Granted Patent B2

US 12,721,515 · App. 18/009,124 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Inventors: Brennan Eadie (Halifax, CA); Frank Eadie (Halifax, CA); Haskell Kent (Halifax, CA); Anthony Visconti (Halifax, CA)

Assignee: Eadie Technologies Inc.

A61B3/024A61B3/005A61B3/0091G02B27/0093

Abstract

Claims (95)

1 . An apparatus for administering a visual field test to a patient comprising:

a visual test unit configured to receive a face of the patient and to perform the visual field test on the patient, wherein the visual test unit includes:

an internal test display arranged in front of the patient's face and a light stimulus device configured to generate a light stimulus to an eye of the patient; and

a camera configured to track movement of the eye of the patient;

wherein the visual test unit comprises a head mounted unit having a housing configured for mounting to the head of the patient;

wherein the housing carries the internal test display and the camera;

wherein the camera is configured to track the eye of the patient by light rays reflected therefrom;

wherein the head mounted unit includes an optical assembly in the housing and configured for transmitting the light stimulus from the light stimulus device to the eye and light emanating from the eye of the patient to the camera;

wherein the light stimulus device comprises an array of light-emitting devices configured to transmit light towards the eye and at least one opaque screen in front of the array of light-emitting devices which defines an array of openings at positions registered with respective ones of the light emitting devices in the array to permit passage of light from each light-emitting device through its respective opening to the eye and to block light from others of the array of light-emitting devices;

wherein the optical assembly comprises a plurality of lenses arranged to focus light emanating from the light stimulus device along a line of sight and onto the patient's eye;

wherein the light stimulus device has a level of intensity and the optical assembly has a level of attenuation caused by the optical assembly which are together arranged such that the light stimulus reaching the eye is at least about 3,200 Nts;

wherein the camera is located at a position off the line of sight;

wherein the optical assembly comprises a hot mirror arranged in the line of sight;

the hot mirror being arranged to transmit light emanating from the light stimulus device along the line of sight and onto the patient's eye;

the hot mirror being arranged to reflect light from the eye onto the camera;

wherein the hot mirror is configured to transmit the light emanating from the light stimulus device having frequencies within a first frequency range and to reflect the light which emanate from the eye to the camera having frequencies in a second frequency range distinct from the first frequency range;

wherein the plurality of lenses on the line of sight includes a first focusing lens disposed along the line of sight adjacent the light stimulus device;

wherein the plurality of lenses includes a second focusing lens disposed along the line of sight and adjacent the eye;

wherein the first and second focusing lenses are the only lenses of the optical assembly;

wherein the hot mirror is located between the first and second focusing lenses;

wherein the first focusing lens adjacent to the eye of the patient is biconvex and wherein a side of the second focusing lens closest to the eye has a larger radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of an opposite side of the second focusing lens;

wherein the first focusing lens closest to the light stimulus device is biconcave and wherein a side of the first focusing lens closest to the eye of the patient has a smaller radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the side of the first focusing lens closest to the light stimulus device.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are provided a plurality of the visual test units forming a system for use by a technician to administer the visual field tests on a plurality of patients, wherein each of the visual test units is assigned to a different one of the patients;

wherein each visual test unit is configured to receive, as input, parameters for configuring the visual test unit for the visual field test to be performed thereon, wherein the parameters are associated with said different one of the patients to which the visual test unit is assigned, wherein the parameters include at least one of: (i) an eye to be tested, (ii) a grid testing area for defining locations where light stimuli are presented in a visual field of the patient; and (iii) corrective lens prescription; and

wherein the system further includes a computing device operatively communicated with the visual test units and configured to receive, as input from the technician, the parameters for communication to the visual test units.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further includes a technician display configured to display the video to a technician administering the visual field test in order to monitor the patient.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 further including a technician device distinct from the visual test unit which is operatively communicated with the visual test unit and configured to control the visual test unit, and wherein the technician device includes the technician display such that the video is remotely observable.

5 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein

the technician display is external such that the video is observable by the technician for aligning the head mounted unit on the patient.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the technician display is distinct from the head mounted unit.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the visual field test unit is configured to detect an adverse testing condition of the patient under which inaccurate results of the visual field test are obtained, and wherein the visual test unit is configured to pause the visual field test in response to detection of the adverse testing condition.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the visual test unit is configured to resume the paused visual field test in response to determination that the adverse testing condition is removed.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the head mounted unit further includes a head tilt sensor configured to detect a tilt angle of a head of the patient relative to a vertical plane, and wherein the visual test unit is configured to pause the visual field test for the patient in response to a detected tilt angle exceeding a prescribed threshold angle.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the head tilt sensor is also configured to detect a tilt angle of the head of the patient relative to a reference tilt angle of the patient's head in a relaxed position.

