Binocular Eye Fundus Viewing System Single-Pass Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy (BIO) systems are large, costly, lack adjustability, and suffer from unintended distortion due to dual pass light approaches, and are not suitable for direct image capture, which limits their effectiveness and accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A binocular viewing system that uses a casing with a light source section and a lens receiving section, featuring a light ring that surrounds a light receiving aperture, allowing for a single pass of light through the lens, which is adjustable for focus and color, enabling compact, cost-effective, and high-quality binocular views of the eye fundus, and allowing for direct image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional dual pass BIO systems are used, then binocular viewing capability is achieved, but the system becomes large, complex, and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light source from the head-mounted equipment and places it in a handheld unit. This separation eliminates the need for complex head-mounted mirrors and lenses, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining binocular viewing capability through a simplified single-pass optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of passing light through the lens twice (dual pass), the patent inverts the approach by using a single pass where light from the handheld source passes through the lens once to form the aerial image, eliminating the need for complex dual-pass optical components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional dual pass BIO systems are used, then binocular viewing is achieved, but image distortion occurs due to extended light path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate reflection step in the dual-pass system, extracting only the essential function of light transmission through the lens once. This eliminates the extended light path that causes distortion while preserving the binocular aerial image formation capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional BIO systems are used, then binocular viewing is achieved, but image capture is interrupted by the dual pass light path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the viewing and capture functions by using a single-pass light path that forms an aerial image accessible to both the viewer's eyes and external camera sensors. This allows simultaneous binocular viewing and uninterrupted image capture without requiring complex adapters.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional BIO systems are used, then binocular viewing capability is achieved, but the system becomes costly and lacks adjustability
Solution Approach 1:
The handheld unit serves multiple functions: it provides illumination, houses the condensing lens for aerial image formation, and enables both direct binocular viewing and camera capture. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate head-mounted light sources and complex mirror systems, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining versatility.
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 provides a more compact, cost-effective, and adjustable solution for binocular viewing of the eye fundus, enabling higher quality images and direct image capture, improving accessibility and examination efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
light may be emitted from the light ring, reflected off the eye fundus of the patient, passed through the light receiving aperture, and then directed for a single pass through the lens receiving section
Implementation Method 2
directed for a single pass through the lens receiving section to generate the binocular view
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for binocular viewing of an eye fundus, comprising a casing that includes a first section coupled to a second section, a light source coupled to a patient-facing end of the first section and configured to provide light along a light path towards the eye fundus, and a lens receiving opening formed into a practitioner-facing end of the second section of the casing. The lens receiving opening may be configured to receive and hold a lens within the second section.