JP2017080325A - Ophthalmological photographing apparatus, method for operating the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a proper evaluation in the case of performing a progress observation of an eye to be examined by using an ophthalmological photographing apparatus which can vary a photographing position of an optical head for photographing an eye to be examined with respect to the eye to be examined.SOLUTION: An information processing part 210 detects a photographing position of an optical head 100 including an optical system for photographing an eye to be examined, stores first photographing position information relating to the photographing position of the optical head 100 detected when the eye to be examined is photographed in the past in a storage part 211, compares the first photographing position information with second photographing position information relating to a photographing position of the optical head 100 detected when the eye to be examined is currently photographed, and performs display control for displaying a result of the comparison in a display part 212.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1-1

Description

  The present invention relates to an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus including an optical head including an optical system for photographing a subject eye, a control method thereof, and a program for causing a computer to execute the control method.

  At present, various devices for ophthalmology using optical equipment are used. For example, as an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus for observing and photographing an eye to be examined, an anterior ocular segment photographing apparatus, fundus camera, confocal laser scanning ophthalmoscope (SLO) apparatus, AO-SLO (Adaptive Optics-SLO) apparatus, optical Various apparatuses, such as a coherence tomography (OCT) apparatus, are used. Here, the OCT apparatus is an apparatus that can obtain a tomographic image of a predetermined region of the eye to be examined with high resolution, and is becoming an indispensable apparatus in a specialized outpatient for the retina of the eye to be examined as an ophthalmic apparatus.

  Specifically, in the OCT apparatus, light that is low-coherent light is divided into reference light and measurement light, the measurement light is irradiated on the eye to be examined, and the return light from the eye to be examined is interfered with the reference light. A tomographic image of the eye to be examined can be acquired. In the OCT apparatus, a high-resolution tomographic image can be obtained by scanning measurement light on a predetermined region. Therefore, a tomographic image of the retina at the fundus of the eye to be examined is acquired and widely used in ophthalmic diagnosis of the retina.

  Conventionally, when performing follow-up observation of an eye to be examined, in order to perform imaging (follow-up imaging) of the same part as an image captured in the past, based on scanning information such as a scanning position, a scanning pattern, and a scanning angle of the past image. An OCT apparatus that performs follow-up imaging has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). Conventionally, an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus that performs panoramic photographing for photographing a wide range of the fundus of the eye to be examined has been proposed (see Patent Document 2). The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus described in Patent Document 2 describes that when performing panoramic photographing, photographing is performed by tilting an optical head or the like for photographing the eye to be examined.

JP 2010-110391 A JP 2012-213513 A

  However, the above-described conventional technology does not assume that the eye is monitored using an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus that can change the imaging position of the optical head for imaging the eye to be examined. It was. For this reason, in the conventional technology, when performing the follow-up observation of the eye to be examined using an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus in which the photographing position of the optical head for photographing the eye to be examined can be changed with respect to the eye to be examined, an appropriate evaluation is performed. It was difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and the follow-up observation of the eye to be examined using an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus capable of changing the photographing position of the optical head for photographing the eye to be examined with respect to the eye to be examined. The purpose of this is to provide a mechanism that enables appropriate evaluation.

An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention is an ophthalmic photographing apparatus including an optical head including an optical system for photographing an eye to be examined, the detecting means for detecting the photographing position of the optical head, and the eye to be examined in the past. Storage means for storing first shooting position information related to the shooting position of the optical head detected by the detection means, the first shooting position information, and the current detected by the detection means. Comparing means for comparing with second shooting position information relating to the shooting position of the optical head, and display control means for displaying the result of comparison by the comparing means on the display unit.
The present invention also includes a control method for the above-described ophthalmologic photographing apparatus and a program for causing a computer to execute the control method.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform an appropriate evaluation when performing a follow-up observation of an eye using an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus capable of changing the photographing position of an optical head for photographing the eye to be examined with respect to the eye to be examined. It becomes possible.

