Including Illuminator Patents (Class 351/221)
  • Patent number: 9801538
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing portable wavefront aberrometer data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a mobile computing device, image data captured by a light detector of the mobile computing device, the image data corresponding to light reflected from an eye of a patient and passed through a portable wavefront aberrometer coupled to the mobile computing device. The method further includes processing the image data to compute a patient-specific parameter associated with the patient, and transmitting the patient-specific parameter to one or more of the mobile computing device or a computing device associated with a medical provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SMART VISION LABS, INC.
    Inventor: Yaopeng Zhou
  • Patent number: 9795294
    Abstract: A method, a, controller, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions; each of which control an apparatus to produce multiple images of an area of an eye in parallel. Selecting one of the images for estimating a change in position of the area to be used for tracking the area of the eye being imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Nozato
  • Patent number: 9791926
    Abstract: Image-adaptive technologies supportive of better vision. Working with ordinary image display devices and, optionally, specialized ones, a number of embodiments are disclosed that provide displayed images better able to be perceived by those with, for example, macular degeneration, poor night-vision and cataracts. In both ordinary and worn display embodiments, an image, potentially of the viewer's instant surroundings, is displayed whose fundamental light components and/or managed processes result in better visual perception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: John Castle Simmons
  • Patent number: 9788719
    Abstract: In order to suppress a load on a subject when a fundus is irradiated with multiple beams, a fundus imaging apparatus for forming an image of a first area in the object, includes: a determination unit for determining a second area other than the first area in the object to be inspected; a detection unit for detecting moving of the object to be inspected on the basis of return light from the second area, which is irradiated with second light; a correction unit for correcting the first area on the basis of the detected moving; and a forming unit for forming an image of the object to be inspected on the basis of the return light from the corrected first area, which is irradiated with the first light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Makihira, Kazuhide Miyata, Koji Nozato
  • Patent number: 9782604
    Abstract: An ophthalmic phototherapy device and associated phototherapy treatment method for promoting healing of damaged or diseased eye tissue. The ophthalmic phototherapy device includes a light emitting mechanism for transmitting light of at least one preselected wavelength to the eye tissue. The ophthalmic phototherapy method includes directing light of at least one wavelength for a selected period of time to a portion of damaged or diseased eye tissue, whereby the light transmitted to the damaged or diseased eye tissue stimulates cellular activity in the eye tissue to promote healing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Photospectra Health Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S Dotson, Graham Merry
  • Patent number: 9717410
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus measures a dimension of an eye to be examined. The ophthalmologic apparatus includes a light source, an incidence member, an acquisition unit, and a display unit. The incidence member causes light from the light source to be incident on a plurality of different positions in the eye to be examined. The acquisition unit acquires a two-dimensional tomographic image of an interior of the eye to be examined on the basis of a plurality of interference signals acquired as a result of the incidence member causing the incidence of light on the plurality of different positions. The display unit displays the acquired two-dimensional tomographic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Tomey Corporation
    Inventors: Chihiro Kato, Katsumasa Okouchi
  • Patent number: 9706920
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus capable of performing suitable examination according to the state of the eye includes an examination optical system used to examine an eye, a drive part, two or more imaging parts, an analyzer, and a controller. The drive part moves the examination optical system. The two or more imaging parts substantially simultaneously photograph the anterior segment of the eye from different directions. The analyzer analyzes photographic images captured by the two or more imaging parts to obtain the three-dimensional position of the eye, and displacement information indicating the displacement direction and displacement amount of the eye due to eye movement. The controller performs a first alignment process of controlling the drive part based on the three-dimensional position to move the examination optical system and a second alignment process of controlling the drive part based on the displacement information to move the examination optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Hiroaki Okada, Taisaku Kogawa, Takashi Fujimura, Kohta Fujii
  • Patent number: 9649023
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, determining biometric properties of an eye includes emitting a measuring light beam. The measuring light beam is guided towards the eye for a plurality of scans. For each scan, the measuring light beam enters the cornea in a first lateral region and reaches the retina of the eye in a second lateral region along a corresponding beam path. The beam paths are different from each other. The measuring light beam back-reflected from the eye for each scan is interferometrically analyzed to provide corresponding OCT data. At least one of the following is determined according to the OCT data: at least one distance from a surface of the retina to a surface of the cornea or to a surface of the lens of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: NOVARTIS AG
    Inventors: Klaus Vogler, Christof Donitzky
