CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable.
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The field of the invention relates generally to systems and methods for providing screening eye examinations for patients. More specifically, the field of the invention relates to systems and methods for providing screening eye examinations wherein test results are taken at an examination site, transmitted to a remote site, and analyzed by a qualified person at the remote site, with examination results and recommendations for medical follow up being transmitted to the patient via a communication means.
2. Background Art Eye examinations typically occur in an ophthalmologist's office. A patient generally follows a series of steps to secure an ophthalmologic examination, the steps typically comprising contacting the ophthalmologist's office, setting an appointment at a future time and date, traveling to the ophthalmologist's office, waiting for the ophthalmologist to become available, sitting for the ophthalmologic examination, holding a discourse with the ophthalmologist, holding a discourse with office staff which may include making arrangements for paying for the examination and setting of future appointments, and returning from the ophthalmologist's office. The time required to secure an ophthalmologic examination may range up to several hours depending upon such factors as the distance to the ophthalmologist's office, the ophthalmologist office workload, unforeseen interruptions or emergencies and the like. The total completion time, from setting of appointment until the examination is completed, can take weeks or longer.
What is needed in the art, therefore, is an apparatus and/or method adapted to increasing the convenience of securing an ophthalmologic screening examination by, for example, reducing the time required for examination, integrating the opportunity for ophthalmologic examination into the activities and routines of daily life, and providing quick and easy follow up for future ophthalmologic care and treatment.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises an apparatus and method that have one or more of the following features and/or steps, which alone or in any combination may comprise patentable subject matter.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art in that it provides a method and apparatus for reducing the time required for eye examination, allowing for the integrating of ophthalmologic examination into the activities and routines of daily life, and providing quick and easy follow up for future ophthalmologic care and treatment.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the invention comprises an eye examination kiosk that may be placed in any area convenient to prospective patients. Such areas may include retail centers such as shopping malls; travel centers such as airports; schools; or any other building or facility. The eye examination kiosk may also be located on a mobile platform such as a motor vehicle or trailer such that it can be transported to any location convenient for prospective patients.
The eye examination kiosk may comprise an internal structure for attaching ophthalmologic examination devices. The internal structure may comprise a mechanical structure for attaching ophthalmologic examination devices and for rotating and/or translating the ophthalmologic examination devices into a position such that the ophthalmologic examination equipment may be used for ophthalmologic examination of a patient. The kiosk may also comprise an outer housing, shell, or cover, within which the internal structure and ophthalmologic examination equipment are contained. The kiosk outer shell may provide one or more openings adapted to allow a user to access the ophthalmologic examination equipment and for interacting with a kiosk management system by, for example, accessing a touch screen monitor or keyboard, and for viewing information displayed on a visual display that is a part of the kiosk management system. Eye examination results may be transmitted to a remote location where they may be read and interpreted by a qualified physician, who may transmit the examination findings to the patient, the patient's health care provider, or any other person designated by the patient. The eye examination results may include recommendations for follow up treatment and recommendations as to the identity of qualified physicians who practice in a location that is geographically near the patient, or who are specially qualified to treat a patient for a specific condition or medical indication.
The kiosk eye examination system may be a computer controlled system that executes non-transitory computer executable instructions stored in a physical non-transitory computer readable media for carrying out the method steps of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 depicts an exterior perspective view of an embodiment of the eye examination kiosk of the invention.
FIG. 2 depicts a top view of an embodiment of the eye examination kiosk of the invention.
FIG. 3 depicts a front orthogonal view of an embodiment of the eye examination kiosk of the invention.
FIG. 4 depicts a side orthogonal view of an embodiment of the eye examination kiosk of the invention.
FIG. 5 depicts an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the eye examination kiosk of the invention.
FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view, from above, of an embodiment of the invention in which eye examination equipment is mounted to a base plate. In this view, the outer shell of the invention is not shown.
FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view, from above, of an embodiment of the invention in which eye examination equipment is mounted to a base plate. In this view, the outer shell of the invention is not shown.
FIG. 8 depicts a side cross section view of an embodiment of the invention, in which eye examination equipment is mounted to a base plate that is disposed internal to the shell of the invention. In the embodiment depicted in this figure, the optical examination assembly is rotable in direction B about an axis A. In this figure, optional casters are depicted mounted onto a base plate of the invention. The relationship between the eye examination frame and the eye examination equipment is also depicted for the embodiment shown.
FIG. 9 depicts a top view of an embodiment of the invention in which eye examination equipment is mounted to a base plate. In this view, the kiosk outer shell is not shown. The base plate is rotable about axis A, which is determined by coordinate axes X and Y, and certain eye examination equipment is translatable as depicted arrows C, D, E and F.