11 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the camera is configured to detect closure of the eye and wherein the adverse testing condition comprises a closed eye.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the camera has a line of sight which is transverse but not perpendicular to the line of sight.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the line of sight of the camera is offset from a height center of the mirror between its upper and lower ends.

14 . An apparatus for administering a Conventional Gold Standard visual field test defined to determine sensitivity of a patient's visual system at various locations eccentric to the central fixation point in order to create a map of the patient's visual field comprising:

a visual field test unit configured to receive a face of the patient and to perform the visual field test on the patient, wherein the visual field test unit includes:

a light stimulus device configured to generate a light stimulus to an eye of the patient;

wherein the light stimulus device comprises an array of light-emitting devices configured to transmit light and at least one opaque screen in front of the array of light-emitting devices;

wherein said at least one opaque screen defines an array of openings at positions registered with respective ones of the light emitting devices in the array to permit passage of light from each light-emitting device through its respective opening and to block light from others of the array of light-emitting devices;

wherein the light emitting devices of the array are located at specific coordinates of the visual field which coordinates are determined by the Conventional Gold Standard visual field test;

wherein the patient indicates recognition of the stimuli by a response and the test report presents a visual grid which maps the lowest intensity level of light stimulus recognized by the patient at each coordinate of the visual field tested;

wherein the optical assembly comprises a plurality of focusing lenses arranged to focus light emanating from the light stimulus device along a line of sight and onto the patient's eye;

wherein the light stimulus device has a level of intensity and the optical assembly has a level of attenuation caused by the optical assembly which are together arranged such that the light stimulus reaching the eye is at least about 3,200 Nts.

15 . An apparatus for administering a Conventional Gold Standard visual field test defined to determine sensitivity of a patient's visual system at various locations eccentric to the central fixation point in order to create a map of the patient's visual field comprising:

a visual test unit configured to receive a face of the patient and to perform the visual field test on the patient, wherein the visual test unit includes:

a light stimulus device configured to generate a light stimulus to an eye of the patient;

wherein the light stimulus device comprises an array of light-emitting devices configured to transmit light and at least one opaque screen in front of the array of light-emitting devices;

wherein said at least one opaque screen defines an array of openings at positions registered with respective ones of the light emitting devices in the array to permit passage of light from each light-emitting device through its respective opening and to block light from others of the array of light-emitting devices;

wherein the light emitting devices of the array are located at specific coordinates of the visual field which coordinates are determined by the Conventional Gold Standard visual field test;

wherein the patient indicates recognition of the stimuli by a response and the test report presents a visual grid which maps the lowest intensity level of light stimulus recognized by the patient at each coordinate of the visual field tested;

wherein the optical assembly comprises a plurality of focusing lenses arranged to focus light emanating from the light stimulus device along a line of sight and onto the patient's eye;

wherein the light stimulus device has a level of intensity and the optical assembly has a level of attenuation caused by the optical assembly which are together arranged such that the light stimulus reaching the eye is at least about 3,200 Nts;

wherein the optical assembly is arranged such that there is a second focusing lens closest to the eye of the patient, a hot mirror and then a first focusing lens, followed by said at least one opaque filter and the array of light emitting devices;

wherein the second focusing lens adjacent to the eye of the patient is biconvex and wherein a side of the second focusing lens closest to the eye has a larger radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of an opposite side of the second focusing lens;

wherein the first focusing lens closest to the light stimulus device is biconcave and wherein a side of the first second focusing lens closest to the eye of the patient has a smaller radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the side of the first focusing lens closest to the light stimulus device;

wherein the hot mirror situated between the first and second focusing lenses is configured to transmit light emanating from the array of light emitting devices having frequencies within the first frequency range and to reflect light in a second frequency range such that a camera provides a video of the eye of the patient;

wherein the optical assembly is configured to permit the patient to see all of the light stimuli presented within the visual field of the patient;

wherein the camera is aligned at an angle to the side of the mirror closest to the eye of the patient.

