Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7311401?dq=6,064,942
Timestamp: 2015-01-26 13:41:30
Document Index: 685800409

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n55', 'application No. 09', 'application No. 09', 'application No. 09', 'Application No. 2001263366', 'Application No. 2001263366', 'Application No. 2001263366', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 2000']

Patent US7311401 - Eye viewing device comprising eyepiece and video capture optics - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThere is described in one embodiment an eye viewing device for viewing a structure of an eye such as a retina. The eye viewing device can include an image sensor. In one embodiment an eye viewing device can be adapted to facilitate both visual viewing of an eye structure and electronic image capture...http://www.google.com/patents/US7311401?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7311401 - Eye viewing device comprising eyepiece and video capture opticsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7311401 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/862,636Publication dateDec 25, 2007Filing dateMay 22, 2001Priority dateNov 24, 1998Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2409596A1, DE60140938D1, EP1289407A2, EP1289407B1, US6637882, US7784940, US8337017, US20020097379, US20040119941, US20080030683, US20100231856, WO2001089374A2, WO2001089374A3Publication number09862636, 862636, US 7311401 B2, US 7311401B2, US-B2-7311401, US7311401 B2, US7311401B2InventorsErvin Goldfain, Chris R. Roberts, Allan I. Krauter, Steven R. Slawson, William H. LagerwayOriginal AssigneeWelch Allyn, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (112), Non-Patent Citations (13), Referenced by (5), Classifications (17), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetEye viewing device comprising eyepiece and video capture opticsUS 7311401 B2Abstract There is described in one embodiment an eye viewing device for viewing a structure of an eye such as a retina. The eye viewing device can include an image sensor. In one embodiment an eye viewing device can be adapted to facilitate both visual viewing of an eye structure and electronic image capture.
Images(16) Claims(100)
1. An eye viewing device comprising:
a portable housing having an observer end and a patient end; an illumination system at least partially disposed in said housing; an imaging system at least partially disposed in said housing; an image sensor generating image signals; a processor system processing image information corresponding to image signals generated by said image sensor; a module holder defined by said housing at said observer end; and a replaceable module comprising at least said image sensor replaceably received in said holder. 2. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said replaceable module further comprises said processor system.
3. The eye viewing device of claim 1, further comprising an electronic display in communication with said processor system.
4. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said replaceable module further comprises a display in communication with said processor system.
5. The eye viewing device of claim 4, wherein said display is externally mounted on said module.
6. The eye viewing device of claim 4, wherein said display is externally mounted on a face of said module.
7. The eye viewing device of claim 4, wherein said display is rigidly mounted on said module.
8. The eye viewing device of claim 4, wherein said display is internally mounted in an interior of said module.
9. The eye viewing device of claim 4, wherein said display is mounted on a top of said housing.
10. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said device includes a head worn display apparatus which includes a display.
11. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said device includes a communication link component facilitating communication of image information externally from said housing.
12. The eye viewing device of claim 11, wherein said replaceable module further comprises said communication link.
13. The eye viewing device of claim 11, wherein said communication link includes a cable.
14. The eye viewing device of claim 11, wherein said communication link comprises a wireless communication link.
15. The eye viewing device of claim 11, wherein said communication link comprises a transportable memory structure.
16. The eye viewing device of claim 2, further comprising an electronic display.
17. The eye viewing device of claim 11, wherein said device further includes an electronic display spaced apart from said housing and said module, and in communication with said communication link.
18. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said housing and said module include complementary mating electrical connectors which are adapted to mate when said module is received in said holder.
19. The eye viewing device of claim 18, wherein said processor system is incorporated in said housing and wherein said mating electrical connectors are adapted to provide breakable communication between said image sensor and said processor system.
20. The eye viewing device of claim 18, wherein said processor system is incorporated in said module, and wherein said device further includes a display mounted on said housing, wherein said mating electrical connectors provide breakable communication between said processor system and said display.
21. The device of claim 3, wherein said device includes a battery power supply incorporated in said housing, wherein said mating connectors proved breakable communication between an electronic component of said module and said power supply.
22. The device of claim 3, wherein said module further comprises a communication link component facilitating communication of image information externally from said housing.
