Abstract:
An adaptor for a slit lamp holds a portable camera, such as a cell phone, in place relative to a slit lamp. The adaptor is adjustable to accommodate virtually any size of portable camera through the use of screws, washers, spacers, and other adjustment mechanisms. The adaptor can be formed in two parts: an ocular engaging portion and a camera support. The two portions can be coupled together to position the camera relative to the slit lamp to photograph a patient&#39;s eye.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/518,610 filed on May 9, 2011, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to an adaptor for a slit lamp for ophthalmological purposes configured to couple a portable camera to the slit lamp for photographing a patient&#39;s eye. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Slit lamps are the main examination instrument used during an eye examination. It allows the doctor to see magnified an illuminated view of the different structures of the eye. The doctor often needs to document the visual appearance of the many different pathologic processes visualized at the slit lamp. Simple drawings can be used, but photographs are much more informative. Dedicated slit lamps for photography are available, but are expensive. Optical adaptors are available for dedicated cameras, but are also significantly expensive, and often include a beam splitter within the optical housing of the slit lamp, which can reduce the illumination. Other slit lamp models have built-in digital cameras, but these are also expensive. 
     The rapid evolution of technology in cell phones have brought to the market fairly advanced photographic capabilities in the cell phone handset. Many cell phones boast 5 megapixel cameras or more. The ubiquitous photographic capabilities of the cell phone yields significant potential for use in the optometric or ophthalmologic office. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a simple, inexpensive adaptor for a slit lamp which allows a cell phone to very quickly and easily be used to capture a photographic image through the slit lamp. Features of the invention allow it to fit the many different eyepiece sizes, as well as eyepiece configurations on the various models of slit lamps. In addition, features of this adaptor allow it to accommodate various cell phone sizes and designs, as well as accommodating the multitude of cases for each cell phone model. 
     The present invention is directed to an adaptor for a slit lamp having an ocular. The adaptor comprises an ocular engaging portion configured to couple to an ocular of the slit lamp, a camera support configured to couple to a portable camera. The camera support is further configured to couple to the ocular engaging portion with the camera positioned relative to the ocular such that the camera can photograph a patient&#39;s eye through the ocular. The ocular engaging portion includes a transparent back plate, and the portable camera is positioned relative to the transparent back plate to photograph through the transparent back plate. The adaptor also includes a hood coupled to the transparent back plate and configured to rest upon a top surface of the ocular to maintain the ocular engaging portion in place relative to the ocular. The adaptor can also include a base plate and a flange coupled to the base plate, and a retaining arm. The base plate, flange, and retaining arm are configured to support the portable camera relative to the ocular. The base plate is configured to secure to the transparent back plate of the ocular engaging portion. 
     The present invention is also directed to a method of photographing a patient&#39;s eye using a portable camera and a slit lamp, including positioning an adaptor relative to the slit lamp. The adaptor comprises an ocular engagement portion configured to engage with a viewing area of the slit lamp and a camera support. The method also includes securing a portable camera to the camera support of the adaptor with the portable camera directed toward the viewing area of the slit lamp, and photographing the patient&#39;s eye with the camera through the viewing area of the slit lamp. 
