Ophthalmologic Information Processing System for Glaucoma Risk Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing noncontact tonometers burden subjects during glaucoma detection and lack effective early detection methods without using tonometry.

Innovation Solution

An ophthalmologic information processing system that acquires measurement information from an ophthalmologic apparatus, specifically the anterior chamber depth, eye axial length, and refractive power, to determine if a subject is at risk of glaucoma, reducing the need for tonometry and supporting early detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If noncontact tonometry is used for early detection of glaucoma, then detection capability is improved, but subject burden increases due to air flow blowing to the cornea

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglaucoma detection capabilityVSAvoidsubject burden from air flow

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful air flow blowing component from the glaucoma detection process while retaining the essential measurement function. Instead of using air flow to deform the cornea for tonometry, the system uses optical coherence tomography to directly image and measure the anterior chamber depth, thereby eliminating the harmful effect while preserving the diagnostic capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical air flow system with an optical imaging system. Rather than using pneumatic pressure to deform the cornea and measure intraocular pressure indirectly, the system uses optical coherence tomography to directly visualize and measure anatomical parameters (anterior chamber depth) that indicate glaucoma risk, substituting mechanical action with optical measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If tonometry is avoided to reduce subject burden, then subject comfort is improved, but early detection capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubject burdenVSAvoidearly detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameters from functional (intraocular pressure via tonometry) to anatomical (anterior chamber depth via optical imaging). By measuring the anterior chamber depth, which is a structural parameter that correlates with glaucoma risk, the system achieves early detection without requiring tonometric measurement, thus maintaining detection capability while eliminating subject burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces anterior chamber depth measurement as an intermediary parameter between subject comfort and glaucoma detection. Instead of directly measuring intraocular pressure through tonometry, the system uses anterior chamber depth as a surrogate marker that can be obtained through comfortable optical imaging, serving as a mediator that preserves diagnostic value while eliminating discomfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20240057862A1Ophthalmologic information processing system, ophthalmologic information processing server, ophthalmologic information processing program, and ophthalmologic information processing method

Publication Date: 2024.02.22 TOPCON CORPORATION

AI summary

An ophthalmologic information processing system for selecting a subject at risk of glaucoma as a candidate includes: an information acquisition unit that acquires measurement information of an eye of the subject measured by an ophthalmologic apparatus; and a determination unit that determines whether the subject is a candidate at risk of glaucoma based on an anterior chamber depth of the subject included in the measurement information acquired by the information acquisition unit.