FIG. 10 depicts the eye examination plane relative to an eye examination device, and to a patient, and showing for reference the typical patient contact points of the patient head locating structure of the invention.
FIGS. 11a and 11b depict orthogonal views of an embodiment of the three axis positioning assembly and rotary table, upon which is mounted the rotable table of the invention, which enables the controller of the invention to translate the rotable table, and thus the eye examination devices, in all three axes of an orthogonal coordinate action system, as well as rotate the rotable table, in order to position each eye examination device such that its predefined plane of examination is coincident with and coplanar with the kiosk plane of examination.
FIG. 12a depicts a partial block diagram of an embodiment of the eye examination kiosk of the invention, depicting the displays, computer readable media, security camera, keyboard, mouse, joystick, point-of-sale system and thermal printer in communication with the controller of the invention.
FIG. 12b depicts a partial block diagram of an embodiment of the eye examination kiosk of the invention, depicting eye examination devices, cameras, wireless transceiver and Ethernet connections in communication with the controller of the invention.
FIG. 12c depicts a partial block diagram of an embodiment of the eye examination kiosk of the invention depicting the three axis positioning and rotating system elements of the invention and communication with the controller.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram depicting the eye examination kiosk of the invention connected to a remote storage server computer via a network connection, which may be wired or wireless, and which may be the internet or world wide web. Also depicted is a remote eye examination report reviewing computer, or server, which may be utilized by a physician for remote reading of eye examination results. The remote eye examination report reviewing computer is connected to the remote storage server, patient, patient's physician, and kiosk via a data network which may be, for example, the Internet.
FIG. 14 depicts a flow diagram of the eye examination steps of an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 15 depicts a flow diagram of the remote reading of eye examination results according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram depicting an embodiment of the invention in which the eye examination results are made available to one or more, but preferably a plurality, of physicians, and wherein one of the physicians may select a particular eye examination result for reviewing. The reviewing physician may be located geographically remote from the kiosk.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following documentation provides a detailed description of the invention.
Although a detailed description as provided in the attachments contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not merely by the preferred examples or embodiments given.
As used herein, “memory”, “medium”, “media”, “computer readable memory”, “computer readable medium”, “computer readable media”, “storage media”, “computer readable storage media” and “computer readable storage medium” shall include within their meanings only physical non-transitory computer readable hardware, and such terms shall specifically exclude signals per se, carrier waves, propagating signals and other transitory signals. Such physical non-transitory computer readable media may comprise hardware memory that comprises a physical structure for storing data which may include computer executable instructions or data.
As used herein, “controller” shall include within its meeting any electronic device or combination of electronic devices or other electronic elements which is or are capable of executing non-transitory computer readable instructions. Such devices or elements may include microprocessors, microcontrollers, firmware controllers, field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic devices, or any other devices or systems known in the art capable of performing the above functions.
As used herein, “computer” and “server” shall include within their meanings any combination of electrical devices as is known in the art for inputting instructions to a controller and receiving information from a controller such as, for example, by means of a visual display such as a computer monitor. Include within the meaning of “computer” and “server” are controllers, input devices, transceivers for data connections and non-transitory computer readable media for the storage of computer executable instructions, all of which may be in communication with one another, such that the controller is able to read non-transitory computer readable and executable instructions, and to execute such instructions for the purposes of carrying out the objects, steps and functions of the invention.
The eye examination kiosk of the invention may comprise a rotable table upon which is mounted one or more eye examination devices. The rotable table may be enclosed within a kiosk outer shell, and may be supported by a kiosk base. The kiosk base may be mounted upon a kiosk floor plate. The kiosk floor plate may rest upon a floor surface or may be supported by optional casters which provide rolling engagement between the floor surface and the eye examination kiosk, allowing the kiosk of the invention to be rolled into a desired location and orientation. The kiosk outer shell may take any desired shape such as, for example, a portion of a parallelepiped, which may be a portion of a rectangular parallelepiped, but which, in a preferred embodiment, may be defined as a portion of a sphere. One such spherical portion embodiment, of many embodiments, is depicted in the figures. The eye examination devices may comprise any eye examination device, including but not limited to one or more of the following, in any combination: an auto-refractor, auto-keratometer, corneal topographer, fundus camera, external photo camera, perimeter, lensmeter, specular microscope, retinal and external eye imager, Optical Coherence Tomographer (OCT), and non-contact tonometer. While the figures of the drawings depict embodiments of the invention that comprise some of these instruments, in alternate embodiments of the invention any combination of these inventions, in any number, may be present. The examinations performed by the eye examination devices may occur in any order. The eye examination devices may be rotated in to examination position by rotation of the rotable table, which is in communication with a controller that controls the table rotation. A patient head locating structure may be utilized to locate a patient's head such the patient's eye is located at predefined plane of examination.
