JP2012161702A - Ophthalmologic photographing apparatus and camera used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a compact ophthalmologic photographing apparatus having high image quality.SOLUTION: A fundus camera body 1 is attached to an attachable and detachable digital single-lens reflex camera 9. Imaging elements 9a for converting photographed optical images into electric signals are built in the camera 9, and a display 9c capable of displaying images is provided in the back face of the camera 9. A release switch 19 is pressed, a release signal is transmitted to the camera 9 from the fundus camera body 1, a photographing operation is performed, and fundus images during observation are displayed by using a live preview function using the display 9c of the camera 9.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus used in an ophthalmic clinic or the like and a camera used in the ophthalmic photographing apparatus.

  Conventionally, in applications such as fundus diagnosis and medical checkup for diabetes, a fundus camera is used that performs position adjustment and focusing by illuminating the fundus with visible light or infrared light, and performs fundus photography with strobe light.

  In general, a single-lens reflex camera is sometimes used for still image shooting. However, when performing monitor observation, a monitor imaging device different from that for shooting and a display device for displaying the image are required. Become.

  Patent Document 1 proposes a portable ophthalmologic apparatus that can be photographed by attaching a camera-equipped mobile phone or a compact digital camera that can be photographed even outside the clinic.

Japanese Patent No. 4094378

  The portable ophthalmologic apparatus of Patent Document 1 is premised on the use of a mobile phone or a compact digital camera, but the image quality is inferior to that of a digital single-lens reflex camera having a large image sensor.

  However, when a single-lens reflex type camera is used, a monitor imaging device and a display device are required, which increases the cost and causes an increase in the size of the device.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus capable of solving the above-mentioned problems and realizing a high image quality and a compact size, and a camera used in the photographing apparatus.

  To achieve the above object, an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention includes a fundus camera body, a digital single-lens reflex camera that is detachably attached to the fundus camera body, and includes an image sensor and a display unit. It has live view means for continuously displaying an image formed on the element on the display section, and the live view means is used as observation means.

  A camera used in the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention is a camera that can be attached to and detached from a fundus camera body having a photographing optical system and is used as photographing means of the fundus camera body, and includes an image sensor and a display unit. , Having live view means for continuously displaying the image formed on the image sensor on the display unit, using the live view means as observation means for the fundus camera body, and having state identification means, It further comprises parameter switching means for switching parameters for image formation in accordance with the state identified by the state identifying means.

  According to the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus and the camera used in the ophthalmic photographing apparatus according to the present invention, a digital single-lens reflex camera is attached, so that the fundus camera using a camera-equipped mobile phone or a compact digital camera becomes compact and has high image quality. Images can be obtained.

1 is a configuration diagram of a fundus camera of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of information display. It is an operation | movement flowchart figure of a fundus camera. It is an operation | movement flowchart figure of a computer. It is an operation | movement flowchart figure of a digital single-lens reflex camera. It is a side view of the state which attached the digital single-lens reflex camera of a fundus camera. FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of the computer according to the second embodiment. It is an operation | movement flowchart figure of a digital single-lens reflex camera.

  The present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a fundus camera of Example 1 used as an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus. In the fundus camera body 1 arranged in front of the eye E, an observation illumination optical system is provided from the observation light source 2 made of, for example, a halogen lamp to the objective lens 3 arranged corresponding to the eye E. Yes. In this observation illumination optical system, an observation light source 2, a dichroic mirror 4, a relay lens 5, and a perforated mirror 6 are sequentially arranged. Further, in the incident direction of the dichroic mirror 4, a photographing light source 7 made of a xenon tube is disposed as a photographing illumination optical system.

  A focus lens 8 that moves in the optical axis direction and adjusts the focus is disposed behind the perforated mirror 6 as a photographing optical system. A digital single-lens reflex camera 9 is detachably attached to the fundus camera body 1 on the extension of the optical axis of the focus lens 8.

  The digital single-lens reflex camera 9 includes an image pickup device 9a for converting the formed optical image into an electric signal. The output of the image pickup device 9a is connected to the control means 9b in the digital single-lens reflex camera 9. . Further, a liquid crystal display 9c as a display unit is provided on the back of the digital single lens reflex camera 9, and an output of the control means 9b is connected thereto.

