Including Illuminator Patents (Class 351/221)
  • Patent number: 9157726
    Abstract: An optical coherence tomographic imaging apparatus including a planar image obtaining unit configured to obtain a planar image of a subject based on a return beam from the subject irradiated by the irradiation unit that irradiates the subject with light of a first wavelength band, a tomographic image obtaining unit configured to obtain a tomographic image of the subject based on a beam in which a return beam from the subject irradiated with the laser beam emitted while sweeping a second wavelength range which is longer than the first wavelength band and a reference beam corresponding to the laser beam are combined, and a correction unit configured to correct an optical path length difference generated due to a difference between the first wavelength band and the second wavelength band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Makihira, Yoshihiko Iwase, Kazuhide Miyata, Makoto Sato, Kazuro Yamada, Ritsuya Tomita, Daisuke Kibe, Hiroyuki Shinbata
  • Patent number: 9149185
    Abstract: A vision testing device includes a hood having an interior space defining a first side and a second side. A first electronic device is operable to project a first image to the first side and a second electronic device is operable to project a second image to the second side. The first image and the second image comprise computer-generated images. A mirror extends from the first side to the second side and is positioned to reflect the first image and the second image. A first viewing lens is in optical communication with the first side and is configured to receive the first image reflected from the mirror. A second viewing lens is in optical communication with the second side and is configured to receive the second image reflected from the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Vision Assessment Corporation
    Inventor: Kent Tabor
  • Patent number: 9149182
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an optical coherence tomography instrument comprises an eyepiece for receiving at least one eye of a user is provided; a light source that outputs light that is directed through the eyepiece into the user's eye; an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user's eye; an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference; and electronics coupled to the detector. The electronics can be configured to perform a risk assessment analysis based on optical coherence tomography measurements obtained using the interferometer. An output device can be electrically coupled to the electronics, and may be configured to output the risk assessment to the user through the output device. The optical coherence tomography instrument can be self-administered, and the eyepiece can be a monocular system or a binocular system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute
    Inventors: Alexander C. Walsh, Paul G. Updike, Srinivas R. Sadda
  • Patent number: 9125599
    Abstract: The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for eye imaging and, more particularly, for balancing illuminations in eye imaging. An asymmetric illumination method to compensate for the imbalance illumination caused by nose reflection is described. In one embodiment, a method for balancing illuminations in eye imaging comprises generating one or more eye images, using the images to detect the imbalance illuminations from the nasal sclera and temporal sclera with the selected region of interest. In another embodiment, a system for balancing illuminations in eye imaging uses the detected imbalance illumination ratio of nasal/temporal sclera as the signal for adjusting the brightness of the infrared LEDs for asymmetric illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: AMO DEVELOPMENT, LLC
    Inventor: Li Chen
  • Patent number: 9115974
    Abstract: A motion-compensated optical coherence tomography system includes an optical coherence tomography sensor that includes a common-path optical fiber having an end for emitting light, reflecting reference light and receiving returned light for detection; a motion-compensation system attached to the common-path optical fiber and operable to move at least a portion of the optical fiber so as to compensate for motion between the end of the common-path optical fiber and an object being imaged; and a feedback control system configured to communicate with the optical coherence tomography sensor and the motion-compensation system. The feedback control system is configured to receive information concerning a measured distance of the end of the common-path optical fiber from the object and provide instructions to the motion-compensation system to decrease an amount of deviation of the measured distance from a desired distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Jin U. Kang, Yong Huang
  • Patent number: 9084564
