IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,268,446
Granted Patent B2
US 12,268,446 · App. 17/568,717 · Granted Apr 8, 2025

Ophthalmic apparatus and ophthalmic system

Inventor: Sho Nitta (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: TOPCON CORPORATION
A61B3/1025A61B3/0008A61B3/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,268,446
App. No.
17/568,717
Granted
Apr 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An ophthalmic apparatus includes an objective lens, an illumination optical system, a mounting unit, an imaging optical system, a communication unit, and a controller. The illumination optical system is configured to generate illumination light using light from a light source, and to illuminate a subject's eye with the illumination light through the objective lens. The mounting unit is configured to allow an external device including a sensor to be mounted so that the sensor is arranged on an imaging optical path. The imaging optical system is configured to guide returning light of the illumination light from the subject's eye to the imaging optical path. The communication unit has a communication function with the external device. The controller is configured to control the illumination optical system and to control the sensor through the communication unit to synchronize with control for the illumination optical system.

Claims (93)

1. An ophthalmic apparatus, comprising:

an objective lens;

an illumination optical system configured to generate illumination light using light from a light source, and to illuminate a subject's eye with the illumination light through the objective lens;

a mounting unit configured to allow an external device including a sensor to be mounted so that the sensor is arranged on an imaging optical path;

an imaging optical system configured to guide returning light of the illumination light from the subject's eye to the imaging optical path;

a communication unit including a transmitter and having a communication function with the external device; and

a controller including processing circuitry configured to control the illumination optical system and to control the sensor through the communication unit to synchronize with control for the illumination optical system,

wherein the illumination optical system includes

a slit in that a slit-shaped aperture is formed, the slit-shaped aperture being capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an imaging site of the subject's eye,

an iris aperture arranged between the light source and the slit, and configured to be capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an iris of the subject's eye, and

an optical scanner deflecting the illumination light that has passed through the aperture, the optical scanner being capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to the iris of the subject's eye,

the controller is further configured to control the optical scanner in synchronization with control for the sensor,

the ophthalmic apparatus further comprises an optical element arranged between the light source and the iris aperture, and configured to deflect the illumination light so that the light amount distribution in a direction connecting the aperture formed in the iris aperture and the aperture formed in the slit is maximized, and

the controller is further configured to move the slit in an optical axis direction of the illumination optical system and to change at least one of a position and an orientation of the optical element relative to the aperture formed in the iris aperture.

2. An ophthalmic apparatus, comprising:

an objective lens;

an illumination optical system configured to generate illumination light using light from a light source, and to illuminate a subject's eye with the illumination light through the objective lens;

a mounting unit configured to allow an external device including a sensor to be mounted so that the sensor is arranged on an imaging optical path;

an imaging optical system configured to guide returning light of the illumination light from the subject's eye to the imaging optical path;

a communication unit including a transmitter and having a communication function with the external device; and

a controller including processing circuitry configured to control at least the illumination optical system, under control of the external device through the communication unit,

wherein the illumination optical system includes

a slit in that a slit-shaped aperture is formed, the slit-shaped aperture being capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an imaging site of the subject's eye,

an iris aperture arranged between the light source and the slit, and configured to be capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an iris of the subject's eye, and

an optical scanner deflecting the illumination light that has passed through the aperture, the optical scanner being capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to the iris of the subject's eye,

the controller is configured to control the optical scanner in synchronization with control for the sensor,

the ophthalmic apparatus further comprises an optical element arranged between the light source and the iris aperture, and configured to deflect the illumination light so that the light amount distribution in a direction connecting the aperture formed in the iris aperture and the aperture formed in the slit is maximized, and

the controller is further configured to move the slit in an optical axis direction of the illumination optical system and to change at least one of a position and an orientation of the optical element relative to the aperture formed in the iris aperture.

3. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the illumination optical system includes an optical modulator configured to be capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an imaging site of the subject's eye, and to generate the illumination light by modulating the light from the light source, and

the controller is configured to control the optical modulator in synchronization with control for the sensor.

4. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 2 , wherein

the illumination optical system includes an optical modulator configured to be capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an imaging site of the subject's eye, and to generate the illumination light by modulating the light from the light source, and

the controller is configured to control the optical modulator in synchronization with control for the sensor.

5. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the illumination optical system includes a first relay lens system arranged between the optical scanner and the slit, and

a back focal position of the first relay lens system is a position substantially conjugate optically to the iris.

6. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 5 , wherein

the optical scanner is arranged at the back focal position or the vicinity of the back focal position.

7. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 5 , wherein

the illumination optical system includes a second relay lens system arranged between the slit and the iris aperture, and

the iris aperture is arranged at a front focal position of the second relay lens system or the vicinity of the front focal position of the second relay lens system.

8. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

one or more apertures that the illumination light passes through are formed in the iris aperture so that luminous flux cross section of the illumination light and luminous flux cross section of returning light from the subject's eye are separated on a cornea of the subject's eye, an anterior surface of lens of the subject's eye, and a posterior surface of lens of the subject's eye.

9. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 8 , wherein

two or more apertures are formed in the iris aperture, and

the two or more apertures are formed in linear symmetry to a straight line, the straight line passing through an optical axis of the illumination optical system and extending in a direction corresponding to a longitudinal direction of the aperture formed in the slit.

10. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 8 , wherein

the aperture has a circular segment shape, and

a direction of a chord of the circular segment shape is approximately parallel to a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the aperture formed in the slit.

11. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the light source.

12. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising the light source.

13. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the external device includes a light source, and

the mounting unit is configured to allow the external device to be mounted so that the light source is arranged on an optical path of the illumination optical system.

14. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising

a wavelength selective filter configured to be capable of inserting into or removing from an optical path of the illumination optical system.

15. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the external device is a mobile phone or a portable information terminal.

16. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 2 , wherein

the external device is a mobile phone or a portable information terminal.

17. An ophthalmic system, comprising:

an external device including a sensor; and

an ophthalmic apparatus including

an objective lens,

an illumination optical system configured to generate illumination light using light from a light source, and to illuminate a subject's eye with the illumination light through the objective lens,

a mounting unit configured to allow the external device to be mounted so that the sensor is arranged on an imaging optical path,

an imaging optical system configured to guide returning light of the illumination light from the subject's eye to the imaging optical path,

a communication unit including a transmitter and having a communication function with the external device, and

a controller including processing circuitry configured to control the illumination optical system and to control the sensor through the communication unit to synchronize with control for the illumination optical system,

wherein the illumination optical system includes

a slit in that a slit-shaped aperture is formed, the slit-shaped aperture being capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an imaging site of the subject's eye,

an iris aperture arranged between the light source and the slit, and configured to be capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an iris of the subject's eye, and

an optical scanner deflecting the illumination light that has passed through the aperture, the optical scanner being capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to the iris of the subject's eye,

the controller is further configured to control the optical scanner in synchronization with control for the sensor,

the ophthalmic apparatus further comprises an optical element arranged between the light source and the iris aperture, and configured to deflect the illumination light so that the light amount distribution in a direction connecting the aperture formed in the iris aperture and the aperture formed in the slit is maximized, and

the controller is further configured to move the slit in an optical axis direction of the illumination optical system and to change at least one of a position and an orientation of the optical element relative to the aperture formed in the iris aperture.

18. An ophthalmic system, comprising:

an external device including a sensor; and

an ophthalmic apparatus including

an objective lens;

an illumination optical system configured to generate illumination light using light from a light source, and to illuminate a subject's eye with the illumination light through the objective lens;

a mounting unit configured to allow the external device to be mounted so that the sensor is arranged on an imaging optical path;

an imaging optical system configured to guide returning light of the illumination light from the subject's eye to the imaging optical path;

a communication unit including a transmitter and having a communication function with the external device; and

a controller including processing circuitry configured to control at least the illumination optical system, under control of the external device through the communication unit,

wherein the illumination optical system includes

a slit in that a slit-shaped aperture is formed, the slit-shaped aperture being capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an imaging site of the subject's eye,

an iris aperture arranged between the light source and the slit, and configured to be capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to an iris of the subject's eye, and

an optical scanner deflecting the illumination light that has passed through the aperture, the optical scanner being capable of being arranged at a position substantially conjugate optically to the iris of the subject's eye,

the controller is configured to control the optical scanner in synchronization with control for the sensor,

the ophthalmic apparatus further comprises an optical element arranged between the light source and the iris aperture, and configured to deflect the illumination light so that the light amount distribution in a direction connecting the aperture formed in the iris aperture and the aperture formed in the slit is maximized, and

the controller is further configured to move the slit in an optical axis direction of the illumination optical system and to change at least one of a position and an orientation of the optical element relative to the aperture formed in the iris aperture.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2022
From: NITTA, SHO
To: TOPCON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058549/0867 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTJP2020030484 · Aug 7, 2020
Provisional Application 62898961 · Sep 11, 2019
Related Publication 20220125307A1 · Apr 28, 2022
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Cited By (1)
US 12,648,694