Including Diaphram Or Slit Patents (Class 351/214)
  • Patent number: 8517536
    Abstract: A fundus optical image device includes a light source, a first optical element set and a second optical element set. The light emitted from the light source reaches the fundus through the first optical element set. The second optical element set has at least one curvature-adjustable lens. The light emitted from the light source is reflected by the fundus and then passes through the curvature-adjustable lens to present an image of the fundus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Crystalvue Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Chung-Cheng Chou, William Wang
  • Patent number: 8511825
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an Illuminating device for an operating microscope in ophthalmic surgery, having at least one light source (151), at least one lens (152, 155), at least one luminous field diaphragm (153), and at least one optical deflector (156), wherein in order to provide an illumination beam path (119) light from the light source (151) is guided through a main objective (107) which is disposed between the deflector (156) and an eye (180) that is to be observed, and on to the eye that is to be observed, wherein a device (154) that can be introduced into the illumination beam path (119) for acting upon the illumination beam path (119) with a structure that comprises transparent and non-transparent or opaque regions such that this structure can be imaged on or close to the retina (180b) of the eye (180) that is to be observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Sander
  • Publication number: 20130208244
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about a pupil of a subject's eye, and a control change unit configured to change a method of fogging control for moving a fixation target image away from the subject's eye according to the information acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Patent number: 8506081
    Abstract: A focusing unit (11) is constituted of a prism base (11a), deflection prisms (11b and 11c), and a slit chart (11e) having a slit opening (11d), and the deflection prisms (11b and 11c) are arranged so that deflecting directions may become reverse. The slit opening (11d) is made equally to spread across the deflection prisms (11b and 11c) approximately and is impermeable except the slit opening (11d), and light incident on the deflection prisms (11b and 11c) passes only this slit opening (11d). In addition, the light which is emitted by a focus index illumination light source illuminates the slit opening (11d) through the deflection prisms (11b and 11c). As to an image of the illuminated slit opening (11d), two slit images are formed on a fundus of eye by actions of the deflection prisms 11b and 11c. Focus adjustment is made by aligning these slit images (S1 and S2) in a straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8454162
    Abstract: In one embodiment a wavefront sensor is configured to measure real time aberration values of a wavefront returned from the eye of a patient while an image of the eye of the patient is being viewed by a surgeon during an on-going vision correction procedure and for providing an output signal indicating real time aberration values and a display, coupled to the wavefront sensor, is configured to show a dynamic display indicating the real time aberration values to the surgeon and configured to be viewed by the surgeon while also viewing the image of the eye of the patient during the on-going vision correction procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Clarity Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yan Zhou, William Shea, Barry Linder, Baker Phil
  • Publication number: 20130128228
    Abstract: Example embodiments of a large dynamic range sequential wavefront sensor for vision correction or assessment procedures are disclosed. An example embodiment optically relays a wavefront from an eye pupil or corneal plane to a wavefront sampling plane in such a manner that somewhere in the relaying process, the wavefront beam from the eye within a large eye diopter range is made to reside within a desired physical dimension over a certain axial distance range in a wavefront image space and/or a Fourier transform space. As a result, a wavefront beam shifting device can be disposed there to fully intercept and hence shift the whole beam to transversely shift the relayed wavefront.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Clarity Medical Systems
    Inventors: Yan Zhou, William Shea
  • Patent number: 8446472
    Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging device which includes a matrix IR detector, a multifocal lens with a focal length ranging from a short focal length to a long focal length, including a front group of lenses, a variator, a compensator and means for positioning the variator and the compensator, the positions of the variator and of the compensator being respectively adapted to the focal length. This device includes a calibration system which comprises a control for the means for positioning the variator in the vicinity of its short focal length position and the compensator upstream of its long focal length position so as to conjugate the plane of the detector with a real object plane located upstream of the front group of lenses, this positioning being called calibration positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Bertrand Forestier, Etienne Payot
  • Patent number: 8434869
    Abstract: An apparatus mounted proximate to or on a base of a slit lamp illumination unit operates to automatically lock or secure the illumination unit in a stationary position after each eye examination and further operates to unlock it just before each examination. The apparatus may take the form of a threaded rod that replaces the conventional thumbscrew. The threaded rod is rotated by a motor, which receives instructions from a controller, both located within a housing. A touch sensor on the housing communicates with the controller to activate the locking or unlocking of the threaded rod and may also provide a signal to a transceiver for powering the illumination unit ON or OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventor: Andrew P. Davis
