Patent ID: 7347548
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for measuring a retinal sublayer characteristic of an eye, said method comprising the steps of: performing a plurality of axial scans over an area of the retina; measuring reflections during the axial scans to determine a plurality of sets of reflection intensity values, a given set of reflection intensity values being associated with one of the plurality of axial scans; performing an iterative boundary detection algorithm using the plurality of sets of reflection intensity values to determine at least one boundary location associated with the retinal sublayer for each of the plurality of sets of reflection intensity values, the iterative boundary detection algorithm comrrising: determining respective estimated boundary values from the set of reflection intensity values associated with each axial scan for the at least one boundary location associated with the retinal sublayer; and performing the following steps iteratively until a termination event occurs: applying a transverse filter to the estimated boundary values, the filter having an associated width; generating a weight function from the estimated boundary values; determining respective new estimated boundary values from the plurality of sets of reflection intensity values, a given boundary being determined as an extrema on a gradient map of an associated set of reflection intensity values, the gradient map being weighted by the weight function; and reducing the associated width of the transverse filter; and determining the retinal sublayer characteristic in response to the determined boundary locations.