Ophthalmic Imaging Device Multiple Illumination Modalities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic imaging technologies face challenges in efficiently imaging the retina and choroid due to motion artifacts, limited illumination, high costs, and the need for chemically-induced pupil dilation, which restricts the ability to perform comprehensive and cost-effective imaging of retinal blood vessels and other ocular tissues.
Innovation Solution
The development of an ophthalmic imaging device (OID) that utilizes multiple illumination modalities, including coherent and incoherent light sources, to capture reflectance, absorption spectroscopic, and fluorescence images, enabling the imaging of anatomical and physiological features of the retina, choroid, cornea, and sclera, with adjustable components for use in both humans and animals, and integration with a disease management system for real-time monitoring and therapy planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple illumination modalities are used to improve imaging comprehensiveness, then diagnostic capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple illumination modalities (coherent and incoherent light sources) into a single ophthalmic imaging device, integrating reflectance imaging, absorption spectroscopic imaging, and LSCI capabilities into one unified system. This merging approach enables comprehensive diagnostic functionality while managing device complexity through integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging device is designed to perform multiple imaging functions using different illumination modalities, allowing it to capture reflectance images, absorption spectroscopic images, and LSCI images of various ocular tissues (retina, choroid, cornea, sclera). This multi-functionality improves diagnostic capability across different clinical scenarios.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable components are used to improve adaptability for different patients, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable components in the imaging device that allow dynamic adaptation to different patient requirements and imaging scenarios. These adjustable elements enable the device to be configured for different ocular structures and imaging modalities while maintaining a relatively compact integrated design.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive imaging of multiple ocular structures is performed, then diagnostic information is improved, but imaging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging device enables continuous acquisition of different imaging modalities (reflectance, absorption spectroscopic, LSCI) without requiring interruption or repositioning between scans. This continuous imaging capability allows comprehensive diagnostic information to be obtained from multiple ocular structures in a single imaging session, reducing total imaging time.
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 OID provides quantitative anatomical and physiological information for early diagnosis and management of ocular and systemic diseases, enabling real-time monitoring during procedures, guiding medical interventions, and facilitating early detection of non-ophthalmic conditions like stroke and diabetes, while reducing costs and complexity through adjustable components and integrated disease management systems.
Implementation Method 1
Coherent illumination means the degree of coherence of the emitted optical beam is high (e.g., green, red, blue, or near infrared laser)
Implementation Method 2
Incoherent illumination means the degree of coherence of the emitted optical beam is low (e.g., white or spectrally filtered light from a light emitting diode (LED) or a halogen lamp)
Implementation Method 3
one or more imaging sensors configured to collect light from the one or more regions of tissue of the eye
Implementation Method 4
an optical assembly including one or more optical elements configured to direct light from the illumination module to one or more regions of tissue of the eye, and further configured to direct light from the one or more regions of tissue of the eye to the one or more imaging sensors
Data Source
AI summary
Imaging various regions of the eye is important for both clinical diagnostic and treatment purposes as well as for scientific research. Diagnosis of a number of clinical conditions relies on imaging of the various tissues of the eye. The subject technology describes a method and apparatus for imaging of the back and/or front of the eye using multiple illumination modalities, which permits the collection of one or more of reflectance, spectroscopic, fluorescence, and laser speckle contrast images.