Smartphone Eye Examination Apparatus with Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current portable eye-examination devices are often bulky, complex, and lack accuracy, failing to identify severe eye conditions and being unreliable for routine eye-checkups, especially in underprivileged areas where access to specialists is limited.
Innovation Solution
A smartphone-based eye examination apparatus with a body having two eye openings, allowing for ophthalmic imaging and display, enabling remote eye examinations using a smartphone's camera and display, and a computer-implemented method for capturing and displaying images for both eyes, facilitating easy use in various settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional portable eye-examination devices are used, then eye examination functionality is provided, but the devices are bulky and complex to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple eye examination functions (visual acuity testing, color vision testing, stereopsis testing, and ophthalmic imaging) into a single unified system that uses a smartphone as the core processing unit. The apparatus includes multiple optical components (lenses, mirrors, displays) that work together with the smartphone's camera and screen to perform various eye examinations, eliminating the need for multiple separate devices and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the smartphone as an intermediary device between the user and the examination system. The smartphone's display serves as the stimulus presentation interface, the camera captures the eye images, and the processing unit analyzes the data. This intermediary approach allows the system to leverage the smartphone's existing capabilities while adding specialized optical components for eye examination, thereby simplifying the overall device architecture.
2Measurement precision
If conventional portable eye-examination devices are used, then some eye conditions can be identified, but they lack accuracy and fail to identify severe eye conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple examination modalities (subjective visual acuity testing, color vision testing, stereopsis testing, and objective ophthalmic imaging) into a single integrated system. The smartphone captures images from both eyes simultaneously and the processing unit综合分析 the data from all tests to provide a comprehensive eye health assessment. This multi-modal approach improves accuracy by cross-validating results across different test types and reduces false negatives for severe conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to the user through the smartphone display during the examination process. The processing unit analyzes the captured images and test responses, then presents results and recommendations immediately. This feedback mechanism allows for iterative adjustment of examination parameters and ensures that severe conditions are detected and flagged for further medical attention, thereby improving overall reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If specialized eye examination equipment is used, then accurate eye examinations can be performed, but accessibility is limited and travel to eye centers is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the core examination functionality from traditional clinic-based equipment and implements it in a portable format using a smartphone. The system includes a compact optical assembly with lenses and mirrors that can be attached to any smartphone, allowing eye examinations to be performed anywhere with internet connectivity. This extraction of essential functions from bulky equipment maintains examination accuracy while dramatically improving accessibility to underserved areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be dynamically adaptable to different environments and user needs. The smartphone-based platform can be configured for various examination types through software, and the optical components can be adjusted for different patient populations. The system provides dynamic feedback and can adjust examination protocols based on preliminary results, maintaining accuracy across diverse settings from remote villages to urban clinics.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an eye examination apparatus for use with a smartphone or other portable electronic device. The eye examination apparatus has a body having a first eye opening and a second eye opening for a user to see into the eye examination apparatus using two eyes. In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the eye examination apparatus has a coupling for receiving a smartphone having a display and a camera and for holding the smartphone in a predefined position in relation to the body, such that the camera of the smartphone is positioned to acquire ophthalmic images through the first eye opening, and the display of the smartphone is viewable through the second eye opening. In this manner, it is possible for the user to have an eye examination performed remotely outside of a clinician's office without specialized equipment by instead using their own smartphone.