HUD-Integrated Retinal Imaging for Stable Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retinal imaging technologies face challenges in accurately capturing functional retinal responses due to eye movements and the need for cumbersome dark adaptation processes, limiting their effectiveness in diagnosing neurological disorders and visual functions.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a heads-up display (HUD) with retinal imaging modalities like OCT and fundoscopy, providing precise fixation targets, optical stimulation, and streamlined dark adaptation, enabling stable imaging and functional retinal assessments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional retinal imaging is used without fixation targets, then the imaging process is simpler, but eye movements cause blurring and reduce imaging accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heads-up display (HUD) with the retinal imaging device to integrate fixation target provision and optical stimulation capabilities directly into the imaging system. This merging allows the same optical path to serve dual purposes: guiding patient fixation and delivering stimulation, thereby improving imaging accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The HUD component serves multiple functions: it provides fixation targets to stabilize gaze, delivers optical stimulation to specific retinal regions, and facilitates dark adaptation. By making this single component multi-functional, the system achieves improved imaging accuracy through gaze stabilization while avoiding the need for separate devices for each function
2Ease of operation
If dark adaptation is performed using traditional methods, then the process is time-consuming and cumbersome, but it is necessary for functional retinal imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The HUD provides preliminary dark adaptation by allowing patients to view the fixation target in a darkened environment before the actual imaging procedure. This preliminary action prepares the retina for functional imaging by initiating dark adaptation in advance, reducing the total time required and making the process more manageable for patients
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation target displayed on the HUD serves as an intermediary that enables dark adaptation while maintaining patient engagement and fixation stability. Rather than simply sitting in darkness, patients can focus on the HUD target during dark adaptation, making the process easier to tolerate and more effective
3Adaptability or versatility
If optical stimulation is delivered during retinal imaging, then functional retinal responses can be captured, but eye movements during stimulation reduce measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fixation target delivery and optical stimulation delivery through the same HUD optical path. By combining these functions, the system ensures that patients maintain fixation on the target while receiving stimulation, thereby capturing functional retinal responses with minimized eye movement artifacts and improved measurement precision
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 imaging accuracy by stabilizing gaze, allowing precise optical stimulation, and simplifying dark adaptation, thereby improving diagnostic capabilities for retinal and neurological diseases and visual function tests.
Implementation Method 1
a dichroic mirror configured to reflect light (e.g., near infrared (NIR), infrared (IR), and/or visible light) from an eye of the patient to the retinal imaging device during retinal imaging. The dichroic mirror can also be configured to direct the light (e.g., NIR light) from the retinal imaging device to the retina of the patient during retinal imaging.
Implementation Method 2
The HUD can also be configured to provide stimulation (e.g., light at one or more wavelengths with one or more levels of intensity) during retinal imaging (e.g., while imaging the function of the retina).
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for retinal imaging are provided. A heads-up display (HUD) can be integrated with advanced retinal imaging modalities, including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundoscopy (e.g., fluorescence fundoscopy). The HUD can serve as a crucial component of this approach, offering several key functionalities (e.g., a fixation target and/or a means for dark adaptation).