Having Means To Detect Proper Distance Or Alignment (i.e., Eye To Instrument) Patents (Class 351/208)
  • Publication number: 20140347631
    Abstract: Provided is an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus capable of imaging with reduced imaging time based on a combination of an imaging type and a mydriatic state of an eye to be inspected. The ophthalmologic apparatus includes an acquiring unit configured to acquire information about a mydriatic state of a pupil of a person to be inspected, and a determining unit configured to determine an imaging order for imaging one of left and right eyes of the person to be inspected a plurality of times and imaging the other eye in accordance with the information about the mydriatic state acquired by the acquiring unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Kishida, Toshiya Fujimori
  • Publication number: 20140333895
    Abstract: An ocular axial length measurement apparatus is provided with: a measurement section for obtaining the ocular axial length of an examinee's eye by using an optical interferometer; a drive mechanism for adjusting the relative positions of the measurement section and the examinee's eye; an operation section operated by an examiner; and a control unit. The ocular axial length measurement apparatus is equipped with an ultrasonic probe for obtaining length information in an axial direction of the examinee's eye in advance, or configured to mount the ultrasonic probe. The control unit, when measuring the eye using the ultrasonic probe, changes a setting at the time of measuring the eye using the ultrasonic probe based on an operation signal output from the operation section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Miyuki Satake
  • Patent number: 8870378
    Abstract: Provided is a technique that makes it possible to carry out more accurately alignment of a device optical system by a simpler method in measuring an optical characteristic at an anterior ocular segment of an eye of examinee's by an ophthalmic measurement device. In measuring an optical characteristic at an anterior ocular segment of an eye (A) of examinee's, an adjustment of positional relationship between the eye (A) of examinee's and a measurement optical system is carried out by utilizing reflection lights (B, C, D), i.e., the light (B) generated by reflection of the irradiated light from the infrared L.E.D. (11) at the cornea, the light (C) generated by reflection of the laser light (E) from a laser light source at the cornea, and the light (D) generated by reflection of the laser light (E) from the laser light source at the crystalline lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Kowa Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8870376
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for non-invasive analysis. In particular the inventive system relates optical techniques involving infra-red, visible or ultra violet radiation for imaging and analyzing surface and sub-surface structure of tissue and components of the eye. Embodiments of the invention further include Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) techniques for sub-surface imaging and analysis, and incorporate instruments such as ophthalmoscopes, fundus cameras, for non-invasive imaging and analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventor: Joshua Noel Hogan
  • Publication number: 20140313483
    Abstract: An optical system for measuring an observed object includes an illuminant component, an imaging component, and an optical component. The illuminant component generates a measuring light. The optical component including a mirror and a beam splitter is located between the illuminant component and the imaging component. The mirror is located between the illuminant component and the observed object, the beam splitter is located between the mirror, the observed object, and the imaging component. The measuring light is projected to the observed object via the mirror and beam splitter, and an imaging light that has been generated from the illuminant component and reflected by the observed object is projected to the imaging component via the beam splitter, the imaging light and the measuring light intersect at the beam splitter. The present invention also provides a measurement method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Tsu-Wang SHEN, Tsung-Yu HO, Weng-Kong TAM, Yu-Nong WANG
  • Publication number: 20140307228
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus is configured to determine a direction in which a target that is used to adjust a working distance comes into focus based on an influence of astigmatism contained in a cornea reflection image of an eye to be examined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideyuki Ohban
  • Publication number: 20140300866
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus of an embodiment includes an examination part, moving mechanism, two or more imaging parts, extracting part and controller. The examination part includes an optical system for optically examining an eye. The moving mechanism moves the optical system. The two or more imaging parts obtain moving images of the eye from two or more different directions. The extracting part extracts a partial image from each of two or more images substantially simultaneously obtained by the two or more imaging parts. The controller carries out display control for displaying in real time two or more partial images extracted by the extracting part with an arrangement in accordance with the positional relationship thereof on a display means and movement control for controlling the moving mechanism based on an instruction input from an operation means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Yasufumi FUKUMA, Kanichi TOKUDA, Taiki AIMI, Atsushi KUBOTA, Yusuke ONO
  • Patent number: 8852176