23. An eye viewing device system comprising:
a housing having an observer end and a patient end; an illumination system at least partially disposed in said housing; an imaging system at least partially disposed in said housing; a module holder defined by said housing at said observer end; and at least first and second replaceable modules, each replaceably receivable in said holder, said holder adapted to receive one of said modules at a given time, wherein said first module comprises an eyepiece lens facilitating direct view of an eye structure and said second module comprises at least an image sensor generating image signals corresponding to an eye structure. 24. The system of claim 23, wherein said second module further comprises an electronic display.
25. The system of claim 23, wherein said second module further comprises a face mounted display.
26. The system of claim 23, wherein said second module further comprises an externally mounted display.
27. The system of claim 23, wherein said second module further comprises an electronic Display mounted in an interior of said module.
28. The system of claim 23, further comprising a communication link component for facilitating communication of image information from said housing.
29. The system of claim 23, wherein said housing is a hand-held housing.
30. The system of claim 23, wherein said holder and said second module comprise complementary mating connectors.
31. The system of claim 23, wherein said illumination system projects a converging cone of light.
32. The system of claim 23, wherein said illumination system and said imaging system include a common objective lens.
33. The system of claim 23, wherein said illumination system projects a converging cone of light converging at an apex, and wherein said imaging system includes an aperture stop disposed to be substantially coaxial with respect to an imaging axis of said imaging system and substantially conjugate said apex.
34. The system of claim 23, wherein said imaging system includes an aperture stop, and wherein said eye viewing device includes an objective lens and an internal light source, wherein a surface of said objective lens closest to said light source is curved substantially concentric about a center of an aperture of said aperture stop, whereby internal glare in said device is reduced.
35. The system of claim 30, wherein said illumination system projects through a pupil, and wherein said imaging system includes an aperture disposed substantially coaxial about an imaging axis of said imaging system and substantially conjugate said pupil, when said illumination system projects substantially a maximum amount of light through said pupil.
36. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said housing is hand held, and wherein said device is configured for viewing a retina.
37. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said housing is hand held, wherein said device is configured for viewing a retina, and wherein said replaceable module further comprises said processor system.
38. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said housing is hand held, wherein, said device is configured for viewing a retina, wherein said replaceable module further comprises said processor system, and wherein said eye viewing device further includes an electronic display in communication with said processor system.
39. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said housing is hand held, wherein said device is configured for viewing a retina, wherein said replaceable module further includes a display in communication with said processor system, and wherein said display is externally mounted on said replaceable module.
40. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said housing is hand held, wherein said device is configured for viewing a retina, wherein said replaceable module further includes a display in communication with said processor system, and wherein said display is externally mounted on a face of said module.
41. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said housing is hand held, wherein said device is configured for viewing a retina, wherein said replaceable module further includes a display in communication with said processor system, and wherein said display is rigidly mounted on said module.
42. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said housing is hand held, wherein said device is configured for viewing a retina, wherein said replaceable module further includes a display in communication with said processor system, and wherein said display is internally mounted in an interior of said module.
43. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said housing is hand held, wherein said device is configured for viewing a retina, wherein said replaceable module further includes a display in communication with said processor system, and wherein said display is mounted on a top of said module.
44. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said illumination system projects a converging cone of light.
45. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said illumination system projects a converging cone of light converging at an apex, and wherein said imaging system includes an aperture stop disposed conjugate to said apex.
46. The eye viewing device of claim 2, wherein said imaging system includes an aperture stop disposed so that said aperture stop is substantially conjugate a pupil of a patient when said device is in an operative position.
47. The eye viewing device of claim 1, wherein said imaging system includes an aperture stop and an objective lens, and wherein said illumination system includes a light source, and wherein a surface of said objective lens closest said light source is curved substantially concentric about an aperture of said aperture stop.
48. A retinal viewing device system comprising:
a hand held housing having an observer end and a patient end; an illumination system at least partially disposed in said housing; an imaging system at least partially disposed in said housing; a module holder defined by said housing at said observer end; and at least first and second replaceable modules, each replaceably receivable in said holder, said holder adapted to receive one of said modules at a given time, wherein said first module comprises an eyepiece lens facilitating direct view of an eye structure and said second module comprises at least an image sensor for generating image signals corresponding to an eye structure. 49. The system of claim 48, wherein said second module further comprises an electronic display.
