JP3547196B2 - Ophthalmic equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to an ophthalmologic apparatus that detects a desired portion of a subject's eye and a projected index, and performs analysis, filing, and the like based on the detected data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Ophthalmologic devices such as a corneal shape measuring device that detects a Placido ring image projected on the eye to be examined and measures the corneal shape over a wide range from the detected image in detail, and a fundus camera that photographs the fundus of the eye with a television camera are known. Has been. Conventionally, this type of apparatus has been of a stationary type.
The stationary type device can easily measure a subject who can continuously take a sitting posture, but cannot measure a lying patient or an infant. In addition, there is a disadvantage that the device is large and inconvenient to move.
Therefore, a hand-held device has been proposed so that measurement can be performed regardless of the subject or the posture of the subject. In this apparatus, a unit for detecting data and a unit for performing analysis processing and recording and storage are separated, and both units are connected by a cable. The monitor is attached to a unit that performs analysis and the like.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, connecting the detection unit and another unit with a cable has a problem that the degree of freedom of operation and movement is limited.
In addition, the obtained image must be confirmed on a monitor of a unit that performs analysis and the like, and the operability is troublesome.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described drawbacks, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an ophthalmic apparatus which is easy to use without connecting a detection unit and a unit which performs analysis processing and recording and storage with a cable.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has the following configuration in order to solve the above problems.
(1) An image pickup means for picking up an image of an eye to be inspected or an index projected on the eye to be inspected, and a photographed image processing means for analyzing a photographed image by the image pickup means or performing data management, wherein the image pickup means and the photographed image processing means In an ophthalmologic apparatus in which a hand-held imaging unit and a photographed image processing unit are separately arranged, the image pickup unit stores an image memory storing an image captured by the image capturing unit, and a captured image stored in the image memory. Display means for displaying, image cancel means having a switch for canceling a captured image stored in the image memory, and transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the captured image stored in the image memory; The processing unit includes a receiving unit that receives the captured image signal from the transmitting unit, a frame memory that stores the captured image received by the receiving unit, Characterized by the provision of
(2) An image pickup means for picking up an image of an eye to be inspected or an index projected on the eye to be inspected, and a photographed image processing means for analyzing a photographed image by the image pickup means or performing data management, wherein the image pickup means and the photographed image processing means In an ophthalmologic apparatus in which a hand-held imaging unit and a photographed image processing unit are separately arranged, the image pickup unit stores an image memory storing an image captured by the image capturing unit, and a captured image stored in the image memory. Display means for displaying, image canceling means having a switch for canceling the photographed image stored in the image memory, and first communication contact for transmitting the photographed image stored in the image memory as a video signal. A second communication contact corresponding to the first communication contact, and a photographed image received via the second communication contact are stored in the photographed image processing unit. Characterized by providing a frame memory that.
[0010]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
A schematic configuration of the apparatus of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 1 denotes an imaging unit that projects a Placido ring onto the eye to be inspected and captures a corneal reflection image thereof. The imaging unit 1 also has a mechanism that measures the main meridian direction of a traditional central corneal region and the radius of curvature thereof. Reference numeral 2 denotes a charger for the photographing unit 1. The charger 2 is provided with contacts for charging and receiving data transfer from the photographing unit 1 when the photographing unit 1 is placed as shown by a dotted line.
[0011]
Reference numeral 3 denotes a printer unit for printing out a measurement result. An AC adapter 4 is connected to the printer unit 3 and supplies power to the charger 2 connected to the printer unit 3 via a cable. Further, the printer section 3 is provided with a light receiving section 3a for receiving data transfer from the photographing unit 1 by optical communication (described later), and the central area measurement data calculated by the photographing unit 1 is taken by the photographing unit. It is possible to directly transfer data without placing 1 in the charger 2.
[0012]
Reference numeral 5 denotes a personal computer connected to the charger 2 via a cable. The personal computer 5 contains a frame memory board 6 for storing the image captured by the image capturing unit 1. The personal computer 5 analyzes the Placido ring photographed image stored in the frame memory board 6, obtains detailed corneal curvature distribution information, and causes the monitor 7 to graphically display the information. Reference numeral 8 denotes an external storage device.
