Automated Ocular Fundus Reflex Detection With Face Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting the ocular fundus reflex in newborns and infants are challenging due to the inability of children to cooperate, requiring active participation and often necessitate eye drops that can be hazardous, and are not suitable for automated or safe use.
Innovation Solution
A device and method using an optical detector and emitter with an electronic processing system that tracks facial features to determine eye openness and automatically projects infrared or visible light beams for ocular fundus reflex imaging, minimizing exposure time and eliminating the need for human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional ophthalmoscopy is used to detect ocular fundus reflex in newborns, then the examination can be performed with simple equipment, but the child cannot cooperate actively causing the test to be difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic face detection, eye localization, and reflex detection without requiring manual positioning by a doctor. The algorithm autonomously identifies facial features, determines eye coordinates, and captures the ocular fundus reflex image, enabling the device to serve itself in the examination process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning and visual assessment by a doctor with an automated computer vision system that uses image processing algorithms to detect facial landmarks, locate eyes, and identify the ocular fundus reflex automatically.
2Illumination intensity
If visible light is used to illuminate the eye, then the ocular fundus reflex can be detected, but the light causes dazzle and miosis making detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the illumination parameters by using infrared light instead of visible light. This parameter change allows the light to penetrate the eye and reflect from the ocular fundus without causing dazzle or pupil constriction, as infrared light is not perceived by the human eye.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from using visible light (which appears colored to the human eye) to infrared light (which is invisible). This color/wavelength change eliminates the harmful effects of visible light while maintaining the ability to detect the ocular fundus reflex through infrared imaging.
3Measurement precision
If eye drops are administered to dilate the pupil, then the ocular fundus reflex can be detected, but the drops have non-negligible systemic effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the limitation of infrared light (being invisible and not causing pupil dilation) into a benefit by demonstrating that it can detect the ocular fundus reflex without requiring pharmacological pupil dilation, thereby eliminating the harmful systemic effects of eye drops.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses infrared light as an intermediary that can penetrate the eye structures and reflect from the ocular fundus without triggering the pupillary light reflex. This intermediary allows detection without the need for chemical mediators (eye drops) that have harmful side effects.
4Reliability
If manual examination by a doctor is performed, then the ocular fundus reflex can be assessed, but the process requires active cooperation from the child which is not possible in newborns
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic face detection, eye localization, and reflex detection without requiring manual positioning by a doctor. The algorithm autonomously identifies facial features, determines eye coordinates, and captures the ocular fundus reflex image, enabling the device to serve itself in the examination process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning and visual assessment by a doctor with an automated computer vision system that uses image processing algorithms to detect facial landmarks, locate eyes, and identify the ocular fundus reflex automatically.
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 device enables reliable, automated, and safe detection of ocular fundus reflex without the use of potentially harmful eye drops, suitable for children and non-cooperative patients, reducing examination time and ensuring minimal radiation exposure.
Implementation Method 1
an optical emitter (3), which is designed to project at least one beam of electromagnetic rays at least on the eyes of the face of said person, which eyes are capable to generate a beam of reflected rays of the ocular fundus
Implementation Method 2
at least one optical detector (2), which is designed to detect images of a person's face
Data Source
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AI summary
Device for detecting the ocular fundus reflex, which comprises an optical detector (2), which detects images of a person's face, and an optical emitter (3), which is operable to project a beam of electromagnetic rays onto the person's eyes. The device also comprises an electronic processing system (5) connected to the optical detector (2) and the optical emitter (3). The electronic processing system (5) is provided with a face tracking module, which determines the position of the person's face, and with an eye state detection module, which calculates both the gaze direction on the basis of light points (PL) and a state parameter (PS) representative of the degree of eye opening and compares this state parameter (PS) with a threshold value (VS). If the aforesaid state parameter (PS) is higher than the threshold value (VS), the processing electronic system (5) switches the optical emitter (3) into an operational state for a determined time interval (IT), in which the optical emitter (3) projects a beam of electromagnetic rays onto the person's eyes, which generate a corresponding beam of reflected rays of the ocular fundus. During the aforesaid time interval (IT), the optical detector (2) acquires analysis images containing the beam of reflected rays of the ocular fundus, so that the latter can be analysed to assess possible abnormalities.