  • Patent number: 9649024
    Abstract: For the model-based determination of the biometry of eyes, the eye is illuminated by a light source via a scanning unit, the focus of the measuring light beam in the eye is moved or shifted laterally and/or axially via an adjusting device and the light fractions back-scattered by the boundary surfaces and from the tissue of the eye via an interferometer are detected by a sensor and relayed to a control and evaluation unit by which a parametric eye model which describes at least two boundary surfaces present in the eye is adapted to the scan or scans. The invention relates to the field of ophthalmology and serves in particular for the optical determination of the biometry of eyes by application of two-dimensional optical coherence tomography images. However, the method is not limited to the use of coherence tomography nor to the utilization of optical measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Martin Hacker, Ferid Bajramovic
  • Patent number: 9639917
    Abstract: According to some examples, a method for Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) image modification includes receiving an OCT image of a region of interest of patient tissue from an OCT imaging system configured to direct an OCT beam at the region of interest and determining that an OCT transparent instrument is within the OCT image. The method further includes detecting an artifact in the OCT image, the artifact resulting from the OCT transparent instrument being within a path of the OCT beam. In response to detecting the artifact, the method further includes creating an image modification plan to remove the artifact from the OCT image. The method further includes executing the image modification plan to remove the artifact from the OCT image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Lingfeng Yu, Hugang Ren, Michael Papac
  • Patent number: 9629536
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a illumination system for ophthalmic microscope and its operation method. Light beams generated by White LED, passes through the condenser and relay system to produce illumination on retina of the eye and boundary of the illumination is determined by the aperture stop. To enhance the visualization of red glow, a Single source beam then divided into two beams using divider system contains Beam splitter and mirror. Transmitted beams and reflected beams are made to focus on circular areas coated with reflective material of virtual beam splitter which is positioned coaxially with observation system of the microscope. Focused beam then passes through the objective lens of the microscopic system. Reflected beams from retina then passes through the objective lens and reaches the observation system via Virtual Beam Splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: M/s. Appasamy Associates
    Inventors: Ravilla Kasthuri Narayanaswamy, Parameswaran Subash, Chamsoudine Mohamed Ittaythula, Abimanyu Jayaram, Thirugnanasambantham Verra Soundra Senthil Murugan
  • Patent number: 9610022
    Abstract: An adaptive optical objective inspection instrument for optic nerve function comprises: a sub-system for measuring wave aberration of human's eyes, including a near infrared beacon light source, an intermediate optical system, a wavefront corrector and a wavefront sensor, configured to measure and obtain wave aberration of testee's eyes, the intermediate optical system arranged along an optical path between the near infrared beacon light source and the wavefront sensor, and the wavefront corrector arranged in the optical path of the intermediate optical system; a sub-system for correcting wave aberration of human's eyes, including the intermediate optical system, the wavefront corrector and a control unit, the control unit configured to drive and control the wavefront corrector to correct the wave aberration of testee's eyes according to the measured wave aberration; and a sub-system for inspecting optic nerve function, including a visual stimulus display and a system for collecting visual evoked potential si
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Institute of Optics and Electronics, The Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Yun Dai, Haoxin Zhao, Yudong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9592404
    Abstract: An ophthalmic phototherapy device and associated phototherapy treatment method for promoting healing of damaged or diseased eye tissue. The ophthalmic phototherapy device includes a light emitting mechanism for transmitting light of at least one preselected wavelength to the eye tissue. The ophthalmic phototherapy method includes directing light of at least one wavelength for a selected period of time to a portion of damaged or diseased eye tissue, whereby the light transmitted to the damaged or diseased eye tissue stimulates cellular activity in the eye tissue to promote healing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: PHOTOSPECTRA HEALTH SCIENCES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S Dotson, Graham Merry
  • Patent number: 9592405
    Abstract: An ophthalmic phototherapy device and associated phototherapy treatment method for promoting healing of damaged or diseased eye tissue. The ophthalmic phototherapy device includes a light emitting mechanism for transmitting light of at least one preselected wavelength to the eye tissue. The ophthalmic phototherapy method includes directing light of at least one wavelength for a selected period of time to a portion of damaged or diseased eye tissue, whereby the light transmitted to the damaged or diseased eye tissue stimulates cellular activity in the eye tissue to promote healing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: PHOTOSPECTRA HEALTH SCIENCES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S Dotson, Graham Merry
  • Patent number: 9576181
