Applanation Tonometer Cornea Alignment Light Channel
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing applanation tonometers face challenges in quickly and accurately aligning with the patient's cornea, leading to prolonged measurement times and increased patient discomfort, especially when the patient moves their eye during testing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a cornea alignment means featuring a light-transmitting channel and disk-like light baffle within the prism assembly, providing a visual indication to the patient of proper alignment through a bright spot of light, allowing for precise alignment with the cornea and minimizing dwell time and discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional applanation tonometer alignment methods are used, then the tonometer can measure intraocular pressure, but the alignment process is time-consuming and causes patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing alignment indicators (bright spot of light through the light-transmitting channel, alignment mark visible through the cornea) that allow the patient to self-align the tonometer before the measurement process begins. This pre-alignment capability eliminates the need for time-consuming manual adjustment during the measurement, directly resolving the contradiction between alignment precision and measurement time.
2Measurement precision
If traditional applanation tonometer alignment methods are used, then the tonometer can measure intraocular pressure, but patient discomfort increases due to prolonged cornea contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through visual indicators that provide real-time alignment information to the patient. The bright spot of light visible through the light-transmitting channel and the alignment mark seen through the cornea serve as feedback mechanisms, allowing the patient to immediately know when proper alignment is achieved. This eliminates the need for prolonged trial-and-error adjustment, thereby reducing patient discomfort while maintaining alignment precision.
3Ease of operation
If manual alignment adjustment is used, then the tonometer can be positioned, but the patient cannot quickly indicate when proper alignment is achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the patient to independently align the tonometer using the visual feedback provided by the alignment indicators. The patient can see the bright spot of light and alignment mark, determine when proper alignment is achieved, and signal the operator accordingly without requiring manual adjustment assistance. This empowers the patient to perform the alignment function themselves, eliminating time loss while improving ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and accurate intraocular pressure measurement by ensuring precise alignment of the tonometer with the cornea, reducing measurement time and patient discomfort through visual feedback.
Implementation Method 1
a light-transmitting channel that runs through the center of the light baffle so as to lie on the longitudinal axis of the prism assembly, whereby the light-transmitting channel is axially aligned with the contact tip at the front of the prism. When the contact tip of the prism is positioned adjacent the cornea of a patient, light that is generated by the light source of the tonometer is transmitted down the light transmitting channel through the light baffle to the contact tip.
Implementation Method 2
The beam splitter module includes a photo detector and an internal reflective surface that is aligned to reflect to the photo detector light which is reflected outwardly through the prism assembly before, during and after full applanation.
Implementation Method 3
The prism assembly includes a piezo element located adjacent a conical prism that tapers to a contact tip to be pressed against the patient's cornea to achieve applanation during the measurement of IOP.
Data Source
AI summary
An applanation tonometer is disclosed for providing a measurement of intraocular fluid pressure inside the eye of a patient. The applanation tonometer includes a light-transmitting prism having a cornea contact tip at one end and a cornea alignment aid at the opposite end. The cornea alignment aid enables the patient to advise a vision professional when a light source of the tonometer is properly aligned with his cornea so that intraocular fluid pressure can be accurately measured. A light-blocking baffle is located at the opposite end of the prism, and a thin light-transmitting channel is formed through the baffle to lie on the longitudinal axis of the prism. In a preferred embodiment, the light baffle is at least one opaque disk, and the light-transmitting channel is a clear spot at the center of the opaque disk through which light is transmitted to the patient's cornea.