Corneal measurement apparatus and a method of using the same

1. An apparatus for measuring a subject's cornea, comprising:

(A.) a slit beam projection subsystem comprising a light source;

(B.) a mask subsystem disposed in a path of light from the light source, comprising a first slit mask defining a plurality of apertures;

(C.) a movement apparatus adapted to move at least a portion of the slit projection subsystem to transmit light through each of the plurality of apertures while maintaining the plurality of apertures in a fixed location, the movement apparatus configured and arranged such that, by moving the portion of the slit beam projection subsystem, portions of the light can be selectively transmitted through only one aperture of the plurality of apertures at a time toward the cornea;

(D.) an imaging element configured and arranged to image at least one of the plurality of apertures onto the cornea; and

(E.) an image capture subsystem arranged to capture images of the portions of light after the light impinges on the cornea.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the slit beam projection subsystem comprises a second slit mask defining a selection aperture, the movement apparatus being adapted to move the second slit mask.

3. The apparatus in claim 1 , further comprising

(F.) a second slit beam projection subsystem comprising a second light source;

(G.) a second mask subsystem disposed in a path of second light from the second slit projection subsystem, comprising a second slit mask defining a second plurality of apertures;

(H.) a second movement apparatus adapted to move at least a portion of the second slit projection subsystem, the second movement apparatus configured and arranged such that by moving the portion of the second slit beam projection subsystem, portions of the second light can be selectively transmitted through an aperture of the second plurality of apertures toward the cornea; and

(I.) a second imaging element configured and arranged to image the second plurality of apertures onto the cornea,

the image capture subsystem arranged to capture images of the portions of second light after the light impinges on the cornea.

4. The apparatus in claim 2 , wherein the second slit mask is disposed upstream of the first slit mask.

5. The apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the slit beam projection subsystem is configured and arranged to project light from the light source through each of the plurality of apertures defined in the first slit mask without moving the light source.

6. The apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises at least one LED arranged to project light in the path of light.

7. The apparatus in claim 1 , further comprising a condenser lens configured and arranged to gather light from the light source and project the light in the path of light.

8. The apparatus in claim 7 , wherein the imaging element and condenser lens are configured and arranged to operate as a condenser-projector system.

9. The apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the imaging element and the first slit mask are disposed in a Scheimpflug arrangement to obtain a plane of slit images at the cornea.

10. The apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures are disposed in a single plane.

11. The apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures are formed on a single substrate.

12. The apparatus in claim 11 , wherein the plurality of apertures is defined by openings in an opaque layer deposited on the substrate.

13. The apparatus in claim 1 , further comprising an image processing subsystem coupled to the image capture subsystem, the image processing subsystem being adapted to convert the images into a representation of the cornea.

14. The apparatus in claim 1 , further comprising a subject positioning apparatus adapted to maintain the subject's cornea in a location.

15. The apparatus in claim 6 , wherein the light source comprises at least one high power LED.

16. The apparatus in claim 5 , wherein the light source consists of a single LED.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the movement apparatus is adapted to translate the at least portion of the slit projection subsystem.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the light source is adapted to project a slit of light and the movement apparatus is adapted to translate the light source.

19. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the movement apparatus is adapted to translate the second slit mask.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the movement apparatus is adapted to rotate the at least portion of the slit projection subsystem.

21. A method of facilitating measurement of a subject's cornea, comprising:

(A.) providing a plurality of apertures;

(B.) projecting light toward the plurality of apertures;

(C.) moving at least a portion of a slit beam projector subsystem while maintaining the plurality of apertures in fixed locations to selectively transmit a portion of the light toward the cornea, the portion of the light passing through only one aperture of the plurality of apertures;

(D.) imaging the portions of light after the light impinges on the cornea to produce images; and

(E.) processing the images to convert the images into a representation of the cornea.

22. The method of claim 21 , where the step of moving comprises translating the at least portion of the slit beam projection subsystem.

23. The method of claim 21 , where the step of moving comprises rotating the at least portion of the slit beam projection subsystem.

24. The method of claim 21 , where the moving comprises moving a selection aperture that is distinct from the plurality of apertures.

25. The method of claim 21 , where the moving comprises moving at least one light source.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the light passes through the selection aperture prior to passing through any of the plurality of apertures.

27. The method of claim 21 , wherein the step of projecting light comprises projecting light from at least one LED.