Ophthalmic Patient Guidance Feedback for Stable Eye Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ocular measurements during ophthalmic examinations are often compromised by patient head or eye motion, leading to increased procedure duration, reduced accuracy, and patient dissatisfaction due to unclear verbal commands and potential language barriers.
Innovation Solution
An automated system using a display screen and computer-based patient guidance system (PGS) with sensors and processors to provide real-time visual and audible instructions, adjusting based on patient compliance, ensuring accurate and repeatable measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an operator provides verbal commands during the examination, then the patient receives guidance, but the patient may not understand due to language barriers, hearing loss, or visual acuity issues, leading to non-compliance and extended examination time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a visual display device as an intermediary between the operator and the patient. Instead of relying solely on verbal commands that may not be understood, the system displays visual instructions and targets that the patient can see and comprehend regardless of language barriers, hearing loss, or visual acuity issues. This intermediary communication channel resolves the contradiction by ensuring patient understanding without extending examination time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/acoustic communication system (verbal commands through speakers) with an optical communication system (visual display through screens). This substitution allows information to be transmitted in a format that is more universally comprehensible to patients with various sensory impairments, thereby improving ease of operation without time loss.
2Productivity
If the patient moves their head or eyes during the examination, then the examination may proceed more quickly without strict positioning, but measurement accuracy and repeatability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sensors continuously monitor patient head and eye position, and this information is fed back to the control system. The system then provides real-time visual feedback to the patient through the display, guiding them to maintain proper positioning. This closed-loop feedback ensures measurement precision is maintained without significantly impacting examination throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic visual targets that move or change in response to patient positioning. Rather than requiring static positioning throughout the entire examination, the system dynamically adjusts the visual target position to guide the patient through the required movements and positioning sequences, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy while allowing natural patient motion patterns.
3Reliability
If multiple measurements are repeated due to patient motion, then measurement completeness is improved, but the examination duration increases and patient comfort decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing visual instructions to the patient before each measurement sequence. The display shows the patient exactly what movements or positioning actions are required, allowing them to prepare and execute the correct actions on the first attempt. This prevents the need for repeated measurements, thereby maintaining measurement completeness while minimizing examination duration and improving patient comfort.
4Measurement precision
If an automated patient guidance system is implemented, then measurement accuracy and patient guidance clarity are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by using a single display device that serves multiple purposes: showing visual instructions to patients, displaying real-time feedback on positioning, presenting measurement targets, and providing confirmation messages. This universal display component replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate devices (instructional displays, feedback sensors, target generators), thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for guiding a patient during an ophthalmic examination includes a display screen and a patient guidance system (PGS). The PGS receives an enabling signal that identifies an examination device to be used during the examination. In response to receiving the enabling signal, the PGS may display a visible target via the display screen and/or play an audible sound via a speaker. The audio sound is a clear indication of the examination sequence performed using the examination device. The visible target includes patient instructions corresponding to an examination sequence performed using the examination device. The PGS automatically modifies a characteristic of the visible target or audio signal when the patient does not comply with the patient instructions during the examination sequence.