50. The system of claim 48, wherein said second module further comprises a face mounted display.
51. The system of claim 48, wherein said second module further comprises an externally mounted display.
52. The system of claim 48, wherein said second module further comprises an electronic display mounted in an interior of said module.
53. The system of claim 48, further comprising a communication link component for facilitating communication of image information from said housing.
54. The system of claim 48, wherein said illumination system includes a light generating light source, where said housing includes a first part extending coextensively with an imaging axis of said imaging system, and a second part extending transverse to said first part, and wherein said light generating light source is disposed in said second part.
55. The system of claim 48, wherein said holder and said second module comprise complementary mating connectors.
56. The system of claim 48, wherein said illumination system projects a converging cone of light.
57. The system of claim 48, wherein said illumination system and said imaging system include a common objective lens.
58. The system of claim 48, wherein said illumination system projects a converging cone of light converging at an apex, and wherein said imaging system includes an aperture stop disposed to be substantially coaxial with respect to an imaging axis of said imaging system and substantially conjugate said apex.
59. The system of claim 48, wherein said imaging system includes an aperture stop, and wherein said eye viewing device includes an objective lens and an internal light source, wherein a surface of said objective lens closest to said light source is curved substantially concentric about a center of an aperture of said aperture stop, whereby internal glare in said is reduced.
60. The system of claim 48, wherein said illumination system projects light through a pupil, and wherein said imaging system includes an aperture disposed substantially coaxial about an imaging axis of said imaging system and substantially conjugate said pupil, when said eye viewing device is in an operative position.
61. A hand held retina viewing device comprising:
a housing: an image sensor generating image signals; an imaging system including an imaging axis; an illumination system projecting a converging cone of light converging at an apex and diverging thereafter; and a moving mirror disposed in said housing moveable between a first position at which a retinal image focal plane is defined at an active surface of said image sensor and a second position permitting visual viewing of said retina, wherein said imaging system further includes an aperture stop disposed in said housing substantially conjugate to said apex. 62. The device of claim 61, further including a holder receiving a replaceable module, and wherein said moving mirror is incorporated in a replaceable module replaceably received in said holder.
63. The eye viewing device of claim 61, wherein an aperture stop is sized to substantially correspond to a size of a pupil.
64. The eye viewing device of claim 61, wherein an aperture of said aperture stop is sized substantially according to the formula d=2 m millimeters where d is a diameter of the aperture and m is the magnification of said pupil in a plane of an aperture stop.
65. The eye viewing device of claim 61, wherein said illumination system includes a light source positioned off-axis with respect to said imaging axis, whereby internal and corneal glare in said device is reduced.
66. The eye viewing device of claim 65, wherein said off-axis positioned light source is a light generating light source.
67. The eye viewing device of claim 65, wherein said off-axis positioned light source is provided by a light reflective element.
68. The eye viewing device of claim 61, wherein said imaging system includes an objective lens and said illumination system includes a light source, said objective lens having a first surface closest to said light source curved substantially concentric about a center of an aperture of said aperture stop, whereby internal glare in said device is reduced.
69. The eye viewing device of claim 61, wherein said illumination system includes a light source positioned outside of a border between received and blocked light defined by said aperture stop, whereby said light source has no obscuring effect on images received by said viewing device.
70. The eye viewing device of claim 61, wherein said illumination system includes a light source positioned outside of a border between received and blocked light defined by said aperture stop and wherein said imaging system includes an objective lens having a curved first surface curved concentric about a center of an aperture of said aperture stop, whereby said light source has no obscuring effect on images received by said viewing device, and whereby incident light reflected from said first surface is blocked by said aperture stop.
71. The eye viewing device of claim 61, wherein said device is devoid of a beam splitter.
72. The eye viewing device of claim 61, wherein a retinal field of view of said imaging system is larger than a retinal area of illumination of said illumination system.
73. The eye viewing device of claim 61, wherein a retinal field of view of said imaging system is between about 15 to 30 percent larger than a retinal area of illumination of said illumination system.
74. The eye viewing device of claim 61, wherein said aperture stop is disposed in said device so that said aperture stop is substantially conjugate to said pupil when said illumination system projects substantially a maximum amount of light through said pupil.