    Abstract: A system for determining the surface shape of the cornea of an eye by analyzing the reflection of a spatially distributed ring pattern. The system includes an element for generating a ring pattern, an illuminating unit, an image capturing unit, and a control and analyzing unit. The element for generating rings is a fresneled axicon with annular structures of different radii. Furthermore, an optical element for illuminating the entire surface of the fresneled axicon with plane waves and an optical element for separating the illuminating and detecting beam path are arranged between the illuminating unit and the fresneled axicon. Furthermore, the image capturing unit consisting of an imaging system and an image sensor is designed for a telecentric distance-independent image detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Daniel Bublitz, Günter Rudolph, Martin Hacker, Tobias Bühren, Roland Bergner, Burkhard Wagner, Rico Fuchs
  • Patent number: 9078599
    Abstract: An imager (4) which may comprise a body (10) and an image sensor (20) housed within the body wherein the body may be releasably operably coupleable to a module (6), the module having an optical aperture (54) extending therethrough that aligns with the image sensor when operably coupled to the body to form an imaging channel wherein the sensor is operable to image a subject within an optical axis X of the imaging channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Tagus Ventures, LLC
    Inventors: Kanagasingam Yogesan, Carl Darius Blair, Noam Allon, Shari Eisenberg
  • Patent number: 9078603
    Abstract: The present invention provides a scanning ophthalmoscope for scanning the retina of an eye and a method of scanning the retina of an eye. The ophthalmoscope (10) comprises a source of collimated light (12), a first scanning element (14), a second scanning element (16) and a scan relay device (18) having two foci (18a, 18b). The source of collimated light (12), the first and second scanning elements (14, 16) and the scan relay device (18) combine to provide a two-dimensional collimated light scan (21) from an apparent point source (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: OPTOS PLC
    Inventors: Martin Thomson, Derek Swan, Daniel Gray, Stephen Pemberton
  • Patent number: 9078732
    Abstract: An ophthalmological laser system for photodisruptive irradiation of ocular tissue, including a crystalline lens or a cornea. The system includes an ultra-short pulse laser, the radiation of which is focusable as illumination light via an illumination beam path including a scanner unit and focusing optics. A control unit is programmed to execute determining irradiation control data for photodisruptions at irradiation points in an interior of the ocular tissue distributed three-dimensionally and non-equidistantly to create at least one predetermined target incision. The laser system then irradiates the ocular tissue according to the determined irradiation control data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Manfred Dick, Matthias Reich, Dieter Grebner
  • Patent number: 9072424
    Abstract: To avoid, with a simple configuration and easy scanning, blocking of illumination light due to an eyelash or an eyelid of a subject, provided is an ophthalmologic apparatus, including: an optical system for scanning illumination light on an eye to be inspected in an up and down direction; a fixation target indicating unit for indicating a fixation target to the eye to be inspected at a selected position; a deflecting unit for changing an angle of the scanning for the eye to be inspected in a downward direction; and a fixation position shifting unit for shifting an indication position of the fixation target in a downward direction in accordance with the changed angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Numajiri
  • Patent number: 9066683
    Abstract: A module for use with a mobile device to measure an aberration of a patient's eye includes a light shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a light source. The light shaft includes a first plurality of optical components arranged to direct light along a first light path from the light source to the proximal end, and a second plurality of optical components arranged to direct light along a second light path from the proximal end to a light detector of the mobile device. A connector at the distal end includes at least one guide component for positioning the distal end adjacent to the light detector. When the distal end is positioned adjacent to the light detector, the first plurality of optical components directs light along the first light path and the second plurality of optical components directs light along the second light path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Smart Vision Labs
    Inventor: Yaopeng Zhou
  • Patent number: 9063002
    Abstract: Hybrid sensors comprising Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Sensor (S-HWFS) and Zernike Wavefront Sensor (Z-WFS) capabilities are presented. The hybrid sensor includes a Z-WFS optically arranged in-line with a S-HWFS such that the combined wavefront sensor operates across a wide dynamic range and noise conditions. The Z-WFS may include the ability to introduce a dynamic phase shift in both transmissive and reflective modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: James Kent Wallace
  • Patent number: 9044168
