OCT Anterior Eye Imaging Scan Line Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems require lengthy imaging times for obtaining high-resolution 3D images of the anterior eye, leading to subject burden and potential image quality issues due to involuntary eye movement, and struggle with correcting light refraction on the cornea, which is time-consuming and difficult to achieve with precision.
Innovation Solution
An OCT anterior eye part imaging apparatus that includes a holder, a tomographic image obtaining unit, an imaging unit, a display unit, a corneal apex location detecting unit, an alignment unit, a designating unit, and a scan line setting unit, allowing for precise alignment of the scan line with the corneal apex to minimize refraction correction time and reduce imaging time by focusing on specific areas, and optionally features an automatic eye tracking unit to maintain constant alignment during imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional OCT systems perform comprehensive 3D imaging of the anterior eye, then image completeness is improved, but imaging time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the anterior eye into multiple regions of interest (corneal apex, iris, lens, etc.) and allows selective imaging of specific areas based on diagnostic needs. The scan line can be positioned to image only the corneal apex or other specific regions, segmenting the comprehensive 3D imaging task into optional focal examinations, thereby reducing imaging time while maintaining necessary diagnostic coverage.
2Measurement precision
If imaging time is extended to obtain high-resolution 3D images, then image quality is improved, but subject burden increases due to requirement to keep face/eyeball immobile
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables partial imaging by focusing the scan line on specific regions of interest rather than capturing the entire anterior eye. This partial action approach obtains sufficient diagnostic information from key areas (such as corneal apex) without requiring the subject to maintain immobility throughout a comprehensive 3D scan, thereby reducing subject burden while maintaining adequate image quality for diagnosis.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the scan line does not pass through the corneal apex, then imaging of other eye parts is possible, but refraction correction becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates automatic detection of the corneal apex position and automatic positioning of the scan line to pass through this detected apex before imaging begins. This preliminary action ensures that the scan line is correctly aligned with the corneal apex, simplifying refraction correction and reducing the time required for subsequent image processing, while still allowing flexible selection of imaging regions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive 3D imaging is performed, then diagnostic coverage is improved, but the complexity of correcting corneal refraction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing the refraction correction process on the specific region where the scan line passes through the corneal apex. Instead of attempting to correct refraction for the entire 3D volume, the system optimizes correction parameters for the local area along the scan line, simplifying the correction algorithm while maintaining diagnostic coverage through selective imaging of key regions.
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
This solution significantly reduces imaging time, enhances image resolution, and simplifies corneal refraction correction, thereby reducing subject burden and minimizing the impact of involuntary eye movement, while maintaining high image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a tomographic image of subject's anterior eye part in a depth direction by optical coherence tomography
Implementation Method 2
an imaging unit that is provided on the apparatus body to image a frontal image of the subject's eye
Implementation Method 3
measurement light is refracted on a substantially spherical cornea (a boundary between the cornea surface and an anterior chamber)
Data Source
AI summary
An optical coherence tomography (OCT) anterior eye part imaging apparatus includes a tomographic image obtaining unit obtaining a tomographic image of an anterior eye part of subject's eye in a depth direction by optical coherence tomography, an imaging unit imaging a frontal image of subject's eye, a display unit displaying the image of subject's eye, a corneal apex location detecting unit detecting a location of subject's eye, an alignment unit moving an apparatus body relative to the holder so that the location of corneal apex corresponds with a predetermined image obtaining location, a designating unit designating an area or a location where the tomographic image is obtained on subject's frontal image displayed on the display unit, and a scan line setting unit setting a scan line in the tomographic image obtaining unit on a straight line passing the corneal apex according to the designated area or location.