75. The eye viewing device of claim 61, wherein said imaging system includes an objective lens disposed in a path of illumination light rays generated by said illumination system.
76. The eye viewing device of claim 61, wherein said illumination system includes an objective lens disposed so that said imaging axis intersects said objective lens.
77. A hand held retina viewing device comprising:
a housing; an image sensor generating image signals; an imaging system including an imaging axis; an illumination system projecting a converging cone of light converging at an apex and diverging thereafter; wherein said imaging system further includes an aperture stop disposed in said housing substantially conjugate to said apex; and wherein said retina viewing device is configured to facilitate both visual viewing of said retina and electronic image capturing of an image representing said retina. 78. The retina viewing device of claim 77, further including a holder receiving a replaceable module, and wherein said device includes a beam splitter incorporated in said replaceable module.
79. The retina viewing device of claim 77, said illumination system includes a mirror, a light generating light source, and a condenser lens converging light from said light generating light source to a point on said mirror.
80. The retina viewing device of claim an aperture of said aperture stop is sized substantially according to the formula d=2 m millimeters where d is a diameter of the aperture and m is the magnification of a pupil in a plane of said aperture stop when said device is in an operative position.
81. The retina viewing device of claim 77, wherein said imaging system includes an objective lens and said illumination system includes a light source, said objective lens having a curved first surface closest to said light source curved substantially concentric about a center of an aperture of said aperture stop, whereby internal glare in paid device is reduced.
82. The retina viewing device of claim 77, wherein said illumination system includes a light source positioned outside of a border between received and blocked light defined by said aperture stop and wherein said imaging system includes an objective lens having a curved first surface closest to said light source curved concentric about a center of an aperture of said aperture stop, whereby said light source has no obscuring effect on images received by said retina viewing device, and whereby incident light reflected from said first surface is blocked by said aperture stop.
83. The retina viewing device of claim 77, wherein said retina viewing device further includes a holder and first and second replaceable modules, wherein said holder is adapted to receive one of said modules at a given time, wherein said first module comprises an eyepiece lens facilitating direct view of said retina and said second module comprises at least an image sensor for generating image signals corresponding to said retina.
84. The retina viewing device of claim 77, wherein said eye viewing device includes an image sensor generating image signals and a moving mirror disposed in said housing moveable between a first position at which a retinal image focal plane is defined at an active surface of said image sensor and a second position permitting visual viewing of said retina.
85. The retina viewing device of claim 84, further including holder, and a replaceable module replaceably received in said holder, wherein said moving mirror is disposed in said module.
86. The retina viewing device of claim 77, wherein said retina viewing device includes an image sensor generating image signals and a beam splitter generating a first retinal image focal plane to facilitate direct viewing of said retina and a second retinal image focal plane, said second retinal image focal plane being generated at said image sensor.
87. The retina viewing device of claim 86, further including holder, and a replaceable module replaceably received in said holder, wherein said beam splitter is disposed in said module.
88. A hand held retina viewing device for viewing a retina of an eye having a pupil, said hand held retina viewing device comprising:
an illumination system for illuminating said retina; an imaging system having an imaging axis, wherein said illumination system and said imaging system include, a common objective lens; an aperture stop disposed in said device substantially coaxial with said imaging axis, wherein an operative position of said device is achieved when said aperture stop is positioned substantially conjugate to said pupil, and wherein said illumination system includes a light source positioned off-axis with respect to said imaging axis so that internal and corneal glare in said device is reduced; and wherein said eye viewing device is configured to facilitate both visual viewing of said retina and electronic image capturing of an image representing said retina. 89. The retina viewing device of claim 88, wherein an aperture of said aperture stop is sized to substantially correspond to a size of said pupil.
90. The retina viewing device of claim 88, wherein said light source is provided by a light reflecting mirror.
91. The retina viewing device of claim 88, wherein said imaging system includes an objective lens, said objective lens having a first surface closest to said light source curved substantially concentric about a center of an aperture of said aperture stop, whereby internal glare in said device is reduced.
92. The retina viewing device of claim 88, wherein said off-axis positioned light source is positioned outside of an aperture of said aperture stop, whereby said light source has no obscuring effect on images received by said viewing device.
