Real-Time Ophthalmic Image Montage via Adaptive Optics Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual processing of high-quality images from adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopes (AOSLO) to create wide field of view (FOV) images is time-consuming, inefficient, and costly, and current methods limit the number of frames to minimize patient discomfort and optical power dosage.
Innovation Solution
A scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) system with adaptive optics and real-time optical stabilization, coupled with a computer for automatic image acquisition and stitching, reduces the number of frames needed and minimizes overlap between images, using image quality metrics to determine when sufficient image quality is achieved, allowing for efficient generation of wide FOV images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual processing of AOSLO images is used to create wide FOV images, then image quality can be maintained, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical image processing with an automated computer-based system that performs image acquisition, stitching, and quality assessment automatically. The computer executes algorithms to combine multiple narrow FOV AOSLO images into wide FOV montages without human intervention, thereby maintaining high image quality while dramatically improving processing efficiency and productivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If more frames are acquired to improve image quality, then image quality metric improves, but patient discomfort and optical power dosage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the computer continuously monitors image quality metrics during the image acquisition process. When the predetermined image quality metric is achieved, the system automatically stops acquiring additional frames. This feedback-controlled approach ensures sufficient image quality while minimizing the number of frames acquired, thereby reducing patient discomfort and optical power dosage to the lowest necessary level.
3Measurement precision
If overlap between images is increased to facilitate stitching, then image alignment accuracy improves, but the time and spatial requirements for imaging increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the overlap parameter between adjacent narrow FOV images to achieve the minimum necessary overlap for accurate stitching. By carefully controlling this parameter, the system ensures sufficient image alignment accuracy while minimizing the total number of frames required, thereby reducing imaging time and spatial requirements without sacrificing alignment precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning LASER ophthalmoscope (SLO) system for real-time montaging includes an adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope (AOSLO) and a wide field scanning light ophthalmoscope (WFSLO). At least one stabilization mirror is controlled by a computer to optically stabilize the AOSLO based at least in part on feedback from the WFSLO. The SLO system also includes a steering means. The SLO system continues to acquire and combine a plurality of AOSLO image frames forming a combined AOSLO image at each of a plurality of narrow field of view (FOV) sites until a predetermined number of images or a predetermined image quality metric (IQM) at each of the combined AOSLO images is achieved. A plurality of the combined AOSLO images is combined to form a SLO montaged image of a wide FOV. A method to montage a plurality of scanning LASER ophthalmoscope (SLO) narrow field of view (FOV) images is also described.