    Abstract: A method for defining an isolation area around an object of interest in a cell culture vessel, the method comprising the steps of: —obtaining one or more images of the cell culture vessel using one or more of a plurality of illumination sources, each illumination source being capable of illuminating the vessel from a different direction; —selecting an image or combination of images for further processing; —applying a circular object detection transformation to identify one or more objects of interest being substantially circular objects in the cell culture vessel, which circular objects of interest are representative of isolated colonies in the cell culture vessel and determining the center of an object of interest; —applying a binarizing step to obtain a binarized image of the object of interest and other objects, wherein the center of the binarized image corresponds to the center of the object of interest; —iteratively forming concentric circles with increasing radius, wherein the concentric circles are cen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: BioMerieux, Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Loréne Allano, Guillaume Sutra, Lorette Munoz, Corine Fulchiron, Dominique Decaux, Frédéric Pinston
  • Patent number: 9572629
    Abstract: An ophthalmic endo-illumination system includes a light source producing a light beam, a beam splitter configured to split the light beam into a first beam provided to a fiber port and a second beam coupled to a monitoring fiber, and an alignment system for aligning the monitoring fiber. The alignment system includes a moveable ferrule housing having the monitoring fiber secured therein and a displacement mechanism for displacing housing in a first direction. The displacement mechanism includes a transfer spring coupled to the housing and a screw actuator having a sloped surface contacting a motion transfer ball such that movement of the screw actuator causes the motion transfer ball to move along the sloped surface, the motion transfer ball contacting the transfer spring such that movement of the motion transfer ball along the sloped surface causes a displacement of the transfer spring, thereby displacing the housing in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Michael J. Papac, Vit Ulinskas
  • Patent number: 9566000
    Abstract: A method for detecting amyloid beta plaques and drusen is disclosed. The method for detecting amyloid beta plaques and drusen may include applying a combination of optical retro mode illumination techniques to acquire a plurality of amyloid beta plaques and drusen images that are too small to be seen with other imaging modalities. The amyloid beta plaques and drusen images may also be detected with a non-transitory computer storage media having instructions stored thereon which, when executed, execute the method for detecting amyloid beta plaques and drusen. The method may track changes in plaque, size, area and density of the amyloid beta plaques and drusen over a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: NeuroVision Imaging LLC
    Inventors: Steven Verdooner, David Biggs, Austin Blanco
  • Patent number: 9553034
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer inspection system includes a camera and two or more illuminators. The illuminators illuminate a line of the semiconductor wafer in sequence and the camera captures an interleaved image of illuminated lines such that the individual images can be recovered from the interleaved image. The semiconductor wafer can be moved by a conveyor so that adjacent lines can be sequentially illuminated by the illuminators. The camera may include two or more line sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Scott A. Young, Guoheng Zhao, NanChang Zhu, Neeraj Khanna
  • Patent number: 9545341
    Abstract: Postoperative lens position is predicted on the basis of known measured values, such as the corneal thickness, the depth of the anterior chamber, the eye length, and the distances of the capsular bag equator and/or of the lens haptic from the anterior surface of the lens. In addition, the calculation also takes into account the attitude of the intraocular lens, for which purpose additional parameters of the pseudophakic eye are used that have not previously been taken into consideration. The proposed method is suitable for a more exact prediction of the strength and nature of an intraocular lens to be implanted in a pseudophakic eye in the context of cataract surgery or of a refractive intervention. The method is based on the use of suitable calculation methods, e.g. geometric optical formulae, or of ray tracing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Bissmann, Tobias Bühren, Michael Trost
  • Patent number: 9526412
    Abstract: Geographic atrophy of the eye can be detected and measured by imaging the eye at a depth greater than the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) at a plurality of locations of the eye, for example, using optical coherence tomography (OCT); determining a ratio of the intensities of imaging signals of a retinal layer(s) with respect to the intensity of imaging signals of a sub-RPE layer(s) at each location; determining representative values based at least in part on the determined ratios; generating a map of the representative values; and identifying diseased areas from the map. Contours and binary maps may be generated based on the identified diseased areas. The size and shape of the identified areas may be analyzed and monitored over a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Qi Yang, Charles A. Reisman
  • Patent number: 9513217
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the non-invasive selection of high-quality seeds, based on optical coherence tomography, by which pathogen-infected and pathogen-free seeds can be discriminated in a non-invasive manner. The apparatus is operated by the processes of scanning a seed of diagnostic interest in a non-invasive manner using an optical coherence tomographic unit; processing interference signals of the scanned tomographic images to produce tomographic image data of the seed of diagnostic interest; analyzing the tomographic image data; comparing the analyzed tomographic image data with preset reference tomographic image data; diagnosing the seed of diagnostic interest as a pathogen-infected or pathogen-free seed according to the comparison data; and selecting high-quality seeds according to the diagnosis data. It can screen high-quality seeds with rapidity, convenience, and accuracy at a low cost and is industrially applicable, making a great contribution to agricultural quarantine inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Kyungpook National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Jeehyun Kim, Hee-Young Jung, Changho Lee, Seung-Yeol Lee
  • Patent number: 9480399