  A control circuit 10 is provided in the fundus camera body 1, and outputs of the control circuit 10 are connected to the observation light source 2 and the imaging light source 7 via drive circuits 11 and 12, respectively. The control circuit 10 is connected to the control means 9 b in the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 and the switch panel 13 of the fundus camera body 1. The switch panel 13 is provided with a photographing mode changeover switch 14, a fixation lamp position changeover switch 15, a left and right eye detection switch 16, a small pupil diameter photographing switch 17, a magnification changing switch 18, and a release switch 19.

  A computer 20 is provided outside the fundus camera body 1 and is connected to the control means 9b of the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 and the control circuit 10 of the fundus camera body 1 via a USB or serial port.

  The photographing mode change-over switch 14 is for switching a plurality of photographing modes of the fundus camera. The photographing mode includes a color photographing mode for photographing a color image, a spontaneous fluorescent photographing mode for capturing spontaneous fluorescence of lipofuscin, a waste product accumulated in the fundus, and a fluorescent photographing mode for photographing fluorescence by intravenously injected fluorescein. Furthermore, there are a red free mode and a cobalt mode that make it easy to identify the state of a blood vessel.

  Further, an optical filter (not shown) is inserted into and removed from the illumination optical system and the photographing optical system in order to obtain a necessary spectrum according to each photographing mode.

  The fixation lamp position change-over switch 15 is used to change the imaging range on the fundus Er by switching the lighting position of the internal fixation lamp and guiding the line of sight of the subject.

  The left and right eye detection switch 16 is used to detect which of the left and right eyes of the subject is being photographed, and is determined based on the relative relationship between the subject's face position and the photographing optical axis of the fundus camera body 1. It is supposed to detect.

  The small pupil diameter photographing switch 17 is used to switch a baffle and an optical system (not shown) in order to reduce kicking of the image with respect to the eye E having a small pupil diameter.

  The zoom switch 18 is for taking an image with an enlarged image. When enlargement shooting is selected, a so-called digital zoom of 2 times is performed by trimming the taken image. The variable magnification photographing can be realized by inserting / removing an optical system (not shown) in the photographing optical path or changing the focal length of the optical system by moving the variable focus optical system in the optical axis direction.

  When the release switch 19 is pressed, the control circuit 10 transmits a release signal to the control means 9b of the digital single-lens reflex camera 9, whereby the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 performs a photographing operation. Recent digital single-lens reflex cameras are increasingly equipped with a live view function as a live view means. With live view, the shutter is opened by retracting the quick return mirror built in the digital single-lens reflex camera 9, and the image formed on the image sensor 9a is read sequentially, and the image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 9c on the back. This is a continuous display function.

  In this embodiment, when any switch on the switch panel 13 is operated, the state of the switch is transmitted from the control circuit 10 to the computer 20 via the serial port or USB. Then, the computer 20 generates an information display image corresponding to the state of the fundus camera body 1, and transmits the information display image to the control means 9b of the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 via a serial port or USB. The control means 9b combines and displays the information display image transmitted from the computer 20 with the live view image displayed on the liquid crystal display 9c.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of information display displayed on the liquid crystal display 9c of the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 when operating the fundus camera. In the captured fundus image, a shooting mode display column 31, a right / left eye information column 32, a fixation lamp display position 33, a small pupil diameter shooting display column 34, a digital magnification display column 35, and a shooting ready display column 36 are displayed. An electronic mask 37 for cutting off the flare around the fundus image is displayed.

  FIG. 2 shows a screen in the case of the color photographing mode, and “COLOR” is displayed in the photographing mode display column 31 at the upper left of the screen. As other modes, “FAF (Self Fluorescence Imaging Mode)”, “FA (Fluorescence Imaging Mode)”, “RED FREE (Red Free Mode)”, and “COBALT (Cobalt Mode)” are displayed. Moreover, you may make it display imaging modes other than the above-mentioned imaging mode on the liquid crystal display 9c.

