Fundus Observation Device

Abstract

A fundus observation device is provided capable of capturing both images of the surface of the fundus oculi and tomographic images of the fundus oculi, and capable of preventing alignment indicators from being reflected in the image of the fundus oculi. Image forming part 220 operates to form surface images based on results of detecting the reflection light by the fundus oculi Ef of the illumination light obtained from a fundus camera unit 1A, and operates to form tomographic images based on results of detecting interference light LC by the OCT unit 150. The fundus camera unit comprises alignment optical systems 110A and 190A, which project an alignment indicator. Detection timing controlling part 210B controls a fundus camera unit 1A and makes it detect the illumination light substantially simultaneously with detection of the interference light. Before the interference light LC and illumination light are substantially simultaneously detected, the alignment controlling part 210 controls the alignment optical system 110A and 190A and terminates the projection of the alignment light indicator. Correction processing part 225 corrects the image position of tomographic images using the surface images obtained substantially simultaneously.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram representing one example of the entire constitution in an embodiment of the fundus observation device related to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram representing one compositional example of a scanning unit installed in a fundus camera unit in an embodiment of the fundus observation device related to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram representing one compositional example of an OCT unit in an embodiment of the fundus observation device related to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram representing one example of hardware configurations of an arithmetic and control unit in an embodiment of the fundus observation device related to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram representing one compositional example of a control system in an embodiment of the fundus observation device related to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram representing one compositional example of a control system in an embodiment of the fundus observation device related to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram representing one example of scanning features of signal light in an embodiment of the fundus observation device related to the present invention. FIG. 7A represents one example of the scanning features of signal light when a fundus oculi is seen from the incident side of the signal light with respect to an eye. In addition, FIG. 7B represents one example of arrangement features of scanning points of each scanning line.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram representing one example of the scanning features of signal light and tomographic image features formed along each scanning line in an embodiment of the fundus observation device related to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing one example of the procedure for operation of forming three-dimensional images of fundus oculi by means of an embodiment of the fundus observation device related to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing one example of the operation of forming three-dimensional images of fundus oculi by means of an embodiment of the fundus observation device related to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of process for correcting the image position of tomographic images of the fundus oculi according to an embodiment of the fundus observation device related to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view of an example of the operation timing of a modified example of an embodiment of the fundus observation device related to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic side view representing an appearance constitution of a conventional fundus observation device (fundus camera).

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram representing one example of an internal constitution (an optical system constitution) of a conventional fundus observation device (fundus camera).

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of an example of the configuration of the alignment optical system of the conventional fundus observation device (fundus oculi camera). FIG. 15A is a side view of an example of the configuration of the optical system for projecting split indicators used for the focus adjustment onto an eye. FIG. 15B is a side view of an example of the configuration of an alignment member. FIG. 15C is a top view of an example of the configuration of an alignment member.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of an example of the configuration of the alignment optical system of a conventional fundus observation device (fundus oculi camera). FIG. 16A is a side view of an example of the configuration of the optical system for projecting a pair of alignment bright points used for the position adjustment of the device in relation to an eye onto the eye. FIG. 16B is a top view of an example of the configuration of a two-hole aperture.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of an example of the displaying feature of the alignment indicators according to the conventional fundus observation device (fundus oculi camera). FIG. 17A shows the displaying feature of split indicators in an unfocused state and the displaying feature of alignment bright points and scales in the state in which the position of the device does not coincide with an eye. FIG. 17B shows the displaying feature of split indicators in the focused state and the displaying feature of alignment bright points and scales in the state in which the position of the device coincides with an eye.

Claims

1. A fundus observation device comprising: a first image forming part having an illuminating optical system configured to emit illumination light onto fundus oculi of an eye and an imaging optical system configured to detect the illumination light having reached said fundus oculi by the first detection part, wherein the first image forming part forms a 2-dimensional image of the surface of said fundus oculi based on the detection results by said first detection part;a second image forming part having a light source configured to emit low coherent light with a wavelength which is different from said illumination light; an interference optical generating part configured to split said emitted low coherent light into the signal light directed towards said fundus oculi and the reference light directed towards a reference object and to generate interference light by superposing the signal light having reached said fundus oculi and the reference light having reached said reference object; and a second detection part configured to detect said interference light generated, wherein said second image forming part forms tomographic images of said fundus oculi based on the detected results by said second detection part;an optical path combination and separation part configured to combine the photographing optical path formed by said imaging optical system and the optical path of a signal light directed toward said fundus oculi so as to illuminate said signal light onto said fundus oculi through said photographing optical path, and configured to separate said photographing optical path from the optical path of the signal light toward said fundus oculi so as to superpose said signal light on said reference light by said interference optical generating part;an alignment optical system configured to project an alignment indicator on said eye to preliminarily adjust a device for said eye; anda controlling part configured to control said alignment optical system to terminate projection of said alignment indicator on said eye before said illumination light is detected by said first detection part.

