, locating the subject's eye within a field of view; in step 1706, providing feedback to the user; and in step 1708, capturing a medical-grade image of the subject's eye. In some embodiments, method 1700 can be performed using imaging and / or measuring devices described herein. According to various embodiments, the user may be a subject, a clinician, a technician, and / or a physician.

[0092] In some embodiments, the step of receiving user input from the user in step 1702 may include receiving user input via one or more user interface devices of the imaging and / or measuring device. For example, the user may press a button when ready to image and / or measure. In another example, user input may be received via sound, such as a voice signal detected using one or more microphones. In yet another example, user input may include a gesture detected using a camera and / or capacitive sensors. It should be understood that user input may be received from the user in any way, as the embodiments described herein are not limited in this respect.

[0093] In some embodiments, the step of locating the position of the target eye in the field of view in step 1704 may include the step of determining the current position of the target eye relative to a target position of the target eye, for example, the current distance from one or more imaging and / or measuring devices of the imaging and / or measuring device to the target eye relative to the target distance. For example, the target position may be in any or each of the following directions, in which the imaging device is configured to transmit illumination light: in the depth direction, in the transverse direction perpendicular to the depth direction, in the vertical direction perpendicular to the depth direction and the transverse direction, in the roll direction rotatably oriented about the depth direction, in the pitch direction rotatably oriented about the transverse direction, and in the yaw direction rotatably oriented about the vertical direction.

[0094] In some embodiments, the step of providing feedback to the user in step 1706 may include providing the user with visual feedback, audio feedback, haptic feedback, and / or other modes of feedback. For example, an imaging device may display feedback to the user via a fixation component as described herein. Alternatively or in addition, feedback may be provided using one or more audio devices such as speakers, one or more haptic feedback devices, and / or other modes. In some embodiments, the feedback provided to the user may indicate the position of the target eye determined during step 1704. For example, the feedback may indicate the difference between the current position of the target eye and the target position of the target eye. In some embodiments including visual feedback, different colors and / or other visualizations on the fixation display may be used to indicate the difference between the current position and the target position, as described herein. In some embodiments including audio feedback, a series of sounds, such as beeps, may indicate the difference between the current position and the target position, such as decreasing the delay between sounds as the current position approaches the target position, and a solid tone may indicate that the current position is within a threshold range of the target position. In some embodiments involving haptic feedback, a series of vibrations can indicate the difference between the current position and the target position by increasing the intensity of the vibrations as the current position approaches the target position, in the manner described for auditory feedback and / or by increasing the intensity of the vibrations as the current position approaches the target position. It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are not limited to these, and other feedback techniques may be used.

[0095] In some embodiments, the step of acquiring a medical-grade image of the eye in step 1708 may include a step of illuminating the eye, such as the portion of the eye located in step 1704 and / or the portion of the eye located subsequently in step 1704. For example, the portion of the eye located in step 1704 may be a desired portion to be illuminated during imaging, or an undesirable portion that should not be illuminated during imaging. In some embodiments, the user may move the imaging device relative to the eye in response to feedback received in step 1706 until the eye reaches a target position where the portion of the eye to be illuminated during imaging is located in a position to be illuminated during imaging. In some embodiments, the medical-grade image acquired in step 1708 may be used to determine the user's health condition and / or health status.

[0096] VI.Stabilization technology The inventors have developed techniques to compensate for misalignment between scans of a target eye acquired using OCT, as described herein. In some embodiments, the OCT imaging component described herein may be configured to acquire first and second scans of a target eye by scanning each of the first and second portions of the target eye. For example, the scan mirror of the OCT imaging component may be configured to rotate mechanically between the first scan and the second scan to image each of the first and second portions which may be separated along a line. For example, each of the first and second scans may be a depth scan in the depth direction, and the OCT imaging component transmits and receives light reflected along the depth direction, and the first and second scans may be displaced from each other in the transverse and / or horizontal directions perpendicular to the depth direction. Alternatively, each of the first and second scans may be a lateral or vertical scan, each including multiple depth scans (e.g., displaced from each other laterally or vertically), and the first and second scans may each be displaced from each other vertically or laterally.

[0097] The inventors recognize that OCT scanning may involve some movement of the object and / or the imaging device between acquisition scans. For example, the object may move relative to the imaging device between acquisition scans, such as when the imaging device is held in place by a mount. Alternatively, or in addition, the imaging device may move relative to the object, such as when the object holds the imaging device in its hand. In either case, the scan may be misaligned even during a single scan sequence, such as a series of scans that do not have a noticeable time delay from the viewpoint of the object being scanned.

[0098] Figure 12A shows an exemplary sequence 1200a of scanning a target eye according to several embodiments. Figure 12B shows an image 1200b constructed using the scans captured in the sequence of Figure 12A according to several embodiments. In the examples of Figures 12A and 12B, each scan in sequence 1200a is a transverse scan which may include multiple depth scans, where the depth scan is the depth direction in which the imaging device can transmit light to and receive from the target eye. The depth scans of each transverse scan may be displaced from each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to the depth direction. The transverse scans shown in sequence 1200a are displaced from each other in a vertical direction perpendicular to the transverse direction. For example, in Figure 12B, the transverse scans in sequence 1200a give each slice of the image, where each slice extends transversely and is displaced from each other vertically, and the depth scan data of each slice is indicated by the brightness within the slice.