  The right eye / left eye information field 32 displays “R” for the right eye and “L” for the left eye. The fixation lamp display position 33 is displayed at a position where the internal fixation lamp is lit. The small pupil diameter imaging display field 34 displays “SP (Small Pupil)” when small pupil diameter imaging is designated. The digital magnification display field 35 displays “X2 (2 ×)” when enlargement photographing by magnification is selected. The ready-to-shoot display column 36 is lit when the fundus camera body 1 is ready for shooting, such as when the flash is fully charged.

  FIG. 3 shows an operational flowchart of the fundus camera body 1. First, when the power is turned on and the operation starts, in step S1, the internal state of the fundus camera body 1 is initialized. Next, in step S2, waiting for the switch operation of the switch panel 13 to be performed, this step S2 is repeated until the switch operation is performed. When the switch operation is performed, the process proceeds to step S3, and the operated switch is identified.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the switch operated in step S4 is the release switch 19, and if it is determined that the switch is not the operation of the release switch 19, the process proceeds to step S5, and the fundus camera body corresponding to the switch operation. 1 internal processing is performed. In step S6, the switch state is transmitted to the computer 20, and the process returns to step S2.

If it is determined in step S4 that the release switch 19 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S7, where a release signal is transmitted to the control means 9b of the digital single-lens reflex camera 9. Next, in step S8, in order to match the shutter opening timing of the photographing operation of the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 with the light emission timing of the photographing light source 7, the passage of a predetermined time is awaited.
Then, when a predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S9, the photographing light source 7 is caused to emit light to perform imaging, the strobe of the photographing light source 7 is recharged in step S10, and the process returns to step S2.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the operation of the computer 20. When the power of the computer 20 is turned on, first, in step S11, the model name of the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 is determined through a model determining unit (not shown). This is because the characteristics of the image sensor 9a used and the spectral characteristics of the color filter attached to the surface of the image sensor 9a differ depending on the model of the digital single lens reflex camera 9. The computer 20 stores in advance development parameters for observation and imaging development parameters for image formation for each model of connectable digital single-lens reflex camera 9.

  In step S12, an answer for the model name is awaited. If there is an answer, the process proceeds to step S13, and development parameters for observation corresponding to the model name obtained in step S12 are read from the computer 20, and the digital single lens reflex camera 9 is read. Send to. As a result, the development parameters for observation are set in the digital single-lens reflex camera 9.

  Next, in step S14, as in step S13, the shooting development parameters corresponding to the model name are read from the computer 20 and transmitted to the digital single-lens reflex camera 9. The digital single-lens reflex camera 9 sets the shooting development parameters. .

  By switching the development parameters in steps S13 and S14, even when the observation light source 2 is different from the halogen lamp and the imaging light source 7 is different from the xenon tube, optimal observation and imaging can be performed for each of the light sources 2 and 7. it can.

  Next, in step S15, live view is started for the digital single-lens reflex camera 9, and then the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, it waits for a switch state to be transmitted from the fundus camera body 1 in step S6 described above, and repeats step S16 until there is a transmission. Subsequently, when the switch state is transmitted, the process proceeds to step S17, and information display contents as shown in FIG. 2 are displayed according to the switch state transmitted from the fundus camera body 1.

  In step S18, after the display image created in step S17 is transmitted to the digital single-lens reflex camera 9, the process returns to step S16, and steps S16 to S18 are repeated.

  FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the digital single-lens reflex camera 9. When the power is turned on, first, in step S21, the computer 20 described in step S11 in FIG. If the model name is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S22 and the model name is answered.

  Subsequently, in step S23, the process waits for reception of an observation development parameter corresponding to the model of the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 from the computer 20. When the observation development parameter is received, the observation development parameter is set in a memory inside the control means 9b in step S24.

  Next, in step S25, it waits for reception of the shooting development parameters corresponding to the model of the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 from the computer 20, and when received, sets the shooting development parameters in the memory of the control means 9b in step S26. To do.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S27, and waits for reception of a live view start command from the computer 20 in step S15 of FIG. 4. When the command is received, the live view operation is started in step S28 and the digital single lens reflex camera 9 is observed. Use as a means. That is, the observation light source 2 emits light, the quick return mirror in the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 is retracted, the shutter is opened, the fundus image formed on the image sensor 9a is sequentially read, and the observation development parameters are used. Then, the image is developed and displayed on the liquid crystal display 9c. This operation is continued while the live view is executed.

