Including Illuminator Patents (Class 351/221)
  • Patent number: 8727533
    Abstract: A fundus camera includes an optical path splitting unit arranged between a focusing unit and an imaging unit. The splitting unit has characteristics adapted to reflect light of a visible light region and to transmit near-infrared light. The splitting unit retreats from an optical path when a still fundus image is photographed. A quick-return mirror having such characteristics is used as the splitting unit. When near-infrared illumination light having a wavelength of about 850 nm is used, such light can be incident upon the imaging unit without loss of the amount of light. Visible light output from an internal fixation target is projected onto a subject's eye. A cornea diaphragm and a crystalline lens diaphragm are used for observing a fundus with invisible light. Each of the cornea diaphragm and crystalline lens diaphragm can be changed to another one having a different diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Itoh, Shinya Tanaka, Motoya Takai
  • Publication number: 20140132932
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for capturing an image of the anterior part of an iris, and a medical monitoring system using a smart phone. According to the apparatus for capturing an image of the anterior part of an iris, the present invention can contribute to the health of the eyes by accurately examining or capturing images of healthy states to diseased states of an iris by precisely capturing an image without reflecting light to the iris while easily opening the eyes through a more effective and simple method, and proceeding with follow-up treatment thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventor: Ha-Chul Jung
  • Publication number: 20140132931
    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: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: WaveTec Vision Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack T. Holladay, Thomas D. Padrick, Richard J. Michaels
  • Patent number: 8721078
    Abstract: An ophthalmic photographing apparatus includes an optical coherence tomography device provided to imaging a tomographic image of an examinee's eye. The device includes: an irradiation position changing unit for changing an irradiation position of measurement light emitted from a light source on the eye to change an imaging position on the eye; and a detector for detecting a interference state between the measurement light reflected from the eye and reference light, and a displacement detecting unit provided to detect displacement in continuity between a tomographic image having already been obtained in a first imaging region and a tomographic image to be obtained in a second imaging region different from the first imaging region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisanari Torii, Toshio Murata
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8714741
    Abstract: A method for selecting an image is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Philadelphia Retina Endowment Fund
    Inventors: Larry Donoso, Michael DellaVecchia
  • Patent number: 8717392
    Abstract: An apparatus including a first expander configured to provide a first image and including a first portion configured to provide a first calibration image; a second expander configured to provide a second image and including a second portion configured to provide a second calibration image; and a controller configured to control alignment of the first image and the second image, a combination of the first calibration image and the second calibration image being useable to control alignment of the first image and the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Tapani Levola
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8708493
    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 ophthalmologic 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: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Peter Reimer, Heinz Abramowsky, Daniel Kolster, Fritz Straehle, Alfons Abele
  • Publication number: 20140111774
    Abstract: There are provided an ophthalmologic apparatus, an ophthalmologic control method, and a recording medium capable of irradiating a subject's eye with an appropriate light amount. The ophthalmologic apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to measure a light amount emitted from a light source, and a control unit configured to control a light amount emitted from the light source based on relation information representing a relationship between a light amount emitted from the light source and a light amount irradiated on a test eye, and the light amount measured by the measurement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Isao Komine
  • Patent number: 8702234
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing multiple procedures involving the eye. The apparatus includes a data collection apparatus and a data analysis module. The data collection apparatus for collecting a data set corresponding to at least a portion of an eye of a patient is configured to provide data indicative of at least two neurological disorders selected from the group consisting of glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, dyslexia, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, LDS, head trauma, diabetes, and inappropriate responses to contrast sensitivity patterns. The data analysis module interrelates the data indicative of at least two neurological disorders to provide an interpretive result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Newman, Corinn C. Fahrenkrug
  • Patent number: 8696128
    Abstract: An optical measurement apparatus comprises an optical system (100) having a receiving axis (115). The optical system (100) comprises a source (102) that generates a probe beam that is directed to a location to be measured (114). A detector (112) of the optical system receives a reflected beam from the location to be measured (114). The apparatus also comprises a processing resource that receives an output signal from the detector (112) and makes an assessment of a characteristic of the output signal in order to determine a degree of alignment of the location to be measured (114) with the receiving axis (115) of the optical system (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Lein Applied Diagnostics
