Slit Lamp Microscope 3D Reconstruction for Cataract Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Diaphanoscopy in ophthalmology faces challenges in managing brightness and image quality, making it unsuitable for quantitative diagnosis, and lacks three-dimensional information, relying heavily on subjective interpretation and limiting the application of automatic image analysis.
Innovation Solution
A slit lamp microscope with a scanner to collect cross-sectional images and a rendering processor to create three-dimensional images, allowing for three-dimensional reconstruction and segmentation, enabling objective evaluation and automatic image analysis with improved image quality and depth information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If diaphanoscopy is used to obtain transillumination images, then anterior eye segment observation is achieved, but brightness and image quality cannot be controlled making quantitative diagnosis difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the passive optical reflection mechanism of diaphanoscopy with an active structured light projection system. A pattern generator creates known light patterns that are projected onto the anterior eye segment, and the captured deformed patterns are used to reconstruct topographic information. This substitution enables controlled illumination and quantitative measurement, resolving the contradiction between image quality control and brightness management.
2Loss of information
If diaphanoscopy is used to obtain transillumination images, then observation of cataract eyes is achieved, but no three dimensional opacity distribution information is provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional transillumination imaging to three-dimensional topographic mapping by introducing a spatial dimension through pattern projection. By projecting known patterns and analyzing their deformation across multiple capture points, the system reconstructs elevation and depth information, providing volumetric opacity distribution data while maintaining manageable system complexity through computational methods.
3Productivity
If automatic image analysis techniques are applied to transillumination images, then diagnostic efficiency is improved, but the difficulty in image quality management prevents successful application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control through the structured light approach. Known patterns are projected, their deformation is captured and measured, and this information feeds into reconstruction algorithms that generate quantitative topographic maps. This closed-loop process ensures consistent image quality and reliable data suitable for automatic analysis, enabling diagnostic efficiency improvement without sacrificing reliability.
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 objective evaluation of cataract grade and application of automatic image analysis, providing three-dimensional opacity distribution of the crystalline lens, overcoming the limitations of diaphanoscopy with improved image management and diagnostic efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A slit lamp microscope is used for illuminating a subject's eye with slit light and observing and/or photographing the illuminated cross section
Data Source
AI summary
A slit lamp microscope of some aspect examples includes a scanner and a rendering processor. The scanner is configured to scan an anterior segment of a subject's eye with slit light to collect a plurality of cross sectional images. The rendering processor is configured to apply rendering to a three dimensional image created from the plurality of cross sectional images.