It is a figure which shows an example of the external appearance structure of the ophthalmologic imaging device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of an internal structure of the optical head shown to FIGS. 1-1. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, and a method of detecting the tilting angle of the optical head by the tilting mechanism shown in FIG. 1-1 and the panning angle of the optical head by the panning mechanism shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence in the control method of the ophthalmic imaging device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence in the control method of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence in the control method of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the patient selection screen displayed in step S101 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the imaging | photography screen displayed on the display part of FIGS. 1-1. It is a figure which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the imaging | photography screen displayed on the display part of FIGS. 1-1. It is a figure which shows the 3rd Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the imaging | photography screen displayed on the display part of FIGS. 1-1. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a method of detecting a panning angle of an optical head by the panning mechanism shown in FIG. 1-1, showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method for detecting a tilting angle of an optical head by a tilting mechanism unit illustrated in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments (embodiments) for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<Schematic configuration of ophthalmic imaging apparatus>
FIG. 1-1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external configuration of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1-1, the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 10 includes an optical head 100, a stage unit 200, a tilting mechanism unit 201, a panning mechanism unit 202, a base unit 203, a joystick 204, an information processing unit 210, a display unit 212, The input unit 213 and the eye position fixing unit 300 to be examined are configured.

  The optical head 100 is configured to include an optical system for photographing the eye to be examined, and includes a two-dimensional image of the anterior eye image in the anterior eye portion of the eye to be examined, a fundus image in the fundus portion of the eye to be examined, and the eye to be examined. Take a tomographic image of.

  The stage unit 200 is for moving the optical head 100 in the x, y, and z directions shown in FIG. 1-1. The tilting mechanism unit 201 is for tilting the optical head 100 in the vertical direction (sometimes simply referred to as “tilt”). The panning mechanism 202 is for panning the optical head 100 in the horizontal direction (sometimes simply referred to as “panning”). The base part 203 supports the stage part 200 and the eye position fixing part 300 to be examined. The joystick 204 is operated by the examiner or the like when the examiner or the like moves the optical head 100 in the x, y, and z directions shown in FIG. .

  The information processing unit 210 performs overall control of the operation of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 10 and performs various processes in the ophthalmic photographing apparatus 10, and is composed of, for example, a personal computer. The information processing unit 210 detects the shooting position of the optical head 100. The information processing unit 210 that performs this detection constitutes detection means. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the information processing unit 210 detects the tilting position of the optical head 100 by the tilting mechanism unit 201 and the panning position of the optical head 100 by the panning mechanism unit 202 as the shooting position of the optical head 100. To do. Further, the information processing unit 210 is provided with a storage unit 211 that stores programs for performing various processes performed by the information processing unit 210 and various types of information and various types of data. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 211 captures, for each eye to be examined, a captured image obtained when the image is captured in the past and the image of the optical head 100 detected by the information processing unit 210 when the captured image is captured. The shooting position information related to the position (first shooting position information) is stored in association with each other.

  In addition, the information processing unit 210 detects shooting position information (second shooting position information) related to the current shooting position of the optical head 100, and the first shooting position information and the second shooting position information described above for each eye to be examined. Is compared with the shooting position information. The information processing unit 210 that performs the comparison constitutes a comparison unit. The information processing unit 210 performs control to display the comparison result on the display unit 212. The information processing unit 210 that controls display on the display unit 212 constitutes a display control unit.

  The display unit 212 is a monitor that displays various types of information and various types of data based on the control of the information processing unit 210. The input unit 213 is for inputting various types of information and the like to the information processing unit 210, and includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse.

  The subject eye position fixing unit 300 is a mechanism for fixing the position of the subject's eye (the subject eye) by fixing the subject's chin and forehead. As shown in FIG. 1A, the eye position fixing unit 300 includes a chin rest portion 301, a forehead support portion 302, an eye height line 303, and an external fixation lamp 304.

