Ophthalmoscope Compact Optical Design Aberration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ophthalmoscopes face challenges with aberration and the need for large-scale optical systems to achieve ultra-wide field imaging, leading to increased manufacturing complexity and cost, as well as a loss of image resolution and return illumination as a function of the field of view.
Innovation Solution
The ophthalmoscope design includes a light system producing linear light, a scanner movable along a scan axis, and a scan transfer system with aspherical components to transfer the light through the eye's pupil, optimizing the spread function and collecting light at wide and ultra-wide angles, reducing aberration and allowing for a more compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If large scale optical systems are used to achieve ultra wide field imaging, then patient features clashing with input beams is avoided, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters by using a compact optical system with specific focal length ratios and beam convergence angles that allow wide field imaging without requiring large scale components. The system uses a beam combiner positioned at a specific location where the input beam and return beam are substantially coincident, enabling compact design while avoiding patient feature clashes through precise beam positioning control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by positioning the beam combiner within the existing optical path where the input beam and return beam overlap. The beam combiner is integrated into the optical system at a location where it can simultaneously handle both the outgoing illumination beam and the returning signal beam, effectively nesting multiple functions within a compact structure that reduces overall system size and manufacturing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If components are chosen to achieve ultra wide field imaging, then wide field of view is obtained, but aberration increases and point spread function deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a beam combiner as an intermediary optical element that mediates between the input illumination beam and the return signal beam. This beam combiner is positioned at a specific location where it can separately control the paths of the outgoing and returning beams, allowing optimization of the point spread function for both directions while maintaining wide field of view capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by optimizing the optical properties at different locations within the system. The beam combiner is positioned where the input and return beams are substantially coincident, allowing different optical corrections to be applied to the outgoing and returning beams at different points in the optical path, thereby maintaining high image quality across the wide field of view.
3Device complexity
If compact design is implemented, then size and cost are reduced, but maintaining optimal signal-to-noise ratios and image quality across wide field of view becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the paths of the input illumination beam and the return signal beam by positioning the beam combiner where these beams are substantially coincident. This merging allows the compact optical system to efficiently collect and guide returning light from the wide field of view to the detector, maintaining optimal signal-to-noise ratio while keeping the system size and cost reduced through the shared optical path.
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
This configuration achieves high-resolution, confocal scanning of the fundus with reduced size and cost, while maintaining optimal signal-to-noise ratios and image quality across a wide field of view.
Implementation Method 1
a scan transfer system which receives the 1D scan from the scanner and transfers the 1D scan to the eye
Implementation Method 2
a scan transfer system which receives the 1D scan from the scanner and transfers the 1D scan to the eye
Implementation Method 3
a scan transfer system which receives the 1D scan from the scanner and transfers the 1D scan to the eye
Data Source
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AI summary
An ophthalmoscope (1) and method for scanning a fundus (23) of an eye (9), comprising a light system (3) which produces linear light, a scanner (5) which receives at least some of the linear light and is movable about a scan axis to produce a 1D scan of the at least some linear light, and a scan transfer system (7) which receives the 1D scan from the scanner and transfers the 1D scan to the eye, wherein the scanner is positioned in the ophthalmoscope such that it receives the at least some of the linear light substantially along the scan axis, the scan transfer system positioned in the ophthalmoscope such that a pupil of the eye is provided at a focal point of the system, and the scanner is positioned in the ophthalmoscope and the scan transfer system is configured to transfer the 1D scan from the scanner through the focal point at the eye pupil and onto the eye fundus.