[0099] As shown in Figure 12A, the lateral scans of progress 1200a are misaligned with one another. For example, the lateral scans may be misaligned with respect to the lateral and / or depth directions. When misaligned laterally, the endpoint of the first lateral scan may be offset laterally from the endpoint of the second lateral scan. Similarly, when misaligned in the depth direction, the endpoints of one or more depth scans of the first lateral scan may be offset in the depth direction from the endpoints of one or more depth scans of the second lateral scan. In some embodiments, the scans may be misaligned as a result of movement of the object, the imaging device, or both the object and the imaging device during scan acquisition.

[0100] In some embodiments, the OCT imaging component of the imaging device may be configured to compensate for misalignment between scans in the depth direction by adjusting the path length of the reference component of the OCT imaging component. For example, the OCT image can be acquired based on the difference between the reference light transmitted to and reflected by the reference surface of the reference component and the sample light transmitted to and reflected by the target eye, such as differences in travel time, path length, and / or phase. In some embodiments, by adjusting the path length of the reference component based on the movement of the target eye, the imaging device, or both between scans, the difference between the reflected sample light and the reference light may not include the difference in path length along the depth direction toward the target eye between scans.

[0101] Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the OCT imaging component of the imaging device may be configured to compensate for misalignment in directions perpendicular to the depth direction, such as the lateral and vertical directions. For example, the scan motor controlling the scan mirror of the OCT component can be adjusted to compensate for misalignment in such directions.

[0102] Figure 13A shows an exemplary sequence 1300a of scans to a target eye in which misalignment between scans of multiple scans is compensated for in some embodiments. Figure 13B shows an image 1300b constructed using the scans acquired in the sequence of Figure 13A in some embodiments. In the example of Figure 13A, the scans are aligned in the depth and lateral directions.

[0103] In some embodiments, the imaging device may be configured to provide the subject with visual feedback indicating misalignment between scans so that the subject can adjust the relative positioning of the subject's eye to the imaging device. Figure 14 shows an exemplary visual feedback display 1400 provided to a subject according to some embodiments. In Figure 14, the visual feedback display 1400 includes a fixation ring 1402 and an OCT scan line 1404. In some embodiments, the fixation ring 1402 may be configured to indicate to the subject the current position of the subject's eye and / or the target position, as described herein. In some embodiments, the OCT scan line 1404 may be configured to point to a scan line along the transverse direction, along which the OCT imaging component of the imaging device is configured to acquire depth scans. For example, depth scans along the OCT scan line may be acquired simultaneously. In some embodiments, the OCT scan line 1404 may be configured to point to misalignment or misalignment between scans (e.g., lateral scans) so that the subject can reposition the subject's eye and / or imaging device after a series of scans (e.g., a series of lateral scans along the vertical) has been completed in order to capture a second series of scans with better alignment. In some embodiments, the OCT scan line 1404 may be configured to guide the subject's eye during a series of scans, not by mechanical scanning by the scan mirror of the OCT component, or in addition to that. For example, the OCT scan line 1404 can be adjusted based on detected misalignment between scans to guide the subject's eye to compensate for detected misalignment.

[0104] Alternatively, or in addition, in some embodiments, the imaging apparatus may include digital processing circuitry configured to compensate for misalignment between scan images in the depth, lateral, and / or vertical directions, as further described herein. For example, the digital processing circuitry may be configured to resample the scan acquired using the imaging apparatus's OCT component to provide control signals that generate feedback for the subject, and / or to automatically adjust the OCT component to compensate for misalignment.

[0105] Figure 15 is a block diagram of an exemplary digital processing circuit 1500 that may be configured to compensate for misalignment between scans in several embodiments. In Figure 15, the digital processing circuit 1500 includes an input flip-flop 1502, an address generation logic 1504, an output address generation logic 1506, an image random access memory (RAM) 1508, an address read-only memory (ROM) 1510, a multiplexer 1512, and a vector multiplier 1514. In some embodiments, the digital processing circuit 1500 may be configured to receive scan data from the OCT imaging component of an imaging device and provide interpolated scan data to downstream processing circuits. In some embodiments, the digital processing circuit 1500 may be configured, either alone or in combination with downstream circuits, to control the OCT imaging component to compensate for misalignment between subsequently acquired images. Alternatively or in addition, the digital processing circuit 1500 may be configured, either alone or in combination with downstream circuits, to compensate for misalignment between images caused using scan data.

[0106] In some embodiments, the digital processing circuit 1500 can be formed by programming one or more digital logic units, such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and / or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). In some embodiments, one or more processors (e.g., of a computer) may be configured to execute instructions (e.g., stored in memory) that cause the processors to perform the functions described herein for the digital processing circuit 1500. In some embodiments, the digital processing circuit 1500 may be included in the image processing circuit of an imaging device. Alternatively, the digital processing circuit 1500 may be located on a separate device electrically coupled to the imaging device and / or to a remote device configured to receive scan data via a communication network.

[0107] In some embodiments, the digital processing circuit 1500 may be configured to perform nonlinear interpolation on the received scan data. For example, the interpolation may be based on polynomial resampling for parameterized resampling with coupled endpoints. It should be understood that any form of interpolation may be used, including sinks with flattened rotating elliptic windows having any number of taps (e.g., 22 taps) and any number of phase alignments (e.g., 2048 phase alignments).

[0108] In some embodiments, the input flip-flop 1502, the address generation logic 1504, and the output address generation logic 1506 may be configured to receive scan data input to the digital processing circuit 1500. For example, several pixels (e.g., 4 pixels) may be input to the digital processing circuit 1500 in each clock cycle. In some embodiments, the input flip-flop 1502 may be configured to provide scan data to the image RAM 1508. In some embodiments, the address generation logic 1504 may be configured to provide address data corresponding to the scan data to the image RAM 1508. In some embodiments, the output address generation logic 1506 may be configured to provide output address data to the address ROM 1510. In some embodiments, the output address generation logic 1506 may be configured to delay the generation of output address data until after the corresponding scan data has been written to the image RAM 1508, in order to prevent it from being read from the RAM 1508 before the scan data is written.