    Abstract: An apparatus for ophthalmological, in particular refractive, laser surgery includes a laser-beam source (20) for emitting a focused treatment laser beam (20?) and also includes an optical-coherence interferometric measuring device (34), for example an OLCR pachymeter, for measuring the z-position of a predetermined point of an eye to be treated in the coordinate system of the laser-surgery apparatus. A computer (C) serving as evaluating and control unit has been set up to assess, on the basis of the measured z-position, whether a desired treatment point of the eye in the z-direction falls in the focal plane of the treatment laser beam or is offset in relation to said plane. Depending on whether or not the patient is correctly positioned in relation to the focal plane, the computer (C) can bring about a range of actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: WaveLight GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Riedel, Christof Donitzky
  • Publication number: 20140293225
    Abstract: An adjustment system for an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging system includes an OCT light source; a beam splitter, splitting the OCT light beam into an imaging beam to an imaging arm, and a reference beam to a reference arm; a probe, guiding the imaging beam onto a target and receiving a returned imaging beam from the target; the beam splitter generating an interference beam from the returned imaging beam and a returned reference beam from the reference arm; an imaging detector, detecting the interference beam; an imaging processor, generating an OCT image from the detected interference beam; and an adjustment device, removably coupled to the probe, the adjustment device comprising the target attached to a distal region of a target holder at a working distance from a distal end of the imaging probe, wherein an optical length of the reference arm is adjustable to improve a calibration of the OCT image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kambiz Parto, Barry Wheatley, Dean Lin, Tammo Heeren, Lingfeng Yu
  • Patent number: 8845098
    Abstract: An optical coherence tomography apparatus includes: an acquisition unit configured to split light from a light source into measurement light and reference light, and acquire a tomogram of an eye to be examined based on interfering light obtained by interference between the reference light and return light from the eye; a positional relationship changing unit configured to change a positional relationship between the eye and an optical system including an optical path of the measurement light; and a control unit configured to control the changing unit based on a difference in slant information of the eye between two tomograms acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Uchida
  • Patent number: 8845102
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus comprising: an inspection unit adapted to inspect an eye to be examined; an operation member; a first member including a recess portion and a projection portion provided on part of the recess portion; a second member which is integrally provided with the operation member and is configured to move in correspondence with tilting of the operation member while contacting the first member; and a driving unit adapted to move the inspection unit based on tilting of the operation member and to coarsely move the inspection unit in a case where the second member is in contact with the projection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 8840247
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the location of the ocular pivot point (ADL) in an eye (10) of a test person. In the method, the mean curvature (KH) of the cornea (14) of the eye (10) is determined. The mean phase error (PF) of the eye (10) is determined as is the eye length (LA) from the mean curvature (KH) and the mean phase error (PF). The location of the ocular pivot point (ADL) is determined from the eye length (LA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision GmbH
    Inventors: Timo Kratzer, Jesús-Miguel Cabeza-Guillén, Gerhard Kelch
  • Publication number: 20140268053
    Abstract: An optical device combination with a portable electronic device utilizes a user's autonomic response to truth/false or beneficial/non-beneficial stimulus and provides immediate feedback to the user in the context of an applied kinesiology exam. Through measurements of the pupils dilation or constriction and processing of the measurements by the portable electronic device, the response is obtained and feedback is provided that reflects the pupillary response. The device and method effectively eliminate the subjective components of prior art muscle testing response from the hands of the testing user as well as providing a simple convenient and portable attachment to a user's smart phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: William Fabian
  • Patent number: 8820931
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an optical coherence tomography-based ophthalmic testing center system includes an optical coherence tomography instrument comprising an eyepiece for receiving at least one eye of a user or subject; a light source that outputs light that is directed through the eyepiece into the user's or subject's eye, an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user's/subject's eye, an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference; and a processing unit coupled to the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute
    Inventors: Alexander C. Walsh, Paul G. Updike, Srinivas R. Sadda
  • Publication number: 20140240674
    Abstract: Embodiments of automatically aligning imager are presented. In accordance with some embodiments, an imaging system includes an adjustment stage; an auto-alignment optics mounted on the adjustment stage and coupled to image an object, the auto-alignment optics including at least one video camera providing an image of the object; imaging scanning optics mounted on the adjustment stage and coupled to scan the object; an imager coupled to the imaging scanning optics; and a processor coupled to the adjustment stage and the auto-alignment optics, the processor executing instructions to receive the image of the object and adjust the adjustment stage to align the optics with the imaging scanning optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Jay Wei, Jing Cui, Tao Huang, Dragos Stanescu