  • Publication number: 20130107215
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an illumination device for a stereomicroscope, in particular a surgical microscope for eye surgery, having at least one light source (10), a collector lens system (14), an aperture diaphragm (16), a condenser lens system (18), and an objective (22), illumination light being directed from the light source (10) through the collector lens system (14), the aperture diaphragm (16), the condenser lens system (18), and the objective (22) into the object plane (E19), the aperture diaphragm (16) being provided as a double orifice plate or four-orifice plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (SCHWEIZ) AG
    Inventor: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • Publication number: 20130027666
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus includes an optical system configured to illuminate a subject's eye with light generated by a light source, a first reflection portion including a reflection surface for reflecting the light generated by the light source and a transmission portion, and a light amount detection unit configured to detect an amount of light generated by the light source via the transmission portion. The first reflection portion is disposed in a direction opposite to a direction of the light generated by the light source toward the subject's eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Aikawa, Hideyuki Ohban, Yohei Saito, Yoshitaka Nakano
  • Patent number: 8356900
    Abstract: Example embodiments of a large dynamic range sequential wavefront sensor for vision correction or assessment procedures are disclosed. An example embodiment optically relays a wavefront from an eye pupil or corneal plane to a wavefront sampling plane in such a manner that somewhere in the relaying process, the wavefront beam from the eye within a large eye diopter range is made to reside within a desired physical dimension over a certain axial distance range in a wavefront image space and/or a Fourier transform space. As a result, a wavefront beam shifting device can be disposed there to fully intercept and hence shift the whole beam to transversely shift the relayed wavefront.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Clarity Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yan Zhou, William Shea
  • Publication number: 20130003019
    Abstract: Provided is an ophthalmologic apparatus capable of measuring a cornea thickness with good accuracy over a wide range of cornea thickness distribution. The ophthalmologic apparatus is capable of measuring the cornea thickness of an eye to be inspected based on a width of an image of scattered light on a light receiving element for receiving light scattered in a cornea of the eye to be inspected, of slit light projected to the cornea, and an intensity of light received by the light receiving element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Wataru Sakagawa
  • Publication number: 20120287399
    Abstract: Combined equipment for non-contacting determination of axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (VKT) and corneal curvature (HHK) of the eye, are also important for the selection of the intraocular lens IOL to be implanted, particularly the selection of an intraocular lens (IOL) to be implanted, preferably with fixation of the eye by means of a fixating lamp and/or illumination through light sources grouped eccentrically about the observation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS JENA GMBH
    Inventors: Roland Barth, Roland Bergner, Lothar Mueller, Dietmar Steinmetz, Siegfried Schubert, Klaus-Ditmar Voigt, Frank Behrendt, Burkhard Dietzel, Axel Doering
  • Patent number: 8277048
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an ophthalmic endoilluminator includes at least one pump light source and a scintillator fiber optically coupled to the pump light source. The scintillator fiber receives an output of the pump light source and produces light in a different wavelength range than the output of the pump light source. An optical coupling element couples the light to an optical fiber, which conducts the light into an eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander N. Artsyukhovich, Mark Buczek, Bruno Dacquay, Michael J. Yadlowsky
  • Patent number: 8277047
    Abstract: Illumination unit for the generation of optical sectional images in transparent media, particularly in the eye is disclosed. In the arrangement according to the invention, the low-divergence beams emitted by a laser serving as illumination source are imaged on or in the eye under examination by a reflection element which is controllable in a defined manner and beam deflection elements present in the beam path. The optical sectional images resulting in and on the eye can be observed and/or recorded, further processed and evaluated with an image processing unit in a known manner. In the solution according to the invention, a sectional image is generated by the deliberate periodic beam deflection of a particularly fine laser beam with high depth of focus, which sectional image remains sharp through the entire dimension of the object to be examined and makes possible an improved evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventor: Ingo Koschmieder
  • Patent number: 8272737
    Abstract: A microscope for performing an opthalmo-surgical intervention, in particular for a contactless wide-angle observation of an eye during an intervention, is provided. The microscope has a tube (1a) having an objective and an ocular, a holding arm (1), at which the tube (1a) is attached such that a movement of the objective with respect to the holding arm (1) along the optical axis of the objective is possible, an optical accessory part (8a) between the objective and the eye and a holding device for the optical accessory part (8a). The holding device for the optical accessory part is attached at the holding arm (1) by means of an attachment device (2) in such a way that the holding device does not take part in movements of the objective along the optical axis of the objective. Thereby, when changing the picture angle, a re-adjustment is highly simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Dieter Mann GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Mann