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus includes an aberration measurement unit configured to measure aberration caused by a subject's eye, a correction unit configured to correct aberration of return light from the subject's eye of measurement light applied to the subject's eye caused by the subject's eye based on the aberration measured by the aberration measurement unit, a storage unit configured to store a plurality of combinations of frame rates for obtaining an image of the subject's eye with a number of pixels of the obtained image according to values of the frame rates, and an obtaining unit configured to obtain the image based on the frame rate and the number of pixels in one combination among the plurality of combinations using aberration-corrected return light from the subject's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Yuasa
  • Patent number: 9039175
    Abstract: An optical coherence eye-fundus tomography device has a high resolution and a good operability, as well as be miniaturized and be produced at a low cost. The optical coherence eye-fundus tomography device includes: a light source unit which emits a source light beam; a reference-light unit which reflects a reference light beam; an inspection unit which illuminates an object with an object scanning light beam, reflected the object scanning light beam; and a detection unit which obtains a tomographic image of the object on the basis of the interference light beam produced by interfering the reflected reference light beam with the reflected object light beam. For example, the light source unit emits the outgoing light beam that has a depth of focus of not less than 300 ?m, and resolution that is 6 ?m×6 ?m or higher in a planar direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of the outgoing light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: UTSUNOMIYA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Toyohiko Yatagai, Cense J. Abraham
  • Patent number: 9039177
    Abstract: An eye image and video capture system (100) that includes at least one user interface from which a user may select one of a plurality of regions of an eye to image, each of the plurality of regions preferably having at least one correlated preset value for the light control components of the optics assembly and/or at least one correlated preset value for controlling the camera. A method associated with the eye image and video capture system. A slit lamp data detection system in which the slit lamp (200) preferably has a movable component that preferably has a direct relation to desired data. The slit lamp data detection system may be a slit lamp magnification data detection system for detecting magnification data. The slit lamp data detection system may be a slit lamp position data detection system for detecting position data that indicates which eye is being examined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: EYE PHOTO SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy Graziano, Martin Waugh
  • Publication number: 20150138507
    Abstract: A supercontinuum light source comprising an intermediate supercontinuum light source and a single mode coupling unit, an optical measurement system comprising such light source, as well as a method of measuring are described. The supercontinuum light source comprises a pulse frequency multiplier to increase the repetition rate and the single mode coupling unit is arranged to dampen and shape the spectrum from the intermediate supercontinuum light source to allow measurements with a reduced noise floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Carsten L. Thomsen, Thomas Vestergaard Andersen, Thomas Feuchter
  • Patent number: 9033506
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for recording a depth profile of a biological tissue, in particular a frontal eye section of a human eye, according to the principle of optical coherence tomography, comprising a light source adapted to generate a bundle of light rays, an interferometer arrangement having a beam splitter device adapted to spatially separate the bundle of light rays into a reference beam and a measurement beam directed toward the tissue, a reference beam deflection device adapted to deflect the reference beam, a beam superpositioning device adapted to spatially superimpose the deflected reference beam onto the measurement beam deflected by the tissue into a superpositioned beam, and a detector arrangement for detecting information in the superpositioned beam associated with the difference of the optical path length of the reference beam and the measurement beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Wavelight GMBH
    Inventors: Christof Donitzky, Klaus Vogler, Christian Wuellner, Claudia Gorschboth, Michael Mrochen
  • Patent number: 9033503
