IP Library Granted Patent US 9,320,439
Granted Patent B2
US 9,320,439 · App. 14/008,814 · Granted Apr 26, 2016

Ophthalmological image analyzer and ophthalmological image analysis method

Inventors: Reiko Arita (Tokyo, JP); Jun Suehiro (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
A61B5/0077A61B3/0025A61B5/4887G06T7/0012G06T2207/30041
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,320,439
App. No.
14/008,814
Granted
Apr 26, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Ophthalmological image analysis techniques that can present objective information about the state of distribution of the Meibomian glands are provided. An ophthalmological image analyzer 1 comprises a designator 22 , an extractor 23 and a calculator 24 . The designator 22 is configured to designate an area A to be analyzed in a photographed image I of an eyelid of an eye. The extractor 23 is configured to extract Meibomian-gland subareas B that represent Meibomian glands in the eyelid, on the basis of the luminance value of each pixel in the area A being analyzed which is designated by the designator 22 . The calculator 24 is configured to acquire distribution information of Meibomian glands in the area A being analyzed, on the basis of the Meibomian-gland subareas B.

Claims (22)

1. A method of ophthalmological image analysis, comprising:

a step of designating an area to be analyzed in a photographed image of an eyelid of an eye;

a step of extracting Meibomian-gland subareas that represent Meibomian glands in the eyelid, on the basis of the luminance value of each pixel in the area being analyzed;

a step of specifying vertices for the Meibomian-gland subareas, and on the basis of the vertices, specifying a boundary that divides the area being analyzed into the Meibomian-gland subareas with the inter-Meibomian gland subareas, which are subareas that exist between the Meibomian-gland subareas, and into the other remaining external subareas; and

a step of dividing the sum of the surface area of the Meibomian-gland subareas and the surface area of the inter-Meibomian gland subareas by the surface area of the area being analyzed, calculating the quotient, which represents occupancy ratio as distribution information of Meibomian glands in the area being analyzed.

2. A method of ophthalmological image analysis, comprising:

a step of designating an area to be analyzed in a photographed image of an eyelid of an eye;

a step of extracting Meibomian-gland subareas that represent Meibomian glands in the eyelid, on the basis of the luminance value of each pixel in the area being analyzed;

a step of specifying vertices for the Meibomian-gland subareas, and on the basis of the vertices, specify a boundary that divides the area being analyzed into the Meibomian-gland subareas with the inter-Meibomian gland subareas, which are subareas that exist between the Meibomian-gland subareas, and into the other remaining external subareas; and

a step of acquiring, as distribution information of Meibomian glands in the area being analyzed, shape information that indicates the shape of the boundary.

3. A method of ophthalmological image analysis, comprising:

a step of designating an area to be analyzed in a photographed image of an eyelid of an eye;

a step of extracting Meibomian-gland subareas that represent Meibomian glands in the eyelid, on the basis of the luminance value of each pixel in the area being analyzed; and

a step of acquiring, as distribution information of Meibomian glands in the area being analyzed, a degree of bending for the Meibomian glands, on the basis of the shape of the Meibomian-gland subareas.

4. A method of ophthalmological image analysis, comprising:

a step of storing a predetermined threshold value and a standard occupancy ratio, which is the ratio of Meibomian-gland subareas and inter-Meibomian gland subareas, which are subareas that exist between the Meibomian-gland subareas, occupying an area being analyzed of a normal eye;

a step of designating an area to be analyzed in a photographed image of an eyelid of an eye;

a step of extracting Meibomian-gland subareas that represent Meibomian glands in the eyelid, on the basis of the luminance value of each pixel in the area being analyzed;

a step of specifying vertices for the Meibomian-gland subareas, and on the basis of the vertices, specify a boundary that divides the area being analyzed into the Meibomian-gland subareas with the inter-Meibomian gland subareas, which are subareas that exist between the Meibomian-gland subareas, and into the other remaining external subareas;

a step of dividing the sum of the surface area of the Meibomian-gland subareas and the surface area of the inter-Meibomian gland subareas by the surface area of the area being analyzed, calculating the quotient, which represents occupancy ratio;

a step of acquiring, as distribution information of Meibomian glands in the area being analyzed, a degree of falling off of the Meibomian glands compared with the normal eye by calculating the difference between the occupancy ratio and the standard occupancy ratio; and

a step of determining the existence or nonexistence of abnormality in the Meibomian glands, on the basis of the degree of falling off and the threshold value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2013
From: ARITA, REIKO; SUEHIRO, JUN
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
Reel/Frame 031319/0891 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-086383 · Apr 8, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150141837A1 · May 21, 2015