  • Patent number: 8807752
    Abstract: A methodology is provided for correcting the placement of a laser beam's focal point. Specifically, this correction is done to compensate for displacements of the focal point that may be caused when implant material (e.g. an Intraocular Lens (IOL)) is positioned on the optical path of the laser beam. The methodology of the present invention then determines a deviation of the laser beam's refracted target position (uncompensated) from its intended target position. A calculation of the deviation includes considerations of the laser beam's wavelength and refractive/diffractive characteristics introduced by the implant material. This deviation is then added to the refracted target position to make the refracted target position coincide with the intended target position of the focal point. The laser beam will then focus to its intended target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Technolas Perfect Vision GmbH
    Inventors: Frieder Loesel, Kristian Hohla, Gwillem Mosedale
  • Publication number: 20140218688
    Abstract: A slit lamp mounted eye imaging a slit lamp integrated, a handheld, OCT integrated, or attached to a separate chinrest-joystick assembly apparatus for producing a wide field and/or magnified views of the posterior or the anterior segments of an eye through an undilated or dilated pupil. The apparatus images sections and focal planes and utilizes an illumination system that uses one or more LEDs, shifting optical elements, flipping masks, and/or aperture stops where the light can be delivered into the optical system on optical axis or off axis from center of optical system and return imaging path from the eye, creating artifacts in different locations on the eye image. Image processing is employed to detect and eliminate artifacts and masks from images. The apparatus can be used in combination with an OCT, microscope and can be disposed in a hand-held housing for hand-held use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Steven Roger Verdooner
  • Patent number: 8794762
    Abstract: A measurement device for measuring a characteristic reading distance of an individual in a natural posture for near vision, includes a movable reading medium presenting a plane display portion suitable for displaying signs and a measurement subassembly including at least one ultrasound emitter member and at least one ultrasound receiver member. The emitter and receiver members are carried by the reading medium, and at least one of the members, referred to as the first measurement member possesses a measurement axis along which emission or reception by the first measurement member is privileged and that is inclined relative to the plane of the display portion by an angle lying in the range 10 degrees to 80 degrees or that is inclinable relative to this plane of the display portion at least over an angular range extending from 10 degrees to 80 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Essilor International (Compagnie Generale d'Optique)
    Inventor: Ahmed Haddadi
  • Publication number: 20140211162
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus includes an imaging unit for imaging the fundus image of a subject's eye, a displacement acquisition unit for acquiring the displacement of an imaging position by the imaging unit between fundus images captured by the imaging unit, and a display control unit for displaying the fundus image captured by the imaging unit and a region of interest on the display unit so that the region of interest is positioned at a predetermined position of the fundus image based on the displacement acquired by the displacement acquisition unit and displaying the region of interest on the display unit by changing a size of the region of interest according to an range where the fundus image is captured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryutaro Matsuoka, Yukio Sakagawa
  • Patent number: 8789949
    Abstract: A cornea imaging apparatus including: a collimation axis holding mechanism; an imaging mechanism; a Z-direction actuating means; an X-direction actuating means and a Y-direction actuating means; an inclination angle changing means that changes an inclination angle of an imaging center axis of the imaging mechanism against a collimation axis of an eye under examination; an endothelial configuration computing means that determines a corneal endothelial configuration; and a normal vector computing means that determines a normal vector direction at a given imaging position of the corneal endothelial configuration, wherein at the imaging position, the inclination angle and positions in the Z and X directions are set adjusted so as to align the imaging center axis of the imaging mechanism with the normal vector direction determined by the normal vector computing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Tomey Corporation
    Inventor: Chihiro Kato
  • Publication number: 20140204342
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus configured to process a tomographic image of an object to be examined, includes: a processor; and memory storing computer readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the image processing apparatus to: set a reference line, which is used as a reference for setting a cross sectional position, on a front image of the object, the cross sectional position being one of a position where a two-dimensional tomographic image is acquired from three-dimensional data of the object, and a position where measurement light for generating a tomographic image is scanned; and set the cross sectional position having a predetermined angle as an angle relative to the set reference line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihiro HIGUCHI, Yuji MURASE
  • Publication number: 20140204341