93. The retina viewing device of claim 88, wherein said off-axis positioned light source is positioned outside of a border between received and blocked light defined by said aperture stop and wherein said imaging system includes an objective lens having a curved first surface curved concentric about a center of said aperture stop, whereby said light source has no obscuring effect on images received by said viewing device, and whereby incident light reflected from said first surface is blocked by said aperture stop.
94. The retina viewing device of claim 88, wherein a retinal field of view of said imaging system is larger than a retinal area of illumination of said illumination system.
95. The retina viewing device of claim 88, wherein a retinal field of view of said imaging system is between about 15 to 30 percent larger than a retinal area of illumination of said illumination system.
96. The retina viewing device of claim 88, wherein said retina viewing device further includes a holder and first and second replaceable modules, wherein said holder is adapted to receive one of said modules at a given time, wherein said first module comprises an eyepiece lens facilitating direct view of said retina and said second module comprises at least an image sensor for generating image signals corresponding to said retina.
97. The retina viewing device of claim 88, wherein said eye viewing device includes an image sensor generating image signals and a moving mirror disposed in said housing moveable between a first position at which a retinal image focal plane is defined at an active surface of said image sensor and a second position permitting visual viewing of said retina.
98. The retina viewing device of claim 97, further including holder, and a replaceable module replaceably received in said holder, wherein said moving mirror is disposed in said module.
99. The retina viewing device of claim 88, wherein said retina viewing device includes an image sensor generating image signals and a beam splitter generating a first retinal image focal plane to facilitate direct viewing of said retina and a second retinal image focal plane, said second retinal image focal plane being generated at said image sensor.
100. The retina viewing device of claim 99, further including holder, and a replaceable module replaceably received in said holder, wherein said beam splitter is disposed in said module.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is made to and priority claimed from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/206,356 entitled �Eye Viewing Device for Retinal Viewing Through Undilated Pupil� filed May 23, 2000. This application is also a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/783,481 entitled �Eye Viewing Device for Retinal Viewing Through Undilated Pupil� filed Feb. 14, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/444,161 entitled �Eye Viewing Device for Retinal Viewing Through Undilated Pupil� filed Nov. 22, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/198,545 entitled �Ophthalmoscope Comprising Defocused Light Source� filed Nov. 24, 1998, which issued May 23, 2000 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,837. The priorities of the above applications are claimed and the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention is a low input power, low cost eye viewing device for use in viewing a retina.
There is described in one embodiment an eye viewing device for viewing a structure of an eye such as retina. The eye viewing device can include an image sensor. In one embodiment an eye viewing device can be adapted to facilitate both visual viewing of an eye structure and electronic image capture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein the elements bear like reference numerals, and wherein:
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the invention, the illumination and imaging assemblies of the invention are at least partially disposed in a housing, and formed at an observer end of the housing is a holder which replaceably receives a viewing module. The viewing module replaceably received by the earpiece optics elements holder of the housing may comprise eyepiece optics, image signal generating elements, or combined eyepiece optics and image signal generating elements.
In one aspect, an eye viewing device according to the invention includes a converging light illumination system adapted to generate light rays which, when the device is an operative position, converge at about a pupil of a patient and diverge inside an eye to illuminate a wide retinal field. The converging light illumination system provides illumination of a wide retinal field through a small pupil which may be in an undilated state. The converging light illumination system also reduces electrical input power consumption and reduce glare, as substantially all light delivered by the illumination system enters an eye through a patient's pupil without being reflected from an eye structure outside of a pupil opening such as the iris and sclera.
The eye viewing device is made especially well suited for retinal viewing through an undilated eye by sizing the aperture of the aperture stop in accordance with the diameter of a pupil of an indilated eye. By sizing the aperture in accordance with the diameter of an undilated pupil, the aperture stop operates to block substantially all light reflected from eye structures outside the diameter of a pupil (such as the iris and sclera).
Additional aspects of an eye viewing device are described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0097379 entitled, �Eye Viewing Device Comprising Eyepiece And Video Capture Optics,� filed May 22, 2001, incorporated herein by reference.