  • Patent number: 8246169
    Abstract: An ophthalmic imaging apparatus comprises: a laser emitter that includes an ultrashort pulse light source and emits a laser beam with a tunable wavelength in a predetermined visible wavelength range; an irradiation optical system that includes a scanner for scanning the laser beam two-dimensionally and irradiates the laser beam emitted from the laser emitter to a predetermined portion of an examinee's eye; a light receiving optical system including an apertured plate placed in a substantially conjugate position of a focal point of the laser beam on the predetermined portion and a light receiving element for receiving the laser beam reflected by the predetermined portion and passed through the apertured plate; a controller that controls the laser emitter to continuously change a central wavelength of the laser beam in a predetermined visible wavelength range and controls the scanner in association with the wavelength change of the laser beam to two-dimensionally change an irradiation position of the laser beam
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshifumi Sumiya
  • Patent number: 8237835
    Abstract: A digital imaging device comprising a light source, a pixel array detector having a rolling shutter functionality, a spatial light modulator configured to produce one or more modulation patterns during a frame exposure of the pixel array detector, and at least one timing signal configured to control a spatial-temporal relationship between a rolling shutter of the pixel array detector and the one or more modulation patterns provided by the spatial light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Aeon Imaging, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Stefan Muller
  • Patent number: 8205988
    Abstract: In intraocular observation of the eye, the slit lamp microscope 1causes the illumination light emitted by the illumination system 8 to enter the inside of the eye via the head lens 20 and causes an intraocularly reflected light of this illumination light to enter the observation system 6 via the head lens 20 in a state that an illumination optical axis O2 and an observation axis O1 are arranged so as to be nonparallel and a head lens optical axis OF and the observation optical axis O1 are arranged so as to be separate right and left.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Kouta Fujii, Takefumi Hayashi, Nobuaki Kitajima
  • Patent number: 8177364
    Abstract: Disclosed are an illumination device for an observation device comprising one, two or more observation beam paths with one respective beam of observation rays, especially for an ophthalamogic surgical microscope, and a corresponding observation device. Said illumination device is provided with at least one light source for generating at least one beam of observation rays in order to illuminate an object that is to be observed. According to one embodiment of the invention, at least two partial bundles of illumination rays are provided, each of which extends coaxial to a corresponding beam of observation rays, while the partial beams of illumination rays are embodied so as to form two or several illumination spots on the fundus of an object that is to be observed, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Peter Reimer, Heinz Abramowsky, Daniel Kolster, Fritz Straehle, Alfons Abele
  • Patent number: 8152299
    Abstract: A fundus camera includes an illumination optical system, an observation photographic optical system, a photographic diaphragm unit located in a position conjugate with the subject's eye in the observation photographic optical system, and an imaging unit disposed in the observation photographic optical system. The photographic diaphragm unit includes a first photographic diaphragm fixed during capturing of a still image and a second photographic diaphragm movable during capturing of a moving image. The fundus camera further includes a diaphragm driving unit configured to move the second photographic diaphragm on a plane orthogonal to an optical axis, an image recording unit configured to capture, with the first photographic diaphragm, a still image based on an output of the imaging unit and, with the second photographic diaphragm, a moving image based on an output of the imaging unit, and a display unit configured to display an image captured by the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Hara
  • Patent number: 8132911
    Abstract: An eye examination device has a fundus observation system and an optical stimulation system. The optical stimulation system has an optical targeting subsystem and an optical stimulation subsystem, wherein the optical stimulation system is structured to be used to provide light stimulation to a portion of a fundus of an eye targeted by the optical targeting subsystem in conjunction with observations made with the fundus observation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Paul D. Smith, Francisco de Monasterio, Edward Wellner
  • Patent number: 8123353
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus and a method for the contactless observation, examination, treatment, and/or diagnosis of an eye. The apparatus is structurally based on a fundus camera or an ophthalmoscope. An illumination beam path extends from a first illumination source to the eye and is fitted with a perforated mirror and imaging optics, and an observation beam path extends from the eye to a detector via the imaging optics and through the perforated mirror. The arrangement additionally comprises a beam path for scanning illumination which extends from a second illumination source to the eye and is fitted with a scanning unit, a lens, and a beam splitter in addition to the imaging optics. The scanning unit that is arranged in the beam path for scanning illumination is designed as (an) electrostatically or/and galvanometrically driven bidirectional or unidirectional tilting mirror(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Detlef Biernat, Daniel Bublitz, Andreas Brodschelm, Thomas Mohr, Stefan Richter
  • Publication number: 20120026466
