IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,827,923
Granted Patent B2
US 10,827,923 · App. 16/456,246 · Granted Nov 10, 2020

Ophthalmoscope using natural pupil dilation

Inventors: Alexandros Karargyris (San Jose, CA); Thomas G. Zimmerman (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
A61B3/12A61B3/0091A61B3/112A61B3/14G06K9/0061G06K9/209G06K9/2018A61B3/0025G06K9/00604
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,827,923
App. No.
16/456,246
Granted
Nov 10, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An ophthalmic device having a single or dual compartment configuration selectively emits infrared and visible light beams onto one or a pair of target eyes. The device performs eye fundus imaging and aids in the detection of ailments as indicated by anomalies in the pupillary reflex.

Claims (25)

1. An apparatus comprising a housing unit, the housing unit comprising a first compartment and a second compartment operatively connected to one or more power sources, each of the first compartment and the second compartment comprising:

a light source comprising an infrared light source and a visible light source, the light source being operatively connected a power source;

an image sensor positioned adjacent to the light source along a first axis, wherein the light source is either inline or coaxial relative to the image sensor;

a lens positioned between the light source and the image sensor, inline relative to the image sensor along the first axis;

an opening having an external-light blocking eyepiece, the opening being positioned adjacent to the light source opposite the lens and inline relative to the lens along the first axis;

an input/output (I/O) device; and

at least one control unit comprising a processor and a tangible storage device storing program instructions executable by the processor, the program instructions comprising instructions to:

emit, by respective infrared light sources of the first compartment and the second compartment, infrared light in the direction of the opening for a period of time by energizing the infrared light source via the power source;

capture, by respective image sensors of the first compartment and the second compartment, a reflection of the infrared light;

identify, by respective image sensors of the first compartment and the second compartment, an image of an eye by analyzing the captured reflection of the infrared light;

measure, by respective image sensors of the first compartment and the second compartment, pupil dilation in the eye by analyzing the identified image of the eye; and

determine, by the processor, for each of the first compartment and the second compartment, that the pupil is dilated by a first amount greater than or equal to a pre-configured dilation measurement;

detect, by the image sensor of the first compartment, a response time of pupil constriction in the eye positioned at the opening of the first compartment, in response to emitting the at least two beams of visible light in the first compartment, wherein emission of the at least two beams of visible light in sequence is exclusive to the first compartment for the period of time for visible light emission;

generate a delta report comprising data showing a divergence between the measured response time of pupil constriction of the eye in the first compartment and the measured response time of pupil constriction of the eye in the second compartment; and

output, by the I/O device, the delta report.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the period of time for visible light emission is greater than zero and less than or equal to 200 milliseconds.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two beams of visible light are emitted for an equal portion of the period of time for visible light emission.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions further comprise instructions to:

detect, by the image sensor, a response time of pupil constriction in the eye in response to emitting the at least two beams of visible light in the first compartment, the second compartment, or both;

generate a delta report comprising data showing a divergence between the measured response time of pupil constriction and an expected response time of pupil constriction; and

output, by the I/O device, the delta report.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to:

emit, by respective infrared light sources of the first compartment and the second compartment, respective beams of infrared light;

capture, by respective image sensors of the first compartment and the second compartment, a reflection of the respective beams of infrared light; and

output, by the I/O device, one or more images of the captured reflection of the respective beams of infrared light in the first compartment and the second compartment.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2019
From: KARARGYRIS, ALEXANDROS; ZIMMERMAN, THOMAS G.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049635/0807 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15716596 · Sep 27, 2017
Related Publication 20190313900A1 · Oct 17, 2019