     The present invention is also directed to an adaptor for coupling a portable camera to a slit lamp including a transparent base plate having a mounting point, and an ocular hood coupled to the base plate and being configured to engage with an ocular of the slit lamp. The adaptor also has a camera positioning unit having a support for a portable camera that is adjustably coupled to the base plate at the mounting point. The camera positioning unit is configured to position the portable camera relative to the base plate to photograph a subject through the slit lamp through the base plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an ocular engaging portion of an adaptor for use with a portable camera and a slit lamp according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a camera support according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the adaptor according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate an adaptor and camera support according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  shows an ocular engaging portion  10  of a camera adaptor according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The adaptor permits a practitioner to easily position a portable camera, such as a cell phone having a built-in camera, relative to a slit lamp to photograph a patient&#39;s eye. The present invention therefore provides inexpensive and simple slit lamp photography without expensive equipment. The ocular engaging portion  10  is designed to be placed upon an ocular of the slit lamp for use to view a patient&#39;s eye. Standard slit lamps have double oculars that are generally cylindrical, but can have other shapes as well. The present invention can also be used with other viewing equipment, such as microscopes and telescopes that may have double or single oculars. The ocular has an optical axis that extends along the viewing direction of the ocular. The ocular engaging portion  10  of the camera adaptor has a base plate  12 , a hood  14 , and a retaining flange  16 . The base plate  12  is transparent and generally flat and is placed over the ocular with the hood  14  resting on top of the cylindrical ocular and with the base plate  12  generally perpendicular with the optical axis of the ocular. The hood  14  can include a clamp that secures to the ocular under pressure, such as with a spring or a living hinge to grasp the ocular. The base plate  12  has an alignment point  2  that is aligned with the optical axis of the ocular. The hood  14  extends over a portion of the ocular and the L-shaped structure of the hood  14  helps to center the alignment point  2  relative to the ocular. Different oculars have different diameters, so the hood  14  can be specifically designed for a particular ocular, or can have adjustability to permit the hood  14  to engage oculars of varying sizes. The retaining flange  16  can rest on another portion of the ocular or the slit lamp to prevent the camera support  10  from rotating around the ocular. The hood  14  and retaining flange  16  can have different dimensions and configurations depending on the particulars of a given ocular and slit lamp assembly. For example, the camera support  10  can have two hoods  14  for use with a slit lamp with double oculars. In some embodiments the hood  14  has an attachment member  18 , such as a strip of hook-and-loop material that can engage with a strap (not shown) attached to the ocular. The base plate  12  also has a plurality of holes  19  spaced variously around the base plate. The holes  19  are used to attach to other components of the camera adaptor as described more fully below. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a camera support  20  of the adaptor according to embodiments of the present invention. The camera support  20  has a back plate  22 , a retaining flange  24 , and a retaining arm  26 . The back plate  22  is generally flat and can be transparent in at least some areas. The retaining flange  24  extends orthogonally from the back plate  22 , and the retaining arm  26  extends orthogonally from the flange  24 . The retaining arm  26  can have a diagonal edge  27  to facilitate inserting a portable camera into the camera support  20 . The camera support  20  has several holes  28  similar to the holes  19  in the ocular engaging portion  10 . The camera support  20  is coupled to the ocular engaging portion  10  with the base plate  12  contacting the back plate  22 , and using the holes  19  and  28  to secure the pieces together. The holes  19  in the base plate  12  are larger than strictly necessary to allow the camera support  20  to be positioned relative to the ocular engaging portion  10 . A portable camera, such as a cell phone having a built-in camera, can be placed into the camera support  20  with the camera aligned with the alignment point  2  on the ocular engaging portion  10 . The camera is then positioned to view and photograph down the ocular to record what is visible through the ocular. 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of an adaptor  30  according to embodiments of the present invention including an ocular engaging portion  10  and a camera support  20  coupled together and supporting a portable camera  4 . The camera  4  is resting in the camera support  20  with the aperture  6  of the camera  4  aligned with the alignment point  2  of the base plate  12 . In use, a practitioner places the ocular engaging portion  10  onto the ocular, and then mounts the camera support  20  to the ocular engaging portion  20  using threaded fasteners, such as thumbscrews, or other attachment means such as clamps, clips, or snap-fit connectors. The practitioner then places the camera  4  into the camera support  20  and photographs the patient&#39;s eye, or any other suitable subject. The camera support  20  and the ocular engaging portion  10  are transparent so the camera  4  can photograph through them. 