    Abstract: Example embodiments of a large dynamic range sequential wavefront sensor for vision correction or assessment procedures are disclosed. An example embodiment optically relays a wavefront from an eye pupil or corneal plane to a wavefront sampling plane in such a manner that somewhere in the relaying process, the wavefront beam from the eye within a large eye diopter range is made to reside within a desired physical dimension over a certain axial distance range in a wavefront image space and/or a Fourier transform space. As a result, a wavefront beam shifting device can be disposed there to fully intercept and hence shift the whole beam to transversely shift the relayed wavefront.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: CLARITY MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Yan Zhou, William Shea
  • Publication number: 20120026465
    Abstract: A fundus optical image device includes a light source, a first optical element set and a second optical element set. The first optical element set includes a first diaphragm. The light emitted from the light source passes through the first diaphragm and reaches a fundus through the first optical element set. The second optical element set includes a second diaphragm. The light is reflected by the fundus and then passes through the second diaphragm to present an image of the fundus. At least one of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm is a microarray diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Crystalvue Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Chung-Cheng CHOU, William WANG
  • Publication number: 20120026461
    Abstract: A fundus optical image device includes a light source, a first optical element set and a second optical element set. The light emitted from the light source reaches the fundus through the first optical element set. The second optical element set has at least one curvature-adjustable lens. The light emitted from the light source is reflected by the fundus and then passes through the curvature-adjustable lens to present an image of the fundus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Crystalvue Medical Corporation
    Inventors: CHUNG-CHENG CHOU, William Wang
  • Patent number: 8100530
    Abstract: Example embodiments include a dynamic wavefront sensor, a controllable wavefront offsetting element and a controller that controls the controllable wavefront offsetting element to offset selected non-plane wave aberration components in order to allow remaining non-plane wave aberration components to be more efficiently detected and measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Clarity Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Yan Zhou, William Shea, Barry Linder, Phillip Baker
  • Patent number: 8100531
    Abstract: An opthalmoscope for examining a patient's eye includes an illumination device for generating an illumination beam Illumination imaging optics image the illumination beam onto the eye and a scanning device scans the illumination beam over the eye. The opthalmoscope also includes an observation device and observation imaging optics for imaging an observation beam generated by reflection of the illumination beam from the eye onto the observation device. An electronic shutter excludes stray light from the observation beam. The observation device comprises an electronic sensor with an array of photosensitive pixels that can respectively be activated and/or read out in rows, and the scanning device includes an electronic drive circuit for reading out at least one pixel row of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: OD-OS GmbH
    Inventors: Ben Liesfeld, Winfried Teiwes, Michael Huppertz, Kay-Uwe Amthor
  • Patent number: 8092018
    Abstract: A non-contact ultrasonic tonometer for measuring intraocular pressure of an examinee's eye, in non-contact manner by use of an ultrasonic wave comprises: a probe including a vibrator for making the ultrasonic wave incident on the examinee's eye and a sensor for detecting the ultrasonic wave reflected from the examinee's eye; and an observation optical system for observing an anterior segment of the eye, wherein the probe is placed in an optical path of the observation optical system, and the observation optical system forms an image of the anterior segment through a surrounding region of the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuyuki Miwa
  • Patent number: 8092024
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a subject's eye having an instrument axis, comprising a slit projector for projecting slits of light, at least one sensor. The apparatus being adapted to form a first image of light from a first slit on the at least one sensor after the light scatters from the eye along a first pathway. The apparatus adapted to form a second image of light from the first slit on the at least one sensor after the light scatters from the eye along a second pathway. The apparatus comprising a processor operatively coupled to receive the first image and the second image, the processor adapted to perform a projective transformation of the second image and to combine data from the first image and the second image, after it is transformed, to form a third image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventors: Lloyd G. Allred, Jeffrey B. McBeth
  • Publication number: 20110285961
    Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus for measuring the relative thickness of the lipid layer component of the precorneal tear film on the surface of an eye after distribution of the lipid layer subsequent to blinking is disclosed. An illuminator directs light to the lipid layer of a patient's eye. The illuminator is a broad spectrum light source covering the visible region and is a lambertion light emitter such that the light source is specularly reflected from the lipid layer and undergoes constructive and destructive interference in the lipid layer. A collector collects and focuses the specularly reflected light such that the interference patterns on the tear film lipid layer are observable. The collector also produces an output signal representative of the specularly reflected light which is suitable for further analysis, such as projection on to a high resolution video monitor or analysis by or storage in a computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: TEARSCIENCE, INC.
