Ophthalmological Apparatus Positioning Using Historical Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ophthalmological apparatuses require extensive time for positional adjustments due to changes in the examinee's eyesight, disease progression, or aging, leading to inefficiencies in acquiring ocular information.

Innovation Solution

An ophthalmological apparatus equipped with an acquisition optical system, a driver for moving the system within a predetermined range, a controller to position the system based on stored history information linked to the examinee's ID, and storage for history data, allowing for efficient repositioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the apparatus returns each component to its last recorded position, then the setup process is simple, but the time required for positional adjustment becomes excessively long due to changes in the examinee's condition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of returning to last positionVSAvoidtime required for positional adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing optimal search ranges based on historical position data before the actual measurement. When a measurement is needed, the controller retrieves the examinee's ID and automatically determines the search range from stored history information, eliminating the need for manual repositioning and significantly reducing adjustment time while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the apparatus performs complete repositioning of all components, then the measurement accuracy is ensured, but the measurement process becomes inefficient and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of ocular information acquisitionVSAvoidefficiency of ocular information acquisition
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by determining that only specific components need repositioning within a localized search range rather than complete repositioning of all components. The controller calculates an appropriate search range based on historical data and examinee conditions, allowing the acquisition optical system to be positioned with sufficient precision for accurate measurement without the time cost of complete repositioning, thus balancing accuracy and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the apparatus uses fixed search ranges for all examinees, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot adapt to individual examinee conditions and historical data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of search range configurationVSAvoidadaptability to individual examinee conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamics by making the search range variable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically determines the search range based on the examinee's ID and retrieves historical position information from storage. This allows the search range to adapt to individual examinee conditions and measurement history, providing versatility while maintaining operational simplicity through automated range determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4437936A1Ophthalmological apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.10.02 TOPCON CORPORATION
  • EP4437936A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4437936A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4437936A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An ophthalmological apparatus (1) includes an acquisition optical system (50) that is configured to acquire ocular information of a subject eye (E) of an examinee; a driver (70, 71, 72, 73, 74) that is configured to move the acquisition optical system (50) relative to the subject eye (E) within a predetermined movable range; a controller (60) that is configured to control the driver (70, 71, 72, 73, 74) such that the acquisition optical system (50) is positioned at a target position; and a storage (61) that is configured to store a history information of the target position with a link to an ID of the examinee. The controller is configured to acquire the ID of the examinee and then, based on the acquired ID of the examinee, acquire the history information from the storage (61), to determine a search range for searching the target position, based on the history information; and to control the driver (70, 71, 72, 73, 74), based on the search range, such that the acquisition optical system (50) is positioned at the target position.