[0109] In some embodiments, the image RAM 1508 may be configured to store scan data for several pixels (e.g., 4 pixels) at each addressed location in the image RAM 1508. In some embodiments, the addresses of the scan data stored in RAM 1508 may be shifted with each clock cycle (e.g., at the beginning, middle, or end of a clock cycle). For example, the oldest scan data may be shifted out of image RAM 1508 with each clock cycle, and newer scan data may be shifted into image RAM 1508 with each clock cycle.

[0110] In some embodiments, the address ROM 1510 may be configured to provide a read address for reading scan data from the image RAM 1508 and to control the multiplexer 1512 to provide the scan data to the multiplier 1514. Alternatively or in addition, in some embodiments, the address ROM 1510 may include RAM so that the address ROM (or RAM) 1510 may be reconfigurable at runtime. In some embodiments, each unit of the address ROM 1510 may be configured to select several samples from a corresponding window of pixels from the image RAM 1508. For example, the pixel window may be wide enough to allow a worst-case skew amount in the index across the units of the address ROM 1510. For example, the window size may be the number of selected samples + 8.

[0111] In some embodiments, the multiplier 1514 may be configured to perform vector multiplication of scan data provided via the multiplexer 1512 to compensate for misalignment between scan inputs to the digital processing circuit 1500. In some embodiments, the coefficients of the multiplier 1514 may be provided from each unit of the address ROM 1510. In some embodiments, the resampled data output from the multiplier 1514 may be provided to a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) circuit for further processing.

[0112] In some embodiments, the digital processing circuit 1500 may be configured, either as an alternative or in addition, to provide diopter adjustment for blurring of focus in the target eye. The embodiments described herein are not limited in this respect, so it should be understood that the scan alignment error compensation techniques described herein for OCT imaging may be used in connection with any or all imaging modalities described herein, including white light, fluorescence, OCT, IR, and / or other modalities, and / or any combination of these modalities and / or other modalities.

[0113] Figure 18 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 1800 for acquiring OCT images and / or measurements of an eye of interest, according to several embodiments. As shown in Figure 18, method 1800 includes, in step 1802, acquiring one or more scans of an eye of interest; in step 1804, compensating for misalignment between scans; and in step 1806, generating an OCT image using the scans. In some embodiments, method 1800 may be performed using imaging and / or measurement equipment as described herein, such as including an OCT imaging and / or measurement component.

[0114] In some embodiments, the step of acquiring a scan of the target eye in step 1802 may include the step of acquiring one or more depth, lateral, and / or vertical scans of the target eye using an OCT imaging and / or measurement component. For example, one or more depth scans may be acquired in a direction in which the imaging and / or measurement device is configured to transmit light. In some embodiments, multiple depth scans displaced from each other in the lateral or vertical direction may be acquired in step 1802. For example, a lateral scan including multiple depth scans displaced from each other in the lateral direction can be acquired simultaneously in step 1802.

[0115] In some embodiments, compensation for misalignment between scans in step 1804 may occur between two or more scans acquired in step 1802. For example, compensation may be carried out using a digital feedback circuit that includes an interpolator that resamples the acquired scans to compensate for misalignment. Alternatively or in addition, compensation for misalignment between scans in step 1804 may occur between one or more scans acquired in step 1802 and one or more scans acquired in and / or after step 1804. For example, compensation may include adjusting the reference path length of the reference component of the OCT imaging and / or measurement component, such as by adjusting the positioning of a reference mirror along the reference path. In another example, compensation may include adjusting the scan mirror of the sample component of the OCT imaging and / or measurement component, such as by adjusting the scan angle of the scan mirror.

[0116] According to various embodiments, compensation for misalignment between scans in step 1804 may be in the depth direction, the transverse direction, and the vertical direction, or each of them, and may be in the roll direction rotatably oriented about the depth direction, the pitch direction rotatably oriented about the transverse direction, and the yaw direction rotatably oriented about the vertical direction, or each of them.

[0117] In some embodiments, the step of generating an OCT image using the scans acquired in step 1806 may include creating the OCT image after compensating for misalignment between scans. For example, the OCT image can be formed using two or more depth scans with compensation for misalignment in the depth direction, two or more lateral scans each including one or more depth scans with compensation for misalignment in the lateral and / or depth direction, and two or more vertical scans each including one or more depth scans and / or lateral scans with compensation for misalignment in the vertical and / or depth direction. In some embodiments, multiple OCT images may be formed using the scans acquired in step 1806.

[0118] VII. Applications The inventors have developed improved imaging techniques that can be implemented using the imaging apparatus described herein. According to various embodiments, such imaging techniques can be used for biometric identification, health status determination, and disease diagnosis, among other things.

