Iris and Axial Scanning for Correct Eye Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Patient misidentification during medical procedures can lead to errors such as transfusion, medication, and surgical errors, which existing iris pattern recognition systems fail to adequately address, particularly in cases of eye confusion or incorrect identification.

Innovation Solution

A medical system that utilizes iris structure and distance measurements from the cornea to the retina to confirm correct eye identification, providing real-time feedback through integrated displays to ensure accurate patient identification before proceeding with medical procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If iris pattern recognition is used for patient identification, then identification speed is improved, but identification accuracy deteriorates due to eye confusion or incorrect eye identification

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification speedVSAvoididentification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional iris pattern recognition to three-dimensional eye identification by incorporating axial distance measurements (cornea to retina) and corneal curvature data. This adds depth and structural dimensions to the identification process, enabling accurate differentiation between eyes and confirmation of correct eye targeting, thereby resolving the accuracy issue while maintaining speed through automated 3D scanning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If multiple identification methods are combined to improve accuracy, then identification accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges iris pattern recognition with biometric scanning (corneal curvature and axial distance measurement) into a unified identification system. By combining these methods into a single integrated workflow where the biometric scanner automatically captures both iris and structural data, the system achieves high accuracy without proportionally increasing complexity, as the additional measurements are obtained through automated scanning rather than manual procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The biometric scanning device serves multiple functions: it captures iris patterns for initial identification, measures corneal curvature for eye differentiation, and determines axial distance for confirmation. This multi-functionality allows a single device to perform multiple identification tasks, improving accuracy without requiring separate specialized equipment for each method, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4028936B1System and method of utilizing computer-aided identification with medical procedures
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 ALCON INC
  • EP4028936B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4028936B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~2A
  • EP4028936B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2C

AI summary

The disclosure provides a system that may receive an identification of a first patient; may retrieve, based at least on the identification of the first patient, first eye identification information that includes a first plurality of iris structures associated with a first eye of the first patient; may determine a second plurality of iris structures of an eye of a current patient; may determine if the second plurality of iris structures match the first plurality of iris structures; if the second plurality of iris structures match the first plurality of iris structures, may provide an indication that the first eye has been correctly identified; and if the second plurality of iris structures do match the first plurality of iris structures, may provide an indication that the first eye has not been correctly identified.