Catadioptric Ophthalmic Imaging Optics for Wide Fundus Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ophthalmic imaging systems that require a lens element to be in close contact with the subject eye impose a burden on the subject and limit the observation of a wide range within the eye.
Innovation Solution
An ophthalmic imaging system utilizing a catadioptric optical system combining reflective surfaces and lenses, which allows for a wider field of view and reduced physical contact with the eye, enabling high-resolution imaging of a broader fundus region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a slit lamp and a fundus camera are used as separate devices, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but the examination requires moving the patient's head between devices and taking multiple examinations, increasing examination time and patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the slit lamp and fundus camera into a single integrated ophthalmological examination device. The slit lamp unit and fundus camera unit share a common optical path and patient positioning system, allowing both anterior segment and posterior segment examinations to be performed without moving the patient between separate devices. This merging resolves the contradiction by maintaining examination accuracy through specialized components while eliminating time loss from patient repositioning and multiple examinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device provides multi-functional capability by incorporating both slit lamp examination functions and fundus camera imaging functions within a single system. The device can perform anterior segment examination, posterior segment examination, and fundus photography sequentially without requiring separate devices. This universality allows one device to replace multiple specialized devices, reducing examination time while maintaining the precision of each specific examination type.
2Reliability
If the patient's head is moved between separate devices for different examinations, then each examination can be performed with dedicated equipment, but the patient's head position changes cause misalignment and require repeated examinations
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the slit lamp and fundus camera into a single integrated device with a common optical path and fixed patient positioning system, the patent eliminates the need to move the patient's head between separate devices. The integrated design ensures that both examination types are performed from the same patient position, maintaining examination reliability while reducing procedural complexity compared to coordinating multiple separate devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate examinations are performed with different devices, then comprehensive eye assessment can be achieved, but the cumulative examination time and patient burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated device achieves comprehensive eye assessment by incorporating multiple examination functions (slit lamp, fundus camera, optical path sharing) within a single universal platform. This multi-functionality allows the device to perform anterior segment examination, posterior segment examination, and fundus photography in sequence without requiring separate specialized devices, thereby maintaining examination comprehensiveness while significantly reducing total examination time and patient burden.
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 achieves a wider field of view with improved aberration characteristics, reduced system size, and enhanced imaging resolution without the need for close contact with the eye, facilitating comprehensive fundus observation.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser lens 14 that condenses light from the light source 13 onto an illumination point
Implementation Method 2
an objective lens 16 that forms an optical image of the illumination point and light reflected from the patient's eye onto an imaging sensor 18
Data Source
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AI summary
Both observation of a wide range within a subject eye may be enabled and a burden on a subject of whom the subject eye is part may be moderated. In order of incidence of light from a side at which a pupil (Pp) of the subject eye (12) is disposed, spreading of the luminous flux is suppressed by a first refracting face, the light is reflected by a first reflection surface (Mr01) with a central aperture, directing the luminous flux in convergent directions in a direction toward the subject eye (12), the light is reflected in the direction opposite to the direction toward the subject eye (12) by a second reflection surface (Mr02), and the light is transmitted through the central aperture of the first reflection surface and forms a pupil conjugate (Pcj) image that is conjugate with a position of the pupil (Pp) of the subject eye (12).