Abstract: An apparatus and method of providing an ophthalmic image is presented. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an illumination path with a focus index optical assembly and a first diopter compensator is provided and an imaging path with a sensor and a second diopter compensator is provided. The first diopter compensator and the second diopter compensator can be adjusted to provide focus according to a focus index from the focus index optical assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed that enables an existing handheld eye imaging device to do direct measurement on images taken from the patient eye. In a preferred embodiment, a reticle is arranged in the handheld eye imaging device so that a reticle image is superimposed on the object image. In addition to allowing the user to make measurements, the reticle superimposed eye image can also be used to align the eye with the handheld eye imaging device, be used for registering images taken at different times, and also be used for finding previously recorded points on the images for comparison purposes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed that provides a means for mounting a separate optical element, such as a gonio lens, to a hand-held eye imaging device. In this way, the doctor only needs to use one hand to hold the imaging apparatus while the other hand can be freed to open the patient eye lid and also maintain a safe relative distance of the gonio lens with respect to the patient's eye. The gonio lens and adaptor can each or both be made disposable and also mechanically switchable relative to each other as well as relative to the handheld eye imaging device so that different portions of the patient eye can be imaged sequentially without the need to rotate the hand held eye imaging device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed that enables an existing handheld eye imaging device to do direct measurement on images taken from the patient eye. In a preferred embodiment, a reticle is arranged in the handheld eye imaging device so that a reticle image is superimposed on the object image. In addition to allowing the user to make measurements, the reticle superimposed eye image can also be used to align the eye with the handheld eye imaging device, be used for registering images taken at different times, and also be used for finding previously recorded points on the images for comparison purposes.

Abstract: A light delivery technique includes optical configurations as well as the associated methods that generate a ring beam from a linear light source. In one embodiment, a remote light source module delivers illumination light to a fundus camera and/or slit lamp. In another embodiment, an arrangement combines the use of a light pipe homogenizer and a ring beam transformer for efficiently collecting light from a substantially axially linear light source, homogenizing the collected light that lacks low angle flux relative to the optical axis, and transforming the light into a ring beam with a substantially improved low angle flux distribution. In still another embodiment, light emitted from a substantially axially linear light source is directly collected by a curved surface mirror and spatially filtered into a ring beam.

Abstract: In embodiments of optical arrangements of a working distance sensor in a fundus camera that can improve the determination of a correct working distance as well as the transverse positioning of the camera a number of near infrared light sources are arranged to project a number of near infrared illumination beams into the visible light illumination path of the fundus camera and a live view of the retina under near infrared illumination is captured and displayed on a monitor. These embodiments of optical arrangements and associated methods will enable an operator to directly determine if there is any undesirable flare or other artifact appearing within a designated region on the infrared retina view as a result of a wrong alignment of the fundus camera with respect to the eye in terms of not only the working distance but also the horizontal and vertical positions. Pattern recognition algorithms can be used to further enhance the positioning sensitivity of the working distance sensor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a pliable film adapted to conform to parts of an optical examination device and provide a barrier between the eye of a patient being examined and the optical examination device.

Abstract: In embodiments of optical arrangements of a working distance sensor in a fundus camera that can improve the determination of a correct working distance as well as the transverse positioning of the camera a number of near infrared light sources are arranged to project a number of near infrared illumination beams into the visible light illumination path of the fundus camera and a live view of the retina under near infrared illumination is captured and displayed on a monitor. These embodiments of optical arrangements and associated methods will enable an operator to directly determine if there is any undesirable flare or other artifact appearing within a designated region on the infrared retina view as a result of a wrong alignment of the fundus camera with respect to the eye in terms of not only the working distance but also the horizontal and vertical positions. Pattern recognition algorithms can be used to further enhance the positioning sensitivity of the working distance sensor.

