Patent ID: 6234966
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A noncontact type tonometer comprising:a compressing means for forming compressed air;a direction means for directing the compressed air to a cornea of a patient's eye;a deformation detection means for detecting a flat deformation state of the cornea to which the compressed air is directed by the direction means;a memory means for storing a standard pressure characteristic of the compressed air which changes according to passage of time;a pressure detection means for detecting a pressure change in the compressed air directed by the direction means;a time detection means for detecting the time elapsed until the deformation detection means detects the flat deformation state of the cornea; andprocessing means for performing a pressure comparison to compare the pressure change of the compressed air detected by the pressure detection means with the standard pressure characteristic stored in the memory means, and determining an amended time based on the time detected by the time detection means when the result of the pressure comparison indicates that the pressure change is different than the standard pressure characteristic, wherein the processing means calculates an intraocular pressure of the patient's eye based on the amended time.