Referring now to FIG. 1, an exterior perspective view of eye examination kiosk 001 is depicted. Kiosk 001 may comprise a kiosk outer shell 100 supported by a kiosk base 101, which may be attached to a kiosk floor plate 102. The kiosk floor plate 102 may, but does not necessarily, comprise a plurality of caster assemblies 130. The optional caster assemblies 130 may comprise wheels, balls or other structures for providing a rolling engagement between the eye examination kiosk 001 and a surface upon which it rests. The eye examination kiosk 011 may comprise a first display 105a, a second display 105b (not shown in FIG. 1, but shown in FIG. 2) and a third display 104 each of which may be electronic displays such as, for example liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light emitting diode (LED) displays, plasma displays, cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, or any other displays known in the art. Displays 104, 105a and 105b are preferably electronic flat screen displays but may be any display, such as static, no-electronic signs. In the embodiments in which displays 104, 105a and 105b are electronic displays, they may each be in communication with a controller (not shown in FIG. 1) that provides display information to the displays. The display information may be any information, for example, advertisements, patient queues, eye-related or other health related information, or more specifically may be advertisements for services or products related to eye health, eye care, eye examination, corrective lenses, or other eye-related products or services. Furthermore, displays 104, 105a and 105b may also be touch screen displays for use by a patient or other person to provide input to the controller. Patient head locating structure 120 may pass through examination opening 121 in kiosk outer shell 100. Patient head locating structure 120 may comprise a chin rest and forehead rest, both features usable to positively locate a patient's head in a desired location such that the patient's eye is located at a predefined plane of examination. As the eye examination devices are rotated into an examination position, as described further herein, the plane of examination is defined to be a plane that is located a predefined distance from an eye examination device as required for a specific eye examination device to perform a desired eye examination of a patient. Keyboard 111, mouse 112 and joystick 114 may reside on a keyboard shelf 110 for use by a user, which may be a patient or examination assistant. Keyboard 111, mouse 112, joystick 114 and other computer input and output devices, may be in communication with the controller of the invention and may be used by a patient, examination assistant, or other person to provide input signals to the controller to command the controller to carry out the steps and functions of the invention.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a top view of an embodiment of eye examination kiosk 001 of the invention is depicted. Kiosk outer shell 100 may comprise a kiosk rear surface 103, which may be useful for locating the kiosk against a wall or other vertical flat surface when in operation or storage. Optional casters 130 are shown for reference. Displays 104, 105a and 105b, and keyboard 111, keyboard shelf 110, joystick 114 and mouse 112 are also shown for reference.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a front orthogonal view of an embodiment of eye examination kiosk 001 is depicted. Eye examination kiosk 001 may be supported by optional casters 130 which are attached to floor plate 102 and which may be in a rolling engagement with floor or other surface 002. Kiosk outer shell 100, displays 105a, 105b and 104 and patient head locating structure 120 and examination opening 121 are all shown for reference. Kiosk base 101, having base side surfaces 101a and 101b, supports kiosk outer shell 100, and kiosk base is supported by floor plate 102. Keyboard shelf 110 is shown for reference.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a side orthogonal view of an embodiment of eye examination kiosk 001 is depicted. Eye exam kiosk 001 maybe supported by optional casters 130 which are attached to floor plate 102 and which may be in rolling engagement with floor or other surface 002. Kiosk 001 may extend upward from supporting surface 002 to any dimension H desired; however, in an embodiment, H may be a maximum of 75 inches. Kiosk 001 may extend outward from rear surface 103 to any dimension W desired; however, in an embodiment, W may be a maximum of 57 inches. Recess area 106, which is formed in kiosk outer shell 100, allows a patient or other user close access to patient head locating structure 120 and also to keyboard 111 (not shown), keyboard shelf 110, joystick 104 (not shown) and mouse 112 (not shown) in order to allow such persons to easily use the features of the eye examination kiosk and method as defined herein. Kiosk side surface 101a is shown supported either directly or indirectly by floor plate 102.