[0013]
Next, the configuration of the photographing unit 1 will be described. The photographing unit 1 has the appearance shown in FIG. 2A is a diagram viewed from the examiner side, and FIG. 2B is a diagram viewed from the subject side. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes an observation window for observing the subject's eye for alignment. Reference numeral 11 denotes an LCD monitor that displays a captured image of the eye to be examined and measurement results. Reference numeral 12 denotes a mode changeover switch for switching between a placido ring photographing mode and a central area measurement mode. Reference numeral 13 denotes a device for transferring a photographed image to the personal computer 5 and outputting a measurement result from the printer unit 3. Is a data transfer switch, and 14 is a power switch. Reference numeral 15 denotes an R / L selection switch for designating a measurement eye.
Reference numeral 16 denotes a measurement window, and 17 denotes a platinum plate. On the platinum plate 17, a plurality of light transmitting portions and light shielding portions of a ring pattern having a predetermined width are formed concentrically to form a measurement index.
[0014]
The lower part of the photographing unit 1 is gripped so as to be suitable for hand-holding, and can be gripped with one hand. A battery 18 for driving the photographing unit 1 is detachably fitted to a lower portion of the grip.
Reference numeral 19 denotes a communication contact for transferring photographed image data to the frame memory board 6 in the personal computer 5 via the charger 2. Reference numeral 20 denotes a communication contact for transferring center area measurement data to the printer unit 3 and for providing an image capture signal to the personal computer 5. 21 and 22 are charging contacts.
Reference numeral 23 denotes a light-emitting unit for transmitting measurement data to the printer unit 3 as an optical signal.
[0015]
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an optical system arranged in the photographing unit 1. Reference numeral 30 denotes an eye to be examined, and 31 denotes an examiner's eye. The examiner's eye 31 magnifies and observes the subject's eye 30 via the objective lens 32 and the beam splitter 33.
34 is an aiming mark plate, 35 is a mark plate illumination light source, and 36 is a mirror. The luminous flux of the aiming mark that has passed through the aiming mark plate 34 by turning on the illumination light source 35 is reflected by the mirror 36 and the beam splitter 33 and travels toward the examiner's eye 31. The examiner's eye 31 superimposes the aiming mark on the anterior eye image of the eye to be inspected, which is magnified and observed through the observation window, and observes and performs alignment.
37 is a fixation target light source, 38 is a fixation target plate having a spot aperture, and 39 is a concave lens. Reference numeral 40 denotes a dichroic mirror for making the optical axis of a photographic optical system described later and the projection optical axis of the fixation target coaxial, and 49 an imaging lens. The fixation target plate 38 illuminated by the fixation target light source 37 is projected onto the fundus of the eye to be examined through the dichroic mirror 40 and the beam splitter 33 by the concave lens 39 and the imaging lens 49, and the eye to be examined 30 is fixed. The signboard 38 can be fixedly observed.
[0016]
Reference numeral 41 denotes an index projection optical system, and eight sets are arranged at 45 ° intervals on the same circumference centered on the observation optical axis, and the projection optical axis forms a predetermined angle with respect to the observation optical axis, and It is arranged so as to pass through the 17 light-transmitting portions. Among the eight sets of index projection optical systems, there are four sets of projection optical systems 41a to 41d (41c and 41d are not shown) for central area measurement arranged at 90-degree intervals. It comprises a light source 42 such as an LED that emits near-infrared light, a spot stop 43, and a collimator lens 44 for placing the spot stop 43 at infinity. The projection optical systems 41a to 41d for measuring the central area are also used as optical systems for detecting the working distance, and the optical systems for detecting the working distance are the projection optical systems 41a to 41d for projecting an infinite light beam, and the light source 42. And four sets of projection optical systems 41e to 41h (not shown) for projecting a finite light beam composed of a spot stop 43.
