Wide field retinal image capture system and method

1. A method of generating a wide field retinal image comprising:

controlling a camera to capture a video stream of individual retinal images;

storing the individual retinal images in a memory associated with the camera;

downsizing a plurality of the individual retinal images to create a plurality of downsized images;

performing edge detection on a plurality of the downsized images to yield a plurality of binary images;

identifying points of interest corresponding to vascular structures in a plurality of the binary images;

determining a coordinate position array of the identified points of interest in the binary images;

populating a data structure with the coordinate position arrays of multiple binary images;

comparing the coordinate position arrays of multiple binary images to determine an overlapping image alignment among the multiple binary images; and

combining the individual retinal images corresponding to the multiple binary images into a panorama in accordance with the determined overlapping image alignment.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a location on a sensor of the camera where an individual image is located;

determining a region of interest in the individual image; and

cropping the individual image to preserve the region of interest.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

measuring one or more image attributes of the downsized images; and

discarding unsuitable images based upon the measured image attributes of the downsized images.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

determining whether a downsized retinal image is of a higher quality than another downsized retinal image showing an overlapping retinal structure; and

discarding the lower quality image.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

measuring the field of view of the combined full resolution retinal image; and

terminating the process upon achievement of a designated field of view.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein all steps are completed during an ocular examination.

7. A retinal imaging system comprising:

a smartphone comprising a camera lens, and illumination source, and imaging chip and imaging electronics;

a supplemental optic configured to mate with the smartphone lens and provide for the focusing of an image of a retina on the smartphone imaging chip;

and one or more processors within the smartphone;

one or more non-transitory computer readable media located within the smartphone having stored thereon software comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to perform one or more functions, the set of instructions comprising:

instructions to control the smartphone to capture a video stream of individual retinal images with the smartphone camera lens, illumination source, imaging chip and imaging electronics;

instructions to store the individual retinal image in a memory;

instructions to downsize a plurality of the individual retinal images to create downsized images;

instructions to perform edge detection on a plurality of the downsized images to yield a plurality of binary images;

instructions to identify points of interest corresponding to vascular structures in a plurality of the binary images;

instructions to determine a coordinate position array of the identified points of interest in the binary images;

instructions to populate a data structure with the coordinate position arrays of multiple binary images;

instructions to compare the coordinate position arrays of multiple binary images to determine an overlapping image alignment among the multiple binary images;

instructions to combine the individual retinal images corresponding to the multiple binary images into a panorama in accordance with the determined overlapping image alignment.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the set of instructions further comprise:

instructions to determine a location on the imaging chip of the smartphone where an individual image is located;

instructions to determine a region of interest in the individual image; and

instructions to crop the individual image to preserve the region of interest.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the set of instructions further comprise:

instructions to measure one or more image attributes of the downsized images; and

instructions to discard unsuitable images based upon the measured image attributes of the downsized images.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the set of instructions further comprise:

instructions to determine whether a downsized retinal image is of a higher quality than another downsized retinal image showing an overlapping retinal structure; and

instructions to discard the lower quality image.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the set of instructions further comprise:

instructions to measure the field of view of the combined full resolution retinal image; and

instructions to terminate the process upon achievement of a designated field of view.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the set of instructions further cause all instructions to be completed during an ocular examination.

13. A retinal imaging system comprising:

an ophthalmoscope;

a digital imaging device incorporated within, or attached to the ophthalmoscope;

and one or more processors in digital communication with the digital imaging device;

one or more non-transitory computer readable media in digital communication with the one or more processors having stored thereon software comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to perform one or more functions, the set of instructions comprising:

instructions to capture a video stream of individual retinal images;

instructions to store the individual retinal images in a memory;

instructions to downsize a plurality of the individual retinal images to create downsize images;

instructions to perform edge detection on a plurality of the downsized images to yield a plurality of binary images;

instructions to identify points of interest corresponding to vascular structures in a plurality of the binary images;

instructions to determine a coordinate position array of the identified points of interest in the binary images;

instructions to populate a data structure with the coordinate position arrays of multiple binary images;

instructions to compare the coordinate position arrays of multiple binary images to determine an overlapping image alignment among the multiple binary images;

instructions to combine the individual retinal images corresponding to the multiple binary images into a panorama in accordance with the determined overlapping image alignment.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the set of instructions further comprise:

instructions to determine a location on the imaging chip of the smartphone where an individual image is located;

instructions to determine a region of interest in the individual image; and

instructions to crop the individual image to preserve the region of interest.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the set of instructions further comprise:

instructions to measure one or more image attributes of the downsized images; and

instructions to discard unsuitable images based upon the measured image attributes of the downsized images.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the set of instructions further comprise:

instructions to determine whether a downsized retinal image is of a higher quality than another downsized retinal image showing an overlapping retinal structure; and

instructions to discard the lower quality image.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the set of instructions further comprise:

instructions to measure the field of view of the combined full resolution retinal image; and

instructions to terminate the process upon achievement of a designated field of view.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the set of instructions further cause all instructions to be completed during an ocular examination.