Referring now to FIG. 5, an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of eye examination kiosk 001 is depicted. Kiosk outer shell 100 (as depicted in FIGS. 1-4) may comprise a plurality of kiosk outer shell elements 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, and 100e that, when assembled together using known mechanical assembly means such as threaded fasteners, rivets, complementary locking structures, chemical bonding or any other known means for mechanical assembly, they together form at least a portion of kiosk outer shell 100 (an embodiment of kiosk outer shell is depicted in FIGS. 1-4). A rear cover structure comprising kiosk rear surface 103 and base side surfaces 101a and 101b may be attached to supporting structure 107, and may, together with kiosk outer shell elements 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, and 100e form a portion of outer shell 100 (as depicted in FIGS. 1-4). Eye examination devices 200, 201, 202, 203, and 207 may each be attached to rotable table 108. First display 105a may be attached to kiosk outer shell element 100c, and second display 105b may be attached to kiosk outer shell element 100b. Third display 104 may be mounted to kiosk outer shell element 100d. Keyboard shelf 110, which may support keyboard 111, mouse 112, and joystick 114, maybe attached to, or form a part of, outer shell element 100d. Kiosk outer shell element 100e may comprise examination opening 121 (not shown in FIG. 5), and patient head locating structure 120 may be attached to kiosk outer shell element 100e. Support structure 107 may be attached to an upper surface of floor plate 102. Optional casters 130 are shown for reference.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, perspective views, from above, of an embodiment of the invention in which eye examination equipment is mounted to a base plate is depicted. In these figures, the outer shell 100 of the invention is not shown. A plurality of eye examination devices 200, 201, 202, 203, and 207 are attached, or mounted, to an upper surface of rotable table 108. In an embodiment, center post 109 is disposed such that its vertical axis is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface created by the upper surface of rotable table 108. While it is not necessary that center post 109 be disposed such that its vertical axis is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface created by rotable table 108, this is a possible orientation. Center post 109 may comprise features to assist in routing cables that pass between the electrical components of the invention. Linear actuators 208a and 208b are attached to examination devices 201 and 202 respectively and are adapted such that, when actuated, they operate to translate eye examination devices 201 and 202 as is further depicted by arrows C and F for eye examination device 202 and arrows D and E for eye examination device 201 in FIG. 9. Linear actuators 208a and 208b may be in communication with, and controlled by, a controller (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) using input signals from joystick 104 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 but shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and other figures), which may be in communication with the controller (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). Camera 301 may be mounted onto a surface of any supporting structure adapted such that the field of view of camera 301 captures a visual display of examination device 202. Camera 301 may be in communication with display 104 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 but shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and other figures) either directly or indirectly, such as, for example, through the controller (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7), such that the video captured by camera 301, which comprises a video signal containing the image displayed on the visual display of items in eye examination device 202, is displayed on display 104 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 but shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and other figures). Likewise, camera 300 may be mounted onto a surface of any supporting structure adapted such that the field of view of camera 300 captures a visual display of examination device 201. Camera 300 may be in communication with display 104 either directly or indirectly, such as, for example, through the controller, such that the video captured by camera 300, which comprises a video signal containing the image displayed on the visual display of items in the eye examination device 200, is displayed on display 104 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 but shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and other figures). Eye examination opening cover 204 may be attached to the upper surface of rotable table 108 by supports 205a and 205b. Eye examination opening cover may be disposed in such a manner as to cover 204 eye examination opening 121 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 but shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and other figures) when rotable table 108 is rotated into such a position that eye examination opening cover 204 is disposed so as to cover eye examination opening 121 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 but shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and other figures). Thus, when eye examination kiosk 001 is not in use, the eye examination opening 121 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 but shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and other figures) may be covered and the equipment inside protected.
Referring now to FIG. 8, a side cross section view of an embodiment of eye examination kiosk 001 in which eye examination devices 200, 201, 202, and 207 are mounted to rotable table 108 that is disposed internal to shell 100, is depicted. Kiosk 001 may comprise kiosk outer shell 100 supported by kiosk base 101. In this embodiment, rotable table 108 is rotable in direction B about axis A. Optional casters 130 are depicted mounted onto floor plate 102, and are in a rolling engagement with supporting surface 002 which may be for example the surface of the floor. In FIG. 8, rotable table 108 has been rotated into a position in which eye examination device 207 is in position to perform an eye examination when a patient's head is oriented by patient head locating structure 120 such the patient's eye is located at predefined plane of examination for eye examination device 207. Head locating structure 120 may be attached to outer shell 100 or to any other structure that does not rotate with rotable table 108 such as, for example, a system of brackets or other structure internal to shell, and may be fitted partially within examination opening 121. The rotation of rotable table 108 is such that any of eye examination devices are 200, 201, 202, and 207 rotated into a predefined position in order to perform an eye examination on a patient. Such rotation may be controlled by the controller (not shown in FIG. 8) either automatically or using instructions from the kiosk operator input into the controller using keyboard 111 (not shown in FIG. 8), joystick 114 (not shown in FIG. 8), mouse 112 (not shown in FIG. 8) or any other input device attached to the controller. For instance, in an embodiment, a microphone may be attached to the controller so that the kiosk operator may speak voice commands into the microphone which may be interpreted by the controller in order to carry out steps and functions of the invention.