Next, the internal configuration of the optical head 100 will be described.
FIG. 1-2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the optical head 100 illustrated in FIG. 1-1.

First, the measurement optical system will be described.
An objective lens 135-1 is installed facing the eye E, and an optical path 191 of the OCT optical system is provided for each wavelength band by the first dichroic mirror 132-1 and the second dichroic mirror 132-2 on the optical axis thereof. It branches into the optical path 192 for fundus oculi observation, the fixation lamp optical path 192, and the anterior ocular segment observation optical path 193.

  In the optical path 192, reflected light from the fundus of the eye E is guided to the fundus oculi CCD 172 by the perforated mirror 133. Further, the light from the SLO light source 181 for observing the fundus and the internal fixation lamp 182 is guided to the optical path 192 by the third dichroic mirror 132-3. In addition, lenses 135-3 and 135-4 are arranged in the optical path 192, and the lens 135-3 is driven by a motor (not shown) for focusing for the internal fixation lamp 182 and fundus observation. The The SLO light source 181 emits light having a center wavelength of 780 nm. The internal fixation lamp 182 generates visible light to promote fixation on the subject's eye.

  In the optical path 193, an infrared CCD 171 for observing the anterior segment from the lens 135-2 is disposed. This infrared CCD 171 has a sensitivity at the wavelength of the anterior segment observation illumination light, specifically, around 970 nm.

  The optical path 191 is an optical path of the OCT optical system as described above, and is an optical path for capturing a tomographic image of the fundus of the eye E. More specifically, it is for obtaining an interference signal for forming a tomographic image. In the optical path 191, there are arranged a shutter 117 for irradiating the eye E with light only during photographing and an XY scanner 134 for scanning light on the fundus of the eye E. The XY scanner 134 is illustrated as a single mirror, but performs scanning in the biaxial direction of the X axis direction and the Y axis direction. Further, lenses 135-5 and 135-6 are disposed in the optical path 191. The lens 135-5 is driven by a motor (not shown) to focus light from the light source 101 emitted from the fiber 131-2 connected to the fiber coupler 106 on the fundus of the eye E. The By this focusing, the light from the fundus of the eye E is simultaneously incident on the tip of the fiber 131-2 in a spot shape.

Next, the configuration of the optical path from the light source 101 and the reference optical system will be described.
The light source 101 is a wavelength insertion type light source capable of changing the wavelength. For example, the light source 101 emits light having a center wavelength of about 1040 nm and a bandwidth of about 100 nm. The light emitted from the light source 101 is guided to the fiber coupler 104 via the fiber 102 and branched into the fiber 131-1 for measuring the light amount and the fiber 105 for measuring OCT. The power of the light emitted from the light source 101 is measured by a PM (Power Meter) 130 via the fiber 131-1. Further, the light passing through the fiber 105 is guided to the fiber coupler 106. The fiber coupler 106 functions as a dividing unit that divides an optical path through which light from the light source 101 is transmitted into a reference optical path and a measurement optical path. By this fiber coupler 106, the light from the light source 101 is branched into measurement light (also referred to as OCT measurement light) and reference light. The branching ratio of the fiber coupler 104 is 99: 1, and the branching ratio of the fiber coupler 106 is 90 (reference light): 10 (measurement light).

  The measurement light branched by the fiber coupler 106 is emitted as parallel light from the collimator 116 via the fiber 131-2. The fiber 131-2 is provided with a polarization adjustment unit 139-1 on the measurement light side. The fiber 131-3 is provided with a reference light side polarization adjustment unit 139-2. These polarization adjustment parts have several parts where the fiber is routed in a loop, and twist the fiber by rotating the loop-like part around the longitudinal direction of the fiber. The polarization state of the reference light can be adjusted and matched. In the optical head 100 according to the present embodiment, the polarization states of the measurement light and the reference light are adjusted and fixed in advance. The emitted measurement light passes through the measurement optical system and scans a region in a desired range on the fundus of the eye to be examined.

