Wearable Fundus Camera Infrared Imaging Headset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ocular diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma often lead to irreversible vision loss, particularly in rural areas where access to medical care is limited, due to the lack of sophisticated medical equipment and trained professionals for eye exams.
Innovation Solution
A portable, low-cost retinal imaging system using a wearable headset with infrared light and a computer vision model to automatically detect retinal abnormalities, allowing for pupil-independent imaging and analysis of ocular diseases like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If traditional fundus cameras are used for retinal imaging, then image quality can be sufficient for diagnosis, but the device is heavy, expensive, and requires sophisticated infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy mechanical fundus camera systems with a lightweight wearable headset that uses infrared illumination and computational imaging techniques to capture retinal images, eliminating the need for bulky optical components while maintaining diagnostic quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from visible light imaging to infrared wavelength imaging, enabling retinal capture without pupil dilation and allowing for compact device design while preserving image quality for diabetic retinopathy detection
2Measurement precision
If adaptive optical systems are deployed for high-quality retinal imaging, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex adaptive optical systems with a simplified wearable headset that uses infrared illumination and software-based image processing to achieve high-quality retinal imaging without mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses computational methods to create high-fidelity digital copies of retinal images through infrared capture and processing, eliminating the need for expensive adaptive optical hardware while maintaining diagnostic accuracy
3Measurement precision
If pupil dilation is performed before fundus examination, then imaging quality improves, but the process requires additional time and trained professionals
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the imaging wavelength from visible to infrared, allowing retinal capture without pupil dilation and eliminating the time-consuming dilation process while maintaining image quality for diabetic retinopathy screening
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable headset enables patients to perform self-screening for diabetic retinopathy at home without requiring ophthalmologist supervision or pupil dilation procedures, making the process autonomous and time-efficient
4Measurement precision
If sophisticated medical equipment is used for eye exams, then diagnostic accuracy improves, but accessibility decreases in rural areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sophisticated medical equipment with a lightweight wearable headset that can be deployed in remote areas without requiring specialized infrastructure or trained ophthalmologists, maintaining diagnostic accuracy for diabetic retinopathy
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses AI-based image analysis to create accurate diagnostic assessments from retinal images captured by the wearable device, enabling sophisticated diagnostic capabilities in resource-limited settings without requiring expert personnel
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
The system enables widespread, accessible monitoring and early detection of ocular diseases, improving patient care by providing high-quality images without the need for expensive adaptive optical systems or medical professionals, facilitating early intervention and preserving vision.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared light source configured to emit light having a wavelength in an infrared spectrum
Implementation Method 2
an imaging component configured to capture images of an eye based on light reflected from a rear inner surface of the eye
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a wearable fundus camera configured to be worn as a headset by a human, the wearable fundus camera comprising: an infrared light source configured to output infrared light to be directed at a retina of the human; an image sensor configured to capture infrared images depicting a retina of an eye of the human under illumination from the infrared light source without a pupil of the eye being dilated with mydriatics; and an eye cuff configured to be biased against a face of the human and occlude at least some ambient light from reaching the image sensor.