  In step S29, it is determined whether or not a display image is received from the computer 20 in step S18 of FIG. When the display image has been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S30, where the transmitted display image is combined with the live view image and displayed on the liquid crystal display 9c, and the process proceeds to step S31.

  If the display image is not transmitted in step S29, the process proceeds to step S31, and it is confirmed whether or not a release signal that functions as a state identification unit is received from the fundus camera body 1 in step S7 of FIG. If the release signal cannot be received in step S31, the process returns to step S29, and steps S29 to S31 are repeated. If the release signal is received, the process proceeds to step S32, and the shooting development parameters set in the memory of the control means 9b are set as development parameters by the parameter switching means.

  Then, the process proceeds to step S33 to enter a still image photographing operation, and accumulation for still images is performed on the image sensor 9a for a predetermined time. During the accumulation process, the photographing light source 7 emits light in step S9 of FIG. 3 and photographing is performed. Then, the still image is read out, the still image is developed using the shooting development parameters, and the image is recorded on a storage medium (not shown) in the digital single-lens reflex camera 9. Alternatively, a still image may be sent to the connected computer 20.

  When the still image shooting is completed, the process proceeds to step S34, the development parameter for observation is set again as the development parameter, the live view is resumed in step S35, and then the process returns to step S29.

  FIG. 6 is a side view of the fundus camera body 1 with the digital single lens reflex camera 9 attached thereto. Since display is performed using the liquid crystal display 9c on the back surface of the digital single-lens reflex camera 9, it is desirable from the viewpoint of the viewing angle that the liquid crystal display 9c is substantially facing the examiner. In the case where the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 is arranged below the front as viewed from the examiner of the fundus camera body 1, the liquid crystal display 9c may be arranged so as to face upward about 10 degrees from the vertical state. desirable.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since the display at the time of observation is performed using the live view function of the digital single-lens reflex camera 9, an image sensor and a display are not required separately from the digital single-lens reflex camera 9. In addition, a color change or the like due to a difference in light source between observation and photographing can be absorbed by changing development parameters between observation and photographing.

  For the display image, instead of transmitting information for the entire screen every time, the computer 20 generates an image of only the portion whose display is to be changed, and the coordinate value at which the partial image and the partial image are displayed is a digital single-lens camera. You may make it transmit to the reflex camera 9. FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the development parameters are switched between observation and still image shooting has been described. However, there is no problem even if the development parameters are switched according to the recorded image size and the like. Can be set to parameters. Furthermore, recently, a model capable of recording a moving image with a digital single-lens reflex camera has been sold. However, when recording a moving image, a development parameter different from that for observation or still image shooting may be set.

  In the first embodiment, the case has been described in which the display image is created by the computer 20 in accordance with the change of the switch of the switch panel 13 on the fundus camera body 1 side. However, in the second embodiment, this change is transmitted to the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 as status data based on characters or symbol data, and the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 side displays a display image with respect to the transmitted status data. Is generated. The configuration of the fundus camera in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the computer 20 according to the second embodiment. In addition, about the operation | movement similar to FIG. 4 of Example 1, the same step number is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the second embodiment, when a switch state is transmitted from the fundus camera body 1 in step S16, status information corresponding to the switch state is created in step S41. As an example of this status information, for example, in the case of small pupil diameter imaging or variable magnification imaging, a bit corresponding to a status variable of 1 to 2 bytes is set. In the case of the shooting mode, a character string such as “mode: COLOR” is generated. Then, the status information generated in step S41 is transmitted to the digital single lens reflex camera 9 in step S42.

  FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of the digital single-lens reflex camera 9 according to the second embodiment. The same operations as those in FIG. 5 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same step numbers, and description thereof is omitted.

  When the live view is started in step S28, it is determined whether or not status information is received from the computer 20 in step S51. If status information has not been received, the process proceeds to step S31 to confirm receipt of a release signal.

  If status information is received in step S51, the status information is decoded in step S52, and a display image is generated based on the decoding result in step S53. In step S30, the generated display image is displayed so as to overlap the live view image.

