IP Library Granted Patent US 12,518,375
Granted Patent B2
US 12,518,375 · App. 17/531,320 · Granted Jan 6, 2026

Vision screening systems and methods

Inventors: Edward Charles Bremer (Victor, NY); Yaolong Lou (Singapore, SG)
Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
G06T7/0012A61B3/0008A61B3/005G06V40/19G06T2207/10028G06T2207/10048G06T2207/30041
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,518,375
App. No.
17/531,320
Granted
Jan 6, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes system housing, an eccentric radiation source, and a radiation sensor. The radiation produced by the eccentric radiation source can be collected by the radiation sensor to generate images of retinas for a patient. The system also includes a vision screening device connected with the eccentric radiation source and the radiation sensor via the system house that can control and synchronize actions for the eccentric radiation source and the radiation sensor. The vision screening device further analyzes the images generated by the radiation sensor via neural network algorithms to determine spherical error slopes, refractive errors, and recommendations for the patient.

Claims (39)

1 . A vision screening device, comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing rotatably coupled to the first housing;

a first display disposed within the first housing, the first display forming a substantially planar first front surface of the vision screening device;

a second display disposed within the second housing, the second display forming a substantially planar second front surface of the vision screening device, wherein in a closed configuration of the vision screening device, the first front surface is disposed adjacent and facing the second front surface;

an imaging assembly disposed within the first housing, the imaging assembly comprising:

a near infra-red (NIR) radiation source, and

a NIR camera configured to capture NIR radiation reflected by an eye of a patient;

a processor operably connected to the first display, the second display, and the imaging assembly; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

cause the first display to present a visual stimulus, in a visible light wavelength range, to the patient during a period of time;

cause the NIR radiation source to illuminate the eye of the patient during the period of time;

cause the NIR camera to capture NIR radiation reflected by the eye while the patient is presented with the visual stimulus;

determine, based on the captured NIR radiation, a measurement associated with the eye; and

cause the second display to present information indicative of the measurement.

2 . The vision screening device of claim 1 , wherein the imaging assembly includes a third housing, and wherein the NIR radiation source and the NIR camera are at least partly disposed within the third housing.

3 . The vision screening device of claim 2 , wherein the imaging assembly further includes a front cover disposed over the NIR radiation source and the NIR camera, wherein the front cover extends substantially coplanar with the first front surface of the vision screening device.

4 . The vision screening device of claim 1 , wherein the imaging assembly further includes a base, wherein the NIR radiation source and the NIR camera are connected to the base, and wherein the base is operably connected to the processor of the vision screening device.

5 . The vision screening device of claim 1 , wherein the measurement includes at least one of a pupil position, a pupil diameter, and an inner pupil distance, and the instructions further cause the processor to:

detect, based on the captured NIR radiation, a pupil of the eye; and

determine, based on the detection, the measurement.

6 . The vision screening device of claim 2 , wherein the imaging assembly further comprises a visible light source and a visible light camera, and wherein the visible light source and the visible light camera are at least partly disposed within the third housing.

7 . The vision screening device of claim 6 , wherein the period of time is a first period of time, and the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

cause the visible light source to illuminate the patient during a second period of time;

cause the visible light camera to capture an image of a face of the patient during the second period of time;

determine, based on the image, a location of the eye;

generate an augmented image illustrating the eye, the augmented image including a visual identifier identifying a pupil of the eye; and

cause the second display to display the augmented image of the eye.

8 . The vision screening device of claim 2 , wherein the imaging assembly further comprises a 3D range sensor at least partly disposed within the third housing, and the instructions further cause the processor to:

cause the 3D range sensor to generate a 3D point cloud of the patient; and

determine, based at least in part on the 3D point cloud, a distance of the patient from the vision screening device.

9 . The vision screening device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first back surface disposed opposite the first front surface and formed by the first housing; and

a second back surface disposed opposite the second front surface and formed by the second housing,

wherein the first housing and the second housing are moveable to achieve an open position of the vision screening device in which the first back surface is disposed adjacent to and facing the second back surface.

10 . The vision screening device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

cause the second display to display one or more vision screening test options; and

receive, via a touch interface of the second display, input indicative of a selection of a vision screening test of the one or more vision screening test options.

11 . The vision screening device of claim 10 , wherein the vision screening test options include one or more of a photo-refraction screening test, a visual acuity screening test, and a color vision screening test.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2023
From: BREMER, EDWARD CHARLES; LOU, YAOLONG
To: WELCH ALLYN, INC.
Reel/Frame 063391/0116 →
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 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 17344838 · Jun 10, 2021
Provisional Application 63041550 · Jun 19, 2020
Related Publication 20220076417A1 · Mar 10, 2022
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