    Abstract: There is provided an ophthalmic imaging apparatus including an optical coherence tomography (OCT) optical system for acquiring a tomographic image of a subject eye, an observation optical system configured to acquire a front image of the subject eye. The apparatus functions as an image generation unit which repeatedly generates the tomographic image based on an output signal from the OCT optical system, and repeatedly generates the front image based on an output signal from the observation optical system, a determination unit which detects a positional deviation between a reference front image and each of front images generated by the image generation unit, and determines consecutiveness of the front images whose positional deviation satisfies a permissible range, and a selection process unit which selects one of multiple tomographic images generated by the image generation unit, based on a determination result by the determination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji MURASE
  • Patent number: 8783867
    Abstract: It has been very cumbersome to determine whether or not alignment is required before the fundus image is acquired after the tomographic image is acquired, causing the reduction in diagnostic efficiency. An ophthalmic apparatus is provided to solve this problem, which comprises an irradiation unit that irradiates an eye to be inspected with a first beam for acquiring a tomographic image of the eye and a second beam for acquiring a fundus image of the eye, the second beam having a beam diameter larger than the beam diameter of the first beam; and a determination unit that, based on information indicating a shift amount between an irradiation position of the first beam in the eye and an ocular axis of the eye, determines whether or not the irradiation position of the second beam falls within a range in which the fundus image can be acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Muto
  • Patent number: 8777410
    Abstract: A fundus photographing apparatus with wavefront compensation, includes: a fundus photographing optical system for capturing a fundus image by receiving a reflected light from fundus of an examinee's eye; a wavefront compensation device placed in an optical path of the fundus photographing optical system to compensate a wavefront aberration of the examinee's eye by controlling an incident light wavefront; a wavefront aberration detection optical system for projecting a measurement light on the fundus of the examinee's eye to detect a reflected light of the measurement light from the fundus using a wavefront sensor; and a controller for controlling an effective region formed on the wavefront compensation device so as to correct a difference between the effective region formed on the wavefront compensation device where an aberration correction control is effective and a wavefront measurement region of the wavefront aberration detection optical system where the wavefront aberration is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Hanebuchi
  • Patent number: 8770756
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus in which a tilt angle of an operating rod corresponds to a position of an inspection unit adapted to inspect an eye to be examined, and a movable range of the inspection unit is wider than a tilt able range of the operating rod, the apparatus comprising: a detection unit adapted to detect the tilt angle of the operating rod by detecting an electrical signal generated by tilting the operating rod; a calculation unit adapted to calculate a position of the inspection unit which corresponds to the tilt angle; a moving unit adapted to move the inspection unit to a position calculated by the calculation unit; and a switching unit adapted to switch between interruption and resumption of calculation processing performed by the calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Dobashi
  • Publication number: 20140185009
    Abstract: An ophthalmological apparatus includes an image acquisition unit configured to acquire images of different magnifications, a decision unit configured to decide, based on at least the acquired images or capture conditions of the acquired images, a method for capturing an image of an intermediate magnification that is between the magnifications of the acquired images, and an alignment unit configured to align the acquired images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventor: Hiroshi IMAMURA
  • Patent number: 8764192
    Abstract: An opthalmological measuring instrument, e.g. for determining the corneal curvature, anterior chamber depth, axial length, or the like, including measuring systems for determining measurement of the mentioned physical parameters. The measuring systems are connected to an evaluation unit which verifies whether quality parameters regarding the measurements are satisfied and generates a corresponding signal that indicates to the medical professional user that a proper measurement can be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Roland Barth, Frank Behrendt, Roland Bergner, Klaus-Ditmar Voigt
  • Publication number: 20140168604
    Abstract: An ophthalmology apparatus includes: an aberration measuring unit configured to measure an aberration of an eye to be examined on the basis of returned light from the eye to be examined irradiated with measurement light, and a change unit configured to change a size of an irradiating area in the aberration measurement unit to be irradiated with the returned light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kei Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140160432
    Abstract: Methods and system 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 gaze direction of the eye of the subject is determined and an interrogation signal source and/or response signal sensor are moved into alignment with the eye using an actuator to facilitate detection of the signal from the eye of the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Allen L. Brown, JR., Douglas C. Burger, Eric Horvitz, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K.Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Jordin T. Kare, Chris Demetrios Karkanias, 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: 8746881
