Ocular Fundus Imaging with Pupil-Range Alignment Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ocular image capturing devices face challenges in achieving high-precision alignment due to reliance on reflected light from the anterior segment of the subject's eye, leading to potential inaccuracies in image capture.
Innovation Solution
An ocular image capturing device that includes an ocular fundus image capturing module and a determination module to determine the position of the pupil within a permissible range, utilizing a binary image generation and determination-use image generation to ensure accurate alignment, combined with SLO and OCT imaging systems for precise image acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If alignment is performed based on reflected light from the anterior segment of the subject's eye, then the imaging process can be simplified, but alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a determination module as an intermediary component that processes the captured ocular image to identify the pupil region and evaluate alignment quality. This module acts as a mediator between the simple reflected light imaging and the required alignment precision, enabling automated assessment of whether the pupil is within the permissible region without complicating the imaging process itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The determination module provides feedback by generating determination results that indicate whether the pupil region is within the permissible region. This feedback mechanism allows the system to assess alignment quality and control the illumination and imaging processes accordingly, improving alignment precision while maintaining process simplicity.
2Productivity
If the pupil position is not accurately determined, then the imaging process can proceed without additional verification steps, but image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The determination module performs preliminary verification of pupil position and alignment quality before the imaging process proceeds. By evaluating whether the pupil is within the permissible region in advance, the system ensures image quality requirements are met while maintaining efficient workflow through automated assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the captured ocular image itself to determine pupil position and alignment quality, rather than requiring separate verification procedures. The determination module processes the existing image data to assess alignment, enabling the system to self-verify image quality without additional imaging steps.
3Productivity
If illumination is applied without verifying pupil alignment, then the imaging process can continue without interruption, but harmful effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The determination module performs preliminary verification of pupil alignment before illumination is applied to the ocular fundus. By checking whether the pupil is within the permissible region in advance, the system prevents harmful illumination effects while maintaining imaging continuity through automated quality assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The determination module provides feedback on alignment quality that controls whether illumination should proceed. This feedback mechanism ensures that illumination is only applied when proper alignment is confirmed, preventing harmful effects while maintaining efficient workflow through automated control.
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 high-precision alignment and capture of ocular fundus images, improving the accuracy and quality of both two-dimensional and tomographic images by ensuring the pupil is within a predetermined range, thereby enhancing imaging precision.
Implementation Method 1
generate an image of a subject's eye based on light reflected from the eye
Implementation Method 2
acquire a tomographic image of the ocular fundus of the subject's eye using interference, from light that has been emitted toward the subject's eye, between reflected light from the ocular fundus of the subject's eye and reference light that has passed along an optical pathway different from the optical pathway of the reflected light
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
There is provided an ocular image capturing device comprising an ocular image generating module operable to generate an image of a subject's eye based on light reflected from the eye, and a determination module arranged to determine whether or not at least a portion of a pupil region (302) of the generated image is within a predetermined permissible region (312) within the generated image, and to generate a signal that is indicative of the determination, the pupil region (302) being an image of at least a portion of the pupil of the eye.