[0119] The inventors recognize that various health conditions can be indicated by the appearance of a person's retina in one or more images captured according to the techniques described herein. For example, diabetic retinopathy may be indicated by small bumps or microaneurysms protruding from the walls of smaller blood vessels, sometimes leaking fluid and blood into the retina. In addition, larger retinal blood vessels may begin to dilate and become irregular in diameter. Retinal nerve fibers may begin to swell. Sometimes, the central part of the retina (macula) begins to swell, such as macular edema. Damaged blood vessels may become occluded, causing the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels in the retina. Glaucomatous optic neuropathy or glaucoma may be indicated by thinning of the periretinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and optic disc cupping as a result of axonal and secondary retinal ganglion cell loss. The inventors recognize that RNFL deficiency, indicated by OCT, for example, is one of the earliest signs of glaucoma. In addition, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may be indicated by detachment and / or levitation of the macula, impaired macular pigment formation such as yellow material under the retina in the central pigment epithelial layer zone, and / or drusen such as macular drusen, peripheral drusen, and / or granular pattern drusen. AMD may also be indicated by hyperpigmentation, nummular atrophy, and / or geographic atrophy such as sharply contoured circular areas of subretinal fluid.

[0120] Stargard disease may be indicated by the death of photoreceptor cells in the central part of the retina. Macular edema may be indicated by grooves in the area surrounding the fovea. Macular hole may be indicated by a hole in the macula. Floaters may be indicated by blurring of non-focused light paths. Retinal detachment may be indicated by severe optic disc destruction and / or separation from the underlying pigment epithelium. Retinal degeneration may be indicated by deterioration of the retina. Central serous retinopathy (CSR) may be indicated by elevation of the sensory retina in the macula and / or localized detachment from the pigment epithelium. Choroidal melanoma may be indicated by a malignant tumor arising from pigment cells that originate in the choroid. Cataracts may be indicated by an opaque lens and may also cause a blurred fluorescence lifetime and / or 2D retinal fundus image. Macular telangiectasia can be indicated by a dramatically increased ring of fluorescence lifetime around the macula, as well as by smaller blood vessels that break down in and around the fovea. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease can be indicated by thinning of the RNFL. It should be understood that diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and other such conditions can lead to blindness or severe visual impairment if not properly screened and treated.

[0121] In another example, optic nerve damage, optic nerve atrophy, and / or choroidal folding may be indicated in images taken using the techniques described herein. Optic nerve damage and / or optic nerve atrophy may be caused by intraocular damage such as glaucoma, optic neuritis, and / or papilledema, damage along the pathway of the optic nerve to the brain such as tumors, neurodegenerative disorders, and / or trauma, and / or congenital conditions such as Leber hereditary optic nerve atrophy (LHOA) and autosomal dominant optic nerve atrophy (ADOA). For example, compressive optic nerve atrophy may be indicated by and / or associated with extrinsic signs such as pituitary adenoma, intracranial meningioma, aneurysm, craniopharyngioma, mucous bursa, papilloma, and / or metastasis, and / or extrinsic signs such as optic glioma, optic nerve sheath (ONS) meningioma, and / or lymphoma. Vascular and / or ischemic optic atrophy is indicated and / or associated with sectoral disk pallor, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (AION), severe optic atrophy with gliosis, giant cell arteritis, central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), carotid artery occlusion, and / or diabetes. Neoplastic optic atrophy may be indicated and / or associated with lymphoma, leukemia, tumors, and / or glioma. Inflammatory optic atrophy may be indicated by sarcoma, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Behçet's disease, demyelinating, e.g., multiple sclerosis (MS) and / or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), also known as Devick's disease, allergic vasculitis (AN), and / or Churg-Strauss syndrome. Infectious optic neuropathy can be indicated by the presence of viral, bacterial, and / or fungal infections. Radiation optic neuropathy can also be indicated.

[0122] In some embodiments, the imaging device may be configured to detect concussions by at least partially tracking the movement of a person's eyes across a series of images. For example, iris sensors, white light imaging components, and / or other imaging components described herein may be configured to track the movement of a person's eyes for various indications of concussion. Toxic optic atrophy and / or nutritional optic atrophy may be indicated in association with ethambutol, amiodarone, methanol, vitamin B12 deficiency, and / or thyroid eye disease. Metabolic optic atrophy may be indicated by and / or associated with diabetes mellitus. Hereditary optic atrophy may be indicated by and / or associated with ADOA and / or LHOA. Traumatic optic neuropathy may be indicated by and / or associated with optic nerve trauma, ONS hematoma, and / or fracture.

[0123] Accordingly, in some embodiments, a person's predisposition to various medical conditions may be determined based on one or more images of the person's retina and fundus taken up according to the techniques described herein. For example, if one or more of the aforementioned signs of a particular medical condition (e.g., macular detachment and / or levitation for AMD) are detected in the taken images, the person may be susceptible to that condition.

[0124] The inventors also recognize that several health conditions can be detected using fluorescence imaging techniques described herein. For example, macular holes can be detected using excitation wavelengths of 340–500 nm to excite the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and / or macular pigment in the target eye having fluorescence emission wavelengths of 540 nm and / or 430–460 nm. Fluorescence from the RPE may be primarily due to lipofuscin from RPE lysosomes. Retinal artery occlusion can be detected using an excitation wavelength of 445 nm to excite flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), RPE, and / or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) in the target eye having fluorescence emission wavelengths of 520–570 nm. AMD in Drusen can be detected using excitation wavelengths of 340–500 nm to excite the RPE in the target eye having fluorescence emission wavelengths of 540 nm and / or 430–460 nm. AMD, including geographic atrophy, can be detected using an excitation wavelength of 445 nm to excite the RPE and elastin of the target eye, which have fluorescence emission wavelengths of 520–570 nm. Neovascular AMD can be detected by exciting the choroid and / or inner retinal layers of the target eye. Diabetic retinopathy can be detected using an excitation wavelength of 448 nm to excite the FAD of the target eye, which have fluorescence emission wavelengths of 590–560 nm. Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) can be detected using an excitation wavelength of 445 nm to excite the RPE and elastin of the target eye, which have fluorescence emission wavelengths of 520–570 nm. Stargard disease can be detected using an excitation wavelength of 340–500 nm to excite the RPE of the target eye, which have fluorescence emission wavelengths of 540 nm and / or 430–460 nm. Colloideremia can be detected using excitation light wavelengths of 340–500 nm to excite the RPE in the eye of a subject having fluorescence emission wavelengths of 540 nm and / or 430–460 nm.

