Portable Fundus Camera Alignment Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fundus cameras are costly, difficult to use, and often produce misaligned, under or over-exposed, and improperly focused images, especially when used by non-skilled personnel, hindering effective eye screening for diseases like diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.
Innovation Solution
A portable, low-cost fundus camera system utilizing a laser-based focusing and fixation target, combined with a consumer digital camera, that includes an optical lens system with a beam splitter and diffractive element to provide alignment and focusing assistance, allowing users to align the camera with anatomical landmarks and automatically lock focus for high-quality images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a portable, low-cost fundus camera system is used, then the cost and accessibility of fundus photography is reduced, but image quality and alignment precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an alignment assembly with alignment targets as an intermediary component between the user and the fundus imaging process. This alignment assembly provides visual guides that help non-skilled users properly position and align the portable fundus camera, thereby maintaining image quality despite the reduced cost and portability of the system.
2Device complexity
If a portable, low-cost fundus camera system is used, then the complexity of the imaging system is reduced, but alignment precision and focusing accuracy may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment assembly serves as a mediator that compensates for the reduced complexity of the portable system. By providing visual alignment targets and guides, it enables non-skilled users to achieve proper alignment and focusing without requiring complex automated systems or specialized training.
3Ease of operation
If the camera is made portable and hand-held, then ease of operation and accessibility are improved, but stability and image quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment assembly with visual targets acts as an intermediary that guides hand-held operation. By providing clear alignment references, it helps users maintain stable positioning and composition during portable operation, thereby improving image stability despite the inherent movements associated with hand-held use.
4Ease of operation
If the system is simplified for non-skilled users, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision and image quality may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment assembly provides visual guides and targets that mediate between the simplified operation and the required precision. Non-skilled users can easily follow the visual cues to achieve proper alignment and focusing, thereby maintaining measurement precision while preserving ease of operation.
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 simplifies fundus photography by enabling novice users to obtain properly aligned and focused images, reducing the need for specialized training and minimizing patient discomfort, while being compatible with consumer camera technology and reducing the complexity and cost of the imaging process.
Implementation Method 1
a diffractive element configured to receive the collimated beam and, in response, to provide a modified beam comprising a focusing target
Implementation Method 2
a beam splitter located along the optical imaging path, the beam splitter configured to direct at least a portion of the of the modified beam comprising the focusing target to the anatomical target
Implementation Method 3
an optical lens system configured to relay an image of an anatomical target to an image acquisition assembly via an optical imaging path provided by the optical lens system
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and techniques can include using one or more of a portable or fixed optical system to obtain images of a desired anatomical target, such as the fundus region of a human eye. The optical system can include one or more of a laser-based focusing target, a laser-based fixation target, or a removable or adjustable alignment assembly. Such an alignment assembly can provide or allow user alignment based on using anatomical landmarks other than the fundus being imaged. One or more of the apparatus or techniques can be implemented in an optical assembly included as a portion hand-held fundus camera, such as including or using a consumer or commercial digital camera to capture an image.