    Inventors: Richard Holley, Robin Taylor
  • Patent number: 8696122
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a system of optical components capable of operating in a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) mode and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) mode. The system of optical components includes a first optical module for the SLO mode, a second optical module for the OCT mode, and a first scanning device. The first optical module for the SLO mode includes a first source adapted to provide a first imaging beam for the SLO mode and a first detection device configured to receive a first signal associated with a first image of a retina of an eye. The second optical module for the OCT mode includes a second source adapted to provide a second imaging beam for the OCT mode and a second detection device configured to receive a second signal associated with a second image of the retina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Physical Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel X. Hammer, R. Daniel Ferguson, Mircea Mujat, Anket H. Patel, Nicusor V. Iftimia, Stephen Burns
  • Publication number: 20140098342
    Abstract: A device and method for use thereof to illuminate a visual system of a subject includes a light-transforming optical element configured to transform a substantially collimated beam of light into light having a diverging spatial distribution. Optionally, light having such spatial distribution includes a plurality of diverging beams of light. An imaging system mechanically cooperated with the light-transforming optical element is configured such as to form an image of the light-transforming optical element at an image surface associated with the eye that is distant from the retina. The irradiance level at the image surface exceeds that at the retina. Optionally, the image surface adjoins or includes the cornea. The imaging system may include an optical system containing refractive and/or reflective optical elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventor: The General Hospital Corporation
  • Publication number: 20140098347
    Abstract: An ophthalmological device (1) comprises an optical transmission system (5) for transmitting femtosecond laser pulses to a projection objective (3) for projecting the femto-second laser pulses onto or into eye (2) tissue. The ophthalmological device (1) further comprises an objective changing device (4) for changing and connecting the projection objective (3) to the optical transmission system (5). The objective changing device (4) comprises more than one different projection objectives (3) connected mechanically with each other, and the objective changing device (4) is configured to convey one of to the projection objectives (3) to the optical transmission system (5) for connecting the respective projection objective (3) to the optical transmission system (5). The objective changing device (4) makes it possible to adapt the laser-based ophthalmological device (1) for new applications without the need for extensive reconfigurations and/or costly vario-lense objectives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventor: CHRISTIAN RATHJEN
  • Patent number: 8690330
    Abstract: A device for swept-source optical coherence domain reflectometry (SS OCDR) on moveable samples, particularly human eyes, for obtaining A-scans, having a measuring range according to the sample length and having a laser light source which can be adjusted by a main wave number k0 and at least one receiver for the light dissipated from the sample, wherein the sample is illuminated on the sample surface by a measurement beam having a diameter D by way of a coupling device. The light source has a spectral line width of ?k<168 m?1 and the adjustment of the light source is carried out in ?<44 s/(D*k0).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Martin Hacker, Ralf Ebersbach, Thomas Pabst, Ulf Peterlein, Gerard Antkowiak, Roland Bergner, Ingo Koschmieder
  • Patent number: 8690328
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure includes optical tomographic methods and systems for acquiring information based on an image precisely in a short time. In one example, an optical tomographic imaging device may irradiate light on an eye which is the object to be measured via an interferometer 13 using a wavelength scanning-type laser light source 11, and acquire a cross-sectional image. The optical tomographic imaging device may include an object lens 23 at the focus position of the two-axis tilt mirror 22. It may deflect light in the x-axis and y-axis direction using the two-axis tilt mirror 22 and obtain a three-dimensional cross-sectional image without having distortion in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Santec Corporation
    Inventor: Changho Chong
  • Patent number: 8690331
    Abstract: A corneal hydration sensing system includes an illumination system configured to provide an illumination beam of terahertz radiation, an optical system arranged in an optical path of the illumination system to relay and direct at least a portion of the illumination beam of terahertz radiation onto a cornea of a subject and to receive at least a portion of terahertz radiation reflected from the cornea to provide a return beam of terahertz radiation, and a detection system arranged in an optical path of the return beam of terahertz radiation. The detection system is configured to provide a detection signal from detecting at least a portion of the return beam of terahertz radiation. The corneal hydration sensing system also includes a signal processing system configured to communicate with the detection system to receive the detection signal. The signal processing system processes the detection signal to provide a measure of an amount of hydration sensed in the cornea of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Martin Culjat, Priyamvada Tewari, Jean L. Bourges, Jean P. Hubschman, Rahul S. Singh, Zachary Taylor, Warren S. Grundfest
  • Publication number: 20140092362
    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: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: M/S. APPASAMY ASSOCIATES