[0125] The inventors have also developed a technique for diagnosing various health problems in people using images captured from the retina and fundus of the eye. For example, in some embodiments, any of the health conditions described above can be diagnosed.

[0126] In some embodiments, the imaging techniques described herein may be used for determining health status, which may include determinations regarding heart health, cardiovascular disease and / or cardiovascular risk, anemia, retinotoxicity, body mass index, water weight, hydration status, muscle mass, age, smoking habits, blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, and / or other such health attributes. For example, in some embodiments, a light source having a bandwidth of at least 40 nm may be configured with sufficient imaging resolution to capture red blood cells having a diameter of 6 μm and white blood cells having a diameter of at least 15 μm. Thus, the imaging techniques described herein may be configured to facilitate sorting and counting of red and white blood cells, estimation of their respective densities in the blood, and / or other such determinations.

[0127] In some embodiments, the imaging techniques described herein can facilitate tracking the movement of blood cells to measure blood flow velocity. In some embodiments, the imaging techniques described herein can facilitate tracking the width of blood vessels, which can provide estimates of blood pressure changes and perfusion. For example, an imaging device such as that described herein, configured to resolve red and white blood cells using a two-dimensional (2D) spatial scan completed within 1 μs, may be configured to capture the movement of blood cells at 1 meter per second. In some embodiments, a light source that may be included in the device described herein, such as a superluminescent diode, LED, and / or laser, may be configured to emit sub-microsecond light pulses so that an image can be acquired in less than 1 microsecond. Using the spectral scanning techniques described herein, an entire cross-section of the scanned line-to-depth (e.g., lateral) may be acquired in sub-microseconds. In some embodiments, a two-dimensional (2D) sensor described herein may be configured to acquire such images for slow internal or external readings and subsequent analysis. In some embodiments, a 3D sensor may be used. The embodiments described below overcome the challenge of obtaining multiple high-quality scans in just one microsecond.

[0128] In some embodiments, the imaging device described herein may be configured to scan lines aligned along the direction of blood vessels. For example, the scan can be rotated and positioned after identifying the vascular structure of the target retina fundus and selecting larger vessels for observation. In some embodiments, small vessels that allow only one cell to pass through sequentially may be selected so that the selected vessels fit within a single scan line. In some embodiments, the acquisition area for the imaging sensor can be reduced by limiting the target imaging region to a smaller section of the target eye. In some embodiments, using a portion of the imaging sensor facilitates increasing the imaging frame rate to tens of kHz. In some embodiments, the imaging device described herein may be configured to perform high-speed scanning over a small area of ​​the target eye while reducing diffuse spectral interference. For example, each scan line may use a different section of the imaging sensor array. Thus, multiple depth scans can be acquired simultaneously, with each scan acquired by a respective portion of the imaging sensor array. In some embodiments, each scan may be expanded to provide wider spacing on the imaging sensor array, such as wider than the dispersion spectrum, so that each depth scan can be measured independently.

[0129] VIII. Conclusion Thus, while several aspects and embodiments of the technology described herein have been described, it should be understood that various changes, modifications, and improvements will be readily conceivable to those skilled in the art. Such changes, modifications, and improvements are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the technology described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will readily envision various other means and / or structures to perform the functions described herein and / or to obtain one or more of the results and / or benefits described herein, and each of such variations and / or modifications will be considered within the scope of the embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art will recognize many equivalents of the particular embodiments described herein, or can verify them using only a few routine experiments. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described herein are presented only as examples, and within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, embodiments of the invention may be carried out in ways other than those specifically described. In addition, any combination of two or more features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods described herein is included within the scope of this disclosure, provided that such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods are not mutually inconsistent.

[0130] The embodiments described above can be implemented in any of a number of ways. One or more aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure involving the execution of a process or method can be executed or controlled by program instructions that can be executed by a device (e.g., a computer, a processor, or other device). In this regard, various inventive concepts can be embodied as computer-readable storage media (or more computer-readable storage media) (e.g., computer memory, one or more floppy disks, compact disks, optical disks, magnetic tapes, flash memory, field-programmable gate arrays, or circuit configurations in other semiconductor devices, or other tangible computer storage media) encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more computers or other processors, execute a method of implementing one or more of the various embodiments described above. One or more computer-readable media may be transportable so that one or more programs stored therein can be loaded onto one or more different computers or other processors to implement various aspects of the embodiments described above. In some embodiments, the computer-readable media may be non-temporary media.

[0131] The terms “program” or “software” are used herein in a general sense to refer to any type of computer code or set of computer executable instructions that can be used to program a computer or other processor to implement the various embodiments described above. Furthermore, it should be understood that, according to one embodiment, one or more computer programs that implement the methods of the Disclosure when executed do not need to reside on a single computer or processor, but may be modularly distributed among several different computers or processors to implement the various embodiments of the Disclosure.

[0132] Computer executable instructions can take many forms, such as program modules, which are executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, a program module includes routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform a specific task or implement a specific abstract data type. Typically, the functions of a program module may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments.