    Abstract: A fundus photographing apparatus for photographing a fundus of an examinee's eye includes: a photographing part including a photographing optical system for photographing the fundus; a mechanism for moving the photographing part; a presenting part for presenting a fixation target to the eye; an alignment detecting optical system including a light receiving element to detect an alignment state of the photographing part; and a setting part for setting an alignment completion position in a back and forth direction of the photographing part relative to the eye based on the detected alignment state. The alignment completion position includes a first alignment completion position information to be set when an optical axis of the photographing part is in a predetermined range relative to a corneal vertex of the eye and a second alignment completion position information to be set when the optical axis is apart from the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Yoshino, Yusuke Ando
  • Patent number: 9033507
    Abstract: Light from an exit pupil of an illumination unit is directed to a beam splitter which directs the light to an objective. The retina is illuminated, if a real image of the exit pupil of the illumination unit and a real image of an entrance pupil of a camera unit are formable in a position ranging from the cornea to the backside of the crystalline lens with the light. The objective forms a real intermediate image of the retina between the objective and the camera unit. The beam splitter directs the light from the retina to the camera unit, while causing the path of the illumination and the path of the imaging to deviate for non-overlapping images of the exit pupil and the entrance pupil in the crystalline lens. A relay lens system forms a real image of the intermediate image on a detecting component with the light reflected from the retina for transforming the image into an electric form to be shown on a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: OPTOMED OY
    Inventors: Ilkka Alasaarela, Jussi Soukkamaki, Ilkka Jolma, Markku Virta
  • Patent number: 9033500
    Abstract: The image sensing apparatus comprises a first scan unit for scanning light from an OCT light source and light from an SLO light source in a first direction of a test object, and a second scan unit for scanning the light from the OCT light source in a second direction different from the first direction of the test object. The image sensing apparatus acquires tomographic images of the test object along the first direction when the first scan unit scans the light from the OCT light source, and acquires cross-over images of the test object corresponding to the tomographic images when the first scan unit scans the light from the SLO light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihiko Utsunomiya, Junko Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20150133902
    Abstract: A polarization beam splitter selectively decouples detection light onto a detector such that it has a polarization direction that differs from the emitted illumination light. This enables the detection of the light scattered back in the eye lens at a high level of accuracy, since stray light from reflections at optical components of the light path is suppressed. In the generating of photo disruptions or other incisions, the ray exposure of the retina may be reduced in that the incisions being furthest away from the laser are induced first such that laminar gas inclusions with an existence duration time of at least 5 seconds result. In this manner the laser radiation propagated in the direction of the retina in further incisions are scattered and partially reflected such that the influence impinging upon the retina is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Matthias REICH, Dieter GREBNER, Andreas KOCH, Juergen LEDERMANN, Manfred DICK, Marco HANFT
  • Patent number: 9028069
    Abstract: An ophthalmological device (1) in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes an optical transmission system (5) for transmitting femtosecond laser pulses to a projection objective (3) for projecting the femtosecond laser pulses onto or into eye (2) tissue. The ophthalmological device (1) further includes an objective changing device (4) for changing and connecting the projection objective (3) to the optical transmission system (5). The objective changing device (4) includes more than one different projection objective (3) connected mechanically with each other, and the objective changing device (4) is configured to convey one of the projection objectives (3) to the optical transmission system (5) for connecting the respective projection objective (3) to the optical transmission system (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ziemer Holding AG
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 9017316
    Abstract: A system and method of estimating a distance between the distal end of an optical fiber and treated tissue, to improve treatment efficiency, is provided herein. The estimation is achieved by modulating the numerical aperture of a light beam transmitted through the fiber to receive reflections from the tissue and distinguish them from other reflections in the fiber, and further by calculating the distance by comparing reflection intensities of beams having different numerical aperture values that illuminate the tissue over a very short period, so that tissue and environment conditions do not change much. Distance estimation may be carried out by modulating the treatment beam itself, or by a light beam transmitted between pulses of a pulsed treatment beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Lumenis Ltd.
