Sliding Binocular Eyepiece for Accurate Left-Right Retinal Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional retinal imaging systems often fail to clearly indicate which eye is being imaged, leading to potential misimaging and additional visits, and are not optimized for high-quality imaging of specific eye regions.
Innovation Solution
A retinal imaging system with a binocular eye piece that slides relative to a monocular image sensor, allowing separate positioning for each eye, and includes alignment markers and adjustable angles to ensure accurate imaging of both eyes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single eyebox location is used for imaging both eyes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the imaging precision and quality for specific eye regions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single eyebox into two separate eyeboxes (first eyebox for left eye, second eyebox for right eye), allowing independent optimization of each eye's imaging parameters while maintaining a unified device structure. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing precise imaging for each eye region without requiring completely separate imaging systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a movable partition wall that can dynamically switch between blocking the first eyebox or the second eyebox. This dynamic mechanism allows the system to adapt between imaging different eyes without physical reconfiguration, maintaining imaging precision while reducing structural complexity through a single adjustable component.
2Measurement precision
If alignment markers and adjustable components are added to ensure accurate imaging, then the imaging quality improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces alignment markers as intermediary visual cues that mediate between the operator and the eye positioning process. These markers provide clear visual guidance for aligning the eyebox with the patient's eye, improving alignment accuracy without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms or multiple sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs visual indicators with distinct characteristics (such as different colors or patterns) to indicate the current eyebox configuration state and alignment status. These visual cues simplify the operator's task by providing immediate, intuitive feedback about positioning accuracy without adding complex electronic displays or control systems.
3Reliability
If clear differentiation between left and right eyes is implemented, then the reliability of imaging improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates visual feedback mechanisms through alignment markers and indicators that dynamically respond to the current eyebox configuration. When the first eyebox is active, specific visual cues indicate the system is positioned for the left eye, and similarly for the right eye. This feedback loop automatically guides the operator without requiring manual verification or complex interfaces, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring reliable eye identification.
Data Source
AI summary
A retinal imaging system and a retinal imaging adaptor and related methods of use are described. In an embodiment; the retinal imaging system comprises a monocular image sensor adapted to acquire a retinal image of an eye; and a binocular eye piece configured to slide relative to the monocular image sensor and shaped to couple to a face of a user. In an embodiment, the monocular image sensor is positioned to acquire a first retinal image of a first eye of the user in a first position of the binocular eye piece and to acquire a second retinal image of a second eye of the user in a second position of the binocular eye piece. In an embodiment, the retinal imaging system includes a sliding bracket coupled to a housing of the retinal imaging system and slidably coupled to the binocular eye piece.