Fundus Imaging Wavefront Adjustment via Fluorescence Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fundus imaging technologies face challenges in effectively compensating for optical aberration caused by the eye's front components without using a wavefront sensor.
Innovation Solution
A fundus imaging apparatus and method that employs a wavefront adjuster to optimize the wavefront of a femtosecond pulsed laser beam, maximizing fluorescence intensity detected by a detector, thereby converging the laser beam to the focal point with minimal optical aberration, using a deformable mirror and liquid crystal elements in the wavefront adjuster.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a wavefront sensor is used to compensate for optical aberration, then the optical aberration compensation accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the wavefront sensor from the optical aberration compensation system, replacing it with a fluorescence intensity detection mechanism. This eliminates the complex wavefront sensing hardware while achieving the same compensation goal through fluorescence signal optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the fluorescence signal from the ocular fundus itself as the feedback mechanism for wavefront optimization. The fluorescence intensity automatically indicates the quality of laser focusing, eliminating the need for external sensing devices
2Measurement precision
If a wavefront sensor is used to compensate for optical aberration, then the optical aberration compensation accuracy is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive wavefront sensor component from the system, replacing it with a cost-effective fluorescence intensity detection approach that uses existing detector capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses readily available fluorescence detection capabilities rather than expensive specialized wavefront sensing hardware, achieving comparable performance at lower cost
3Productivity
If the laser beam is converged to the focal plate with maximum efficiency, then the fluorescence intensity is maximized, but optical aberration must be minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback loop where fluorescence intensity is measured and used to adjust the wavefront corrector, continuously optimizing the laser beam convergence to maximize productivity while minimizing optical aberration
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the wavefront corrector based on real-time fluorescence intensity measurements, allowing the laser beam convergence to adapt and optimize itself during 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
This approach allows for accurate compensation of optical aberration, resulting in high-efficiency convergence of the laser beam and improved diagnostic accuracy of ocular fundus images without relying on a wavefront sensor.
Implementation Method 1
The wavefront adjuster is configured to adjust a wavefront of a femtosecond pulsed laser beam incident on an ocular fundus to be examined
Implementation Method 2
a mechanism for correcting optical aberration, which occurs due to a cornea, a crystalline lens, etc., and the like
Implementation Method 3
The detector is configured to detect fluorescence generated in a multi-photon excitation process by the femtosecond pulsed laser beam incident on the ocular fundus
Implementation Method 4
detect fluorescence generated in a multi-photon excitation process
Implementation Method 5
using a deformable mirror and liquid crystal elements in the wavefront adjuster
Implementation Method 6
using a deformable mirror and liquid crystal elements in the wavefront adjuster
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Provided is a fundus imaging apparatus including a wavefront adjuster and a detector. The wavefront adjuster is configured to adjust a wavefront of a femtosecond pulsed laser beam incident on an ocular fundus to be examined. The detector is configured to detect fluorescence generated in a multi-photon excitation process by the femtosecond pulsed laser beam incident on the ocular fundus to be examined. The wavefront adjuster is further configured to adjust the wavefront so that an intensity of the fluorescence to be detected by the detector becomes a maximum value.