    Inventors: R.K. Narayanaswamy, P. Subash, C. Mohamed Ittaythula, A. Jayaram, T. Verra Soundra Senthil Murugan
  • Patent number: 8688401
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, determining an endoilluminator output includes calculating an illuminator contribution of an endoilluminator system and a fiber contribution of one or more optical fibers of the endoilluminator system. The endoilluminator output is determined from the illuminator contribution and the fiber contribution. The illuminator contribution may be established using calibrated or empirically determined factors, such as an illuminator leg efficiency, an attenuator factor, an initial lamp performance, and/or a lamp performance degradation factor of the lamp. The fiber contribution may be established using calibrated or empirically determined factors, such as a fiber coupling factor and/or fiber transmission ratio of the optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael J. Papac, John C. Huculak
  • Publication number: 20140085604
    Abstract: An ophthalmic optical power measurement device can include a light source configured to direct an input beam of light into the eye of a patient. The ophthalmic optical power measurement device can also include an aperture configured to receive an output beam that consists of light from the input beam that scatters from a location on the retina of the eye and exits through the pupil of the eye. The ophthalmic optical power measurement device can also include a detector configured to receive the output beam after it has passed through the aperture. A processor can be configured to determine the size of a spot created by the output beam on the detector, and to determine the optical power of the eye based upon the size of the spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: WaveTec Vision Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8678587
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed in which a topographic parameter is determined in each semi-meridian of the eye by considering the topography in each of three concentric zones from the central axis at 3 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm and assigning weighting factors for each zone, By selectively treating the weighted values in the three zones, parameters of magnitude and meridian can be obtained for each semi-meridian. From these parameters, a single topographic value for the entire eye (CorT) can be found as well as a value representing topographic disparity (TD) between the two semi-meridians. The topography values for the semi-meridians are used in a vector planning system to obtain treatment parameters in a single step operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Noel Ami Alpins
  • Patent number: 8678594
    Abstract: A spectral interferometry apparatus and method are disclosed, that can be used to monitor or measure an unknown length by following a characteristic of an indicating signal. The measurement is performed by adjusting an optical path difference (OPD) in an interferometer part of an interferometer configuration until sound or light or both are obtained with the desired strength and pitch. Embodiments are presented where the unknown length is the eye length. Spectral interrogation of the interferometer optical output is achieved by reading the signal of an analogue photodetector array in a spectrometer or by tuning a swept source and processing the signal of a photodetector. Sound of different pitches are produced either directly in this process, or by using a nonlinear amplifier, or a mixer. For enhanced signal, the array may be driven by a nonlinear clock or the swept source may be driven by a distorted driving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: University of Kent at Canterbury
    Inventors: Adrian Podoleanu, Michael Leitner
  • Patent number: 8672480
    Abstract: The ophthalmic photographing apparatus includes an optical scanner for two-dimensionally scanning light and an optical coherence tomography device for obtaining a three-dimensional tomographic image of an examiner's eye. The apparatus also includes an observation optical system for obtaining a front observation image of the eye as a moving image and an observation optical system that obtain a front observation image of the examinee's eye as a moving image. The driving control unit controls the optical coherence tomography device based on a signal from an operation unit. A position on the examinee's eye where the tomographic image is picked up is changeable by using the moving image of the front observation image and the analysis map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Isogai, Toshio Murata, Mitsuo Yamamoto, Norimasa Satake
  • Publication number: 20140063452
    Abstract: This invention provides an ophthalmologic apparatus that requires no fixation line control instruction by an operator to a patient even when executing an inspection set including a plurality of scanning conditions. In an ophthalmologic apparatus including a scanning unit configured to scan measuring light on an eye to be inspected and execute measurement of the eye to be inspected, and a fixation unit configured to fixate the eye to be inspected to a desired measurement position, a determination unit configured to determine whether to cause the scanning unit to continue the measurement of the eye to be inspected in accordance with an inspection set, and a fixation target control unit configured to change the on state of the fixation unit when the determination unit has determined to continue the measurement are arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Hiroshi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20140063465
    Abstract: To avoid, with a simple configuration and easy scanning, blocking of illumination light due to an eyelash or an eyelid of a subject, provided is an ophthalmologic apparatus, including: an optical system for scanning illumination light on an eye to be inspected in an up and down direction; a fixation target indicating unit for indicating a fixation target to the eye to be inspected at a selected position; a deflecting unit for changing an angle of the scanning for the eye to be inspected in a downward direction; and a fixation position shifting unit for shifting an indication position of the fixation target in a downward direction in accordance with the changed angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Numajiri
