IP Library Granted Patent US 11,779,209
Granted Patent B2
US 11,779,209 · App. 17/379,404 · Granted Oct 10, 2023

Retinal image capturing

Inventor: Ynjiun Paul Wang (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
A61B3/12A61B3/0008A61B3/0041A61B3/0091A61B3/14A61B3/152
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,779,209
App. No.
17/379,404
Granted
Oct 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for producing a fundus image includes: a processor and a memory; an illumination component including a light source; a camera; and a display, the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: display a target element on the display; display a light source reflection from a cornea of an eye on the display; update a position of the light source reflection on the display as a caregiver manipulates a position of the apparatus relative to the eye; as time elapses, modify the display to allow the light source reflection to more easily be positioned within the target element; and automatically initiate fundus image capture with the camera when the light source reflection is within the target element on the display.

Claims (42)

1. An apparatus for producing a fundus image, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processing unit; and

a system memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the apparatus to:

display a target element on a display;

display a reflection from an eye on the display;

update a position of the reflection on the display as a position of the apparatus relative to the eye is manipulated;

present a control to modify the display allowing the reflection to more easily be positioned within the target element; and

capture the fundus image when the reflection is within the target element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control when selected increases a size of the target element.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the control is selectable to increase the size of the target element by 20 percent, by 50 percent, or by 100 percent.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the control is selectable to increase the size of the target element multiple times in periodic intervals.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the fundus image is automatically captured when the reflection is detected within the target element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reflection is of a cornea.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the reflection is produced by an infrared light source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control is selectable to reduce a threshold contrast of the reflection that must be satisfied for the capture of the fundus image.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the control is selectable to reduce the threshold contrast of the reflection to be less than 20 percent relative to a remaining image of the eye.

10. A method for capturing a fundus image, the method comprising:

displaying a target element;

displaying a reflection from an eye;

updating a position of the reflection on a display as a position of an apparatus relative to the eye changes;

presenting a control to modify the display allowing the reflection to more easily be positioned within the target element; and

capturing the fundus image when the reflection is within the target element.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

increasing a size of the target element in response to receiving a selection of the control.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the size of the target element is increased by 20 percent, by 50 percent, or by 100 percent in response to receiving the selection of the control.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

decreasing a threshold contrast of the reflection that must be satisfied in response to receiving a selection of the control.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the reflection is of a cornea.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

generating the reflection by using an infrared light source.

16. An apparatus for producing a fundus image, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processing unit; and

a system memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the apparatus to:

display a target element on a display;

display a reflection from an eye on the display;

update a position of the reflection on the display as a position of the apparatus relative to the eye is manipulated;

modify the display allowing the reflection to more easily be positioned within the target element after a specified time has elapsed without capture of an image; and

capture the fundus image when the reflection is within the target element.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the display is automatically modified to increase a size of the target element after the specified time has elapsed.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the size of the target element is increased multiple times in periodic intervals to assist in positioning the reflection within the target element.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the fundus image is automatically captured when the reflection is detected within the target element.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein a threshold contrast of the reflection that must be satisfied for the capture of the fundus image is decreased after the specified time has elapsed.

Assignments (2)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 050260/0644 Recorded Dec 14, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: BREATHE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; HILL-ROM SERVICES, INC.; ALLEN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; WELCH ALLYN, INC.; HILL-ROM, INC.; VOALTE, INC.; BARDY DIAGNOSTICS, INC.; HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058517/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2021
From: WANG, YNJIUN PAUL
To: WELCH ALLYN, INC.
Reel/Frame 056915/0979 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16415019 · May 17, 2019
Provisional Application 62675852 · May 24, 2018
Related Publication 20210345875A1 · Nov 11, 2021