    Abstract: For processing eye tissue (8) by means of femtosecond laser pulses, an ophthalmological device (1) includes a projection optical unit (2) for the focused projection of the femtosecond laser pulses into the eye tissue (8). Disposed upstream of the projection optical unit (2) is a first beam-deflecting scanner system (3) for scanning the eye tissue (8) with the femtosecond laser pulses along a processing line. A second beam-deflecting scanner system (5) is disposed upstream of the first scanner system (3) and is designed for scanning the eye tissue (8) with the femtosecond laser pulses in a scanning movement superimposed on the processing line and running in a deflection plane. The second scanner system (5) has a scanner speed that is a multiple of the scanning speed of the first scanner system (3). A rotation system is provided for aligning the deflection plane with a defined angle with respect to the processing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: SIE AG, Surgical Instrument Engineering
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 8750575
    Abstract: A system, method and program product for providing a reflexive data collection system and a reflexive data verification system. A system is provided that includes: a system for defining a set of environmental conditions; a device for automatically implementing the set of environmental conditions; a system for collecting biometric data under the set of environmental conditions; and a system for encoding the biometric data and the set of environmental conditions into a reflexive template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron K. Baughman, Christian Eggenberger, Peter K. Malkin, Mweene J. Monze
  • Patent number: 8744140
    Abstract: A system, method and program product for providing a reflexive data collection system. A system is provided that includes: a system for defining a set of environmental conditions; a device for automatically implementing the set of environmental conditions; a system for collecting biometric data under the set of environmental conditions; and a system for encoding the biometric data and the set of environmental conditions into a reflexive template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron K. Baughman, Christian Eggenberger, Peter K. Malkin, Mweene J. Monze
  • Publication number: 20140132924
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus that determines whether alignment with a subject eye is complete using an observation image of an anterior ocular segment of the subject eye obtained through a split prism determines whether or not the alignment is a success or failure based on a position of a pupil image on respective lines of a line pair that are parallel to a boundary of the split prism and are equidistant from the boundary in the observation image. The ophthalmic apparatus determines the success or failure of alignment for a plurality of line pairs whose distances from the boundary are different, and determines whether or not the alignment is complete based on the obtained determination results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu Sagano, Daisuke Kawase
  • Publication number: 20140132928
    Abstract: In order to prevent inaccurate position detection caused by overlapping between a position alignment index and an optic papilla of a fundus in position alignment between an eye to be inspected and an apparatus when a fundus image is photographically captured, an ophthalmologic apparatus includes: a projection unit configured to project a plurality of alignment indices onto an eye to be inspected; an optic papilla position detection unit configured to detect an optic papilla position of the eye to be inspected; and an alignment detection unit configured to detect a positional relation between the eye to be inspected and an apparatus main body from a reflection image of the alignment index, wherein the alignment detection unit performs alignment detection by selecting a reflection image of at least one of the reflection images of the plurality of alignment indices depending on the optic papilla position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Ono
  • Publication number: 20140132926
    Abstract: An ophthalmic imaging apparatus having an automatic transition function for transiting from an anterior ocular observation state to a fundus observation state, an autofocus function performed during fundus observation, and an automatic image capturing function performed when fundus alignment is complete, the apparatus comprising: a first control unit configured to control the automatic transition function, the autofocus function, and the automatic image capturing function to be deactivated in response to a first user operation; and a second control unit configured to control the deactivated automatic transition function, autofocus function, and automatic image capturing function to be reactivated in response to a second user operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Hara
  • Publication number: 20140132927
    Abstract: A ophthalmic apparatus includes: an imaging unit configured to obtain, through a photographing optical system, an image of an eye to be examined which is illuminated with illumination light from an observation light source of an illumination optical system; a display unit configured to display the image obtained by the imaging unit; and an image processing unit configured to display an image of the eye on the display unit at a display magnification corresponding to an observation portion of the eye or a display magnification corresponding to operation of the imaging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yutaka Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20140132923
