Patent ID: 8210680

Claim:
An ocular imaging system for generating an image of one or more internal structures of a physiologically dilated (non-mydriatic) human eye, including the structure of the retina, the ocular imaging system comprising: imaging optics, comprising at least one optical element, that is configured to function at least in part as a lens and that is positioned and oriented to form a detectable optical image of the one or more internal structures of the eye, including the retina; a monochrome image sensor array configured to receive the detectable optical image from the imaging optics and convert it into an electronic image that is representative of the detectable optical image, the image sensor array having a resolution of at least 500 pixels either horizontally or vertically or both and a sensitivity of at least 0.001 lux; a tunable color filter within the optical path between the eye and the image sensor array, the tunable color filter being configured to allow the central wavelength of its optical bandpass and its dwell time to be controllably set; a tunable color filter control circuit configured to controllably set the central wavelength and dwell time of the tunable color filter; and an image processing circuit configured to generate a processed electronic image of the one or more internal structures of the eye, including the retina, in veridical color based on two or more electronic images produced by the image sensor array, whereby the image of one or more internal structures of the physiologically dilated (non-mydriatic) human eye, including the retina, has veridical color and is otherwise sufficiently accurate and clear to enable a physician or medical practitioner to diagnose and/or treat the one or more internal structures of the eye, including the retina, without chemical mydriasis (dilation of the pupil of the eye).