    Inventors: Donald R. Korb, Benjamin T. Gravely
  • Publication number: 20110261322
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an Illuminating device for an operating microscope in ophthalmic surgery, having at least one light source (151), at least one lens (152, 155), at least one luminous field diaphragm (153), and at least one optical deflector (156), wherein in order to provide an illumination beam path (119) light from the light source (151) is guided through a main objective (107) which is disposed between the deflector (156) and an eye (180) that is to be observed, and on to the eye that is to be observed, wherein a device (154) that can be introduced into the illumination beam path (119) for acting upon the illumination beam path (119) with a structure that comprises transparent and non-transparent or opaque regions such that this structure can be imaged on or close to the retina (180b) of the eye (180) that is to be observed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (SCHWEIZ) AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Sander
  • Patent number: 8043214
    Abstract: An improved neurological testing apparatus 10 for examining a person's neurological system has a body housing 12, one or more separate specific taste testing substances 20, one or more separate specific smell testing substances 30, one or more vision charts 40, 42 and a light source 50. The body housing 12 includes a front surface 12A, a rear surface 12B, an upper end 14, a bottom end 16 and an interior chamber 18 for holding a battery 100. The separate specific taste testing substances 20 are attached to the front or rear surfaces. The separate specific smell testing substances 30 are attached to either the front or rear surface. The vision charts 40, 42 lie on one of the front or rear surfaces opposite the smell or taste testing substances 20, 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventor: Puthalath Koroth Raghuprasad
  • Publication number: 20110222021
    Abstract: An ophthalmological measuring device for determining geometric structures in an eye includes an optical, triangulating measurement system for determining at least one geometric reference in the eye by triangulation, and an optical, interferometric measurement system for determining geometric detailed structures in the eye by optical interferometry. The measuring device is designed to position the geometric detailed structures determined by the interferometric measurement system on the basis of the at least one geometric reference in the eye determined by the triangulating measurement system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 8011785
    Abstract: An optical measurement apparatus comprises an optical system. The optical system comprises a source and an image capture device. The source is arranged to generate, when in use, a beam of electromagnetic radiation. Further, the optical system is arranged to direct the beam of electromagnetic radiation to a location to be measured. The optical measurement apparatus also comprises a feedback arrangement arranged to receive a reflected beam from the location to be measured and to provide feedback information in response to receipt of the reflected beam, the feedback information being indicative of degree of alignment of the location to be measured with the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Lein Applied Diagnostics
    Inventors: Austen Hearn, Simon Meadowcroft, Richard Holley
  • Patent number: 8009280
    Abstract: A system, for determining characteristics of a beam wavefront and reshaping such wavefront, including: apparatus for sampling the wavefront curvature and generating outputs; apparatus for reshaping the wavefront; and apparatus for receiving the outputs, proportioning the outputs to match the inputs need to drive controls for the reshaping apparatus, and sending the proportioned outputs to the reshaping apparatus. The reshaping apparatus is, preferably, a deformable mirror. The sampling apparatus includes a distorted grating. The method includes: positioning the sampling apparatus in the bean path; positioning a reshaping apparatus in the beam path; sampling the curvature of the wavefront and generating outputs representative of the curvature thereof; sending the generated outputs to the proportioning apparatus; proportioning the outputs to match the inputs needed to drive the controls of the reshaping apparatus; and sending the proportioned outputs to the reshaping apparatus to change the shape thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventors: Gavin R. G. Erry, Paul Harrison, Boyd Hunter, Eugene W. Butler
  • Patent number: 7993000
    Abstract: Imaging an eye of an animal can include injecting a ring of light through an outer portion of an entrance pupil of the eye of the animal onto a back interior portion of the eye. Light reflected off of the back interior portion of the eye and through an exit pupil effectively located at the entrance pupil within the ring of light can be collected. A diameter of the exit pupil at the entrance pupil can be less than an inner diameter of the ring of light, and a difference between an outer diameter of the ring and the inner diameter of the ring can be at least twenty percent of a diameter of the eye. The collected light reflected off of the back interior portion of the eye can be focused to thereby form an image of the back interior portion of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Phoenix Research Laboratories
    Inventor: Norbert A. Massie
  • Publication number: 20110170068