    Abstract: An illumination device for an optical viewing apparatus defines an illumination beam path and includes an illumination light source having mutually independently controllable individual light sources arranged in a first plane in a two-dimensional array. The illumination device defines an illumination beam path and includes illumination optics defining an optical axis. The illumination optics form a second plane conjugated with respect to the first plane. A diaphragm unit is arranged in the second plane. The diaphragm unit has a plurality of apertures and the apertures are assigned to corresponding ones of the individual light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Peter Reimer, Daniel Kolster, Franz Merz, Stefan Meinkuss
  • Patent number: 9480393
    Abstract: A system and method for assessing the functionality of a visual system of the eye using a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) to generate a coded pattern which is illuminated by a light source. Optics project an image of the coded pattern onto the retina of the eye. Sensors detect electrical signals based on the response of the visual system to the image. One or more processors control the DMD and correlate the electrical response from the sensor with the coded DMD pattern to assess the functionality of the visual system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ANNIDIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan Boate, Jeremy Lloyd Gribben
  • Patent number: 9468559
    Abstract: An ophthalmological apparatus includes a handle for manually holding and applying the ophthalmological apparatus, fastening abilities for fixing the ophthalmological apparatus at an eye, a light source, and a light projector for the focused projection of light pulses for punctiform tissue breakdown at a focal point in the interior of the eye tissue. The ophthalmological apparatus also includes a movement driver for moving the light projector. The movement of the light projector and therefore that of the focal point with the assistance of the movement driver permits a dimensioning of the optical projection system of the light projector which is substantially smaller than in the case of an ophthalmological apparatus where the focal point is moved exclusively by an optical projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SIE AG SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ENGINEERING
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 9465236
    Abstract: This invention describes Ophthalmic Devices with media inserts that have photonic elements upon or within them. In some embodiments passive ophthalmic devices of various kinds may be formed. Methods and devices for active ophthalmic devices based on photonic based projection systems may also be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall B. Pugh, Frederick A. Flitsch
  • Patent number: 9459470
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for improving and enhancing vision are disclosed. Adjustable lenses or optical systems may be used to provide adaptive vision modification. In some embodiments, vision modification may be responsive to the current state of the user's visual system. Certain embodiments provide correction of the subject's near and far vision. Other embodiments provide enhancement of vision beyond the physiological ranges of focal length or magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Gearbox, LLC
    Inventors: W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9402542
    Abstract: A system for use during a medical procedure. The system includes a pupilometer for obtaining data descriptive of one or more pupilary characteristics from an eye of a subject, and means for delivering a noxious stimulus. The means for delivering a noxious stimulus is in communication with the pupilometer and is activated by the pupilometer thereby sending a noxious stimulus to an anatomical structure of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Neuroptics, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence W. Stark, Claudio Privitera, Kamran Siminou, Jeffrey Oliver
  • Patent number: 9386918
    Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical system can include a light source configured to generate a light beam and a filter wheel disposed between the light source and an intraocular illumination device. The filter wheel can include an unfiltered area, a first filtered area, and a second filtered area. The first and second filtered areas can limit transmission of certain wavelengths of the light beam to the intraocular illumination device. The system can include an actuator configured to selectively move the filter wheel to cause the light beam to pass through the unfiltered area, the first filtered area, and/or the second filtered area. The system can include a computing device configured to provide a control signal to the actuator. The computing device can be configured to provide a control signal to the actuator based on a beam location, a beam composition, an exposure time, and/or a limited visibility condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: NOVARTIS AG
    Inventors: Eyad Ammari, Steven T. Charles
  • Patent number: 9364144
    Abstract: The eye is illuminated by a variable laser light source with a measurement range corresponding to the eye length, wherein the focus of the laser beam in the eye can be shifted laterally and/or axially by an adjustment mechanism, and the light fractions back-scattered from the sample are captured via an interferometer by a data acquisition unit and forwarded to a data processing unit. In the data processing unit, an OCT whole-eye scan is combined with at least one or several further overlapping tomographic part-eye or whole-eye scans. Reference information is used to register the first whole-eye scan with the further part-eye or whole-eye scans, and the combined whole-eye scan is evaluated and/or displayed on a user surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Martin Hacker, Ferid Bajramovic, Rico Fuchs, Martin Kühner
  • Patent number: 9364147
    Abstract: A system for an automatic noninvasive screening for diabetes and pre-diabetes using a device to take at least one image of a patient's eye, executing non-transitory instructions executable on a processor for analyzing the image and displaying an indication if the patient has diabetes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventors: Jason Wakizaka, Wilson To, Tade Souaiaia