2. A fundus observation device comprising: a first image forming part having an illuminating optical system configured to emit illumination light onto fundus oculi of an eye and a imaging optical system configured to detect the illumination light having reached said fundus oculi by the first detection part, wherein the first image forming part forms a 2-dimensional image of the surface of said fundus oculi based on the detection results by said first detection part; a second image forming part having a light source configured to emit light with a wavelength which is different from said illumination light; an interference optical generating part configured to split said light emitted from said light source into the signal light directed towards said fundus oculi and the reference light directed towards a reference object and to generate interference light by superposing the signal light having reached said fundus oculi and the reference light having reached said reference object; and a second detection part configured to detect said interference light generated, wherein said second image forming part forms tomographic images of said fundus oculi based on the detected results by said second detection part;an optical path combination and separation part configured to combine the photographing optical path formed by said imaging optical system and the optical path of a signal light directed toward said fundus oculi and so as to illuminate said signal light onto said fundus oculi through said photographing optical path, and configured to separate said photographing optical path from the optical path of the signal light having reached said fundus oculi so as to superpose said signal light on said reference light by said interference optical generating part;an alignment optical system configured to project an alignment indicator on said eye to preliminarily adjust a device for said eye;a detection timing controlling part configured to cause said first detection part to detect said illumination light substantially simultaneously with detection of said interference light by said second detection part;a controlling part configured to control said alignment optical system to terminate projection of said alignment indicator on said eye before said detection by said first detection part; anda correction part configured to correct the image position of the tomographic image of said fundus oculi according to a 2-dimensional image of the surface of said fundus oculi.

3. A fundus observation device according to claim 2, wherein said detection timing controlling part causes said first detection part to detect said illumination light before and/or after a predetermined time for detection of said interference light by said second detection part, and said controlling part controls said alignment optical system so as to project said alignment indicator on said eye when said detection by said first detection part before and/or after the predetermined time.

4. A fundus observation device according to claim 2, wherein said detection timing controlling part synchronizes said illumination light detection timing by said first detection part with said interference light detection timing by said second detection part.

5. A fundus observation device according to claim 1, wherein said alignment optical system comprises a first alignment optical system, which projects a first alignment indicator on said eye for adjusting the focus of said eye.

6. A fundus observation device according to claim 2, wherein said alignment optical system comprises a first alignment optical system, which projects a first alignment indicator on said eye for adjusting the focus of said eye.

7. A fundus observation device according to claim 5, wherein said first alignment optical system comprises a first alignment light source configured to emit a first alignment light, a split prism configured to split said emitted first alignment light into two light fluxes and a first optical path-combination part configured to combine said two light fluxes into an optical path toward said fundus oculi, wherein said controlling part controls said first alignment indicator to be prevented from projection on said eye by turning off said first alignment light source.

8. A fundus observation device according to claim 5, wherein said first alignment optical system comprises a first alignment light source configured to emit a first alignment light, a split prism configured to split said emitted first alignment light into two light fluxes, and a first optical path-combination part configured to combine said two light fluxes into an optical path toward said fundus oculi, further comprising a drive part configured to detach said first optical path-combination part from said optical path toward the fundus oculi, andsaid controlling part controls said drive part to evacuate said first optical path-combination part from said optical path toward the fundus oculi, so as to prevent projection of said first alignment indicator on said eye.

9. A fundus observation device according to claim 1, wherein said alignment optical system comprises a second alignment optical system that projects a second alignment indicator on said eye for adjusting the position of the device relative to said eye.

10. A fundus observation device according to claim 2, wherein said alignment optical system comprises a second alignment optical system that projects a second alignment indicator on said eye for adjusting the position of the device relative to said eye.

11. A fundus observation device according to claim 8, wherein said second alignment optical system comprises a second alignment light source configured to emit a second alignment light, a light guide configured to guide said emitted second alignment light, a two-hole aperture configured to generate two light fluxes out of said second alignment light emitted from an emission end of said light guide, and a second optical path-combination part configured to combine said two fluxes into the optical path toward the fundus oculi, wherein said controlling part controls said second alignment indicator to be prevented from projection on said eye by turning off said second alignment light source.