[0133] Furthermore, the data structure may be stored in a computer-readable medium in any suitable form. For simplicity of explanation, the data structure may be shown as having fields that are related through locations within the data structure. Such relationships may also be achieved by allocating storage for the fields with respect to locations in the computer-readable medium that convey the relationships between the fields. However, any suitable mechanism, including the use of pointers, tags, or other mechanisms to establish relationships between data elements, may be used to establish relationships between information within the fields of the data structure.

[0134] When implemented in software, software code can be executed on any suitable processor or set of processors, whether it is provided within a single computer or distributed across multiple computers.

[0135] Furthermore, it should be understood that, in non-limiting examples, a computer may be embodied in any of several forms, such as a rack-mount computer, desktop computer, laptop computer, or tablet computer. In addition, a computer may be incorporated into a device that is not generally considered a computer but has sufficient processing power, including a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, or any other suitable portable or fixed electronic device.

[0136] Furthermore, a computer may have one or more input and output devices. These devices can, among many others, be used to present a user interface. Examples of output devices that may be used to provide a user interface include printers or display screens for visual presentation of output, and speakers or other sound-generating devices for audible presentation of output. Examples of input devices that can be used for a user interface include keyboards, as well as pointing devices such as mice, touchpads, and digitizing tablets. As another example, a computer may receive input information through speech recognition or in other audible formats.

[0137] Such computers may be interconnected by one or more networks of any suitable form, including local area networks or wide area networks such as enterprise networks, and intelligent networks (IN) or the Internet. Such networks may be based on any suitable technology, may operate according to any suitable protocol, and may include wireless networks, wired networks, or fiber optic networks.

[0138] The actions performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable manner. Thus, while they are shown as sequential actions in the exemplary embodiment, embodiments can be constructed in which the actions are performed in a different order than those shown, which may include performing several actions simultaneously.

[0139] All definitions defined and used herein should be understood to take precedence over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents referenced by reference, and / or the ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

[0140] The indefinite articles "a" and "an" used herein and in the claims should be understood to mean "at least one" unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0141] In this specification and in the claims, the phrase “and / or” as used herein should be understood to mean “either or both” of the thus linked elements, i.e., elements that exist linked in some cases and separately in others. Multiple elements listed using “and / or” should be interpreted similarly, i.e., “one or more” of the thus linked elements. Other elements other than those specifically identified by the “and / or” clause may be present at their discretion, whether related to or unrelated to those specifically identified elements. Thus, as a non-restrictive example, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising,” a reference to “A and / or B” may, in one embodiment, refer to A only (including elements other than B at their discretion), in another embodiment, refer to B only (including elements other than A at their discretion), in yet another embodiment, refer to both A and B (including other elements at their discretion), and so on.

[0142] When used herein and in the claims, the phrase “at least one” with respect to a list of one or more elements means at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each element and all of the elements specifically listed in the list of elements, nor does it exclude any combination of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows for the presence of elements other than those specifically identified in the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related to those specifically identified elements or not, at the discretion of the system. Therefore, as a non-restrictive example, “at least one of A and B” (or equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or equivalently, “at least one of A and / or B”) could, in one embodiment, refer to at least one (optionally two or more) A and no B (and optionally include elements other than B); in another embodiment, refer to at least one (optionally two or more) B and no A (and optionally include elements other than A); and in yet another embodiment, refer to at least one (optionally two or more) A and at least one (optionally two or more) B (and optionally include other elements), and so on.

[0143] Furthermore, the expressions and technical terms used herein are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and their variations herein is intended to encompass the items listed below, their equivalents, and additional items.