Referring now to FIG. 9, a top view of an embodiment of the invention in which eye examination devices 200, 201, 202, 203, and 207 are mounted to rotable table 108 is depicted. In this view, kiosk outer shell 100 is not shown. Center post 109 is disposed such that its vertical axis is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface created by the upper surface of rotable table 108. Linear actuators 208a and 208b are attached to examination devices 201 and 202 respectively and are adapted such that, when actuated, they operate to translate eye examination devices 201 and 202 as is further depicted by arrows C and F for eye examination device 202 and arrows D and E for eye examination device 201 in FIG. 9. Linear actuators 208a and 208b may be in communication with, and controlled by, a controller (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) using input signals from joystick 104 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 but shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and other figures), which may be in communication with the controller (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). Camera 301 may be mounted onto a surface of any supporting structure adapted such that the field of view of camera 301 captures a visual display of examination device 202. Camera 301 may be in communication with display 104 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 but shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and other figures) either directly or indirectly, such as, for example, through the controller (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7), such that the video captured by camera 301, which comprises a video signal containing the image displayed on the visual display of items in eye examination device 202, is displayed on display 104 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 but shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and other figures). Likewise, camera 300 may be mounted onto a surface of any supporting structure adapted such that the field of view of camera 300 captures a visual display of examination device 201. Camera 300 may be in communication with display 104 either directly or indirectly, such as, for example, through the controller, such that the video captured by camera 300, which comprises a video signal containing the image displayed on the visual display of items in the eye examination device 200, is displayed on display 104 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 but shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and other figures). Rotable table 108 is rotable about axis A, which is determined by coordinate axes X and Y, and eye examination devices 201 and 202 may be translatable as depicted by arrows C, D, E and F and as commanded by the controller (not shown in FIG. 9) using input signals from the kiosk operator automatically or by instructions from the kiosk operator input into the controller (not shown in FIG. 9) using keyboard 111 (not shown in FIG. 9), joystick 114 (not shown in FIG. 9), mouse 112 (not shown in FIG. 9) or any other input device attached to the controller (not shown in FIG. 9). Eye examination cover 204 is attached to and supported by supports 205a and 205b which are attached to the upper surface of routable table 108.
Referring now to FIG. 10, the kiosk eye examination plane relative to eye examination device T, and to patient 003, is depicted; and also shown for reference are typical patient contact points R and S of the patient head locating structure of the invention. Kiosk eye examination plane Q is a plane that passes through the cornea of the eye of patient 003. Eye examination device T, which may be any eye examination device, is in position to perform an eye examination on patient 003 when it is located a predefined distance P from kiosk eye examination plane Q. Rotable table 108 (not shown in FIG. 10), the three axis positioning system, and, in some cases, linear actuators such as linear actuators 208a (not shown in FIGS. 10) and 208b (not shown in FIG. 10), operate to position eye examination device T at predefined position P from eye examination plane Q so that proper eye examination can take place. Predefined distance P may be specific to each particular eye examination device T. Patient head locating structure 120 (not shown in FIG. 10) may comprise surfaces contacting patient 003's forehead at area R, and also contacting patient 003's chin at area S, thus locating patient 003's head so that patient 003's cornea is located on kiosk eye examination plane Q. In this manner patient 003's cornea is located at predefined distance P from eye examination device T so that examination may take place.
