Automated OCT Capture With Patient-Specific Scan Registration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing OCT imaging systems rely heavily on technician skill and repeated scans are time-consuming, leading to potential errors in scan location and inefficiencies in monitoring eye diseases.

Innovation Solution

An automated OCT imaging system that uses patient-specific reference images and machine learning to automatically acquire OCT images at desired scan locations, reducing the need for manual intervention and improving efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual OCT scanning is performed by technician, then scan location can be determined by clinician's request, but errors in scan location and dependency on technician skill occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescan location accuracyVSAvoiddependency on technician skill

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-alignment and self-scanning by automatically comparing real-time images with reference images to determine optimal scan locations, eliminating dependency on technician skill and manual operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from image comparison between real-time and reference images to automatically adjust and determine the desired scan location, improving measurement precision through automated feedback control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If repeated OCT scans are performed at clinician's office, then disease monitoring is achieved, but time consumption and requirement for clinician/technician time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease monitoring capabilityVSAvoidtime for repeated scans

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Patients can perform OCT scans independently at home using the automated system, eliminating the need for clinician or technician assistance and significantly reducing time loss for repeated disease monitoring scans

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses pre-stored reference images to guide automated scanning, allowing patients to perform scans independently without requiring clinician presence or technical expertise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If automated OCT scanning is implemented, then time efficiency and convenience are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescan efficiencyVSAvoidautomation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses reference images as an intermediary to bridge the gap between automated scanning and clinical requirements, simplifying the automation process by comparing real-time images with pre-stored references to determine scan locations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The system reduces errors in scan location, saves time, and enhances the convenience of periodic imaging by allowing patients to perform scans independently, without clinician or technician assistance.

Implementation Method 1

OCT relies on principles of interferometry to image and collect information about an object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInterferometry: Interference

Data Source

PatentUS20250331715A1Automated oct capture

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 TOPCON CORPORATION

AI summary

An automated optical coherence tomography (OCT) method that includes receiving an input from a patient, acquiring a reference image of an object indicating a desired scan location and acquiring a real-time image of the object, where the reference image is unique to a patient and remotely acquired. The real-time image is registered to the reference image to determine a desired scan location. An OCT image is automatically acquired at the desiring scan location.