  In the second embodiment, since image data is not communicated, the amount of communication is reduced, and the display responsiveness to the switch operation can be improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the contents described in the first and second embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fundus camera main body 2 Observation light source 7 Imaging light source 9 Digital single lens reflex camera 9a Image sensor 9b Control means 9c Liquid crystal display 10 Control circuit 13 Switch panel 19 Release switch 20 Computer

To achieve the above object, an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention provides:
An illumination optical system for illuminating the eye to be examined;
A photographing optical system for photographing the eye to be examined illuminated with either infrared light or visible light by the illumination optical system;
Imaging means having a light receiving surface for receiving return light from the eye to be examined via the imaging optical system;
When the eye to be examined is illuminated with the infrared light by the illumination optical system, the image of the eye to be examined formed on the light receiving surface is displayed on the display means based on an output signal from the imaging means, When the subject's eye is illuminated with the visible light by an illumination optical system and the subject's eye is self-fluorescently photographed, the self-fluorescent photographed image of the subject's eye imaged on the light-receiving surface is output as an output signal from the imaging means. Display control means for displaying on the display means based on,
It is characterized by having .

The camera used in the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention is
Removable to and from a fundus camera main body that includes an illumination optical system that illuminates the eye to be examined and a photographing optical system that photographs the eye to be examined that is illuminated with either infrared light or visible light by the illumination optical system. A camera,
Imaging means having a light receiving surface for receiving return light from the eye to be examined via the imaging optical system;
When the eye to be examined is illuminated with the infrared light by the illumination optical system, an image of the eye to be examined imaged on the light receiving surface is displayed based on an output signal from the imaging means, and the illumination optical system When the subject's eye is illuminated with the visible light and the subject's eye is photographed by autofluorescence, the autofluorescence image of the subject's eye imaged on the light receiving surface is displayed based on an output signal from the imaging means. Display means;
It is characterized by having.

Claims (14)

  A fundus camera body and a digital single-lens reflex camera that is detachable from the fundus camera body and includes an image sensor and a display unit, and continuously displays an image formed on the image sensor on the display unit An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus comprising live view means and using the live view means as observation means.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a state switching unit for the digital single-lens reflex camera, and a parameter switching unit for switching development parameters for image formation according to the state identified by the state identification unit. Ophthalmic photography device.   The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the state identifying unit identifies a time of observation by the live view unit and a time of still image photographing.   4. The ophthalmologic photographing according to claim 2, further comprising a model discriminating unit for the digital single lens reflex camera, wherein the parameter switching unit switches the development parameter in accordance with the model discriminated by the model discriminating unit. apparatus.   The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a control unit that displays information on the display unit.   The control means transmits the contents of the information display as image data to the digital single-lens reflex camera and synthesizes and displays the image data on a live view image displayed on the live view means. 5. An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to 5.   The said control means transmits information display content to a digital single-lens reflex camera as a character or symbol data, decodes the said character and symbol data with a digital single-lens reflex camera, and displays them as an image. Ophthalmic photography device.   The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the display unit is arranged so as to face the examiner who performs observation.   The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the display unit is attached so as to face approximately 10 degrees above the vertical state.   A camera that can be attached to and detached from a fundus camera body having a photographing optical system, and is used as a photographing means of the fundus camera body. The camera includes an image sensor and a display unit, and an image formed on the image sensor is displayed on the display unit. Live view means for continuously displaying, using the live view means as observation means for the fundus camera body, and having state identification means for forming an image according to the state identified by the state identification means A camera for use in an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus, characterized in that it has parameter switching means for switching parameters for the eye.   11. The camera used for an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the state identifying means distinguishes between observation by the live view means and still image photographing.   The camera used for the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising a control unit that displays information related to the fundus camera body on the display unit.   13. The control unit according to claim 12, wherein the control unit receives information display content related to the fundus camera body as image data, and displays the image data combined with a live view image displayed on the live view unit. Used in ophthalmic photography equipment.   13. The camera used for an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control means receives information display contents as characters and symbol data, decodes the characters and symbol data, and displays them as an image.

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