Aspects of the imaging system of the device will now be described with reference mainly to FIG. 1B. The imaging system of the device includes objective lens 16, imaging lens 22, and an eyepiece lens 24. A retinal image focal plane 26 is produced intermediate objective lens 16 and imaging lens 22, while an eyepiece focal plane 28 is produced intermediate imaging lens 22 and eyepiece lens 24. The imaging system further includes an imaging axis 30 on which lenses 16, 22, and 24 are substantially centered. In all references herein, the term �lens� can refer to a single optical element or a plurality of optical elements functioning together, while an operative position has been defined herein as the position at which substantially a maximum amount of incident light rays enter eye 11 through pupil 12. An operative position can also be defined as the position at which a patient's pupil is conjugate to aperture stop 32.
It will be seen that without aperture stop 32, a substantial majority of light rays transmitted to eyepiece focal plane 28 during entry would be light rays reflected from outer eye structures 17 and 21. Thus, the image received at eyepiece focal plane 28 would be heavily obscured by glare. With aperture stop 32 the substantial majority of light rays received at eyepiece focal plane correspond to retina 19. During entry into the eye, the user will see a small field image of the retina, known as the �red reflex� which helps an operator move the device into an operative position without significant glare. By maintaining the retinal image spot near the center of eyepiece focal plane 28 and moving the device toward an eye 11, an operative position can easily be achieved.
Glare may be further reduced by shaping the first surface 23 of objective lens 16 so that first surface 23 is curved and substantially concentric with the center of aperture 33 as seen by the embodiment of FIG. 1E. This assures that light that is reflected from surface 23 is reflected to a point equal to and opposite light source 14 with respect to imaging axis 30. If light source 14 is positioned outside of the boundary dividing blocked and received light defined by aperture 33, the concentric curved first surface 23 assures that internal glare resulting from light being reflected from surface 23 is blocked by aperture stop 32.
Referring to elements of the embodiment of FIG. 2B in greater detail, lamp filament 102 provides the source of illumination for the illumination system. In the embodiment of FIG. 2B, light source 102 preferably comprises a filament having a length of about 0.025 to 0.030 inches, a diameter of between about 0.0123 and 0.0136 inches, a number of turns of between 6.5 to 7.5, and a power rating of between approximately 3.25 and 3.33 watts. Lamp filament 102 is preferably oriented horizontally and rotated about 90� from the viewing axis.
A field stop (not shown) sized to correspond to the field of view may be disposed at eye piece plane 28. Retinal image focal plane 26 and eyepiece focal plane 28 are conjugate to the patient's and viewer's retinas. Two internal image planes are required for proper orientation of the user's view of the patient's retina eyepiece lens 24 not labeled in FIG. 2 b. Eyepiece lens 24 comprises two lens elements 24A and 24B. The eyepiece assembly in the embodiment of FIG. 2B has an approximately +/−18 diopter focusing range. An apparatus for use in moving eyepiece lens elements 24A and 24B is described in commonly assigned copending application Ser. No. 09/774,726 entitled �Focusing Mechanism� filed Jan. 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.
Table 1 shows the value of the radius of curvature R (in mm), the on-axis surface spacing D (in mm), the aperture radius, AR, as well as the material associated with each optical surfaces of the specifically designed illumination system shown in FIG. 2B. The six-digit numbers in the �materials� column of Table 1 and Table 3 refer to military code material identifications.
