Sharp Fixation Target Stabilizing Eye Accommodation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ophthalmological devices fail to provide a consistently sharp fixation target for patients with low-order aberrations beyond defocus, leading to inaccurate measurements and unstable eye accommodation during interventions.

Innovation Solution

A device with an optical unit that compensates lower-order ametropias, such as spherical ametropia, and an additional optical unit that compensates higher-order ametropias, like astigmatism, using rotatable cylindrical lenses with positive and negative refraction powers, ensuring a stable and sharp fixation target.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If only defocus compensation is implemented using conventional optical units, then spherical ametropia can be corrected, but astigmatic and other higher-order aberrations remain uncorrected resulting in inconsistent fixation target sharpness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation target sharpnessVSAvoidaberration compensation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The optical correction system is segmented into multiple independent optical units, each responsible for compensating specific types of aberrations. The first optical unit addresses spherical ametropia and defocus, while the second optical unit specifically targets astigmatic and higher-order aberrations. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized for its specific function and enables independent adjustment of each correction type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device integrates multiple optical units with different correction capabilities into a single fixation system, creating a multi-functional apparatus that can simultaneously address various types of refractive errors and aberrations. This universal approach ensures that patients with different aberration profiles can all achieve consistent fixation target sharpness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If conventional optical units are used for defocus compensation, then spherical ametropia is corrected, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to uncorrected higher-order aberrations causing accommodation fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation stabilityVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary compensation of both spherical and astigmatic aberrations before the patient attempts to fixate on the target. By pre-correcting the optical path and eliminating higher-order aberrations in advance, the patient's accommodation remains stable during fixation, preventing measurement errors that would otherwise arise from accommodation fluctuations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If a single optical unit compensates only defocus, then device complexity is minimized, but fixation target sharpness deteriorates in patients with astigmatism and higher-order aberrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical unit configurationVSAvoidfixation target sharpness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The optical correction system is segmented into multiple independent optical units, each responsible for compensating specific types of aberrations. The first optical unit addresses spherical ametropia and defocus, while the second optical unit specifically targets astigmatic and higher-order aberrations. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized for its specific function and enables independent adjustment of each correction type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The optical units are designed with adjustable parameters that can be dynamically modified based on individual patient needs. The system can adapt the correction strength and type for each optical unit according to the specific aberration profile measured, allowing the device to maintain optimal performance across different patients and conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution stabilizes eye accommodation, improves measurement accuracy, and reduces accommodation fluctuations by compensating defocus and astigmatic aberrations, providing a sharp and stable fixation target for patients.

Implementation Method 1

an optical unit (14) in the light path, which is arranged on the optical axis and is designed to compensate a lower order ametropia, for example, a spherical ametropia of the eye

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

an additional optical unit (18) in the light path, by means of which a higher order ametropia, for example, an astigmatic ametropia of the eye, can be compensated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2923637B1Sharp fixation target
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 NOVARTIS AG
  • EP2923637B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2923637B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2923637B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method and an automated device for stabilizing the constant accommodation of the patient's eye in the case of low order aberrations are provided.