  • Patent number: 9361791
    Abstract: A system and method for promoting enhanced healing of a medical patient includes a patient room having accommodations for the medical patient, a central computer connected to a media server, a main display located in the patient room, the main display connected to the central computer and including at least a navigation pane and a content pane, an audio system connected to the central computer and capable of providing sound to the patient room, and a remote unit directly accessible to the medical patient, the remote unit having a capability to control the central computer and a content of the main display and a content of the audio system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Inventor: Gerard Eisterhold
  • Patent number: 9301676
    Abstract: Improved systems and methods for determining ocular scattering are provided. These systems and methods can be used to quantify ocular scattering before and/or after a wide variety of different ophthalmic diagnostic procedures, and various surgical and non-surgical treatments. One embodiment provides a system and method for determining ocular scattering that uses two light detectors, with one detector configured to detect light over a relatively narrow angular range, and the other detector configured to detect light over a relatively large angular range. The data from the narrow angular range and the large angular range can then be analyzed to determine a measurement of ocular scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Huawei Zhao, Li Chen
  • Patent number: 9301677
    Abstract: Systems and methods for designing and implanting a customized intra-ocular lens (IOL) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes an eye analysis module that analyzes a patient's eye and generates biometric information relating to the eye. The system also includes eye modeling and optimization modules to generate an optimized IOL model based upon the biometric information and other inputted parameters representative of patient preferences. The system further includes a manufacturing module configured manufacture the customized IOL based on the optimized IOL model. In addition, the system can include an intra-operative real time analyzer configured to measure and display topography and aberrometry information related to a patient's eye for assisting in proper implantation of the IOL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: WaveTec Vision Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefano Salvati, Cesare Tanassi, Gianluigi Meneghini, Renato Frison, Walter Zanette
  • Patent number: 9295388
    Abstract: In exemplary implementations, this invention comprises apparatus for retinal self-imaging. Visual stimuli help the user self-align his eye with a camera. Bi-ocular coupling induces the test eye to rotate into different positions. As the test eye rotates, a video is captured of different areas of the retina. Computational photography methods process this video into a mosaiced image of a large area of the retina. An LED is pressed against the skin near the eye, to provide indirect, diffuse illumination of the retina. The camera has a wide field of view, and can image part of the retina even when the eye is off-axis (when the eye's pupillary axis and camera's optical axis are not aligned). Alternately, the retina is illuminated directly through the pupil, and different parts of a large lens are used to image different parts of the retina. Alternately, a plenoptic camera is used for retinal imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Matthew Everett Lawson, Ramesh Raskar
  • Patent number: 9295381
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wavefront sensor using a pair of screens, each having a two-dimensional array of circular apertures, to achieve Moiré effects, and its use to measure the slope of a wavefront.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: WaveTec Vision Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Y. Van Heugten
  • Patent number: 9289119
    Abstract: Device for determining at least one sight parameter of a subject, includes stimulation elements for stimulating the sight of the subject in a predetermined viewing direction, elements for ophthalmological measurement of at least one sight parameter of a subject, the elements for ophthalmological measurement having at most one optical measurement axis for each eye, at least one optical conjugation system, arranged between the ophthalmological measurement apparatus and the right eye and/or left eye of a subject, and a system for aligning the optical conjugation system, so as to optically conjugate a point Y and a point E, the point Y intended to coincide with the optical center of rotation of the eye concerned, the point E being situated on the optical measurement axis, so as to align the image of the optical measurement axis with the ocular axis of the right or left eye in a plurality of viewing directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL (COMPAGNIE GENERALE D'OPTIQUE)
    Inventors: Konogan Baranton, Guilhem Escalier
  • Patent number: 9277858
    Abstract: Aberration is measured as phase information at each of a plurality of aberration measurement points, and at the time of correcting the aberration with correction pixels of an aberration correction unit of which the number is greater than the number of the plurality of aberration measurement points, correction pixels corresponding to each aberration measurement point are driven based on the phase information. Regarding correction pixels not positionally corresponding to the aberration measurement points, the aberration correction unit is driven based on phase information in the vicinity of this correction pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Nozato, Kohei Takeno
  • Patent number: 9271645
    Abstract: There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for enhancing the illumination of structures of the eye using predetermined scan patterns of an illuminating light beam. The systems, apparatus and methods further provide for obtaining enhanced single images of multiple structures of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: LENSAR, LLC.
