Light Field Display for Visual Field Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current visual field testing devices, such as the Humphrey Field Analyzer, are bulky and require patients to move and maintain an uncomfortable posture, making testing challenging for elderly patients with comorbidities, and existing head-mounted devices have not achieved clinical acceptance due to weight and comfort issues.
Innovation Solution
A light field display system that generates visual stimuli using a high-density OLED array and lenslet array, correcting for refractive errors and allowing for binocular or monocular testing, with eye tracking and adjustable brightness, presented either near the eye or reimaged for a compact form factor, including head-mounted and desktop configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional bowl-based visual field analyzer (HFA) is used, then visual field testing accuracy is maintained, but the device occupies large volume and requires patient movement to fixed position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a bowl-based projection system occupying large spatial volume to a retinal projection system that delivers stimuli directly to the retina through optical components positioned near the eye. This dimensional change eliminates the need for a large bowl structure while maintaining visual field testing accuracy by projecting stimuli along the visual axis directly onto the retinal surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential function of visual field testing from the bulky bowl structure and implements it through a compact retinal projection system. By removing the bowl and using direct retinal projection with adjustable optical components, the system achieves the same measurement precision in a much smaller footprint that can be positioned on a standard examination table.
2Measurement precision
If trial lenses are added to correct refractive errors in HFA, then focus accuracy is improved, but device complexity and setup time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces static trial lenses with a dynamic optical system featuring adjustable optical components that can be electronically controlled. The system includes adjustable focus and astigmatism correction mechanisms that can be modified programmatically, eliminating the need for manual lens changes and complex holder setups while maintaining focus accuracy across different patient requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes the mechanical trial lens holder system with an electronically controlled optical adjustment system. Instead of manually inserting and removing physical lenses, the system uses adjustable optical components controlled by motors or other actuation mechanisms, reducing mechanical complexity and enabling programmable refractive correction.
3Stability of the object's composition
If patients maintain fixed posture for extended HFA testing, then measurement consistency is improved, but patient comfort and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a head-mounted or closely positioned system that moves with the patient's head, eliminating the need for the patient to maintain a fixed posture relative to a stationary device. The system adapts to natural head movements and positioning, allowing patients to sit comfortably while maintaining measurement consistency through active tracking and adjustment of the projection system relative to the eye.
4Area of stationary object
If head-mounted display is used to reduce device footprint, then accessibility is improved, but weight and comfort issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes a versatile system that can be implemented in multiple configurations including head-mounted displays, desktop devices with adjustable positioning, and other form factors. This multi-functionality allows selection of the optimal configuration based on patient needs and clinical requirements, balancing footprint reduction with weight and comfort considerations through flexible deployment options.
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
Enables efficient and comfortable visual field analysis with improved patient posture and reduced device size, providing precise refractive error correction and adaptable testing strategies, enhancing clinical workflow and patient experience.
Implementation Method 1
A light field display system that generates visual stimuli using a high-density OLED array
Implementation Method 2
lenslet array, correcting for refractive errors and allowing for binocular or monocular testing
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for performing visual field testing using light field displays are described. The light field display (201, 202; 801; 504; 601-604; 704; 801), that can correct for the focus and cylindrical refractive error of the subject, can be used to perform a variety of visual field testing strategies by rendering visual stimuli to the eye (203). The light field display may be included near the subject's eye, or reimaged by a relay optical system (802). Several embodiments of head and arm mounted systems (711; 704) including a near eye light field display (704) are presented.