[0017]
Reference numeral 45 denotes a plurality of LEDs provided on the same circumference centered on the observation optical axis, and the luminous flux passes through the light-transmitting portion of the platinum plate 17, and the entire corneal reflection image of the LED 45 functions as a earring. Fulfill. The LED 45 also serves as an illumination for the anterior segment.
Reference numeral 46 denotes a ring strobe of a light source for photographing arranged behind the placid plate 17. The illumination light of the ring strobe 46 is reflected by a reflection plate (not shown) to substantially uniformly illuminate the translucent portion of the placid plate 17, thereby forming a placido ring image on the cornea of the eye to be examined.
Reference numeral 47 denotes a CCD camera, and its imaging element surface is arranged at a position conjugate with the vicinity of the iris where a corneal reflection image is formed on the imaging lens 49. The CCD camera 47, together with the beam splitter 33 and the imaging lens 49, detects a Placido ring image and images of the projection optical systems 41a to 41h.
[0018]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main part of an electric system block diagram of the apparatus.
A video signal captured by the CCD camera 47 is digitized by an A / D conversion circuit 50. Reference numeral 51 denotes an image memory for capturing images, which has two memories, an R-eye image memory 51a and an L-eye image memory 51b, for separately storing left and right eye images. Reference numerals 52 and 53 denote switch circuits for selectively switching between input and output of image signals of the two image memories 51. The switch circuits 52 and 53 control switch signals of the R / L selection switch 15 under the control of the microcomputer 54. In response, the connection is switched. Reference numeral 55 denotes a D / A conversion circuit; 56, a character display combining / controlling circuit; Display. The image signal converted into the video signal by the D / A conversion circuit 55 is also output from the communication contact 19.
[0019]
Reference numeral 57 denotes a transmission circuit connected to the communication contact 20, and reference numeral 58 denotes a transmission circuit for performing optical communication via the light emitting unit 23.
Reference numeral 60 denotes a communication contact disposed on the charger 2 so as to correspond to the contact 19 of the photographing unit 1. When both contacts come into contact with each other, an image signal from the photographing unit 1 is transmitted to the personal computer 5. It is sent to the frame memory board 6 through an A / D conversion circuit 70 provided therein.
Reference numeral 61 denotes a communication contact arranged so as to correspond to the contact 20 of the photographing unit 1. The contact 61 is connected to a computer circuit 72 via a serial I / O circuit 71 in the personal computer 5 and to a receiving circuit 80 in the printer unit 3. 81 is a printer control circuit, and 82 is a printer.
[0020]
The operation of the apparatus having the above configuration will be described.
(Alignment adjustment)
The examiner operates the imaging unit 1 while holding it with his hand. When the power switch 14 is turned on, each light source other than the ring strobe 46 is turned on. After setting the mode with the mode change switch 12, the examiner determines the right and left of the eye to be measured with the R / L selection switch 15. Thereafter, the measurement window 16 is positioned in front of the selected eye to be inspected, and the aiming mark is superimposed on the image of the anterior eye of the eye to be enlarged and observed from the observation window 10 for observation and coarse alignment is performed. The microcomputer circuit 54 determines whether the working distance is appropriate based on the position of the index image on the image memory 51 by the light source 42 captured by the CCD camera 47.
[0021]
Whether the working distance is appropriate or not is determined by comparing the image heights of the corneal reflection images formed by the index projection optical systems 41a to 41d projecting an infinite index and the index projection optical systems 41e to 41h projecting a finite index. This is done by: This is because when a corneal reflection image is formed by an infinite light source and a finite light source, the image height of the corneal reflection image by the infinite light source does not change even if the working distance changes, but the corneal reflection image by the finite light source Utilizes the characteristic that the image height changes. The details are described in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-248965 (the title of the present invention, "alignment detection device"), to which reference should be made. The appropriateness of the working distance can be determined by obtaining one index image for each of the light sources having the same projection optical axis. However, in the present embodiment, an elliptical shape connecting four infinity index images is used. The microcomputer circuit 54 finds each of the elliptical shapes connecting the four finite distance index images, extracts the position of each ellipse in the predetermined meridian direction, and compares the heights.