  • Patent number: 8662668
    Abstract: A fundus oculi observing device 1 specifies a characteristic site of a fundus oculi Ef depicted in tomographic images of the fundus oculi Ef and, based on the position of the characteristic site within frames FH and FV of the tomographic images, changes a target position of a signal light LS so that the characteristic site is depicted in the center positions within the frames FH and FV and executes a main measurement, thereby forming a tomographic image and/or a three-dimensional image of the fundus oculi Ef.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Hitoshi Shimizu, Takefumi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8662669
    Abstract: The devices and methods of the invention ameliorate age-related losses of night time visual acuity by constricting the pupil with a directionally focused, low-power light source close to the eye that does not impair vision by reflecting off the internal glass surfaces of the windshield and windows. Preferred devices and methods include means for adjusting the brightness of the light source and the distance and angular orientation between the light source and the eye. Particularly preferred devices and methods provide means to fix the light source in relation to the eye so that effectiveness is not diminished when the driver turns his or her head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventors: Jonathan Edmund Lipsey, Alexander Morgan Rizik
  • Patent number: 8662670
    Abstract: An ophthalmic illuminator includes a one or more light combining stages arranged in series to augment a white light source with various color spectral bands. A first stage combines white light from a white light source with colored light from a first color source. Each subsequent stage in the series adds its own respective colored light. The color sources may be selectively turned on/off or driven with variable amounts of power. In this fashion, a combined light is produced by the final stage that represents a desired chromaticity and brightness as desired for a particular ophthalmic therapeutic procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Papac, Ronald T. Smith, Michael J. Yadlowsky, Alexander N. Artsyukhovich
  • Patent number: 8657440
    Abstract: This invention can generate a high-resolution, low-noise tomogram while minimizing the influences of the flicks of the eyeballs, the movement of the head, and the like. The invention is an image processing apparatus which processes a tomogram of an eye to be examined and includes detection units to detect the motion amount of the eye by using a signal obtained by capturing the tomogram, and a decision unit to decide the number of scanning lines for capturing of the tomogram based on the motion amount detected by the detection units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Iwase, Akihiro Katayama
  • Publication number: 20140049751
    Abstract: A perimeter (1) having a means (26, 27) for measuring the field of vision of a subject eye by successively causing visual recognition of a visual target (16) projected in different areas, a means (18) for monitoring the fixation status during field of vision measurements, an illumination means (20, 21, 22) for providing illumination to a brightness required for monitoring the fixation status of the subject eye, and a vision correcting means (7) for correcting the vision of a subject eye; wherein the perimeter is provided with: a lens holder part (12) provided to allow a corrective lens on the vision correcting means (7) to be attached, detached, or replaced; a lens brightness database (31) for displaying the brightness of the illumination means when the subject eye (19) is illuminated at essentially the same brightness in accordance with the mode of mounting the corrective lens that is mounted on the lens holder part (12); a means (29) for calculating the state in which the corrective lens is mounted with reg
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Masayoshi Oouchi, Satoshi Shimada
  • Patent number: 8646915
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus comprises: aberration correction unit arranged to correct aberration of at least one of irradiating light directed to an eye to be examined and return light from the eye; light-receiving unit arranged to receive, as return light from the eye, the light whose aberration is corrected by the aberration correction unit and then which irradiates the eye; measurement unit arranged to measure the aberration of the return light; and control unit arranged to control the aberration correction unit based on a measurement result obtained by the measurement unit and a light reception result obtained by the light-receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Nozato
  • Patent number: 8646914
    Abstract: An adaptive optics apparatus includes a first light modulating unit configured to perform modulation in a polarization direction of one of two polarized light components in light emitted from a light source, a changing unit configured to rotate the light modulated by the first light modulating unit by 90 degrees, a second light modulating unit configured to modulate the light changed by the changing unit in the polarization direction, and an irradiating unit configured to irradiate a measurement object with the light modulated by the second light modulating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Saito
  • Publication number: 20140036230
    Abstract: An eye examining instrument comprises a projection device and a concave screen. The eye examining instrument furthermore comprises a convex reflector, wherein an image can be projected by the projection device onto the convex reflector and reflected by the convex reflector onto the concave screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Haag-Streit AG
    Inventors: Tobias NEF, René MUERI, Philipp GLOOR, Urs MOSIMANN
  • Patent number: 8636364