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, Richard Ty Olmstead, Gary P. Gray, Steven E. Bott, James Strobel
  • Patent number: 9271647
    Abstract: Provided are methods for determining an axis of best vision of an eye or for objectively determining a visual axis of an eye and for making the most accurate measurement of refraction. Generally, an optical measuring device or instrument projects laser beams into the eye during a scan. Positions of the projected beams are detected and measured on the retina to produce a set of projections. Wave front tilt of radiation that is backscattered from the retina is calculated as a best fit from the set of projections. The axis of best vision or the visual axis is reconstructed from a set of those traces of chief rays exiting from the eye that cross the nodal point of the optical system of the eye and that are normal to the wave front tilts. Measuring with the Styles Crawford scans centered over this axis provides the most accurate objective refraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Inventors: Joe S. Wakil, Paul van Saarloos, Vasyl Molebny, Sergiy Molebny
  • Patent number: 9259149
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus for measuring spatial distances within a patient's eye is disclosed. The apparatus can be used to measure, for example, the capsular bag depth in an aphakic eye. The spatial measurement system can direct laser light into a patient's eye so that a portion of the light is scattered by the capsular bag. The scattered light can be directed to a detector where spots can be formed corresponding to the locations on the capsular bag from which the light was scattered. The distance from the cornea to the capsular bag can be determined based, for example, at least in part on the distance between the spots formed on the detector. In some embodiments, the apparatus can include a surgical microscope and/or a wavefront aberrometer. In some embodiments, an alignment system can be used to precisely position the apparatus relative to the patient's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: WaveTec Vision Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack T. Holladay, Thomas D. Padrick, Richard J. Michaels
  • Patent number: 9247873
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a planar image acquisition unit configured to acquire a planar image of a subject, a tomographic image acquisition unit configured to acquire a tomographic image of the subject, and a polarization adjustment member disposed in a common optical path of a portion of an optical system in the planar image acquisition unit and a portion of an optical system in the tomographic image acquisition unit and configured to adjust polarization states of a measuring beam for the planar image and a measuring beam for the tomographic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Iwase, Tomoyuki Makihira, Makoto Sato, Kazuhide Miyata, Ritsuya Tomita, Hiroyuki Shinbata, Daisuke Kibe
  • Patent number: 9220408
    Abstract: A method of screening a pupil of a subject to determine whether the pupil reflex resembles a canonical pupil reflex is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of stimulating the pupil with a stimulus source, such as a pupilometer and determining whether one of various pupillary response conditions is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Neuroptics, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudio Privitera, Kamran Siminou
  • Patent number: 9211214
    Abstract: A laser system including: a laser source operable to emit a first and a second laser beam having first and second operating wavelengths, respectively; a fiber optic cable to guide and homogenize the laser beams; an expander to increase the diameter of the laser beams; a cylinder to guide the laser beams and limit respective diameters of the first and second laser beams, wherein the cylinder is positioned after the expander on an optical path of the laser beam; a first optical system to collimate the laser beams, wherein the optical system is positioned after the cylinder on the optical path of the laser beams; a spot-size selector comprising a plurality of apertures, wherein the spot-size selector is positioned after the first optical system on the optical path of the laser beams; and a second optical system to focus the laser beams on a tissue of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc
    Inventors: Valery Rubinchik, Charles Richard Kjellbotn, Greg Heacock, Louise Culham, Wes A. Williams
  • Patent number: 9204791
    Abstract: Provided is an ocular optical system, which permits a measuring beam scanned by two scanning units disposed close to each other to enter an anterior ocular segment of an eye to be inspected and to irradiate a fundus. The ocular optical system includes an optical unit which is disposed at a position of an intermediate image, which is optically conjugate to the fundus, and has a surface having different optical powers corresponding to scan directions of the two scanning units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Saito