[0022]
The microcomputer circuit 54 controls the aiming mark illumination light source 35 to flash on and off to notify the examiner of the suitability of the working distance. For example, the illumination light source 35 blinks slowly when the device is far from the eye to be examined, and blinks quickly when the device is near.
[0023]
(Shooting mode)
The case where the photographing mode is selected by the mode change switch 12 will be described.
When the height of the index image by the light source 42 matches within a predetermined allowable range by the alignment adjustment, the microcomputer circuit 54 turns off the light source 42 and the LED 45 for earring, and then emits light from the ring strobe 46. The illumination light passing through the placid plate 17 is reflected by the eye to be examined, and forms a reflection image of the placido ring. The reflected image is photographed by the CCD camera 47 and stored in the image memory 51 specified by the R / L selection switch 15. The image stored in the image memory 51 is displayed on the LCD monitor 11, and the examiner confirms whether the image has been taken well. If the captured image is not good, the image stored in the image memory 51 is canceled by pressing the R / L selection switch 15 again, and the image is captured again.
For photographing the other eye, the photographing eye is selected by the R / L selection switch 15 and the photographed image is stored in the other image memory 51 in the same procedure.
[0024]
The photographed image data stored in the image memory 51 can be transferred to the computer 5 by setting the photographing unit 1 on the charger 2. When the photographing unit 1 is placed at a predetermined position, the communication contact 19 of the photographing unit 1 and the communication contact 60 of the charger 2 come into contact with each other, so that data transfer is possible. When the data transfer switch 13 is pressed, the switch signal outputs an image capture command signal to the personal computer 5 via the microcomputer circuit 54, the transmission circuit 57 and the communication contacts 20, 61. . The image capture command signal is input to the computer circuit 72 via the serial I / O circuit 71. Upon receiving this signal, the computer circuit 72 stores the photographed image sent through the contacts 19 and 60 in the frame memory board 6 via the A / D circuit 70. The image capture command signal can also be given by operating the keyboard of the personal computer 5.
[0025]
As described above, the image data from the photographing unit 1 is transferred to the personal computer 5 as a video signal via the communication contacts 19 and 60, so that the transfer is instantaneous. Complete.
The personal computer 5 performs a detailed analysis process of the corneal curvature distribution and a graphic creation process based on the Placido ring image taken into the frame memory board 6. Since a well-known method can be used for these analysis processes, a description thereof will be omitted.
The analysis result and the processed graphic are displayed on the monitor 7. Further, image data and analysis results taken into the frame memory board 6 can be transferred to the external storage device 8 to perform data filing management.
Further, a video printer may be connected to the personal computer 5 to output a photographed image and an analysis result.
[0026]
(Center area measurement mode)
The case where the mode changeover switch 12 is set to the center area measurement mode will be described. When the measurement eye is designated by the R / L selection switch 15 and the alignment is completed, a trigger signal is automatically issued to execute the measurement.
The image signal taken into the image memory 51 is subjected to predetermined processing, and the position of the corneal reflection luminescent point of the index projection optical system (41a to 41d) is detected. The microcomputer 54 calculates the corneal shape from the elliptical shape connecting the detected corneal reflection bright points. For details of the calculation of the corneal shape, as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 59-207539 (name of the invention, "Cornea Shape Measuring Device", Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-18968), if at least three index images are detected. And the corneal shape can be calculated. The measurement result is displayed on the LCD monitor 11 via the character display synthesis / control circuit 56. In this case, the image fetched into the image memory 51 may be superimposed and displayed on the LCD monitor 11 in order to check whether or not the measurement operation is abnormal.
[0027]
The measurement data is transmitted to the printer unit 3 by a light signal from the light emitting unit 23 by the data transfer switch 13, and the data is communicated by setting the photographing unit 1 to the charger 2 and printed. Is output. It is preferable to detect whether the photographing unit 1 is set on the charger 2 and select a data communication method.
[0028]
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the captured image captured by the capturing unit 1 is instantaneously transferred to the computer 5 using the communication contact has been described. Radio waves and the like can also be used.
