Ocular Aberration Measurement System for Light Diffusion Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for measuring light diffusion in the eyeball or ocular region are not precise enough, as they either overestimate retinal image quality or fail to combine aberration measurements with retinal image information effectively, leading to incomplete assessment of optical quality.

Innovation Solution

A method that projects a punctiform light beam onto the retina, corrects low-order ocular aberrations, and simultaneously captures high- and low-order ocular aberration measurements and retinal images, combining these data to provide a comprehensive light diffusion measurement by analyzing light distributions and applying optical transfer functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If only double-pass technique is used to measure light diffusion, then measurement precision is improved for eyes with intermediate or high intraocular diffusion, but device complexity increases and cannot provide comprehensive aberration information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight diffusion measurement precisionVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the double-pass technique with wavefront sensing technology into a single integrated measurement system. The double-pass imaging pathway and wavefront sensing pathway share common optical components and are synchronized to measure both light diffusion and ocular aberrations simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement system is designed to perform multiple functions: it can measure light diffusion through the double-pass technique, measure ocular aberrations through wavefront sensing, and correct low-order aberrations. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to provide comprehensive optical quality assessment without requiring separate dedicated devices

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

2Device complexity

If only aberration measurement technique is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates for eyes with intermediate or high intraocular diffusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement system complexityVSAvoidretinal image quality assessment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the simplicity of aberration measurement with the precision of double-pass imaging by integrating both techniques. The system uses wavefront sensing for aberration measurement and combines it with double-pass retinal imaging, allowing the simple aberration measurement component to be enhanced by the more precise double-pass technique

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If aberration measurements and retinal images are taken at different times, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to non-identical conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement procedure simplicityVSAvoidlight diffusion measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary synchronization of the aberration measurement and retinal image capture processes. By using a synchronized control mechanism that coordinates both measurements to occur simultaneously under identical ocular conditions, the system eliminates the need for repeated measurements while maintaining operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback control to ensure that aberration measurements and retinal image captures are performed at the same time. The control mechanism monitors and coordinates both measurement pathways, providing feedback to maintain synchronous operation and identical measurement conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Device complexity

If low-order aberrations are not corrected, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrection system complexityVSAvoidlight diffusion measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and separates low-order aberration correction from the overall measurement process. By using a dedicated correction element that specifically addresses low-order aberrations while leaving high-order aberrations unchanged, the system improves measurement precision without requiring complete aberration correction, thus balancing device complexity and measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 approach allows for a more precise measurement of light diffusion by ensuring identical conditions for aberration and image capture, resulting in a better correlation with vision quality and improved retinal image quality assessment.

Implementation Method 1

capturing and recording, once said low-order aberrations have been corrected, at least one image of the retinal plane formed after reflection of said punctiform light beam on the retina and a double passage through the ocular media

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

correcting low-order ocular aberrations of said eye

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3175779B1Method, system and computer program for measuring light diffusion in the eyeball or in the ocular region
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 UNIV POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA
  • EP3175779B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

Method, system and computer program for measuring light diffusion in the eyeball or in the ocular region. The method comprises: - projecting a punctiform light beam onto the retina; - correcting low-order ocular aberrations of the eye; - capturing and recording an image of the retinal plane formed after reflection of the punctiform light beam on the retina and a double passage through the ocular media of the eye; and - at the same time as capturing the image of the retinal plane, performing a high- and low-order ocular aberration measurement in the plane of the pupil and performing a light diffusion measurement, combining ocular aberration measurement information with information on the image of the retinal plane. The system and the computer program are adapted for implementing the method.