OCT Retinal Layer Thickness Map Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmologic imaging systems, such as OCT apparatuses, face challenges in comparing layer thickness changes when a sector is moved within a tomographic image of the retina, making it difficult to accurately assess layer thickness distribution.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that acquires and displays fundus images, calculates layer thickness, and aligns sector positions to recalculate and display layer thickness maps, allowing for easy comparison of layer thickness changes across different image positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sector is moved within a tomographic image to examine different regions, then the ability to inspect various parts of the retina is improved, but the difficulty to compare layer thickness at different positions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the tomographic image at the sector's reference position and displays it alongside the actual tomographic image at the current sector position. This allows direct visual comparison of layer thickness between different retinal regions without requiring complex registration or alignment procedures, thereby resolving the difficulty in comparing measurements across moving sector positions
2Measurement precision
If layer thickness is calculated in a partial region, then the precision of thickness measurement in that region is improved, but the ability to compare with tomographic image at different positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores the tomographic image at the sector's reference position before the sector moves to a new position. When the sector is at a different position, the system retrieves the pre-stored reference image and displays it for comparison. This preliminary preparation of reference data enables accurate thickness measurement comparison without requiring real-time recalculation, thus maintaining both measurement precision and adaptability
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 accurate display of layer thickness distribution, facilitating ophthalmologic diagnosis by providing a clear representation of layer thickness changes within the retina.
Implementation Method 1
an optical tomographic imaging apparatus, which performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) utilizing an interference phenomenon of multi-wavelength light
Data Source
AI summary
For appropriately obtaining the tomographic image and the layer thickness map are provided in a short period of time regardless of involuntary eye movement, when the tomographic image is to be obtained in a specific scan pattern, a 3D tomographic image is first obtained by 3D scan, and then a tomographic image of a desired part is extracted from the image in accordance with the specific scan pattern. Further, based on the obtained 3D tomographic image, a sector for layer thickness map display, a main scanning line, and a sub-scanning line, which are displayed on a fundus image, are set movable, and tomographic images taken along both the scanning lines after the movement are obtained. The sector having a center corresponding to the intersection between those scanning lines and the layer thickness map are recalculated and displayed so as to follow the intersection.