Retinal Stimulus Projection for Rapid Choroidal Topography Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assessing the effect of ophthalmic lens designs on choroidal topography are limited by long-term clinical studies and lack the ability to determine short-term temporal changes, which hinders the optimization of lens designs for myopia progression.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for determining choroidal topography using at least two optical transfer elements to project retinal stimuli simultaneously at different retinal eccentricities, combined with a measuring device to capture choroidal topography, allowing for simultaneous measurement of foveal and peripheral regions, and utilizing optical coherence tomography for precise imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If long-term clinical studies are used to assess lens design effectiveness, then measurement reliability is improved, but time consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing multiple measurements and statistical analysis in advance to establish baseline choroidal topography data and measurement variability. This allows the system to determine lens design effectiveness in minutes rather than years, as the preliminary characterization of measurement stability enables rapid assessment without long-term longitudinal studies.
2Productivity
If multiple retinal regions are measured simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the retinal measurement into multiple independent regions (fovea, parafovea, perifovea) that can be measured simultaneously. The measuring device captures choroidal topography across different retinal eccentricities in parallel, allowing productivity improvement while managing device complexity through modular optical paths for each region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes another dimension by measuring choroidal topography across multiple retinal eccentricities (foveal, parafoveal, perifoveal regions) simultaneously rather than sequentially. This spatial dimensionality change enables parallel measurement of multiple regions, significantly improving productivity without requiring sequential scanning.
3Measurement precision
If statistical analysis of measurement stability is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by performing statistical analysis on repeated measurements to determine measurement stability and precision. The system calculates variability metrics and uses this feedback to assess whether measurements are stable enough to determine lens design effectiveness, improving measurement precision through data-driven validation.
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 rapid determination of choroidal topography changes due to ophthalmic lens designs, facilitating the optimization of lens designs based on short-term effects for anticipating long-term outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
at least two optical transfer elements, comprising a first optical transfer element and a second optical transfer element, each configured for projecting at least one of the retinal stimulus or a phase map to a region on a retina
Implementation Method 2
a measuring device for capturing a choroidal topography over the region on the retina of the eye of the person by using reflected light received from the region on the retina of the eye of the person
Implementation Method 3
an optical filter configured for separating the reflected light received from the region on the retina of the eye of the person from the phase map projected to the region on the retina of the eye of the person
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an apparatus (110) and a method (210) configured determining a choroidal topography (218) over a region (114, 114') on a retina (116) of an eye (117) of a person as well as to a use of the apparatus (110) for determining an effect of at least one ophthalmic lens design on the choroidal topography (218). Herein, the apparatus (110) comprises: - at least two individual displays (122, 122') each configured for providing a retinal stimulus (112, 112'), thereby providing two independent retinal stimuli (112, 112'); - at least two optical transfer elements, comprising a first optical transfer element and a second optical transfer element, each configured for projecting at least one of the retinal stimulus (112, 112') or a phase map to a region on a retina of an eye of a person, wherein the phase map comprises a modified retinal stimulus; - a measuring device (142) for capturing a choroidal topography (218) over the region (114, 114') on the retina (116) of the eye (117) of the person by using reflected light received from the region (114, 114') on the retina (116) of the eye (117) of the person; - an optical filter (152) configured for separating the reflected light received from the region (114, 114') on the retina (116) of the eye (117) of the person from the phase map projected to the region (114, 114') on the retina of the eye of the person, wherein the second optical transfer element is further configured for simultaneously projecting each of the at least two individual phase maps at a different retinal eccentricity to each of at least two separate regions (134, 134') on the retina (116) of the eye (117) of the person, wherein the separate regions (134, 134') comprise a peripheral region and a foveal region on the retina (116) of the eye (117) of the person.