AR1 = 0.381000
D1 = 4.656
AR2 = 1.105
D2 = 1.000000
AR3 = 1.105
D3 = 6.120
AR4 = 3.250
D4 = 1.000000
AR5 = 3.250
D5 = 4.800
10.213177
AR6 = 5.500
D6 = 6.000000
−11.362687
AR7 = 5.500
D7 = 24.630
AR8 = 2.000
D8 = 0.280000
AR9 = 2.000
D9 = 12.620
AR10 = 1.350000
D10 = 46.600000
−46.500000
AR11 = 10.300000
D11 = 9.500000
−8.509000
AR12 = 10.300000
D12 = 26.500
AR13 = 1.000
Table 2 shows the coefficients characterizing the rotationally symmetric aspheric surfaces S5, S6, and S12 of the specific illumination system shown in FIG. 2B. Rotationally symmetric aspheric surfaces are defined by: z = cvY 2 1 + ( 1 - cv 2 ( cc + 1 ) Y 2 ) 1 / 2 + adY 4 + aeY 6 + afY 8 + agY 10 Equation 1 where
CC=The Conic Constant R=Radius of curvature cv=1/R Y is the radial distance from the optical axis, and Z is the sag of the surface ad, ae, af, ag=higher order aspheric coefficients TABLE 2
S6 −3.224406
S7 −2.037497
S12 −2.427960
−0.000246
5.3906e−07
5.1989e−09
−2.8038e−11
Ar1 = 1.0000
d1 = 26.5
8.509485
Ar2 = 10.300000
d2 = 9.50000
Ar3 = 10.300000
d3 = 49.040000
Ar4 = 1.6000
d4 = 0.130000
Metal Aperture
Ar5 = 3.5000
d5 = 0.280000
Ar6 = 9.526
d6 = 0.550000
8.754023
Ar7 = 3.500000
d7 = 6.350000
−3.91996
Ar8 = 3.500000
d8 = 0.450000
−4.389902
Ar9 = 3.000000
d9 = 3.000000
−69.717470
Ar10 = 3.500000
d10 = 20.879000
Ar11 = 4.085
d11 = 6.6400
−90.422
Ar12 = 6.000000
d12 = 5.000000
−16.490875
Ar13 = 6.000000
d13 = 2.00000
Ar14 = 6.000000
d14 = 5.000000
−19.000000
Ar15 = 6.000000
d15 = 12.500000
Ar16 = 2.763278
Table 4 shows the coefficients characterizing the rotationally symmetric aspheric surfaces s2, s7, s8, and s9 of the specific imaging system of FIG. 2A as defined by equation
s2 −2.427960
−5.3906e−07
−5.1989e−09
2.8038e−11
s7 −2.799230
1.9656e−05
4.5561e−06
−3.9069e−06
−1.7903e−08
s8 −1.816998
5.9368e−06
−3.6825e−05
−5.7481e−06
7.1492e−07
s9 −2.113129
−0.000142
−3.3190e−05
−9.9715e−06
2.8898e−06
As is well known, the dimensions designated in Tables 1-4 can be scaled up or down. Furthermore, while the dimensions designated in Tables 1-4 pertain to one preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the components of the eye viewing device may bear relationships to one another that deviate from those listed in Tables 1 to 4. In developing guidelines for the manufacture of alternative embodiments of the eye viewing device having the general configuration shown in FIGS. 1A-2B, the inventors have found that it is advantageous to maintain certain dimensions of the system and relationships between certain components of the system within certain ranges. Specifically, with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, relationships described hereinbelow apply.
Referring to features of the illumination system, the inventors have found it advantageous to maintain the focal length of the condenser lens 20 between about 8 mm and 15 mm, and to maintain the magnification of the filament onto mirror between about 1 and 2. As has been explained with reference to FIG. 1E, internal glare is reduced by shaping the concave surface of objective lens 16 so that the concave surface is substantially centered about the center of aperture stop 32. The inventors have found the glare-reducing benefits of such a configuration are substantially yielded if the radius of the concave surface and the distance from the center of the aperture stop to the concave lens surface differ by approximately less than 10 percent. length of imaging lens 22 should be maintained between about 10 mm and 20 mm. The inventors have also found that imaging lens 22 preferably operates in a reduction mode with a magnification of between about 0.5 and about 0.9.
The optical elements described with reference to FIG. 2B herein may be housed in a housing such as a housing shown in one of the commonly assigned Design patent application Nos. 29/137,181; 29/137,172; and 29/137,182 all entitled �Eye Viewing Device� and filed Feb. 14, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.
Light source 14 in the embodiment of FIGS. 3A-3C should be positioned in a highly defocused position in relation to any image plane of the eye viewing device conjugate to a patient's retina 19 in an operative position in relation to be positioned in a highly defocused position in relation to any image plane of the eye viewing device conjugate to a patient's retina 19 in an operative position in relation to device 10. As shown in the imaging system diagrams of FIGS. 3A-3C, a highly defocused position for source 14 in relation to an image focal plane conjugate to a retina is provided by disposing source 14 intermediate retinal focal plane 26 and imaging lens 22. In general, source 14 becomes less in focus at any plane conjugate to and including eyepiece focal plane 28 as the source is moved toward imaging lens 22 and away from retinal focal plane 26. Preferably, source 14 is positioned as close as is physically possible to lens 22.
