Robotic Vision Screening System for On-Spot Eyewear Fabrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated vision screening systems fail to provide on-spot analysis and customization of vision correction devices, such as glasses or contact lenses, and do not account for individual face anatomy, leading to inconvenient and costly physician visits for remote patients.
Innovation Solution
A robotic vision screening system equipped with diagnostic devices, measurement tools, a processor, and a 3D printer that creates customized vision correction devices based on eye and head anatomy data, allowing for real-time diagnosis and production of tailored eyewear, including glasses, contact lenses, or artificial eyes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a person visits a physician's office for vision correction, then they receive professional eye examination and prescription, but they incur travel time and cost, especially for remote areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables patients to perform comprehensive eye examinations themselves at home using automated diagnostic devices. The robotic system guides patients through various visual tests and automatically analyzes results, eliminating the need for physician visits while maintaining diagnostic reliability through AI-powered analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of in-person physician examinations with an automated robotic examination system. The robotic arm with interchangeable diagnostic tools substitutes for the physician's manual examination methods, enabling remote patients to receive professional-grade eye exams without physical presence requirements.
2Ease of operation
If physicians carry large inventory of glasses and contact lenses, then they can dispense vision correction devices on spot, but it is inconvenient and costly for the physician
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the fundamental parameter of vision correction delivery from physical inventory storage to on-demand digital manufacturing. Instead of maintaining stock of various lens prescriptions and frame styles, the system stores digital design files and manufacturing parameters, producing customized devices only when needed through the integrated 3D printer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by customizing each vision correction device specifically for the individual patient's anatomical measurements and prescription requirements. The 3D printer produces uniquely tailored glasses or contact lenses based on the patient's specific facial geometry and visual needs, eliminating the need for generic inventory.
3Manufacturing precision
If patients wait for customized glasses or contact lenses to be ordered and manufactured, then they receive highly customized vision correction, but it takes a few weeks for them to be ready
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing the patient's facial measurements, head anatomy, and vision prescription data during the initial examination. The robotic system measures facial geometry, eye position, and other anatomical parameters in advance, storing this information for rapid device production without requiring separate measurement sessions or waiting periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical manufacturing process (external lab fabrication taking weeks) with an integrated robotic 3D printing system that can produce customized vision correction devices within minutes. The additive manufacturing process substitutes for conventional lens grinding and frame assembly, dramatically reducing lead time while maintaining customization precision.
4Extent of automation
If prior art systems provide automated vision screening, then they reduce physician visit requirements, but they cannot analyze test data on spot or create customized eyewear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges previously separate functions (vision testing, data analysis, prescription generation, and device manufacturing) into a single integrated robotic system. The system combines diagnostic devices, measurement tools, processing units, and 3D printing capabilities in one unified platform, enabling end-to-end automation from examination to customized device production.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system achieves multi-functionality by performing diverse eye examination tests using interchangeable diagnostic tools, analyzing test data through AI algorithms, generating prescriptions, creating 3D models of patient anatomy, and manufacturing various types of vision correction devices. This universal system replaces multiple specialized devices and processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic vision screening system includes a user interface that interacts with a customer, at least one diagnostic device that examines at least one of the customer's eyes, at least one measurement device that measures the customer's head anatomy, a processor in communication with the at least one diagnostic device and the at least one measurement device, and a 3D printer in communication with the processor that produces a customized vision correction device based on data received from the at least one diagnostic device and the at least one measurement device.