Wavefront Measurement Device for Pediatric Refractive Error Assessment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining refractive properties in children are challenging due to wide powers of accommodation, difficulty in maintaining stillness, and the intimidating nature of conventional optical apparatus, leading to inaccurate and unreliable measurements, especially with subjective refraction techniques and time-consuming retinoscopy.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a wavefront measurement device with a child-specific measurement mode, featuring a display device showing a video with a moving fixation target and adjustable settings for pupillary and cornea vertex distances, allowing for quick and objective refractive property determination without requiring advanced skill or cooperation from the child.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If subjective refraction techniques are used to determine refractive properties in children, then the measurement can be performed with conventional optical apparatus, but the results are inaccurate and unreliable due to wide powers of accommodation and difficulty in maintaining stillness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective refraction techniques and conventional optical apparatus with wavefront measurement technology. This substitution eliminates the need for child cooperation and accommodation control, providing objective, automated measurements that are both accurate and reliable for pediatric patients.
Solution Approach 2:
The wavefront measurement system performs automated objective refraction without requiring the child's active participation or response. The system independently captures wavefront data and calculates refractive properties, making the measurement process reliable even when the child cannot maintain stillness or cooperate.
2Measurement precision
If retinoscopy is used to determine refractive properties in children, then the measurement can be performed objectively, but the process is time-consuming and requires advanced skill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual retinoscopy with automated wavefront measurement technology. This substitution eliminates the need for examiner skill and significantly reduces measurement time while maintaining objective accuracy, making pediatric refraction both quick and reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The wavefront measurement system acts as an intermediary between the light source and the refractive measurement, capturing wavefront data that automatically provides refraction information without requiring the time-consuming manual procedures of retinoscopy.
3Ease of operation
If conventional optical apparatus is used for refractive measurement in children, then the equipment is familiar and easy to operate, but the apparatus is intimidating to children leading to movement and measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional optical apparatus with wavefront measurement technology that is less intimidating to children. This substitution maintains ease of operation through automation while improving measurement precision by eliminating movement-related errors.
4Extent of automation
If wavefront measurement is used to determine refractive properties in children, then automated and objective results are obtained, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wavefront measurement system serves multiple functions: it captures wavefront data, automatically calculates refractive properties, and provides results without requiring child cooperation. This multi-functionality justifies the increased complexity by delivering both automation and accuracy simultaneously.
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 reliable, quick, and fully automated refractive property assessment in children, replacing retinoscopy with wavefront measurement, providing accurate and reproducible results for refractive error correction.
Implementation Method 1
The objective refraction method is based on determining the wavefront of a propagating light bundle
Implementation Method 2
The display device is configured to show a video comprising the fixation target, wherein the video is a series of images shown with a frequency of at least 20 images per second
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The current invention is directed to a system (30) for determining the refractive properties of an eye (10), the system (30) comprising a wavefront measurement device (32) for measuring the refractive properties of the eye (10), characterized in that the system (30) is configured to have at least one measurement mode assigned to children, wherein the system (30) has an input device (34) configured to switch the system (30) into one of the at least one measurement mode assigned to children, and wherein the system (30) is further configured to alter at least one of a group consisting of a default pupillary distance (54), a default cornea vertex distance (52), a default position (33) of the wavefront measurement device (32), a default position and/or direction of a measurement ray (58) of the wavefront measurement device (32), a default position (47) of a forehead and chin rest assembly (40) of the system (30) and a fixation target (38) when the system (30) is switched into the one of the at least one measurement mode assigned to children.