    Abstract: A method to enable the use of hand-held mobile devices for self-examination of opacities in the eye. Specifically, an image of a pinhole light source is created on the screen of a mobile device. The user then holds the screen of the mobile device close to the eye such that the pinhole image is along the optical axis of the eye. A detailed image of opacities in the eye is thus formed on the retina. The following features are used for optimizing the image of opacities: The light intensity of the pinhole image is adjustable. The pinhole image can be pulsed. The location of the pinhole image on the screen can be changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Ilan Dan-Gur
  • Publication number: 20110001931
    Abstract: An apparatus mounted proximate to or on a base of a slit lamp illumination unit operates to automatically lock or secure the illumination unit in a stationary position after each eye examination and further operates to unlock it just before each examination. The apparatus may take the form of a threaded rod that replaces the conventional thumbscrew. The threaded rod is rotated by a motor, which receives instructions from a controller, both located within a housing. A touch sensor on the housing communicates with the controller to activate the locking or unlocking of the threaded rod and may also provide a signal to a transceiver for powering the illumination unit ON or OFF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Andrew Peter Davis
  • Publication number: 20100328608
    Abstract: In intraocular observation of the eye, the slit lamp microscope 1 causes the illumination light emitted by the illumination system 8 to enter the inside of the eye via the head lens 20 and causes an intraocularly reflected light of this illumination light to enter the observation system 6 via the head lens 20 in a state that an illumination optical axis O2 and an observation axis O1 are arranged so as to be nonparallel and a head lens optical axis OF and the observation optical axis O1 are arranged so as to be separate right and left.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Kouta Fujii, Takefumi Hayashi, Nobuaki Kitajima
  • Patent number: 7854510
    Abstract: A slit lamp mounted eye imaging device for viewing wide field and/or magnified views of the retina or the anterior segment through an undilated or dilated pupil. The apparatus images posterior and anterior segments of the eye, and sections/focal planes in between and contains an illumination system that uses one or more LEDs, shifting optical elements, 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 retina, thereby creating artifacts in different locations on retina. Image processing is employed to detect and eliminate artifacts from images. The device is well suited for retinal imaging through an undilated pupil, non-pharmacologically dilated, or a pupil as small as 2 mm. Two or more images with reflection artifacts can be created and subsequently recombined through image processing into a composite artifact-free image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventors: Steven Roger Verdooner, Steven Leach
  • Publication number: 20100271594
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a solution for measuring geometric parameters in the eye which are required for calculating the refractive power of intraocular lenses. The device according to the invention for axial length measurement which acquires axial length, anterior corneal radii, anterior chamber depth, and other parameters in the anterior eye segment includes a control unit, a first measuring device for determining axial length, and an additional measuring device which acquires a plurality of structures in the anterior segment (such as the cornea, anterior chamber, and lens) and which has at least one illumination unit and at least one image recording unit. By determining additional partial-distance parameters of the anterior eye segments, the IOL can be calculated with high precision even after refractive surgery in which the natural relationship between the radii of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces is extensively altered by corneal surgery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Roland Bergner, Ingo Koschmieder, Claus Dreher, Rudolf Von Buenau
  • Patent number: 7819528
    Abstract: An apparatus providing a means for slit lamp biomicroscopes and similar opthalmological instruments to be accurately positioned and controlled without the need for a table base under the instrument, comprising an overhead assembly and mounting device which allows controlled movement and positioning of the slit lamp and associated illumination system in all three spatial axes. The overhead location of the support and movement mechanism combined with a joystick control on the instrument arm eliminates ergonomic obstacles allowing the instrument to be used when examining patients in wheelchairs and those affected by medical and anatomic restrictions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Jitander Singh Dudee
  • Publication number: 20100265460
    Abstract: A microscope for performing an opthalmo-surgical intervention, in particular for a contactless wide-angle observation of an eye during an intervention, is provided. The microscope has a tube (1a) having an objective and an ocular, a holding arm (1), at which the tube (1a) is attached such that a movement of the objective with respect to the holding arm (1) along the optical axis of the objective is possible, an optical accessory part (8a) between the objective and the eye and a holding device for the optical accessory part (8a). The holding device for the optical accessory part is attached at the holding arm (1) by means of an attachment device (2) in such a way that the holding device does not take part in movements of the objective along the optical axis of the objective. Thereby, when changing the picture angle, a re-adjustment is highly simplified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: DIETER MANN GMBH