16 . An apparatus for administering a Conventional Gold Standard visual field test defined to determine sensitivity of a patient's visual system at various locations eccentric to the central fixation point in order to create a map of the patient's visual field comprising:

a visual test unit configured to receive a face of the patient and to perform the visual field test on the patient, wherein the visual field test unit includes:

a light stimulus device configured to generate a light stimulus to an eye of the patient;

a camera configured to track movement of the eye of the patient;

wherein the visual field test unit comprises a head mounted unit having a housing configured for mounting to the head of the patient;

wherein the housing carries an internal test display and the camera;

wherein the camera is configured to track the eye of the patient by light rays reflected therefrom;

wherein the head mounted unit includes an optical assembly in the housing and configured for transmitting the light stimulus from the light stimulus device to the eye and light emanating from the eye of the patient to the camera;

wherein the optical assembly comprises a plurality of focusing lenses arranged to focus light emanating from the light stimulus device along a line of sight and onto the patient's eye;

wherein the light stimulus device has a level of intensity and the optical assembly has a level of attenuation caused by the optical assembly which are together arranged such that the light stimulus reaching the eye is at least about 3,200 Nts;

wherein the camera is located at a position off the line of sight;

wherein the optical assembly comprises a hot mirror arranged in the line of sight;

the hot mirror being arranged to transmit light emanating from the light stimulus device along the line of sight and onto the patient's eye;

the hot mirror being arranged to reflect light from the eye onto the camera;

wherein the plurality of focusing lenses on the line of sight includes a first focusing lens disposed along the line of sight adjacent the light stimulus device;

wherein the plurality of focusing lenses includes a second focusing lens disposed along the line of sight and adjacent the eye;

wherein the first and second focusing lenses are the only lenses of the optical assembly;

wherein the hot mirror is located between the first and second focusing lenses;

wherein the second focusing lens adjacent to the eye of the patient is biconvex and wherein a side of the second focusing lens closest to the eye has a larger radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of an opposite side of the second focusing lens;

wherein the first focusing lens closest to the light stimulus device is biconcave and wherein a side of the first focusing lens closest to the eye of the patient has a smaller radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the side of the second focusing lens closest to the light stimulus device;

wherein the light stimulus device forms an array of light emitting devices located at specific coordinates of the visual field which coordinates are determined by the Conventional Gold Standard visual field test;

wherein the patient indicates recognition of the stimuli by a response and the test report presents a visual grid which maps the lowest intensity level of light stimulus recognized by the patient at each coordinate of the visual field tested.

17 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the apparatus further includes a technician display distinct from the visual test unit which is operatively communicated with the visual test unit and configured to control the visual test unit, and wherein the technician device includes the technician display such that the video is remotely observable.

18 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the visual test unit is configured to detect an adverse testing condition of the patient under which inaccurate results of the visual field test are obtained, and wherein the visual test unit is configured to pause the visual field test in response to detection of the adverse testing condition and to resume the paused visual field test in response to determination that the adverse testing condition is removed.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the head mounted unit further includes a head tilt sensor configured to detect a tilt angle of a head of the patient relative to a vertical plane, and wherein the visual test unit is configured to pause the visual field test for the patient in response to a detected tilt angle exceeding a prescribed threshold angle.

20 . The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the camera is configured to detect closure of the eye and wherein the adverse testing condition comprises a closed eye.

21 . The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the apparatus further includes a technician display distinct from the visual test unit which is operatively communicated with the visual test unit and configured to control the visual test unit, and wherein the technician device includes the technician display such that the video is remotely observable.

22 . The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the visual test unit is configured to detect an adverse testing condition of the patient under which inaccurate results of the visual field test are obtained, and wherein the visual test unit is configured to pause the visual field test in response to detection of the adverse testing condition and to resume the paused visual field test in response to determination that the adverse testing condition is removed.

23 . The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the head mounted unit further includes a head tilt sensor configured to detect a tilt angle of a head of the patient relative to a vertical plane, and wherein the visual test unit is configured to pause the visual field test for the patient in response to a detected tilt angle exceeding a prescribed threshold angle.

24 . The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the camera is configured to detect closure of the eye and wherein the adverse testing condition comprises a closed eye.

25 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the apparatus further includes a technician display distinct from the visual test unit which is operatively communicated with the visual test unit and configured to control the visual test unit, and wherein the technician device includes the technician display such that the video is remotely observable.

26 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the visual test unit is configured to detect an adverse testing condition of the patient under which inaccurate results of the visual field test are obtained, and wherein the visual test unit is configured to pause the visual field test in response to detection of the adverse testing condition and to resume the paused visual field test in response to determination that the adverse testing condition is removed.

27 . The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the head mounted unit further includes a head tilt sensor configured to detect a tilt angle of a head of the patient relative to a vertical plane, and wherein the visual test unit is configured to pause the visual field test for the patient in response to a detected tilt angle exceeding a prescribed threshold angle.

28 . The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the camera is configured to detect closure of the eye and wherein the adverse testing condition comprises a closed eye.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (19)