Anterior Segment OCT Age Estimation for Patient Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional techniques fail to estimate the age of an eye based on its characteristics, making it difficult to convey the eye's state to patients using measurement values unfamiliar to them.
Innovation Solution
An estimation system that acquires measurement values of the eye's anterior segment characteristics and determines age using correspondence information, employing optical coherence tomography to generate tomographic images and analyze features like trabecular iris space area (TISA) and astigmatism axis angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If measurement values such as AOD are used to evaluate eye characteristics, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because patients cannot easily understand the state of their eye
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary translation mechanism that converts technical measurement values (AOD, TISA) into age estimation results. This intermediary layer bridges the gap between professional measurement data and patient comprehension, allowing doctors to explain eye conditions using familiar age concepts rather than obscure measurement terminology
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the parameter representation from direct measurement values (AOD in millimeters, TISA in pixels) to an age-based parameter system. By changing the parameter domain from physical measurements to temporal concepts, the system maintains measurement precision while dramatically improving patient understandability
2Measurement precision
If conventional measurement methods are used, then measurement precision is maintained, but the ability to communicate eye state to patients deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The age estimation system acts as an information translation intermediary that preserves the full measurement data while presenting it in a patient-friendly format. The system does not lose measurement precision but transforms how the information is communicated, converting technical data into meaningful age-related insights that patients can understand
3Ease of operation
If age estimation capability is added to the system, then ease of operation is improved for patient communication, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing correspondence information that maps measurement values to age ranges. This pre-computed reference data enables the age estimation function to operate without requiring complex real-time calculations, thereby reducing the actual system complexity while maintaining the communication benefit
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the estimation system multi-functional by integrating age estimation capability into the existing OCT measurement platform. The same hardware and measurement infrastructure serve both original measurement purposes and the new age estimation function, avoiding the need for separate dedicated equipment and thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An estimation system, method and program for estimating the age of an eye to be examined. The estimation system includes an acquisition module configured to acquire a measurement value of an attribute of an eye to be examined, the attribute being at least one of a plurality of characteristics of an anterior segment and a plurality of dimension values of the eye to be examined; and a determination module configured to determine an estimated age of the eye to be examined on the basis of the measurement value and correspondence information indicating a correspondence between a value of the attribute and an age of an eyeball.