    Inventors: Arkady Khatchaturov, Uri Voitsechov, Igal Koifman
  • Patent number: 9016861
    Abstract: An adaptive optics apparatus includes an aberration measuring unit that measures an aberration caused by a test object, the aberration being measured on the basis of returning light that returns from the test object; an aberration correcting unit that performs aberration correction in accordance with the aberration measured by the aberration measuring unit; an irradiation unit that irradiates the test object with light corrected by the aberration correcting unit; and an acquiring unit that acquires information based on a transmittance of the test object on the basis of the aberration measured by the aberration measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Nozato, Kazuhide Miyata
  • Patent number: 9010935
    Abstract: A method for noninvasive analysis of a retina includes exposing the retina to one or more first sets of at least three illumination light signals. The at least three illumination light signals each have a different wavelength. The method also includes optically collecting a reflected light signal for each of the at least three illumination light signals of the one or more first sets. Each of the reflected light signals is a portion of the respective illumination light signal reflected by the retina. The method further includes detecting the reflected light signals of the one or more first sets as a function of intensity. The method still further includes determining a first opsin density using the detected intensity of each of the reflected light signals of the one or more first sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Xiquan Cui, Scott E. Fraser
  • Patent number: 9004690
    Abstract: In order to measure a cornea with the aid of a projection (S11) of a two-dimensional reference pattern onto the cornea and of a detection (S12) of the reflection pattern reflected by the cornea by virtue of the reference pattern, a plurality of different reflection images of one or more reflection patterns reflected by the cornea are stored (S13). For points on the cornea a phase value of the reflection pattern is respectively calculated on the basis of intensities respectively measured in the stored reflection images at a pixel corresponding to the relevant point. At least one measured geometrical value of the cornea is calculated (S2) on the basis of the calculated phase value. The measurement of the cornea on the basis of a plurality of different reflection images of one or more reflection patterns reflected by the cornea enables a continuous measurement of the cornea in which corresponding pixels are acquired and evaluated for each point on the cornea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: SIS AG, Surgical Instrument Systems
    Inventors: Christian Rathjen, Roger Cattin, Christoph Meier
  • Patent number: 9004683
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments enable an enhanced direct-viewing optical device to make customized adjustments that accommodate optical aberrations of a current user. In some instances a real-time adjustment of the transformable optical elements is based on known corrective optical parameters associated with a current user. In some implementations a control module may process currently updated wavefront measurements as a basis for determining appropriate real-time adjustment of the transformable optical elements to produce a specified change in optical wavefront at an exit pupil of the direct-viewing device. Possible transformable optical elements include refractive and/or reflective and/or diffractive and/or transmissive characteristics that are adjusted based on current performance viewing factors for a given field of view of the direct-viewing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Caldeira, Peter L. Hagelstein, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan P. Myhrvold, John Brian Pendry, David Schurig, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150098062
    Abstract: Provided is an actuator formed in a substrate including a handle layer, an elastic body layer, and an insulating layer, the actuator including a movable portion supported to a support portion by an elastic body, a movable comb electrode formed on the movable portion, a fixed comb electrode supported by the support portion, and electrode wirings connected to the respective comb electrodes in which the elastic body supports the movable portion such that the movable portion is displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the substrate in accordance with voltages applied to the comb electrodes; the comb electrodes are made up of the handle layer, and the elastic body is made up of the elastic body layer; and a handle layer separation groove is provided to electrically separate between the handle layers of the support portions supporting the comb electrodes, and a structure reinforcing portion is formed across the separation groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Kenji Tamamori, Hiroyuki Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20150098061
    Abstract: An information system and a method for providing information in correlation with light that is incident on an eye includes a holographic element disposed in front of the eye and a device capable of recording optical signals which detects light that is incident on the eye via the holographic element. The device capable of recording optical signals detects light which is diffracted by the holographic element before the light impinges on the eye such that the diffracted light does not enter the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Metaio GmbH
    Inventors: Roland H.C. Eberl, Matthias Mayer, Heinrich A. Eberl, David Dickerson
  • Patent number: 8998410