    Inventor: Dieter Mann
  • Patent number: 7810927
    Abstract: A solution by which an examination of the cornea for possible encapsulations, air bubbles, or other irregularities following a refractive surgery can be carried out directly at the treatment device instead of the patient having to be transferred to an examination device. The additional slit illumination system includes two slit projector units substantially symmetrically mounted at an angle of about 40° to the optical axis of the refractive treatment device, and fixed and focused on the eye of the patient to be examined. The slit projector units include a light source, a projection optical system, and beam forming and/or conducting optical components. Although intended for surgical microscopes, it can also be used for other opthalmologic treatment devices that would benefit from a slit projection system for the examination before, during, or after the treatment procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Gerard Antkowiak, Marco Hanft, Elke Ebert, Karsten Festag, Juergen Ledermann
  • Publication number: 20100253910
    Abstract: An ocular light stimulus apparatus is proposed in which an ocular fundus of an examinee's eye is illuminated by infrared light from an illumination light source via a ring slit disposed in the position conjugate with the anterior ocular segment thereof, and the ocular fundus is irradiated with stimulus light from a stimulus light source and background light from a background light source via a photographic stop disposed in the position substantially conjugate with the anterior ocular segment of the examinee's eye. This allows the background light to be projected onto the ocular fundus so as to spread in all directions about the center of the anterior ocular segment. Therefore, the entire ocular fundus can be uniformly illuminated about the position onto which the stimulus light is projected, and an accurate local ERG examination can be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventor: Masaharu Mizuochi
  • Patent number: 7802886
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus has an optical system for presenting a target to an examinee's eye through a lens, an optical system placed in an optical path of the target presenting optical system, for correcting a refractive error of the eye seeing the target, a switching unit arranged to switch an aperture size of a diaphragm, which is placed in a position substantially conjugate with a pupil with respect to the lens, between a first size corresponding to a pupil size of the eye in photopic vision and a second size larger than the pupil size in scotopic vision, an inputting unit arranged to generate a signal for switching the aperture size between the first and second sizes, and a control unit arranged to control driving of the switching unit based on the signal from the inputting unit to switch the aperture size between the first and second sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriji Kawai
  • Publication number: 20100231858
    Abstract: One embodiment is a machine comprising a sequential wavefront scanner, a variable aperture, a position sensing device and an electronic control and detection system. The electronic control and detection system is configured to control the sequential wavefront scanner to shift the incident wavefront by a set of displacements selected to form a selected scanning pattern to scan the incident wavefront and configured to vary the aperture size to vary detection resolution at different parts of the scanning pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: CLARITY MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Wei Su, Yan Zhou
  • Publication number: 20100228098
    Abstract: An improved neurological testing apparatus 10 for examining a person's neurological system has a body housing 12, one or more separate specific taste testing substances 20, one or more separate specific smell testing substances 30, one or more vision charts 40, 42 and a light source 50. The body housing 12 includes a front surface 12A, a rear surface 12B, an upper end 14, a bottom end 16 and an interior chamber 18 for holding a battery 100. The separate specific taste testing substances 20 are attached to the front or rear surfaces. The separate specific smell testing substances 30 are attached to either the front or rear surface. The vision charts 40, 42 lie on one of the front or rear surfaces opposite the smell or taste testing substances 20, 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Puthalath Koroth Raghuprasad
  • Patent number: 7766479
    Abstract: A gaze point detecting device 1 detects a gaze point of an object person by projecting a display image displayed by an LCD 8 to outside via a finder 4 and capturing an eye image of the object person by a CCD 11 in response to illumination light irradiated toward outside from the finder 4, and the device comprises an optical system 5 arranged spaced only a focal length apart from a display surface 8a on an optical path of an image displaying optical system between the LCD 8 and the finder 4; the optical system 5 being arranged on an optical path of an imaging optical system between the finder 4 and the CCD 11; a telecentric optical system including a diaphragm 9 arranged spaced only a focal length apart from the optical system 5 on the optical path; and a controller 3 that detects a position of the gaze point of the object person based on the eye image captured by the CCD 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: National University Corporation Shizuoka University
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Ebisawa