Method and apparatus for performing remote calibration verification

1. A method of remotely updating and verifying a calibration status of an instrument that comprises a measurement portion and a computer system coupled to the measurement portion, the method comprising acts of:

receiving a software update at the instrument from a remote location via a communications link;

without activating the measurement portion of the instrument to measure a calibration object, using the software update to perform a calibration check procedure at the instrument; and

using a processor to provide a calibration status indicator that identifies the calibration status of the instrument following the calibration check procedure.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein performing the calibration check procedure includes:

retrieving stored raw calibration test data;

processing the raw calibration test data using the software update and generating a diagnostic reading;

comparing the diagnostic reading to a known correct nominal reading; and

based on the comparison, generating the calibration status indicator.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein performing the calibration check procedure further comprises retrieving stored calibration parameters; and

wherein processing the raw calibration test data is performed using the calibration parameters.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein generating the calibration status indicator includes generating the calibration status indicator that indicates that the calibration status of the instrument is non-operational.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein generating the calibration status indicator includes generating data that identifies a corrupted calibration parameter.

6. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein generating the calibration status indicator includes generating a calibration status indicator that indicates that the calibration status of the instrument is operational.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein retrieving the stored raw calibration test data includes retrieving a stored digital image.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein providing the calibration status indicator includes providing the calibration status indicator from the instrument via the communications link.

9. A method of verifying a calibration status of an instrument, the method comprising acts of:

receiving providing a software update at the instrument from a remote location;

retrieving stored raw calibration test data;

processing the raw calibration test data using the software update to generate a diagnostic reading;

comparing the diagnostic reading to a known nominal reading; and

based on the comparison, generating an output indicative of the calibration status of the instrument;

wherein the verifying of the calibration status of the instrument is performed without measuring a calibration object with the instrument.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein retrieving the stored raw calibration test data includes retrieving a stored digital image.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein processing the raw calibration test data includes processing the raw calibration test data using calibration parameters specific to the instrument.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein generating the output indicative of the calibration status of the instrument includes generating an output that identifies a corrupted calibration parameter.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein generating the output indicative of the calibration status of the instrument includes generating an output that indicates instrument maintenance is required.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein generating the output indicative of the calibration status of the instrument includes generating an output that indicates that the instrument is properly calibrated.

15. A diagnostic system comprising:

a measurement head;

a storage device coupled to the measurement head that stores raw calibration test data generated by the measurement head; and

a processor coupled to the storage device and configured to receive a software update, and without activating the measurement head of the instrument to measure a calibration object, obtain the stored raw calibration test data, process the raw calibration test data using the software update to generate a diagnostic reading, to compare the diagnostic reading to a known nominal reading, and based on the comparison, to generate an output indicative of a calibration status of the diagnostic system.

16. The diagnostic system as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising a communications port coupled to a communications link and to the processor; and

wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the output to a remote location via the communications link.

17. The diagnostic system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a software upgrade via the communications link and to initiate a calibration check procedure following installation of the software upgrade.

18. The diagnostic system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the diagnostic system comprises at least one of a pupilometer, a wavefront sensor, a placido device and a slit scan device.

19. The diagnostic system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the storage device stores calibration parameters specific to the diagnostic system; and

wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve at least one calibration parameter from the storage device and to process the raw calibration test data using the at least one calibration parameter to generate the diagnostic reading.

20. The diagnostic system as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the output indicates that the calibration status of the diagnostic system is invalid, and contains information identifying at least one corrupted calibration parameter.

21. The diagnostic system as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the stored raw calibration test data includes a digital image of a calibration object.