    Abstract: An ophthalmic imaging apparatus including an observation light source configured to emit observation light for observation of an eye to be examined and an imaging light source configured to emit imaging light for imaging the eye, the apparatus comprises a photometry unit configured to acquire a photometric value of an observation image of the eye illuminated by the observation light source; an alignment processing unit configured to perform alignment processing to match the eye with a target position; an imaging light amount adjusting unit configured to adjust a light amount of the imaging light source by using the photometric value before completion of the alignment processing; and an imaging processing unit configured to image the eye by using a light amount adjusted by the imaging light amount adjusting unit after completion of the alignment processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Kawase, Osamu Sagano
  • Publication number: 20140132922
    Abstract: An ophthalmic system for use in performing angular measurements in relation to a patient's eye. The ophthalmic system can include an optical angular measurement device that can provide angular indicia by, for example, projecting an image of an angular measurement reticle onto a patient's eye or by superimposing an image of an angular measurement reticle onto an image of the patient's eye. The ophthalmic system can include an optical refractive power measurement device for providing desired angular orientations for ocular implants or for incisions. The ophthalmic system can be used, for example, to align a toric intraocular lens to a desired angular orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: WaveTec Vision Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Padrick, Jack T. Holladay, Dan Bao Tran, Aric K. Plumley, Richard J. Michaels, Jeff Padgett
  • Publication number: 20140132925
    Abstract: In order to detect a position alignment state between an apparatus and an eye to be inspected in a working distance direction with high precision at a high speed in the apparatus side, an ophthalmologic apparatus is disclosed. The position alignment state between the eye to be inspected and the apparatus in the working distance direction is detected by evaluating a contrast of an index image that is obtained as a reflection image of an index projected onto an anterior ocular segment, and a contrast of the index image is evaluated using a ratio or a difference between pixel numbers of the index image in at least two or more gray scale values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Manabu Wada
  • Patent number: 8721080
    Abstract: Systems for imaging structures of a subject are provided. The subject has an optical axis, a pupil, and a nodal point. The system includes an image capture device; a first structure including a mount for the subject to be imaged by the image capture device, the first structure providing at least two rotational degrees of freedom; a second structure including a mount for the image capture device, the second structure providing at least two translational degrees of freedom; and a means for aligning the image capture device in relation to the optical axis, the pupil, and the nodal point of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Biopgtigen, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunita Sayeram, Joseph Elliott Vance, Pete Huening, Eric L. Buckland, Joseph A. Izatt, Glenn A. Myers
  • Patent number: 8721079
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus including an index projection unit to project an index on a cornea of a subject's eye, an imaging unit to form an image on an imaging plane via an objective lens and capture an image of the index projected on the cornea, and a control unit to control a distance between the subject's eye and the object lens so that a size of the captured index becomes a predetermined size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Uchida, Satoshi Aikawa, Yasuhiro Dobashi
  • Publication number: 20140118697
    Abstract: An adaptive optics (AO) optical system is used, to perform accurate alignment between the AO optical system and a subject's eye. An ophthalmologic apparatus according to the present invention includes a positional relationship change unit (e.g., a driving mechanism including a stage for moving the apparatus) configured to change a positional relationship between a subject's eye and an optical system including an aberration measurement unit (e.g., a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor) in a first irradiation state of the subject's eye with measurement light, and an irradiation state change unit (e.g., a mechanism for changing an irradiation position) configured to change an irradiation state of the subject's eye with the measurement light from the first irradiation state to a second irradiation state for correcting an aberration of the subject's eye based on a measurement result of the aberration measurement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Tanaka, Futoshi Hirose
  • Publication number: 20140111770
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus, when an output result of an imaging unit provided in an optical path of an imaging optical system satisfies a predetermined condition, stops controlling a driving unit in at least one direction based on a positional relationship of an image of the light flux, which has been reflected by a cornea of the subject's eye and regulated by a light flux regulation unit provided in the optical path of the imaging optical system, and maintains the control of the driving unit in the other directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Ohta, Toshiaki Okumura
  • Patent number: 8696125
    Abstract: An eye refractive power measurement apparatus includes: a measuring optical system for projecting measurement light onto a fundus of an examinee's eye, and causing a two-dimensional imaging device to capture the measurement light to be reflected from the fundus as a plurality of target pattern images at different distances from a measurement optical axis; a light deflecting member arranged at a position out of a conjugate position with a pupil of the examinee's eye on an optical path of the measuring optical system; a rotor for rotating the light deflecting member about an optical axis of the measuring optical system to allow a plurality of pattern light beams to be eccentrically rotated on the pupil; and a calculator for measuring an eye refractive power of the examinee's eye based on a target pattern image to be captured by the two-dimensional imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hamaguchi, Mitsuhiro Gono, Masaaki Hanebuchi, Hisashi Ochi
