Retinal Imaging Through Constricted Pupil Using Eye Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser treatments for retinal diseases face challenges in obtaining high-quality retinal images during or shortly after treatment due to pupil constriction, which is often induced by the pupillary reflex, making it difficult to monitor the retina effectively and requiring pre-treatment dilation that impairs the patient and limits activities like driving.
Innovation Solution
A device with a steerable treatment laser beam, an image recording device, and a positioning system that includes an eye-tracking device and displacement mechanisms to adjust the image recording device in real-time, ensuring clear retinal imaging through a constricted pupil, combined with a temperature control mechanism to maintain safe treatment temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the pupil is dilated using medications before treatment, then the retina can be clearly observed through the pupil, but the patient remains impaired for a considerable period and cannot participate in road traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary alignment and tracking setup before treatment begins, using the eye-tracking device to pre-determine the orientation of the treated eye and configure the positioning device accordingly. This allows high-quality imaging to be achieved without requiring pupil dilation medications, eliminating the prolonged patient impairment while maintaining retinal observation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical/pharmacological approach (pupil-dilating medications) with a mechanical/optical approach (eye-tracking device and positioning system that actively follows eye movements). The tracking device continuously determines eye orientation and the positioning device mechanically adjusts the imaging system to maintain alignment, achieving clear retinal imaging through a constricted pupil without pharmacological intervention
2Ease of operation
If the pupil is not dilated, then the patient can participate in road traffic, but imaging the retina becomes very difficult due to the reduced pupil size
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic tracking where the eye-tracking device continuously monitors eye orientation changes in real-time during treatment, and the positioning device dynamically adjusts the imaging system's position to follow the moving pupil. This dynamic adaptation allows high-quality retinal imaging through a constricted, moving pupil without requiring dilation, maintaining both patient mobility and imaging quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the eye-tracking device that continuously determines eye orientation to control the positioning device. The tracking control receives real-time data about eye position and automatically adjusts the imaging system to maintain optimal alignment with the retina, enabling clear imaging through a constricted pupil while the patient remains mobile
3Ease of operation
If the eye moves during treatment, then the patient may experience discomfort, but maintaining fixed eye position requires pupil dilation which causes prolonged impairment
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning device is designed to dynamically follow eye movements rather than requiring the eye to remain fixed. The eye-tracking device detects orientation changes and the positioning system automatically adjusts to maintain imaging alignment, allowing natural eye movement during treatment without compromising image quality or requiring pupil dilation
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time feedback from the eye-tracking device monitors eye orientation during treatment and feeds this information to the positioning control system. This closed-loop feedback enables automatic compensation for eye movements, maintaining high-quality retinal imaging through a constricted pupil while allowing the patient to move their eye naturally without discomfort or impairment
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
Enables high-quality retinal imaging and precise laser treatment without pupil dilation, allowing for effective treatment while minimizing patient impairment and avoiding tissue damage, and potentially accelerating physiological processes that improve retinal health.
Implementation Method 1
a treatment laser (5) that generates a steerable treatment laser beam (5a) directed onto the retina (1)
Implementation Method 2
an eye-tracking device that continuously determines the orientation of the treated eye relative to the image recording device or relative to the treatment laser
Implementation Method 3
a first displacement device (8b) for displacing the image recording device (6) in one or more directions transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the connecting line (10) between the image recording device and the retina
Implementation Method 4
A corresponding treatment device and method enable a temperature-controlled treatment of the retina with the laser beam
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for treating the retina (1) of an eye (2) with a treatment laser (5) which generates a steerable treatment laser beam directed onto the retina, with an image recording device (6) for recording fundus images of the retina and with a positioning device (8) which positions the image recording device relative to the retina, wherein the positioning device has a tracking device with: an eye-tracking device (8a) which continuously determines the orientation of the treated eye relative to the image recording device or relative to the treatment laser, in particular the viewing direction of the treated eye, a first displacement device (8b) for displacing the image recording device in one or more directions transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the connecting line (10) (between the image recording device and the retina and a tracking control (8e),which controls the first displacement device depending on the determined orientation of the treated eye and/or depending on the position of the area to be treated on the retina.