[0144] In the claims and the specification above, all transitional phrases such as "comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing," "involving," "holding," and "composed of" should be understood as open-ended, meaning they include but are not limited to including. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of" are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively. (Note) The technical concepts that can be understood from the above embodiments and modified examples are described below. [Item 1] A method comprising the steps of: adjusting at least one light source to selectively illuminate a first portion of a target eye with illumination light; and acquiring an image and / or measurements of the first portion of the target eye. [Item 2] The at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources configured to illuminate each part of the eye of the subject, The step of adjusting the at least one light source comprises turning on a selected subset of the plurality of light sources that illuminate the first portion of the target eye, The method further comprises the step of focusing the illumination light onto the first portion of the eye of the target using a plurality of optical components. The method described in item 1. [Item 3] The method according to item 2, wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged in a ring shape. [Item 4] The plurality of optical components comprises a first plate, the first plate having an annular portion and a concealing portion positioned within the annular portion, The step of selectively illuminating the first portion of the target eye comprises the step of transmitting the illumination light from the selected subset of the plurality of light sources arranged in a ring shape through the first portion of the annular part. The method described in item 3. [Item 5] The at least one light source comprises a display screen configured to selectively provide the illumination light to illuminate the first portion of the eye of the target, The method further comprises the step of focusing the illumination light onto the first portion of the target eye using a plurality of optical components. The method described in item 1. [Item 6] A step of focusing the illumination light onto the first portion of the eye of the target using a plurality of optical components, wherein the plurality of optical components are A mirror with a hole, and One or more optical components configured to focus the illumination light onto the mirror. A focusing process, which includes, A step of receiving reflected illumination light from the first part of the target eye through the hole with an imaging and / or measuring sensor. The method described in item 1, further comprising the features described in item 1. [Item 7] A step to identify the location of the first portion of the target eye by focusing IR light from an IR light source onto the second portion of the target eye using a plurality of infrared (IR) optical components, thereby illuminating at least a portion of the second portion of the target eye. Furthermore, The at least one light source comprises a white light source, The step of adjusting the at least one light source corresponds to identifying the position of the first part, The method according to item 1, further comprising the step of focusing the illumination light onto the first portion of the eye of the target using a plurality of optical components. [Item 8] A step of at least partially determining the position of the first part of the eye of the target by illuminating the second part of the eye of the target. Furthermore, The at least one light source comprises a white light source, and the method further comprises the step of focusing a first white light from the white light source onto a first portion of the eye of the target using a plurality of optical components. The step of illuminating the second portion of the eye of the target comprises the step of focusing the second white light from the white light source onto the second portion of the eye of the target, The first white light is brighter than the second white light. The method described in item 1. [Item 9] The method according to item 8, wherein the first and second portions of the eye of the subject are located on the pupil of the eye of the subject. [Item 10] The method according to item 8, wherein at least the second portion of the eye of the subject is located on the iris of the eye of the subject. [Item 11] An imaging and / or measuring device comprising at least one light source, wherein the imaging and / or measuring device is configured to adjust the at least one light source to selectively illuminate a first portion of a target eye with illumination light, and to acquire an image and / or measurement of the first portion of the target eye. [Item 12] The at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources configured to illuminate each part of the eye of the subject, The imaging and / or measuring device further comprises a plurality of optical components configured to focus the illumination light onto the first portion of the eye of the target, The imaging and / or measuring device is configured to at least partially adjust the at least one light source by turning on a selected subset of the plurality of light sources to illuminate the first portion of the target eye. The imaging and / or measuring device described in item 11. [Item 13] The imaging and / or measuring apparatus according to item 12, wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged in a ring shape. [Item 14] The imaging and / or measuring apparatus according to item 13, wherein the plurality of optical components comprises a first plate, the first plate having an annular portion and a cloaking portion positioned within the annular portion, and the selected subset of the plurality of light sources is configured to transmit the illumination light through the first portion of the annular portion. [Item 15] The at least one light source comprises a display screen, The imaging and / or measuring device is configured to adjust the display screen to selectively provide the illumination light to illuminate the first portion of the eye of the subject, The imaging and / or measuring device further comprises a plurality of optical components configured to focus the illumination light onto the first portion of the eye of the target, The imaging and / or measuring device described in item 11. [Item 16] The imaging and / or measuring device, Multiple optical components, A mirror having a hole, and One or more optical components configured to focus the illumination light onto the mirror. Multiple optical components comprising, The imaging and / or measuring apparatus according to item 11, further comprising: an imaging and / or measuring sensor configured to receive reflected illumination light from the first portion of the eye of the object through the hole in the mirror. [Item 17] The at least one light source comprises a white light source configured to provide the illumination light, A plurality of optical components configured to focus the illumination light onto the first portion of the eye of the subject, Infrared (IR) light source, The system includes a plurality of IR optical components configured to focus IR light from the IR light source onto a second portion of the target eye in order to identify the position of the first portion of the target eye, The imaging and / or measuring device, By illuminating the second portion of the eye of the subject, the position of the first portion of the eye of the subject can be at least partially identified. The configuration is further configured to adjust the at least one light source in accordance with identifying the position of the first portion of the target eye. The imaging and / or measuring device described in item 11. [Item 18] The at least one light source comprises a white light source configured to provide the illumination light, The imaging and / or measuring device, The illumination light is focused onto the first portion of the eye of the subject, The system further comprises a plurality of optical components configured to focus the illumination light onto the second portion of the eye of the target in order to locate the position of the second portion of the eye of the target, The imaging and / or measuring device is configured to illuminate the first portion of the eye of the subject with white light that is brighter than the white light used to illuminate the second portion of the eye of the subject. The imaging and / or measuring device described in item 11. [Item 19] The first and second portions of the eye of the subject are located on the pupil of the eye of the subject, as described in item 18, and the imaging and / or measuring device is described in item 18. [Item 20] The imaging and / or measuring device according to item 18, wherein at least the second portion of the eye of the subject is located on the iris of the eye of the subject.

Claims

1. A step of illuminating a plurality of parts of an eye of a subject using at least one light source to determine the position of a first part of the eye of a subject, wherein the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources configured to illuminate each of the parts of the eye of the subject, and the plurality of light sources includes a first light source configured to illuminate the first part of the eye of the subject and a second light source configured to illuminate a second part of the eye of the subject that is different from the first part; A step of selecting a subset of the plurality of light sources based on the position of the first part determined in the eye of the target, after illuminating the plurality of parts of the eye of the target, wherein the selection is (i) the position of the first part determined in the eye of the target, and (ii) the configuration of the first light source, including the first light source in a subset of the plurality of light sources; and (i) the position of the first part determined in the eye of the target, and (ii) the configuration of the second light source, which includes removing the second light source from a subset of the plurality of light sources; A step of selecting a subset of the plurality of light sources and then adjusting at least one of the light sources to selectively illuminate the first portion of the target eye with illumination light, wherein the adjustment includes turning on the selected subset of the plurality of light sources; and The process of selectively illuminating the first portion of the target eye with the illumination light while acquiring an image and / or measurements of the first portion of the target eye. A method for providing this.

2. The process further comprises focusing the illumination light onto the first portion of the eye of the target using a plurality of optical components. The method according to claim 1.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged in a ring shape.