Abstract: A light delivery technique includes optical configurations as well as the associated methods that generate a ring beam from a linear light source. In one embodiment, a remote light source module delivers illumination light to a fundus camera and/or slit lamp. In another embodiment, an arrangement combines the use of a light pipe homogenizer and a ring beam transformer for efficiently collecting light from a substantially axially linear light source, homogenizing the collected light that lacks low angle flux relative to the optical axis, and transforming the light into a ring beam with a substantially improved low angle flux distribution. In still another embodiment, light emitted from a substantially axially linear light source is directly collected by a curved surface mirror and spatially filtered into a ring beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ruggedized optical fiber collimator. An embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, an optical fiber, a collimating lens system comprising at least one lens, and an inner tube. The optical fiber extends into the housing through the inner tube. The housing houses the inner tube and the collimating lens system. The optical fiber terminates in the housing. The housing, the optical fiber, the collimating lens system and the inner tube are arranged to perform the function of an optical fiber collimator. The inner tube is made from an optical fiber compatible material. Examples of the optical fiber compatible material include ruby, quartz, and sapphire.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated optical fiber collimator with a built-in polarizing beam splitter. An embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, an optical fiber, a collimating lens system that includes at least one lens, and a polarizing beam splitter. The optical fiber terminates in the housing at an optical fiber termination. The collimating lens system is in the housing and is in optically communication with the optical fiber through the optical fiber termination. The housing mechanically supports the polarizing beam splitter. The polarizing beam splitter separates the light from the optical fiber into two substantially orthogonally polarized light beams and substantially couples two orthogonally polarized light beams to the optical fiber in conjunction with the collimating lens system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical module that employs an integrated optical fiber collimator with a built-in polarizing beam splitter. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the integrated optical fiber collimator includes a collimator housing, an optical fiber, a collimating lens system that includes at least one lens, and a polarizing beam splitter. The optical fiber terminates in the collimator housing at an optical fiber termination. The collimating lens system is in the collimator housing and is in optically communication with the optical fiber through the optical fiber termination. The collimator housing mechanically supports the polarizing beam splitter. The polarizing beam splitter separates the light from the optical fiber into two substantially orthogonally polarized light beams and substantially couples two orthogonally polarized light beams to the optical fiber in conjunction with the collimating lens system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ruggedized optical fiber collimator. An embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, an optical fiber, a collimating lens system comprising at least one lens, and an inner tube. The optical fiber extends into the housing through the inner tube. The housing houses the inner tube and the collimating lens system. The optical fiber terminates in the housing. The housing, the optical fiber, the collimating lens system and the inner tube are arranged to perform the function of an optical fiber collimator. The inner tube is made from an optical fiber compatible material. Examples of the optical fiber compatible material include ruby, quartz, and sapphire.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated optical fiber collimator with a built-in polarizing beam splitter. An embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, an optical fiber, a collimating lens system that includes at least one lens, and a polarizing beam splitter. The optical fiber terminates in the housing at an optical fiber termination. The collimating lens system is in the housing and is in optically communication with the optical fiber through the optical fiber termination. The housing mechanically supports the polarizing beam splitter. The polarizing beam splitter separates the light from the optical fiber into two substantially orthogonally polarized light beams and substantially couples two orthogonally polarized light beams to the optical fiber in conjunction with the collimating lens system.

Abstract: A Virtually Imaged Phased Array (VIPA) contains a separate, precision-machined optical surface that forms one surface of the internal etalon and a boundary of the “radiation window,” in order to more easily achieve the optical-mechanical tolerances necessary for desired performance. VIPA design known to the prior art requires that a high reflective (mirror) optical coating be applied to a portion of a face of a plate of glass with a very sharp and well controlled boundary line across the surface while the remainder has an AR coating. This is difficult under the state of the art. In the disclosed VIPA, the required sharp boundary can be the machined physical edge of a plate of material (instead of the edge of a coating), which can be very precisely cut and controlled using common optical techniques. The disclosed VIPA is more easily manufactured than those known to the state of the art, and therefore is practical for applications such as the dispersing element in a chromatic dispersion compensator.