On-Body Eye Imaging Device with Oblique Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eye imaging devices struggle with capturing wide-field sclera images without reflections, requiring complex motor control systems and multiple cameras, which are time-consuming and cumbersome, and do not effectively mitigate light source reflections.
Innovation Solution
An on-body device with a positioning aperture and obliquely positioned light source that illuminates the eye at an angle less than 90 degrees, preventing light source reflections on the sclera and allowing for single-camera, wide-field, non-shadow imaging of the sclera.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a camera is positioned directly in front of the eye to capture sclera images, then the imaging process is simple, but light source reflections appear on the sclera and degrade image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the light source asymmetrically relative to the camera axis, specifically at an angle of 30-60 degrees from the normal of the imaging plane. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that reflected light from the cornea does not enter the camera lens, eliminating reflections on the sclera while maintaining imaging simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension by positioning the light source laterally offset from the camera axis rather than co-locating them. This dimensional separation in the lateral direction allows the light to illuminate the sclera effectively while preventing reflected light from returning to the camera, thus solving the reflection problem without complicating the imaging setup.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple cameras are used to capture wide-field sclera images without reflections, then image quality is improved, but device complexity and operation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light source from the camera housing and positions it separately at an angled position relative to the imaging plane. This separation allows a single camera to capture reflection-free sclera images, eliminating the need for multiple cameras while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the angular parameter of light source positioning to between 30-60 degrees from the normal of the imaging plane. This parameter optimization enables a single camera system to achieve wide-field sclera imaging without reflections, avoiding the complexity of multiple cameras while preserving image quality.
3Illumination intensity
If the light source is positioned perpendicular to the imaging plane, then illumination is maximized, but reflections appear on the sclera and require multiple images to be captured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of the light source at an angle of 30-60 degrees from the normal of the imaging plane. This asymmetric configuration maintains sufficient illumination intensity on the sclera while directing reflected light away from the camera lens, enabling single-shot wide-field imaging without reflections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the light source positioning from the normal direction (perpendicular to imaging plane) to a lateral dimension, creating an angled illumination path. This dimensional change preserves adequate sclera illumination while preventing reflected light from entering the camera, thus achieving both good illumination and high imaging efficiency with a single camera.
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 fast and high-quality wide-field sclera imaging without reflections, improving image capture efficiency and reducing the need for complex systems and multiple images, facilitating better analysis of eye health and disease status.
Implementation Method 1
light from the light source, through the positioning aperture, obliquely illuminates the eye such that the reflection image of the light source is substantially outside of the sclera of the eye
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for assessing human health states based on non-shadow imaging of sclera, or whites, of one or both eyes. In one aspect, the device is an on-body device. In one aspect, the system comprises a positioning aperture, an illuminating apparatus, an imaging apparatus, and/or a processing apparatus. In one aspect, the process only takes a short period of time to take images of the sclera without any operation of splicing multiple images. In one aspect, the device or system improves the quality of images by avoiding the formation of reflection of the illuminating apparatus on the images of the sclera. In a further aspect, the system can utilize the sclera images to obtain information of eye diseases and to predict the physiological and pathological changes in the health status of subject or diagnostic results, which can provide helpful information for medical diagnosis.