4. The plurality of optical components comprises a first plate, the first plate having an annular portion and a concealing portion positioned within the annular portion, The step of selectively illuminating the first portion of the target eye comprises the step of transmitting the illumination light from the selected subset of the plurality of light sources arranged in a ring shape through the first portion of the annular part. The method according to claim 3.

5. The at least one light source comprises a display screen configured to selectively supply the illumination light to illuminate the first portion of the eye of the target, The method further comprises a step of focusing the illumination light onto the first portion of the target eye using a plurality of optical components. The method according to claim 1.

6. A step of focusing the illumination light onto the first portion of the eye of the target using a plurality of optical components, wherein the plurality of optical components are A mirror with a hole, and One or more optical components configured to focus the illumination light onto the mirror. A focusing process, which includes, The process of receiving reflected illumination light from the first part of the target eye through the hole with an imaging and / or measuring sensor. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

7. The step of illuminating the plurality of parts of the target eye in order to determine the position of the first part of the target eye comprises the step of illuminating the second part of the target eye. The at least one light source comprises a white light source, The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of focusing the illumination light onto the first portion of the eye of the target using a plurality of optical components.

8. The step of illuminating the plurality of parts of the eye of the target in order to determine the position of the first part of the eye of the target comprises the step of illuminating the second part of the eye of the target, The at least one light source comprises a white light source, The method further comprises a step of focusing a first white light from the white light source onto a first portion of the eye of the target using a plurality of optical components. The step of illuminating the second portion of the eye of the target comprises the step of focusing the second white light from the white light source onto the second portion of the eye of the target, The first white light is brighter than the second white light. The method according to claim 1.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second portions of the target eye are located on the pupil of the target eye.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least the second portion of the target eye is located on the iris of the target eye.

11. An imaging and / or measuring device, At least one light source comprising a plurality of light sources configured to illuminate different parts of the eye of a subject, wherein the plurality of light sources comprises a first light source configured to illuminate a first part of the eye of the subject and a second light source configured to illuminate a second part of the eye of the subject that is different from the first part; At least one imaging and / or measurement sensor; and At least one processor coupled to the at least one light source and the at least one imaging and / or measurement sensor Equipped with, The aforementioned at least one processor, An instruction is transmitted to the at least one light source configured to illuminate multiple parts of the eye of the subject, Based on the illumination of the multiple parts of the eye of the subject, the position of the first part of the eye of the subject is determined. After determining the position of the first part of the target eye, a subset of the plurality of light sources is selected based on the position of the first part determined in the target eye, and the selection is (i) the position of the first part determined in the eye of the target, and (ii) the configuration of the first light source, including the first light source in a subset of the plurality of light sources; and (i) the position of the first part determined in the eye of the target, and (ii) the configuration of the second light source, which includes removing the second light source from a subset of the plurality of light sources. After selecting a subset of the plurality of light sources, an instruction is sent to the at least one light source configured to adjust the at least one light source so as to selectively illuminate the first portion of the target eye with illumination light by turning on the selected subset of the plurality of light sources, While the at least one light source selectively illuminates the first portion of the target eye, an instruction is transmitted to the at least one imaging and / or measuring sensor configured to capture an image and / or measurement of the first portion of the target eye. An imaging and / or measuring device configured in such a way.

12. The further comprising a plurality of optical components configured to focus the illumination light onto the first portion of the eye of the target, The imaging and / or measuring apparatus according to claim 11.

13. The imaging and / or measuring apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged in a ring shape.

14. The imaging and / or measuring apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of optical components comprises a first plate, the first plate having an annular portion and a concealing portion positioned within the annular portion, and the selected subset of the plurality of light sources is configured to transmit the illumination light through the first portion of the annular portion.

15. The at least one light source comprises a display screen, The imaging and / or measuring device is configured to adjust the display screen to selectively supply the illumination light to illuminate the first portion of the eye of the target, The imaging and / or measuring device further comprises a plurality of optical components configured to focus the illumination light onto the first portion of the eye of the target, The imaging and / or measuring apparatus according to claim 11.

16. The imaging and / or measuring device, Multiple optical components, A mirror having a hole, and One or more optical components configured to focus the illumination light onto the mirror. Multiple optical components comprising Furthermore, The imaging and / or measuring apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one imaging and / or measuring sensor is configured to receive reflected illumination light from the first portion of the eye of the object through the hole in the mirror.

17. The at least one light source comprises a white light source configured to provide the illumination light, A plurality of optical components configured to focus the illumination light onto the first portion of the eye of the subject, Infrared (IR) light source, The system includes a plurality of IR optical components configured to focus IR light from the IR light source onto the second portion of the target eye in order to determine the position of the first portion of the target eye, The imaging and / or measuring device, The position of the first part of the eye of the target is determined at least partially by illuminating the second part of the eye of the target, The configuration is further configured to adjust the at least one light source in accordance with determining the position of the first portion of the target eye. The imaging and / or measuring apparatus according to claim 11.

18. The at least one light source comprises a white light source configured to provide the illumination light, The imaging and / or measuring device, The illumination light is focused onto the first portion of the eye of the subject, The system further comprises a plurality of optical components configured to focus the illumination light onto the second portion of the target eye in order to determine the position of the second portion of the target eye. The imaging and / or measuring device is configured to illuminate the first portion of the target eye with white light that is brighter than the white light used to illuminate the second portion of the target eye. The imaging and / or measuring apparatus according to claim 11.

19. The imaging and / or measuring device according to claim 11, wherein the first and second portions of the target eye are located on the pupil of the target eye.

20. The imaging and / or measuring device according to claim 11, wherein at least the second portion of the target eye is located on the iris of the target eye.

Images