Referring now to FIGS. 11a and 11b, orthogonal views of the three axis positioning assembly and controllable rotary table 351, upon which rotable table 108 is mounted, are depicted. Three axis positioning assembly enables a controller (not shown in FIGS. 11a and 11b) to translate rotable table 108, and thus eye examination devices 200, 201, 202, and 207 (not shown in FIGS. 11a and 11b), in all three axes of an orthogonal coordinate axis system, as well as rotate rotable table 108, in order to position each eye examination device such that its predefined plane of examination is coincident with and coplanar with the kiosk plane of examination. The three axis positioning assembly is comprised of three controllable slides, which may be any controllable slide assembly, linear actuator, or other device capable of being controlled to translate in a direction depicted as items 352, 353, and 354, which are each independently in communication with the controller (not shown in FIGS. 11a and 11b) such that they may independently be commanded to translate, creating a controllable three axis positioning system. Controllable slide 354 is controllable to translate in the direction of arrows Z that may be parallel with axis A, which forms the axis of rotation of controllable rotary table 351. Controllable rotary table 351 is in communication with the controller of the invention so that it may be commanded to rotate into any desired angular position for angularly indexing or rotating rotable table 108. Controllable slide 353 is controllable to translate in the direction of axis Y (not shown in FIG. 11 but shown in FIG. 9). Controllable slide 352 is controllable to translate in the direction of axis X, which is depicted in FIG. 11a and also in FIG. 9. Controllable slide 354 may be attached to the upper surface of floor plate 102 by a bracket such as the one depicted as item 359. Controllable slide 353 may be attached to controllable slide 354 by a bracket such as the one depicted as item 358. Controllable slide 352 may be attached to controllable slide 353 by an intermediate plate or other structure affected as item 357. Likewise, controllable rotary table 351 may be attached to controllable slide 352 via an intermediate plate or other structure such as the one depicted as item 356. Rotary table 108 may be attached to a rotating surface of rotary table 351. Axes X, Y, and Z may form an orthogonal three axis positioning system. Thus a three axis positioning system is formed by controllable slide 352, 353, and 354, and rotation about axis A is provided by controllable rotary table 351. The slides may be any type of controllable mechanical assembly that is controllable to provide liner translation of one surface relative to another surface. The slides may, in an embodiment, comprise screws such as screw 660 that are rotated within a female threaded receiver to achieve linear translation.
Referring now to FIG. 12a, a partial block diagram of the eye examination kiosk of the invention, depicting the display 105a, computer readable media 701, security camera 705, keyboard 111, mouse 112, joystick 114, point-of-sale system 710 and thermal printer 711 in communication with controller 700, is depicted. Controller 700 may be in communication with computer readable media 701, which may be a computer memory device or plurality of devices, which comprises non-transitory computer readable and executable instructions which, when read and executed by controller 700, perform the steps and functions of the invention. Controller 700 is also in communication with displays 105a and 105b which may be used, for example, to display advertising and other messaging so as to be visible to persons who are in proximity to the eye examination kiosk of the invention. Controller 700 may also be in communication with point of sale terminal 710 and thermal printer 711 which may be used to receive payment from patients or other persons and to print receipts. Such payments may be transacted, for example, by a patient's use of a credit card or debit card, or other similar readable device, capable of transmitting payment authorization as may be required to pay for services provided by the eye examination kiosk of the invention. Controller 700 may also be in communication with display 104 which may be, for example, a flat screen display of any type or maybe a touch screen capable of receiving input from a user. Display 140 may also be utilized for displaying any information, video, or other images to a viewer or other person. Controller 700 may also be in communication with keyboard 111, mouse 112, and/or joystick 114 all of which may be used by a patient, kiosk operator, or other person to control the steps and functions of the eye examination kiosk and method of the invention. Controller 700 may also be in communication with security camera 705 which may be disposed inside the kiosk outer shell or made be disposed on outer surface of the kiosk outer shell or other surface so as to provide video information to a remote viewer through the kiosk network connection, or maybe used to capture video which is recorded in computer readable media 701 or other storage media as may be known in the art.
Referring now to FIG. 12b, a partial block diagram of the eye examination kiosk of the invention, depicting eye examination devices 201 and 202, cameras 300 and 301, wireless transceiver 720 and Ethernet or other wired data connections in communication with controller 700, is depicted. Controller 700 is in communication with eye examination devices 201, 202, 207, and 200. Eye examination devices 201 and 202 may comprise visual displays 201a and 202a which may be intended to provide information to a user, such as an eye examination operator. Cameras 300 and 301 may capture video images of visual displays 201a and 202a, respectively, and transmit these video images to controller 700 which may in turn display the video images on display 104 (not shown in FIG. 12b) or may transmit them to a remote server via the data network connection shown in FIG. 13. Controller 700 may also be in communication with wireless transceiver 720 which may in turn be in communication with antenna 721, enabling wireless RF communication between controller 700 and a data network as further depicted in FIG. 13. In this manner, the eye examination kiosk of the invention may be in wireless data communication with the Internet or World Wide Web as further described below. Controller 700 by also be in wired communication with an exterior data network via an Ethernet or other wired data connection. Thus controller 700 may be in communication with the Internet, World Wide Web, or other data network via a wired connection.
Referring now to FIG. 12c, a partial block diagram of the eye examination kiosk of the invention depicting the three axis positioning and rotating system elements of the invention and communication with controller 700, is depicted. Controller 700 is in communication with rotary table 351, actuators or slides 352, 353, and 354 all of which together form a three axis positioning system with rotation. Controller 700 is also in communication with actuator 208a and actuator 208b for controlling translation of eye examination devices 201 and 202 (not shown in FIG. 12c).
