Movable Mirror Optical Path Coupling Fundus Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fundus inspection systems face challenges in combining fundus imaging and optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices effectively, leading to increased manufacturing complexity and interference signals that affect imaging quality.
Innovation Solution
A fundus inspection system that uses a movable mirror to optically couple the imaging path of a fundus imaging device or the scanning path of an OCT device to the optical axis, allowing for better quality tomographic images to be obtained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dichroic beam splitter is used to combine the optical paths of the fundus imaging device and the optical coherence tomography device, then both devices can observe the fundus, but the number of coating layers increases, manufacturing difficulty and cost increase, and multiple interference signals are generated affecting imaging quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beam combining function from the dichroic beam splitter and implements it through a movable mirror that can be positioned to combine optical paths only when needed. This removes the complex multi-layer coating structure while maintaining the ability to combine fundus imaging and OCT optical paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a movable mirror that can dynamically adjust its position to combine or separate the optical paths of the fundus imaging device and OCT device. This dynamic approach replaces the static dichroic beam splitter, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a dichroic beam splitter with multiple coating layers is used, then both fundus imaging and OCT can share the same optical path, but manufacturing difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beam combining function from the complex multi-layer dichroic beam splitter and implements it through a simple movable mirror. This dramatically simplifies manufacturing while maintaining the shared optical path capability between fundus imaging and OCT devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable mirror acts as an intermediary component that enables optical path sharing without requiring complex coating layers. It temporarily directs light between different devices based on positioning, providing a manufacturable solution for combining imaging modalities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple coating layers are added to the dichroic beam splitter, then both devices can operate on the same platform, but interference signals increase affecting tomographic image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the source of interference signals by extracting the beam combining function from the multi-layer coated dichroic beam splitter. The movable mirror implementation eliminates multiple coating interfaces that generate interference, thereby improving tomographic image quality while maintaining integrated system 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
The system achieves better imaging quality by reducing interference signals and simplifying the manufacturing process, while also allowing for simultaneous or separate capture of fundus and tomographic images.
Implementation Method 1
The movable mirror, disposed at the intersection of the imaging path and the scanning path, moves to or away from the optical axis to optically couple the imaging path or the scanning path to the optical axis
Implementation Method 2
The objective lens has an optical axis. The fundus imaging device is configured to capture the fundus image of the fundus of an eyeball along the optical axis
Implementation Method 3
The fundus imaging device is configured to capture the fundus image of the fundus of an eyeball along the optical axis and an imaging path
Implementation Method 4
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is another optical imaging technology. It reflects two light rays through a reference arm and a sample arm respectively and then the light rays reach a light detector. Interference occurs in the light detector to form a tomographic image.
Data Source
AI summary
A fundus inspection system includes an objective lens, a fundus imaging device, an optical coherence tomography device, a movable mirror, and a focus adjustment lens. The fundus imaging device captures the fundus image of an eyeball fundus along the optical axis of the objective lens and an imaging path. The optical coherence tomography device scans the eyeball fundus along the optical axis and a scanning path to capture the tomographic image of the fundus. An included angle is between the imaging path and the scanning path. The movable mirror, disposed at the intersection of the imaging path and the scanning path, moves to or away from the optical axis to optically couple the imaging path or the scanning path to the optical axis. The focus adjustment lens respectively or simultaneously captures the fundus image and the tomographic image corresponding to an eyeball state by moving the movable mirror.