    Abstract: An apparatus including: a main unit including a system for irradiating illumination light from a light source to a cornea of an eye from an oblique direction and a system for obtaining a corneal endothelial cell image by receiving reflection light from the cornea by a first imaging element; an anterior segment observation optical system including a second imaging element, the anterior segment observation optical system configured to pick up an anterior segment image of the eye by the second imaging element to observe the anterior segment image from front; a controller adapted to turn on the light source and obtain a plurality of picked-up images output from the first imaging element; and a unit adapted to detect an alignment state of the main unit with respect to the eye based on a picked-up image output from the second imaging element during obtaining of the picked-up images by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiro Takii, Naoto Honda
  • Patent number: 8998416
    Abstract: An opthalmological apparatus includes a base station having a light source for generating light pulses, and an application head mountable on an eye having a light projector for the focussed projection of the light pulses for punctiform breakdown of eye tissue. The application head has drivers for moving the light projector in a feed direction and in a first scanning direction. A scanner is arranged in the base station in order to deflect the light pulses in a second scanning direction. The opthalmological apparatus includes an optical transmission system for transmitting deflected light pulses from the base station to the application head, and for superimposing the light pulses deflected in the second scanning direction onto the movement of the light projector in the first scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sie AG Surgical Instrument Engineering
    Inventors: Christian Rathjen, Wolfgang Zesch, Karl Michael Deyerler, Holger Lubatschowski, Tammo Ripken
  • Patent number: 8992020
    Abstract: An ophthalmological device (1) for processing eye tissue includes a projection optical unit for focused projection of a laser beam (L) into the eye tissue, and a scanner system upstream of the projection optical unit for beam-deflecting scanning of the eye tissue with the laser beam (L) in a scanning movement (s') performed over a scanning angle along a scanning line(s). The ophthalmological device includes at least one optical element upstream of the projection optical unit, the optical element configured to generate a divergence—dependent on the scanning angle—of the laser beam (L), the scanning line(s) tilted in a plane running through the optical axis of the projection optical unit and the scanning line(s). Tilting of the scanning line(s)displaces—dependent on the scanning angle—the focus of the laser pulses projected into the eye tissue without vertical displacement of the projection optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: SIE AG, Sugical Instrument Engineering
    Inventors: Christian Rathjen, Hartmut Kanngiesser, Vincent Ducry, Lorenz Klauser, Michael Moritz
  • Patent number: 8992021
    Abstract: An ophthalmic endoillumination system comprises a self-contained power source and a laser light source powered by the self-contained power source to produce light. The system further comprises an elongated member sized for insertion into an eye and for conducting the light produced by the laser light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ronald T. Smith
  • Patent number: 8992022
    Abstract: A monitor is used to display a visual acuity test operated by software from an associated computer. A patient is spaced a predetermined distance from the monitor during the testing procedure, and individual, multiple LED housings are equally spaced about a center point of the monitor to direct light toward the patient during at least a portion of the test procedure. The light emanating from the individual housings is a diffuse, unfocused light to simulate glare, and the intensity of the light may be selectively altered. Conducting acuity testing under glare conditions determines if there is any reduction or fall off in the patient's acuity vision under such circumstances and provides an indication of whether the patient may require cataract surgery or has another ocular problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: M&S Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin A. Butler
  • Patent number: 8992015
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus includes a scanning optical system configured to scan a plurality of different regions of a test eye with a plurality of different measurement light beams, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about a shape of the test eye, and an adjustment unit configured to adjust a relative position between an output end of a measurement light beam that serves as a reference among the plurality of measurement light beams and an output end of other measurement light beams among the measurement light beams based on the acquired information about the shape of the test eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Muto
  • Patent number: 8992017
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus includes a first light source configured to emit a first measuring beam, a second light source configured to emit a second measuring beam having a center wavelength longer than that of the first measuring beam, a third light source configured to emit a third measuring beam having a center wavelength shorter than that of the first measuring beam, a first acquisition unit configured to obtain a first image of the subject's eye by using the return beam of the second measuring beam from the subject's eye, aberration of which has been corrected by a correction unit, and a second acquisition unit configured to obtain an anterior eye portion image of the subject's eye to be used for alignment, by using a return beam of the third measuring beam from the subject's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Yuasa
  • Publication number: 20150085256