    Abstract: Systems and methods for constructing a widefield image of the retina from a plurality of retinal images. In one aspect, the disclosure concerns constructing a widefield image of the retina from a plurality of retinal images, comprising a base image and a plurality of peripheral images. These techniques enable medical observations of retinal phenomena in patients, such retinal vein occlusion, artery occlusion, retinal detachments, intraocular inflammation, ocular tumors, and the like, that were difficult to detect and impossible to quantify under prior art approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: Richard R. Spaide
  • Publication number: 20140009743
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for recording a depth profile of a biological tissue, in particular a frontal eye section of a human eye, according to the principle of optical coherence tomography, comprising a light source adapted to generate a bundle of light rays, an interferometer arrangement having a beam splitter device adapted to spatially separate the bundle of light rays into a reference beam and a measurement beam directed toward the tissue, a reference beam deflection device adapted to deflect the reference beam, a beam superpositioning device adapted to spatially superimpose the deflected reference beam onto the measurement beam deflected by the tissue into a superpositioned beam, and a detector arrangement for detecting information in the superpositioned beam associated with the difference of the optical path length of the reference beam and the measurement beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Wavelight GmbH
    Inventors: Christof Donitzky, Klaus Vogler, Christian Wuellner, Claudia Gorschboth, Michael Mrochen
  • Patent number: 8622546
    Abstract: An algorithm locates valid light spots produced on an image detector by a wavefront of interest. The algorithm includes sequentially examining pixels of the image detector to determine for each of the pixels whether the light intensity detected by the pixel is greater than a threshold, When the pixel's detected light intensity is determined to be greater than the threshold, the algorithm includes: determining whether the pixel belongs to a valid light spot; and when the pixel is determined to belong to a valid light spot; saving data indicating a location for the valid light spot; and masking out a group of pixels of the image detector at the determined location such that the masked pixels are considered to have a light intensity less than the threshold for a remainder of the sequential examination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: AMO Wavefront Sciences, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Farrer, Thomas D. Raymond, Wei Xiong, John Dixson, Daniel R. Neal
  • Patent number: 8616702
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid laser ophthalmoscope comprising a laser light source, a LED light source, and a holographic diffuser, wherein the holographic diffuser is configured to shape a beam of light into a Maxwellian ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
    Inventor: Michael Abrámoff
  • Patent number: 8616703
    Abstract: Measurement of the optical point spread function through a double-pass technique is enhanced by using adaptive optics to form a tiny spot of light on the retina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventors: Geunyoung Yoon, Ramkumar Sabesan
  • Patent number: 8613516
    Abstract: An ophthalmic illumination device has an illuminating body. The illuminating body has a through-opening whose side wall is formed by a member made of an opalescent material. A light source is housed inside the illuminating body and a light-guide adapted to radially convey light beams emitted by the light source towards an axis of the through-opening is positioned between the light source and the opalescent member. The ophthalmic illumination device can generate extremely homogenous shafts of light, while minimizing occurrences of dark portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Inventor: Gianfranco Passuello
  • Publication number: 20130335706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a solution for interferometrically measuring the eye length and the anterior eye segment after the optical axis of the measuring system has been aligned with the optical axis of an eye. The device according to the invention for interferometrically measuring the eye length and the anterior eye segment consists of an illumination source, at least one interferometric measuring array with external reference, diverse optical imaging systems, and a control and evaluation unit. The illumination source has high spatial coherence and low coherence of time. Preferably, light is emitted by the illumination device from the NIR range, having a wavelength of 700-1000 nm, for example. Furthermore, an optical imaging system is arranged in front of the eye such that the illumination light impinges on the eye as a nearly collimated beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
    Inventors: Tobias Schmitt-Manderbach, Daniel Bublitz, Roland Bergner
  • Publication number: 20130335703
    Abstract: Apparatus for illuminating the retina of an eye. The apparatus comprising an illumination device, a lens system, wherein the illumination device and the lens system combine to provide incident illumination from an apparent point source located within the lens system. The apparatus further comprising an illumination transfer device, wherein the illumination transfer device has two foci and the apparent point source of the lens system is provided at a first focus point of the illumination transfer device and an eye is accommodated at a second focus point of the illumination transfer device, and wherein the illumination transfer device transfers the incident illumination from the apparent point source into the eye to illuminate the retina.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Optos PLC
    Inventors: Christopher David Creasey, Stuart Brian Milne, Andrew Fogg
  • Publication number: 20130335705