  The reference light branched by the fiber coupler 106 is emitted as collimated light from the collimator 120-1 via the fiber 131-3 and the reference light side polarization adjusting unit 139-2. The reference light emitted from the collimator 120-1 is reflected by the reference mirrors 123-1 and 123-2 on the coherence gate stage 122 via the dispersion compensation glass 121. Thereafter, the reference light reaches the fiber coupler 126 via the collimator 120-2 and the fiber 124.

  The coherence gate stage 122 functions as a changing unit that changes the positions of the reference mirrors 123-1 and 123-2, and adjusts the optical path length of the measurement light and the reference light. Further, the reference mirrors 123-1 and 123-2 are arranged so that the position where the optical path length of the measurement light and the optical path length of the reference light are equal is in the vicinity of the imaging target. The coherence gate stage 122 is driven by a motor (not shown) in order to cope with a difference in the axial length of the eye E to be examined.

  The fiber coupler 126 functions as a multiplexing unit that multiplexes the reference light passing through the reference optical path and the measurement light passing through the measurement optical path. As a result, the measurement light and the reference light that have reached the fiber coupler 126 are combined to become interference light, which passes through the fibers 127 and 128, and is a differential detector that is a photodetector that detects the combined light ( The interference light is converted into an electric signal (interference signal) by a balanced receiver (129). A tomographic image is generated and acquired by performing general reconstruction processing on each interference signal output from the differential detector 129.

  Next, processing at the time of follow-up shooting in the present embodiment will be described.

  2 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, the tilting angle of the optical head 100 by the tilting mechanism unit 201 shown in FIG. 1-1, and the optical head by the panning mechanism unit 202 shown in FIG. 1-1. It is a figure for demonstrating the detection method of 100 panning angles. Specifically, FIG. 2 (a) shows an example of a method of detecting the tilting angle of the optical head 100 by the tilting mechanism unit 201 shown in FIG. 1-1, and FIG. An example of a method for detecting the panning angle of the optical head 100 by the illustrated panning mechanism 202 will be described.

  In FIG. 2A, the encoder 2012 is fixed to the tilting mechanism unit 201, and the tilting detection sensor 2011 is fixed to the optical head 100. When the optical head 100 is tilted in the vertical direction, the tilting detection sensor 2011 reads the encoder 2012 to detect the tilting angle of the optical head 100. Then, the information processing unit 210 detects the tilting position of the optical head 100 according to the tilting angle detected by the tilting detection sensor 2011.

  In FIG. 2B, an encoder 2022 is fixed to the rotating shaft 2023 of the optical head (100), and a panning detection sensor 2021 is fixed to the panning mechanism 202. When the optical head (100) is panned in the horizontal direction, the encoder 2022 rotates, and the panning detection sensor 2021 reads the encoder 2022, whereby the panning angle of the optical head 100 is detected. The information processing unit 210 detects the panning position of the optical head 100 according to the panning angle detected by the panning detection sensor 2021.

  In addition, the information processing unit 210 stores information on the detected tilting position (tilting angle) and panning position (panning angle) in the storage unit 211 in association with the captured image as subject information. Here, as the subject information, not only the tilting position (tilting angle) and panning position (panning angle) information, but also information on the eye E, xyz direction position information of the optical head 100, and internal fixation position Information, galvano angle information, and scan range information may be stored.

  In this embodiment, as another angle detection method, each angle can also be detected using a potentiometer instead of an encoder.

Next, a processing procedure in the control method of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3A is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the control method of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. When the processing of the flowchart in FIG. 3A is started, the storage unit 211 previously captures an image related to the imaging position of the optical head 100 when the eye E is captured in the past for each subject. It is assumed that position information (first shooting position information) is stored.

