Handheld Macular Pigment Measurement Using Alternating LED Flicker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack a portable and user-friendly device for accurately measuring macular pigment, which is crucial for assessing macular degeneration and related eye diseases.
Innovation Solution
A handheld device with a viewing tube and LED light source that transmits alternating colored lights imperceptible to the user, allowing the user to perceive a flicker at a specific frequency, which is used to determine the macular pigment optical density (MPOD) score.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing technologies are used for measuring macular pigment, then measurement capability is available, but portability and user-friendliness are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional modules: a handheld portion containing control electronics and a separate viewing tube portion containing the optical system. This segmentation allows the optical measurement components to be optimized for precision while the handheld portion provides portability and user interface functionality, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that converts complex optical measurements into simplified MPOD scores displayed on a screen. This intermediary layer translates the sophisticated optical interference patterns into user-friendly numerical results, making the device easy to operate while maintaining measurement precision through the underlying complex optical system.
2Measurement precision
If complex optical systems are used for accurate measurement, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex optical processing functions into a dedicated viewing tube module separate from the handheld control unit. By taking out the optical system into a distinct module, the main handheld device remains simple and portable while the extracted optical module handles the complex measurement functions, reducing overall device complexity perception while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical optical adjustment mechanisms with electronic control systems. The optical path and measurement parameters are controlled electronically through the handheld portion, eliminating the need for complex mechanical adjustments and reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy through precise electronic control.
3Ease of operation
If portable design is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates dynamic adaptation features where the system automatically adjusts measurement parameters based on real-time detection of the user's eye position and macular characteristics. This dynamic adjustment ensures measurement precision is maintained despite the portable, handheld design that may introduce positioning variations, allowing the device to remain both portable and accurate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes in the optical frequency domain to maintain measurement precision. By modulating the optical frequency and analyzing interference patterns at different frequencies, the system achieves accurate macular pigment measurement without requiring a bulky fixed optical bench, thus maintaining portability while ensuring measurement accuracy through frequency-domain parameter variations.
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
Provides accurate and portable macular pigment measurement, enabling tracking of macular degeneration progression and aiding in early detection of eye diseases.
Implementation Method 1
The viewing tube is coupled to the hand-held portion and terminates in an eye cup. The viewing tube is transverse to the lower hand-held portion and includes a light source for transmitting light in a direction toward the macula. The light source provides two colored lights alternating at an initial frequency that is not perceptible by the user
Data Source
AI summary
An instrument includes a housing with a lower hand-held portion having a user-input button and a display for displaying an MPOD score for the user. The instrument further includes a viewing tube coupled to the hand-held portion. The viewing tube terminates in an eye cup. The viewing tube is transverse to the lower hand-held portion and transmits light from a first light source towards a reflector and is reflected off the reflector through an aperture in a blocking wall and in a direction toward the macula. The first light source is an LED and provides two colored lights alternating at a frequency to create a flicker. The frequency is used to determine an amount of macular pigment of the macula of the user. A second light source is located in the first portion of the viewing tube and configured to illuminate a surface of the blocking wall.