    Abstract: A wavefront sensor is integrated with a surgical microscope for allowing a doctor to make repeated wavefront measurements of a patient's eye while the patient remains on an operating table in the surgical position. The device includes a wavefront sensor optically aligned with a surgical microscope such that their fields of view at least partially overlap. The inclusion of lightweight, compact diffractive optical components in the wavefront sensor allows the integrated device to be supported on a balancing mechanism above a patient's head during a surgical procedure. As a result, the need to reposition the device and/or the patient between measuring optical properties of the eye and performing surgical procedures on the eye is eliminated. Many surgical procedures may be improved or enhanced using the integrated device, including but not limited to cataract surgery, Conductive Keratoplasty, Lasik surgery, and corneal corrective surgery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: WAVETEC VISION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: WaveTec Vision Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8608314
    Abstract: An optical coherence tomography scanning system includes a lens divided into two halves: one optimized to achieve normal incidence angles on the posterior surface of the eye's lens, the other optimized for the anterior surface of the eye's lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventors: Geunyoung Yoon, Rahul Yadav
  • Publication number: 20130321774
    Abstract: A device for determining the dominant eye of a person. The device comprises a cone having a small hole at its apex which serves as a view port. The cone is attached to a handle, which contains a battery-powered, low-level laser light source that emits light through a light port in the handle. The cone and handle are designed to be made from a single sheet of material. To determine a person's dominant eye, the person holds the device at arm's length by the handle. The laser is turned on and the person aims the light at a distant wall. The person looks through the base of the cone through the view port with both eyes open, and locates the laser spot on the distant wall through the view port. The person then closes his right eye. If the laser spot disappears from view, the person is right-eye dominant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Johan T.W. Van Dalen, Dan D. Carda
  • Publication number: 20130321771
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus includes a first light source configured to emit a first measuring beam, a second light source configured to emit a second measuring beam having a center wavelength longer than that of the first measuring beam, a third light source configured to emit a third measuring beam having a center wavelength shorter than that of the first measuring beam, a first acquisition unit configured to obtain a first image of the subject's eye by using the return beam of the second measuring beam from the subject's eye, aberration of which has been corrected by a correction unit, and a second acquisition unit configured to obtain an anterior eye portion image of the subject's eye to be used for alignment, by using a return beam of the third measuring beam from the subject's eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Takashi Yuasa
  • Publication number: 20130321775
    Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems and methods for evaluating the eye. For example, the devices, systems and methods are optionally used for evaluating the visual potential of an eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Elizabeth Richter, Jan Kylstra
  • Patent number: 8596784
    Abstract: A fundus camera includes an illumination unit to illuminate an ocular fundus of a subject's eye, an autofluorescent exciter filter insertable into and retractable from an illumination optical path of the illumination unit, an observation and photographing unit to receive reflection light from the ocular fundus illuminated by the illumination unit and form an ocular fundus image, an autofluorescent barrier filter insertable into and retractable from an observation and photographing optical path, an image capturing unit to capture an ocular fundus image, and a calculation unit to calculate image data, wherein the calculation unit converts the ocular fundus image which is illuminated using the autofluorescent exciter filter and captured by a color image capturing unit as a color image, in a state that no autofluorescent barrier filter is inserted into the observation and photographing unit, into a monochromatic image from specific color data of each of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Okumura, Yasuhiro Dobashi, Yasuhiro Nakahara, Hiroshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 8597283
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic laser system and an operating method. The laser system includes a laser, a scanner unit, a focusing lens and a beam splitter that directs radiation that reaches the beam splitter from the direction of the area of examination through a confocal aperture orifice onto a detector. The invention also includes a control unit with which a cornea arranged in the examination area can be irradiated by the laser at illumination laser power and detection light can be registered by the detector. The cornea is scanned in three dimensions, in that the cornea is irradiated at multiple points and detection light is registered from there. Based on the detection light, a laser cut in the cornea is identified and the form and/or position of the laser cut calculated. The invention further relates to refractive laser surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Mark Bischoff, Manfred Dick, Juergen Ledermann
  • Patent number: RE44806
    Abstract: An adapter for permitting a medical diagnostic instrument having an illumination source including at least one LED (light emitting diode) to be used with a power supply normally configured for use with a diagnostic instrument having at least one incandescent lamp as an illumination source. The adapter includes circuitry for compensating LED specific characteristics for permitting the power supply to be used with the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris R. Roberts, Corinn C. Fahrenkrug, Allan I. Krauter, Shawn A. Briggman, Michael A. Pasik, Peter J. Davis, John R. Strom, Charles N. Stewart, Jon R. Salvati, Robert L. Vivenzio