Ergonomic Refraction Station With Transparent Phoropter Helmet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current refraction units, such as phoropters, are rigid and uncomfortable for patients, restrict natural head and eye movements, lack transparency, and cannot test multifocal lenses, failing to simulate real-world vision conditions, especially for long-sighted patients needing bifocal or progressive lenses.
Innovation Solution
An ergonomic refraction station with a transparent, lightweight phoropter helmet and adjustable components, allowing patients to control their head movements, incorporating multifocal lenses, and simulating real-world working conditions through adjustable lighting and projected work environments, enabling testing of far, intermediate, and near vision with ergonomic support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional phoropter with rigid support structure is used, then structural stability is maintained, but patient comfort and natural head movement are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid, fixed phoropter structure with a dynamic, movable helmet system that can rotate and tilt to follow natural head movements. The helmet is supported by a flexible arm mechanism allowing continuous adjustment while maintaining optical alignment, thus improving patient comfort without sacrificing structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a lightweight helmet shell that is flexible and comfortable for patient wear, replacing the rigid phoropter housing. This flexible helmet design allows natural head movements while maintaining the necessary structural integrity through smart material selection and optimized geometry.
2Strength
If non-transparent materials are used for the phoropter housing, then structural integrity is maintained, but patient perception of environment and depth is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical properties of the helmet housing from opaque to transparent or translucent, allowing patients to see through the housing and perceive the environment, depth cues, and working distances while maintaining sufficient structural strength through material selection and design optimization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If monofocal lenses are used in the phoropter, then simple lens testing is achieved, but multifocal lens testing and real-world vision simulation are not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the helmet system to accommodate multiple lens types including monofocal, bifocal, and progressive multifocal lenses. The lens housing and optical path are configured to accept various lens configurations, enabling comprehensive vision testing for all patient types without requiring multiple separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates adjustable optical components and movable lens elements that can be dynamically reconfigured to simulate different viewing distances and visual conditions. This dynamic capability allows the system to test multifocal lenses in various positions and orientations, replicating real-world vision scenarios.
4Ease of operation
If the phoropter is manipulated by the examiner, then control over the testing process is maintained, but abrupt movements cause patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables patients to directly control the helmet position and orientation through intuitive mechanical coupling to head movements. This self-service capability eliminates abrupt examiner manipulations while maintaining precise control over the optical alignment, improving comfort without sacrificing testing accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Ergonomic refraction station and procedure of use consists of a phoropter helmet, chair, work table, monitor and electronic circuit, which seeks to perform a refraction test in the conditions most similar to the usual work environment of the patient, for this it consists of a lightweight phoropter helmet, which adjusts to the size of the user, made of transparent material to allow contact with its surroundings and execute the usual movements of head, neck, eyes and working distance, parameters that are captured by optical, distance and inclination sensors, located on the phoropter helmet or on the flexible and adjustable table with “swan neck” arms.