Gesture-Controlled Ophthalmic Imaging via Virtual Shutter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Eye care specialists face difficulty in triggering the shutter button of imaging devices while holding both the smartphone and ophthalmic lens, making it challenging to capture digital images of the retina or other ocular structures effectively.

Innovation Solution

Implementing processor-based machine vision control methods that enable gesture-based image capture, allowing specialists to trigger image capture by placing a fingertip over the ophthalmic lens frame, creating a virtual shutter button on the lens frame through image processing, which can be used with smartphones, video-enabled headsets, or other digital image capture devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the eye care specialist holds the smartphone and ophthalmic lens separately to capture images, then the imaging flexibility is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in triggering the shutter button

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging flexibilityVSAvoidease of triggering shutter

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary gesture recognition system that mediates between the physical lens positioning and digital shutter triggering. The system detects gestures (such as circling motion around the lens) as an intermediate signal to automatically trigger image capture, eliminating the need for manual button pressing while maintaining imaging flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service operation by automatically detecting when the ophthalmic lens is properly positioned and autonomously triggering the image capture. The gesture-based interface allows the specialist to simply position the lens while the system handles the triggering automatically, making the device serve itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the ophthalmic lens is attached to the smartphone using an adapter for manual capture, then the integration is improved, but the ease of operation worsens due to inability to trigger virtual shutter button

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration capabilityVSAvoidease of triggering shutter

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical shutter button pressing action with a gesture-based optical/digital detection system. Instead of requiring physical contact with a button, the system uses camera-based gesture recognition to detect hand movements around the lens and automatically triggers capture, substituting mechanical interaction with optical field detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional handheld ophthalmic lenses are used with digital imaging devices, then the compatibility is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to difficult manipulation of shutter controls

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoidimage capture efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9579015B2Ophthalmic image capture systems and methods

Publication Date: 2017.02.28 RSBV LLC

AI summary

Apparatus, systems and techniques for capturing, processing and generating digital ophthalmic images using conventional ophthalmic lenses. Certain embodiments processor implemented gesture-based control methods that provide for an eye care specialist to use a gesture-based imaging trigger to capture images of selected ocular structures through a traditional ophthalmic lens.