  • Patent number: 9204793
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus including a splitting unit configured to split, on a light path in an optical observation system of an anterior segment of a subject's eye, an anterior segment image into a plurality of light beams at a position conjugated with the anterior segment, and an imaging unit configured to capture the anterior segment image via an image forming unit configured to form an image of the light beams coming from the anterior segment, split by the splitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Iwanaga, Hiroshi Aoki, Hirofumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9200887
    Abstract: An adaptive optics scanning system using a beam projection module with four or more axes of motion that can project and control the position and angle of a beam of light to or from an adaptive optics element. The adaptive optics scanning system is compact in size, overcoming the challenges of a traditional lens and mirror based pupil relay design. The adaptive optics scanning system has little to no dispersion, chromatic aberration, and off-axis aberration for improved optical performance. The system and methods for calibrating and optimizing the system are described. A modular adaptive optics unit that scans and interfaces an adaptive optics element is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Michael Potsaid, John Joseph Taranto, Alex Ezra Cable
  • Patent number: 9161690
    Abstract: There is provided an ophthalmologic apparatus having a tracking function that can select a fundus image that is less affected by eye motion to reduce burdens on an operator/a patient in fundus imaging, wherein the ophthalmologic apparatus picks up a first fundus image (202), extracts a characteristic point as a template from the first fundus image (203), executes pattern matching on a second fundus image (205) to determine presence/absence of eye motion, and decides a tracking template image (207).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tomatsu, Tomoyuki Makihira, Nobuhito Suehira
  • Patent number: 9157726
    Abstract: An optical coherence tomographic imaging apparatus including a planar image obtaining unit configured to obtain a planar image of a subject based on a return beam from the subject irradiated by the irradiation unit that irradiates the subject with light of a first wavelength band, a tomographic image obtaining unit configured to obtain a tomographic image of the subject based on a beam in which a return beam from the subject irradiated with the laser beam emitted while sweeping a second wavelength range which is longer than the first wavelength band and a reference beam corresponding to the laser beam are combined, and a correction unit configured to correct an optical path length difference generated due to a difference between the first wavelength band and the second wavelength band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Makihira, Yoshihiko Iwase, Kazuhide Miyata, Makoto Sato, Kazuro Yamada, Ritsuya Tomita, Daisuke Kibe, Hiroyuki Shinbata
  • Patent number: 9149185
    Abstract: A vision testing device includes a hood having an interior space defining a first side and a second side. A first electronic device is operable to project a first image to the first side and a second electronic device is operable to project a second image to the second side. The first image and the second image comprise computer-generated images. A mirror extends from the first side to the second side and is positioned to reflect the first image and the second image. A first viewing lens is in optical communication with the first side and is configured to receive the first image reflected from the mirror. A second viewing lens is in optical communication with the second side and is configured to receive the second image reflected from the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Vision Assessment Corporation
    Inventor: Kent Tabor
  • Patent number: 9149182
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an optical coherence tomography instrument comprises an eyepiece for receiving at least one eye of a user is provided; a light source that outputs light that is directed through the eyepiece into the user's eye; an interferometer configured to produce optical interference using light reflected from the user's eye; an optical detector disposed so as to detect said optical interference; and electronics coupled to the detector. The electronics can be configured to perform a risk assessment analysis based on optical coherence tomography measurements obtained using the interferometer. An output device can be electrically coupled to the electronics, and may be configured to output the risk assessment to the user through the output device. The optical coherence tomography instrument can be self-administered, and the eyepiece can be a monocular system or a binocular system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute
    Inventors: Alexander C. Walsh, Paul G. Updike, Srinivas R. Sadda