Referring now to FIG. 13, a block diagram depicting eye examination kiosk 001 connected to remote storage server computer 011 via network connection 020, which may be wired or wireless, and which may be the Internet or World Wide Web, is depicted. Also depicted is remote eye examination report reviewing computer 010 which may be utilized by a physician for remote reading of eye examination results or reports. Remote eye examination report reviewing computer 010 is connected to remote storage server 011, patient, patient's physician, and kiosk 001 via data network 005 which may be, for example, the Internet. Remote eye examination report reviewing computer 010 is in communication with data network 005 via connection 021. Likewise, patient node 012 which may be an electronic device capable of communicating via a data network such as a smart phone, computer, tablet, or any other electronic device, may be in communication with data network 005 through connection 023 such that a remote reviewing physician utilizing a remote reviewer server 010 may communicate eye examination results, diagnoses, and suggestions for follow-up treatment to patient 003. Still further, a remote reviewing physician may transmit this information to predesignated patient physician node 013, which may be for example, a computer, tablet or other electronic device, such that the patient's physician or other patient-designated person or entity may also receive eye examination results, suggestions for follow-up treatment, or the like. Patient physician node 013 is in communication with data network 005 via connection 024. Patient eye examination results, remote physician results, diagnoses, suggestions for follow-up treatment, payment information and any other information related to the eye examination of a patient may be stored in remote storage server 011 which is in communication with data network 005 by connection 022. This information may be retrieved by any user of the system who has authorization through data network 005 and connection 022. Any of the data network connections 020, 021, 022, 023, or 024 may be wired or wireless, serial or parallel, or any other data connection type known in the art. Data network 005 may be any data network, including but not limited to the Internet or World Wide Web.
Referring now to FIG. 14, a flow diagram of an embodiment of the eye examination steps of the invention is depicted. Elements of FIGS. 1-13 are also referred to in describing the eye examination steps. In first step 500, the eye examination process is initiated. This may occur by a patient approaching the eye examination kiosk of the invention and providing patient identification information, past medical history, current symptoms or other medical information, and making payment using, for example, point-of-sale system 710. The inputting of this information may be automated by sequential display of prompts on display 104, or may be assisted by a kiosk operator. The information may be inputted to controller 700 by the patients or operators use of keyboard 111, mouse 112, joystick 114, or in the case in which display 104 is a touchscreen, by utilizing the touchscreen features of display 104. The patient may also input to controller 700 the identification of the patient's current medical providers, if any. The information thus provided by the patient may be transmitted to remote storage server 011 via data connection 020, data networks 005 and data connection 022. In the second step 501, the patient may place his/her head in patient head locating structure 120 such that the patient's cornea is located at kiosk eye examination plane Q. In the third step 502, a kiosk operator may determine which eye examination device is desired to be used for an eye examination of patient 003 and may command controller 700 to rotate rotable table 108 and to translate rotable table 108 using the three axis positioning system of the invention such that the desired eye examination device is disposed so that its plane of examination is coplanar with kiosk eye examination plane Q allowing eye examination to begin. In the fourth step 503, the kiosk operator may command controller 700 to issue an initiate command to the eye examination device such that an eye examination is initiated. In the fifth step 504, after the eye examination has concluded, the eye examination results may be transmitted to remote storage server 011 for later retrieval and review by a remote physician operating remote reviewer server 010. In a sixth step 505, a determination is made as to whether further eye examination is required. If no further eye examination is required, the eye examination procedure is terminated, and the patient may wait to be contacted by the remote reviewing physician, or by the patient's own physician who was previously identified during the initial step in which the patient provided this information. If further eye examination is required, steps 501 through 504, or steps 502 through 504, are repeated until all eye examinations have been completed.
Referring now to FIG. 15, a flow diagram of an embodiment of the remote reading of eye examination results is depicted. Once an eye examination has taken place as described relative to FIG. 14, the eye examination results are transmitted to remote storage server 011 via connections 020, 022 and data network 005 which may be, for example, the Internet. Thus, in the first step 600, the eye examination results are received and stored at remote storage server 011. A remote physician may utilize remote reviewer server 010, data connection 021, data networks 005, and data connection 022 to retrieve the eye examination results for particular patient 003. Once the eye examination results have been retrieved they may be reviewed in step 601 by the remote physician. The remote physician may then generate information useful to the patient and to the patient's physician such as an eye examination report with findings, suggestions for follow-up, and identification of appropriate physicians in the local community in which the patient resides if, for example, the patient has not indicated that they currently have a physician. This information may be transmitted in step 603 to the patient and/or the patient's designated recipient who may be any person, but is preferably the patient's physician. If the eye examination report recommends follow-up treatment step 604, the patient follows up either with a suggested medical provider or with their own physician as appropriate.