    Abstract: An ophthalmological device emits light from a measurement optical system to an eye to be examined and calculates a dimension along the eye axis of a target portion of the eye from interfering light composed of reflected light from the eye and reference light. The measurement optical system includes incidence position changing member that changes the incidence position of light emitted to the eye, and driving unit that drives the incidence position changing member so as to scan at the incidence position of emitted light in a predetermined region of the eye. The predetermined region is a region where a straight line passes through when the straight line radially extended from the cornea apex of the eye is circumferentially moved over a predetermined angle range in the case of the eye is viewed from the front.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Chihiro Kato, Yuji Nozawa
  • Publication number: 20150085255
    Abstract: An optical system (120) for detecting optical aberrations of light from an object (101), the optical system comprising: a reference light-source (102) providing collimated reference light; an optical element (212) configured to focus at least one collimated light beam incident on the optical element (212) to a plurality of focal points in a conjugate object plane (214), the optical element (212) being arranged in an optical path between the reference light-source (102) and the object (101) for transmitting a plurality of reference light beams towards the object (101); and a wavefront sensor (112) configured to detect a property indicative of an optical aberration of light incident on the wavefront sensor; wherein the optical element (212) is further arranged to transmit a plurality of reflected guide star light beams resulting from reflection of the reference light beams at the object (101) towards the wavefront sensor (112).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: PROFUNDUS AB
    Inventor: Jorgen Thaung
  • Patent number: 8985770
    Abstract: An ophthalmic imaging apparatus which obtains a tomographic image of an eye to be examined based on light obtained by combining return light from the eye irradiated with measurement light with reference light corresponding to the measurement light, the apparatus comprising: a scanning unit configured to scan the measurement light on the eye; and a control unit configured to control the number of times of scanning by the scanning unit in accordance with a scanning position of the scanning unit on the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeaki Ono
  • Patent number: 8985771
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus including a plurality of image sensing modules and at least a light source is provided for capturing an image of an eye. Each of the image sensing modules includes an image sensor and a lens. The light source emits an illumination light, and the illumination light irradiates the eye. The eye reflects the illumination light into an image light. The image light includes a plurality of sub-image beams, and the sub-image beams are transmitted to the image sensors of the image sensing modules through the lenses of the image sensing modules, respectively. A capturing method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventor: Te-Chao Tsao
  • Publication number: 20150077709
    Abstract: An optical apparatus applied to ophthalmology detection is disclosed. The optical apparatus includes a first light source module, a second light source module, and an interference module. The first light source module is formed by a laser light source and lens units and used to emit a first light signal. The second light source module is formed by fiber units and lens units. The second light source module is coupled to the first light source module in series. The second light source module is used to receive a first light signal and emit a second light signal. The interference module is coupled to the second light source module and used to receive the second light signal and provide a first incident light and a second incident light to an object to be detected and a reference mirror respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: William WANG, Chung-Ping CHUANG, Meng-Shin YEN, Chung-Cheng CHOU, Sheng-Lung HUANG, Kuang-Yu HSU, Chien-Chung TSAI, Tuan-Shu HO
  • Publication number: 20150077710
    Abstract: Apparatus, method, and non-transitory medium for optical stabilization and digital image registration in scanning light ophthalmoscopy. Scanning an object with measurement light. Acquire an image of the object to be examined based on return light from the object. Acquire information which indicates movement of the object to be examined based on a plurality of acquired images. Control the scanning based on the information which indicates the movement of the object to be examined. Performing registration of the plurality of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichi Saito, Qiang Yang, Jie Zhang, Koji Nozato
  • Patent number: 8983146
    Abstract: A multimodal biometric identification system captures and processes images of both the iris and the retina for biometric identification. Another multimodal ocular system captures and processes images of the iris and/or the from both eyes of a subject. Biometrics based on data provided by these systems are more accurate and robust than using biometrics that include data from only the iris or only the retina from a single eye. An exemplary embodiment emits photons to the iris and the retina of both eyes, an iris image sensor that captures an image of the iris when the iris reflects the emitted light, a retina image sensor that captures an image of the retina when the retina reflects the emitted light, and a controller that controls the iris and the retina illumination sources, where the captured image of the iris and the captured image of the retina contain biometric data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: MorphoTrust USA, LLC
    Inventors: Marc D. Friedman, Pablo Casaverde, Don Yansen, Tim McNerney, Yasunari Tosa, David Usher, Nicholas A. Accomando, David Muller, Gregory L. Heacock, John Marshall
  • Patent number: 8979265