     The dimensions of the adaptor  30  can be chosen according to known slit lamps and/or oculars. In some embodiments, the dimensions are chosen for a specific make or model of slit lamp and/or ocular. In other embodiments, the ocular engaging portion  10  and camera support  20  can be adjustable relative to one another to align the camera  4  with the ocular. Virtually any type of camera or cell phone can be used. The aperture  6  of the camera  4  can be moved along the optical axis of the ocular by inserting spacers between the ocular engaging portion  10  and the camera support  20 , or between the camera support  20  and the camera  4  itself. The aperture  4  can be positioned in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis, such as up and down A and side to side B, by adjusting how the camera support  20  is coupled to the ocular engaging portion  10 , or by positioning the camera  4  within the camera support  20 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show an adaptor  30  and a camera  4  according to embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 4A  shows a camera side of the camera  4 , and  4 B illustrates the opposite side of the camera  4  engaged with the adaptor  30 . The adaptor  30  includes a camera support  40  according to further embodiments of the present invention. The camera support  40  can be an unobtrusive case for the camera  4 . The camera support  40  can be a slim, low profile covering, similar to a protective case, that protrudes from the camera  4  by no more than approximately one quarter inch. The camera support  40  can be slim enough for the practitioner to leave the camera support  40  on the camera  4  at all times. The camera support  40  includes attachment points  42  variously spaced apart, and an opening that allows the aperture  6  of the camera  4  to operate unobstructed. 
       FIG. 4B  shows an ocular engaging portion  10  having a base plate  12  and a hood  14  for engaging an ocular  44  of a slit lamp. The base plate  12  includes pegs  46  that engage the attachment points  42  on the camera support  40  and hold the camera  4  in position with the aperture  6  aligned with the alignment point  2  and the optical axis of the ocular  44 . The spacing and dimensions of the attachment points  42  and the pegs  46  can depend on the dimensions of the camera  4  and the ocular  44 . In some embodiments, the camera support  40  is designed for a known, popular model of camera, such as an IPHONE™ or an ANDROID™ device. In other embodiments, the camera support  40  can be adjustable to accommodate virtually any type of camera  4 . 
     In other embodiments, the adaptor  30  can have three parts: an ocular engaging portion, a camera support, and an intermediate member positioned between the ocular engaging portion and the camera support. The ocular engaging portion can be a small, unobtrusive component such as a peg or a post that is left mounted to the ocular and does not interfere with normal use of the slit lamp. The camera support can be similar to the unobtrusive phone case described above, such that the practitioner can leave the camera support mounted to the phone always. When the practitioner decides to photograph through the slit lamp, he simply mounts the intermediate member to the ocular engaging portion and mounts the camera support to the intermediate member. The practitioner can then very easily photograph through the slit lamp with very little set up time and at a very reduced cost. 
     The adaptors  30  disclosed herein therefore permit simple and easy photography of a subject through a slit lamp or another device having an ocular, such as a microscope, without requiring expensive equipment and expertise. The practitioner can quickly configure the adaptor and insert the camera into the adaptor and take digital photographs with ease. The present invention also includes a software component, such as an app for a smart phone, that can catalogue photographs taken by patient name, by location, and by date. The camera can be actuated by a voice command to free the practitioner&#39;s hands during the procedure. The camera can be virtually any type of wireless digital device capable of sending and receiving wireless transmissions such as MMS messages and email. The practitioner can therefore very easily input the patient&#39;s information into the device, insert the device into the adaptor, and photograph the patient&#39;s eye. The device can then wirelessly transmit the photographs for viewing, analysis, and diagnosis. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. By way of example, the adaptor can be made of Plexiglas, plastic, or another suitable transparent material, or the adaptor can be opaque and can include an aperture through which the camera photographs. The camera can be a digital camera, a cell phone, a smart phone, or any other type of camera. The camera support and ocular engaging portion can be coupled together using any suitable mechanical connector, including a clip, a clamp, threaded fasteners, thumbscrews, hook-and-loop fasteners, etc. The adaptor can be used with another type of device, such as a microscope or binoculars or a telescope. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.