Placido Pattern Ring Markers for Corneal Topography Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Placido topographers face difficulties in analyzing reflected patterns due to their complexity, making it challenging to accurately determine corneal surface topography.
Innovation Solution
A Placido pattern with distinct rings featuring color, thickness, or separation differences, and marker features like gaps or markings, which are analyzed by a computer to identify distortions and generate accurate corneal topography.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional Placido pattern with equally spaced concentric rings is used, then the corneal surface shape can be determined through reflection analysis, but the analysis becomes difficult and complex when surface variations are present
Solution Approach 1:
The Placido pattern is segmented into multiple rings with distinct distinguishing features (different colors, thicknesses, or separations). Each ring can be independently identified and analyzed, simplifying the overall pattern analysis process while maintaining measurement precision for corneal surface shape determination
Solution Approach 2:
Different rings in the Placido pattern are given different local qualities through distinguishing features such as varying colors, thicknesses, or separations. This allows each ring to be easily differentiated and tracked, reducing analysis complexity while improving the ability to detect surface variations
2Ease of operation
If distinguishing features are added to rings in the Placido pattern, then ring identification becomes easier, but the pattern complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Distinguishing features are applied locally to specific rings rather than uniformly across the entire pattern. Each ring can have unique characteristics (color, thickness, separation) that facilitate easy identification while maintaining overall pattern simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Different colors are assigned to different rings in the Placido pattern, providing immediate visual differentiation and simplifying ring identification. This color coding system enhances ease of operation without significantly increasing pattern complexity
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
Enhances the ability to easily analyze and identify corneal surface anomalies, providing precise topographical data through improved pattern recognition and distortion detection.
Implementation Method 1
The anterior surface of the cornea reflects the Placido pattern
Data Source
AI summary
In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic system for determining the topography of the anterior surface of the cornea of an eye comprises an illuminator, a camera, and a computer. The illuminator illuminates the anterior surface of the cornea of the eye with a Placido pattern. The Placido pattern comprises a plurality of rings. A ring of the plurality of rings has a distinguishing feature that distinguishes the ring from an adjacent ring. The anterior surface of the cornea reflects the Placido pattern. The camera captures an image of the reflected Placido pattern. The computer: analyzes the image to detect a distortion of the ring that indicates an anomaly of the anterior surface of the cornea; identifies the ring of the plurality of rings according to the distinguishing feature of the ring; and generates the topography of the surface of the cornea that includes the anomaly.