    Abstract: In a photographing optical system, an autofluorescence barrier filter having a characteristic of transmitting a light having an autofluorescence wavelength and a near-infrared wavelength, and a near-infrared light cut-off filter having a characteristic of transmitting the visible light and blocking the near-infrared light are disposed to be replaceable. In the case of observing a fundus, the fluorescence barrier filter is inserted into an optical path in an observation photographing optical system, so that observation can be performed by using a near-infrared illuminating light. In the case of autofluorescence photographing, the photographing can be performed without filter switching. In the case of color photographing, at the time of observation, the observation is performed using the fluorescence barrier filter, and at the time of photographing, the photographing can be performed using the replaced infrared light cut-off filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Itoh, Hajime Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20150070652
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a physiological parameter of a subject through interrogation of an eye of the subject with an optical signal are described. Interrogation is performed unobtrusively. The physiological parameter is determined from a signal sensed from the eye of a subject when the eye of the subject is properly aligned with regard to an interrogation signal source and/or response signal sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Allen L. Brown, JR., Douglas C. Burger, Eric Horvitz, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K.Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Chris Demetrios Karkanias, Eric C. Leuthardt, John L. Manferdelli, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Barney Pell, Clarence T. Tegreene, Willard H. Wattenburg, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Richard N. Zare
  • Patent number: 8974059
    Abstract: A small animal imaging system comprising a base element and a camera coupled to the base element, the camera being sized to image the eye of a small animal. A light-emitting diode is also included coupled to the base element. An OCT imaging apparatus is also included coupled to the base element. An X-Y scanner is also included coupled to the base element in communication with the OCT imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: University of Miami
    Inventors: Omer Kocaoglu, Stephen Uhlhorn, Eleut Hernandez, Vittorio Porciatti, Jean-Marie Parel, Fabrice Manns
  • Patent number: 8967807
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus includes: an illuminating optical system for irradiating an examinee's eye with illuminating light; an imaging optical system including an imaging device for receiving a reflected light flux from the eye, the imaging optical system having an imaging optical axis inclined with respect to an optical axis of the illuminating optical system; and a first optical member for reducing an imaging incidence angle, the imaging incidence angle being defined as an angle between a normal direction of an imaging surface of the imaging device and a principal ray of the reflected light flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuyasu Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8967808
    Abstract: An ophthalmological measuring system, for obtaining biometric data of an eye, provided with the necessary calibration and check devices for monitoring the functionality and the calibration status. The ophthalmological measuring system includes an illumination source for illuminating an eye with light and with a sensor for recording and analyzing back-scattered or reflected light components and a controller. At least one calibration and check system integrated in the ophthalmological measuring system for monitoring the functional and calibration status is provided. A device is also provided which houses the calibration and test structures and which reads off the individual physical data therefrom by an interface. The ophthalmological measuring system is in particular provided for determining biometrical data but can also be used for ophthalmological, dermatological or other devices which require calibration and/or functional checking at regular intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Gerard Antkowiak, Martin Hacker, Ingo Koschmieder, Roland Bergner, Ralf Ebersbach, Thomas Pabst, Eberhard Hofmann, Michael Guentzschel, Steffen Dubnack
  • Patent number: 8967809
    Abstract: A system and method of testing vision performance includes displaying a visual recognition test to a subject and receiving from the subject a response to the visual recognition test. After receiving the response to the visual recognition test, a subsequent visual recognition test is selected based on the response received from the subject, the subsequent visual recognition test is displayed, and a response is received from the subject. The subsequent visual recognition tests are repeated until a predetermined criterion is reached. A vision performance score is determined based on the visual recognition tests displayed and the set of responses received from the subject and output from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: David Gary Kirschen, Daniel Moses Laby
  • Patent number: 8965065
    Abstract: Determination of biometric parameters of an eye, in which the optical axis of the biometric measurement system is aligned to the optical axis of an eye. The device includes an interferometry measuring arrangement having a measurement light source and a measurement sensor, a fixation light source for capturing the eye with the reflexes that arise, an image sensor, and lens for detecting volume scattered light and an analysis unit for determining the angular deviation of the optical axis of the eye from the optical axis of the biometric measurement system. The analysis unit compares determined angular deviation to a predefined tolerance and, laterally displaces fixation marks on the basis of the calculated angular deviation, or of initiating the biometric measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Tobias Schmitt-Manderbach, Daniel Bublitz, Roland Bergner