Reflective Ophthalmologic Apparatus Wide Angle Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmologic apparatuses that capture both eye fundus tomographic and surface images struggle to achieve a wide angle-of-view range without increasing the apparatus size, leading to potential interference with the subject's nose or cheek and difficulties in operator-assisted photography, as they rely on refractive optical systems that require a shorter working distance.
Innovation Solution
The use of a reflective optical system with an elliptical reflective mirror and a dichroic mirror for optical path synthesis and separation allows for scanning with multiple wavelengths, ensuring a wide angle-of-view range while maintaining a sufficient working distance, preventing interference and facilitating easier operator access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a refractive optical system is used to acquire wide angle-of-view images, then the angle-of-view range is improved, but the working distance is reduced causing interference with the subject's face
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the refractive optical system with a reflective optical system. Specifically, it uses a mirror as the objective optical system instead of a lens, which fundamentally changes the optical path configuration. This substitution allows the light to reflect off the mirror surface rather than pass through a lens, enabling a different spatial arrangement that maintains longer working distance while achieving wide angle-of-view imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a three-dimensional spatial configuration where the mirror is positioned at a specific distance from the subject's eye, and the scanning units are arranged in space to scan across the fundus. The reflective optical path allows light to travel in a different dimensional configuration compared to refractive systems, enabling wide angle coverage without requiring the optical elements to be close to the subject's face.
2Area of stationary object
If the working distance is reduced to achieve wide angle-of-view range, then the angle-of-view range is improved, but the ease of operation is worsened due to difficulty in performing photographing support operations
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing the refractive optical system with a reflective system using a mirror as the objective, the patent creates sufficient working distance between the optical system and the subject's eye. This increased distance provides adequate space for the operator to perform eyelid opening and other photographing support operations without the optical components interfering with the operator's hands or tools.
3Device complexity
If a refractive optical system is used to acquire both tomographic and surface images, then the device complexity is reduced, but the angle-of-view range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single mirror as the objective optical system that serves multiple functions: it acts as the objective for both the OCT apparatus (tomographic imaging) and the SLO apparatus (surface imaging). The same reflective optical path is used for both imaging modalities, allowing the system to achieve wide angle-of-view for both tomographic and surface images without requiring separate optical systems for each function.
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 enables the simultaneous acquisition of high-resolution eye fundus tomographic and surface images over a wide angle-of-view range, reducing the likelihood of optical system interference with the subject's face and simplifying the photography process.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective member configured to reflect light from the first scanning unit and light from the second scanning unit to apply the light from the first scanning unit and the light from the second scanning unit to the eye fundus
Implementation Method 2
an optical path synthesis and separation unit arranged on an optical path from the first scanning unit to the reflective member and on an optical path from the second scanning unit to the reflective member, the optical path synthesis and separation unit being configured to synthesize an optical path from the first scanning unit to the eye fundus with an optical path from the second scanning unit to the eye fundus and separate an optical path of return light from the eye fundus
Data Source
AI summary
An ophthalmologic apparatus includes a reflective member that reflects light from a first scanning unit that scans an object to be examined with first light and light from a second scanning unit that scans the object with second light having a wavelength different from a wavelength of the first light so as to be applied to the object. The ophthalmologic apparatus includes an optical path synthesis and separation unit that is arranged on two optical paths from the scanning units to the reflective member, and synthesizes two optical paths from the scanning units to the object and separates an optical path of return light from the object into two optical paths on which the scanning units are arranged. A reflection optical path of the optical path synthesis and separation unit is arranged opposite to the object with respect to the optical path synthesis and separation unit.