In other specific examples of eye viewing devices designed according to the general configuration described with reference to FIGS. 1A-1E and 3A-3C, the objective lens 16 may be provided by a lens system having a focal length of about 25 mm, and a back focal length of about one-half the focal length. The eye viewing device may be configured so that the lens surface closest to the patient in the objective lens system is positioned about 25 mm from a patient's cornea when in an operative position. The objective lens system accepts parallel or nearly parallel light from a patient's eye and focuses the light to an internal image located at or near the back focal plane 26 of the objective. The objective lens system may have a diameter of about 25 mm. Imaging lens 22, meanwhile, may be provided by a lens system having a focal length of about 25 mm, a back focal length of about 18 mm and a clear aperture of about 20 mm. The imaging lens may project an internal image from the objective focal plane 26 to eyepiece focal plane 28 at a magnification of about 0.6�. Eyepiece focal plane 28 may have an aperture of about 8 mm in diameter, corresponding to the focal plane diameter of a typical 20� eyepiece. The axial length from objective lens 16 to eyepiece focal plane 28 may be about 90 to 10 mm. In the illumination system described with reference to FIG. 3C, condenser lens 20 may be provided by a condenser system having a numerical aperture of about 0.2 to 0.4, working at a magnification of about 1� to 2�, with a focal length of about 9 mm. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1E, aperture stop 32 may be positioned substantially normal to axis 30 and approximately halfway between the most rearward point of light source 14 and the most forward point of imaging lens 22. Aperture stop 32 may have an aperture diameter of about 4.6 mm.
An embodiment of a viewing module similar to the viewing module 70 of FIG. 6D is shown in FIG. 6E. The viewing module of FIG. 6E includes all of the elements of viewing module 70 of FIG. 6D except that viewing module 72 includes a two-position mirror 82 in place of beam splitter 80 FIG. 6D. Two-position mirror 82 is moveable between two positions. In a first position, indicated by solid line 83 mirror is in a position such that a retinal image is formed at eyepiece focal plane 28. In a second position, indicated by dashed line 84, mirror 82 is in a position such that a retinal image is formed at image sensor 52. Mirror 82 may be hingely mounted within viewing module 72 as is indicated by pivot point 85. Mirror 82 may be adapted to be manually moveable between the first and second positions or else mirror 82 may be adapted to be movable by means of motor motion.
Further, it will be understood that any one of the electrically conductive lines described herein, e.g. lines 53, 55, 55 a, 55 b and 56 could be replaced with a wireless data communication link such as an IR link or an RF link including an RF line utilizing the �Blue Tooth� communication protocol.
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Reference summarizes data.* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8050745Aug 22, 2006Nov 1, 2011Doheny Eye InstituteMethods and systems for enhanced medical procedure visualizationUS8172834Sep 24, 2008May 8, 2012Doheny Eye InstitutePortable handheld illumination systemUS8210680Apr 24, 2009Jul 3, 2012University Of Southern CaliforniaOcular imaging systemWO2011042721A1 *Sep 30, 2010Apr 14, 2011Keeler LimitedImprovements in and relating to ophthalmic instrumentsWO2011042722A1 *Sep 30, 2010Apr 14, 2011Keeler LimitedImprovements in and relating to ophthalmic instruments* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification351/221, 351/240, 351/243, 351/200International ClassificationA61B3/13, A61B3/14, A61B3/12, A61B3/15, A61B3/02, A61B3/10Cooperative ClassificationA61B3/158, A61B3/156European ClassificationA61B3/15F5, A61B3/14B, A61B3/12, A61B3/13, A61B3/15FLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJun 27, 2011FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Dec 31, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: WELCH ALLYN, INC., NEW YORKFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:GOLDFAIN, ERVIN;ROBERTS, CHRIS R.;KRAUTER, ALLAN I.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:013324/0658;SIGNING DATES FROM 20010801 TO 20010820Sep 4, 2001ASAssignmentOwner name: WELCH ALLYN, INC., NEW YORKFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:GOLDFAIN, ERVIN;ROBERTS, CHRIS R.;KRAUTER, ALLAN I.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:012135/0553Effective date: 20010820RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services