Ophthalmic Illumination Power Control for Multi-Modal Eye Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ophthalmic imaging systems face challenges in delivering the correct combination of wavelengths and power levels of light for different imaging modalities, necessitating a control system that ensures the right light exposure while improving image quality and safety.
Innovation Solution
A control system that selects and sets the operating power for multiple illuminates based on the selected imaging modality, using a processor and logic block to determine a fraction of the combined maximum permissible exposure, ensuring reliable and safe light delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple illuminates are used to deliver different wavelengths for various imaging modalities, then the versatility and imaging quality are improved, but the complexity of controlling and coordinating the illuminates increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single control system is designed to manage multiple illuminates with different wavelengths (e.g., red, green, blue, infrared lasers) for various imaging modalities including colour fundus imaging, infrared retinal imaging, and optical coherence tomography. The control system automatically selects and coordinates the appropriate illuminates based on the selected imaging modality, eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms for each light source.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system incorporates feedback mechanisms to monitor and adjust illuminate power levels in real-time. It receives input signals indicating the selected imaging modality and automatically adjusts the power output of each illuminate to optimal levels, ensuring safe and effective light delivery while reducing manual intervention and control complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the power of illuminates is increased to improve signal-to-noise ratio in images, then image quality is improved, but the risk of harmful exposure to the patient's eye increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the power parameters of each illuminate based on the selected imaging modality and real-time monitoring. It calculates and applies appropriate power levels that optimize the signal-to-noise ratio for high-quality imaging while ensuring that the total power delivered to the patient's eye remains within safe permissible exposure limits defined by standards such as ANSI Z136.1.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the actual power output of each illuminate and compares it against pre-calculated safe exposure limits. Based on this feedback, it automatically adjusts or limits the power levels to prevent harmful exposure while maintaining optimal imaging quality. The feedback mechanism ensures that the sum of all illuminate powers remains within the maximum permissible exposure threshold.
3Ease of operation
If manual control of illuminate power levels is used, then flexibility in optimization is improved, but the time required for setup and configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system pre-calculates and stores optimal power levels for each illuminate corresponding to different imaging modalities before actual use. When an imaging modality is selected, the system automatically retrieves and applies the pre-determined power settings, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and significantly reducing setup time while maintaining optimal imaging parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system automatically manages illuminate power levels without requiring manual intervention. It self-adjusts the power output of each illuminate based on the selected imaging modality, automatically optimizing the configuration while preserving the flexibility to handle various imaging scenarios through automated decision-making rather than manual control.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a control system for controlling two or more illuminates of a multi-modality ophthalmic imaging system that are arranged to generate light for acquiring an image of an eye, the control system comprising: a processor which selects, from the illuminates and based on a selected imaging modality of the ophthalmic imaging system, one or more illuminates that are to be used to image the eye, determines a respective operating power for each illuminate of the selected one or more illuminates such that the selected illuminate(s) provide a fraction of a combined maximum permissible exposure for the selected imaging modality during acquisition of the image, and generates a respective control signal for each illuminate of the selected one or more illuminates, each control signal indicating the respective operating power determined for the respective illuminate.