  • Patent number: 8696124
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for obtaining a tomographic image of an object based on light obtained by combining returning light from the object, which is irradiated with measurement light, and reference light corresponding to that measurement light, the imaging apparatus comprising: a reference light splitting unit adapted to split the reference light into a plurality of reference light beams of different wavelength ranges, and a plurality of dispersion compensation units adapted to compensate dispersion in accordance with wavelength ranges of the plurality of reference light beams, the dispersion compensation units being provided in respective light paths of the plurality of reference light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoji Kurosaka
  • Patent number: 8690329
    Abstract: A fundus capturing apparatus, comprising: an irradiation unit adapted to irradiate light through an illumination light path onto a fundus of an eye to be examined; a capturing unit adapted to capture a fundus of the eye to be examined with reflection light of the light irradiated by the irradiation unit; a focus confirming unit adapted to confirm a focus state of the fundus captured by the capturing unit, the focus confirming unit being arranged on the illumination light path; a moving unit adapted to move the focus confirming unit on the illumination light path along a guide axis that is parallel to the illumination light path, in accordance with the focus state; and an advancing/retracting unit adapted to insert the focus confirming unit into the illumination light path or retract the focus confirming unit from the illumination light path by rotating it with respect to the guide axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Aikawa
  • Publication number: 20140085607
    Abstract: An image detecting apparatus for detecting a first eyeball is provided. The image detecting apparatus includes an illumination light source, an imaging lens, an image sensing device, a display and a viewfinder. The illumination light source emits an illumination beam, and the illumination beam irradiates the first eyeball. The first eyeball reflects the illumination beam into an image beam. The imaging lens is disposed on a transmission path of the image beam. The image sensing device is disposed on the transmission path of the image beam, wherein the imaging lens is disposed between the first eyeball and the image sensing device. The display shows the image formed by the image beam. The viewfinder is disposed in front of the display such that a second eyeball observes the display via the viewfinder. An image detecting method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: ALTEK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pin-Wen Chen, Ching-Chung Hsu, Tso-Yu Chang, Chung-Ping Lai
  • Patent number: 8672481
    Abstract: An object of one aspect of the present invention is to obtain a measurement value in accordance with the condition of a crystalline lens of an examinee's eye. An apparatus for measuring ocular axial length includes: a measuring unit which irradiates measurement waves toward a fundus of the examinee's eye, and calculates the ocular axial length of the examinee's eye based on detection signals obtained from reflected waves including waves reflected from the fundus; and a determining unit which acquires reflection information related to an anterior segment of the examinee's eye, extracts reflection signals corresponding to a reflection object between a cornea and a posterior capsule of a crystalline lens based on the acquired reflection information, and determines whether the examinee's eye is a phakic eye or an IOL eye based on the extracted reflection signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriji Kawai, Masakazu Endo
  • Publication number: 20140063460
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first fundus image of an eye and a second fundus image of the eye; a first generation unit configured to generate, by performing processing of enhancing contrast of a first, characteristic region of a part of the first fundus image, an image which corresponds to the first characteristic region; a second generation unit configured to generate, by performing processing of enhancing contrast of a second characteristic region of a part of the second fundus image which corresponds to the first characteristic region, an image which corresponds to the second characteristic region; and a correction unit configured to correct an acquisition position of a tomographic image of the eye based, on a positional displacement between the images which respectively correspond to the first and second characteristic regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Dawid Borycki, Hiroshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 8652044
    Abstract: A portable non-contact tonometer (2) for measuring Intra-Ocular Pressure (IOP) of subject's eye is presented. Tonometer (2) is designed to be operated by the subject himself. It is housed in a hand-held case (4) which contains compressed air source (40), eye alignment detectors (12, 14), cornea applanation detector system (8, 10), a pressure sensor (32) and optical system for presenting gaze target (48). The animated gaze target (48) advantageously draws subject's attention to itself and keeps his eye (62) in alignment long enough for the measurement to take place, while optionally displaying system status and operating instructions. An audio annunciation system (16) guides the subject in the operation of the tonometer and prepares him for the actual procedure. The timing of the air puff is randomized to prevent subject's conditioning. The overall operation of the tonometer is controlled by a built-in microprocessor (50) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Igor Abramov