Referring now to FIG. 16, a description of one embodiment of the invention in which the eye examination results are made available to a plurality of physicians 031a, 031b, through 031n, where “n” can be any number of physicians, and wherein one of the plurality of physicians may select a particular eye examination results for reading, is depicted. In this embodiment of the invention, the remote reading, analysis, interpretation of eye examination results, and the generation of suggestions for follow up treatment or care may be performed by any one of a plurality of physicians 031a-031n, each of whom may log into the system remotely for the purpose of reading eye examination results by communicating with executive manager 800 over one of network connections 030a through 030n, data network 005, and network connection 032. Executive manager 800 may keep a first list comprising a current listing of eye examination results that have not been read or reviewed by a physician (“unread examination results”). Executive manager 800 is in communication with data network 005 via network connection 032, and data network 005 may in turn be in communication with a plurality of eye examination kiosks 001a, 001b through 001m, where “m” can be any number. Executive manager 800 may also have a second list comprising a listing of the identities of physicians who are available to read eye examination results (“currently available physicians”). Any physician 031i who wishes to have his/her name included in the list of currently available physicians may notify executive manager 800 that he/she is available by transmitting a signal containing a first predetermined data field to executive manager 800. Likewise, any physician 031i who is listed by executive manager 800 as being a currently available physician may make himself unavailable by transmitting a signal containing a second predetermined data field to executive manager 800. Each currently available physician may log into a communication portal, which may for example be a password protected internet-connected web site, and which is in communication with executive manager 800. In an embodiment, the logging in of a physician into the communication portal may be an event that causes executive manager 800 to designate that physician as a currently available physician, and the logging out of a currently available physician may be an event that causes executive manager 800 to designate that physician as currently unavailable. Any of data network connections 020a-020n, 032, or 030a-030n may be wired or wireless, serial or parallel, or any other data connection type known in the art.
Still referring to FIG. 16, once a currently available physician has logged into the communication portal, executive manager 800 may cause the current listing of unread examination results to be transmitted to a currently available physician's electronic device 801a, 801b through 801n whereupon the current listing of unread examination results may be displayed upon the display of the electronic device 801i for review by the currently available physician 031i. The currently available physician 031i may then select an unread examination result for reading, analysis, and generation of recommendations for follow up treatment. Once selected, the unread examination is removed from the unread examination list. The unread examination list presented to a currently available physician may be organized and presented in any order, such as, for example, “first in-first out” or any other order as may be desired. Upon selection of an unread examination result for reading, analysis, and generation of recommendations for follow up treatment, the physician's electronic device 801i may transmit a message to executive manager 800, causing the unread examination result to be transmitted to the electronic device 081i of the physician and to be displayed upon the electronic display of electronic device 081i. The currently available physician 031i may then read the downloaded eye examination results, generate a report, and transmit the report to executive manager 800. Executive manager 800 may then cause the report to be transmitted to the patient and to any person or entity the patient has designated, including but not limited to the patient's personal physician. The system of the invention may comprise any number of currently available physicians 031i, and it may comprise any number of kiosks 001i. Because the currently available physicians and the kiosks are in communication with executive manager 800 through network connections 030a-030n and 020a-020n, and data network 005, the currently available physicians 031i and the kiosks 001i may be geographically located anywhere, and thus need not be co-located, as long as communication with data network 005 is maintained.
In still a further embodiment of the invention, eye examinations in which photographs or other images of the eye are taken such the eye examination results comprise such imagery, the analyses of the images may be performed automatically by the system of the invention. Such automatic analyses may be carried out by a controller executing non-transitory computer executable instructions for identifying pre-defined image features that may indicate medical or other conditions of which the patient should be made aware, or which may indicate further follow up medical care and treatment by a physician. The non-transitory computer executable instructions may be stored in a computer readable media that is in communication with the controller. The controller may be any controller that is in communication with remote storage server 010 (FIG. 13), and may therefore be geographically located anywhere. The automatic image analyses may be transmitted to a physician for inclusion in the reviewing physician's report, or may be transmitted directly to the patient or to the patient's personal physician. Using this automatic reading function, certain eye examinations may be carried out immediately upon completion of the kiosk eye examination, and may be transmitted to the patient within a short time of the examination.