[0029]
FIG. 5 is a main part block diagram showing a modification example in the case of using radio wave transmission instead of the communication contact. Reference numeral 90 denotes a radio wave transmission unit provided on the photographing unit 1 side. The image signal converted into a video signal by the D / A conversion circuit 55 is modulated through a video amplification circuit 91 and a video transmission circuit 92, and is transmitted by a transmission antenna 93. Is transmitted by radio. Reference numeral 94 denotes a radio wave receiving unit provided to be connected to the computer 5. The video radio wave received by the receiving antenna 95 is converted into a video signal through a tuner circuit 96, an intermediate frequency amplifier circuit 97, and a detection circuit 98. The video signal is taken out, amplified by the video amplifier circuit 99, and supplied to the frame memory board 6 via the A / D circuit 70. When the data transfer switch 13 is pressed to transmit a photographed image, the photographed image data stored in the image memory 51 is transmitted by radio waves for a plurality of predetermined screens, and the received image data is transmitted to a frame memory board 6. , And by performing processing such as averaging a plurality of images, an image from which noise has been removed can be obtained. When this method is adopted, the data can be transmitted for each photographing, so that the image memory of the photographing unit 1 may be one screen, and when transmitting in real time, the image memory of the photographing unit 1 may be omitted. good.
[0030]
As the data transfer means of the photographed image, optical communication can be used in the same manner as the transmission of the center area measurement data. In this case, the transfer time can be reduced by applying a process such as a data compression method. Can be shortened.
Further, the present invention can be applied to transmitting image data photographed by the photographing unit 1 to a photographed image processing unit at a remote place via a telephone line or the like.
As described above, the present invention can be variously modified, and these are included in the present invention as long as the technical ideas are the same.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus in which a unit for obtaining a captured image and a unit for analyzing and managing the captured image are separated, and a fixedly connected communication line is used. Even without this, it is possible to send captured image data quickly and easily. In addition, it is possible to maximize the advantage of separating the unit for obtaining the photographed image from other units without being disturbed by a communication line or the like, and to maintain almost the same operability as a non-separable type.

[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the appearance of a photographing unit.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an optical system arranged in a photographing unit.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main part of an electric system block diagram of the device of the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a main block diagram showing a modification example in which radio wave transmission is used in place of the communication contact of the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 shooting unit 5 personal computer 6 frame memory board 11 LCD monitor 19, 20 communication contact 51 image memory 60, 61 communication contact

Claims (2)

It has imaging means for imaging the eye to be inspected or an index projected on the eye to be inspected, and imaging image processing means for analyzing or photographing an image captured by the imaging means, and the imaging means and the imaging image processing means are hand-held. In an ophthalmologic apparatus which is separately arranged in an imaging unit and a photographed image processing unit, the image pickup unit includes an image memory for storing an image captured by the image capturing means, and a display for displaying the captured image stored in the image memory. Means, an image canceling unit having a switch for canceling a captured image stored in the image memory, and a transmitting unit for wirelessly transmitting the captured image stored in the image memory. Is provided with receiving means for receiving a captured image signal from the transmitting means, and a frame memory for storing the captured image received by the receiving means. Ophthalmologic apparatus characterized by. It has imaging means for imaging the eye to be inspected or an index projected on the eye to be inspected, and imaging image processing means for analyzing or photographing an image captured by the imaging means, and the imaging means and the imaging image processing means are hand-held. In an ophthalmologic apparatus which is separately arranged in an imaging unit and a photographed image processing unit, the image pickup unit includes an image memory for storing an image captured by the image capturing means, and a display for displaying the captured image stored in the image memory. Means, an image canceling means having a switch for canceling a captured image stored in the image memory, and a first communication contact for transmitting a captured image stored in the image memory by a video signal, The photographed image processing unit includes a second communication contact corresponding to the first communication contact, and a memory for storing a photographed image received via the second communication contact. Ophthalmologic apparatus is characterized by providing a Mumemori.

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