  First, in step S101, the information processing unit 210 performs control to display a patient selection screen on the display unit 212.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the patient selection screen 400 displayed in step S101 of FIG.
A patient selection screen 400 shown in FIG. 4 shows a subject list 401, a subject button 402, and an imaging button 403. When the examiner selects the examinee button 402, the information processing unit 210 performs control to display the examinee list 401.

Here, the description returns to FIG. 3-1.
When the process of step S101 ends, the process proceeds to step S102.
In step S102, the information processing unit 210 stores information on the subject to be inspected in the subject list 401 shown in FIG. 4 based on, for example, information input by the examiner via the input unit 213. Judge whether there is.

As a result of the determination in step S102, if the subject list 401 shown in FIG. 4 includes information on the subject to be examined (S102 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S103.
When the processing proceeds to step S103, the information processing unit 210 captures from the storage unit 211 imaging position information (first image) related to the imaging position of the optical head 100 when the subject eye E has been imaged in the past. (Shooting position information) is read out. Here, in the example illustrated in FIG. 3A, information on a tilting angle and a panning angle (abbreviated as “pan / tilt angle” in FIG. 3A) is read out as shooting position information.

  Subsequently, in step S104, the information processing unit 210 detects the current shooting position of the optical head 100. The photographing position information relating to the photographing position detected here constitutes second photographing position information. Specifically, in the example illustrated in FIG. 3A, a tilting angle and a panning angle (abbreviated as “pan tilt angle” in FIG. 3A) are detected.

  Subsequently, in step S105, the information processing unit 210 compares the past pan / tilt angle read in step S103 with the current pan / tilt angle detected in step S104, and determines whether or not they are the same.

As a result of the determination in step S105, when the past pan / tilt angle read in step S103 and the current pan / tilt angle detected in step S104 are not the same (that is, different) (S105 / No), the process proceeds to step S106.
In step S <b> 106, the information processing unit 210 performs control to display an index that prompts the user to move the current pan / tilt of the optical head 100 on the shooting screen of the display unit 212. Specifically, in the present embodiment, control is performed to display an index indicating a deviation of the current pan / tilt angle with respect to the past pan / tilt angle on the display unit 212.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of a shooting screen 510 displayed on the display unit 212 of FIG. 1-1 according to the first embodiment of this invention.
The imaging screen 510 includes a left / right eye display unit 501 indicating whether the subject's eye is a right eye or a left eye, a scan mode display unit 502, a mouse pointer 503, a fundus image (SLO image) display unit 504, a focus bar 505, a tomographic image. An (OCT image) display unit 506, a capture button 507, a start button 508, and indicators 511 and 512 are shown. Here, the index 511 is an arrow index for promoting panning, and the index 512 is an arrow index for promoting tilting. By displaying the indicators 511 and 512, the examiner can be prompted to change the pan / tilt angle of the optical head 100. Specifically, in the present embodiment, for example, the arrows in the direction of the indicators 511 and 512 are highlighted so that the examiner pans and tilts in a direction to reduce the deviation amount of the current pan / tilt angle with respect to the past pan / tilt angle. In addition, only the arrows in the corresponding direction of the indicators 511 and 512 are displayed.

Here, the description returns to FIG. 3-1.
When the process of step S106 ends, the process returns to step S104. And the process after step S104 is performed again. This loop of steps S104 to S106 is repeated until it is determined in step S105 that the past pan-tilt angle read in step S103 is the same as the current pan-tilt angle detected in step S104.

Further, as a result of the determination in step S102, when there is no information on the subject to be examined in the subject list 401 shown in FIG. 4 (S102 / No), the process proceeds to step S107.
In step S <b> 107, the information processing unit 210 receives input of patient information related to the subject to be examined from the input unit 213.

When the process of step S107 is completed, or when it is determined in step S105 that the past pan / tilt angle is the same as the current pan / tilt angle (S105 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S108.
In step S108, the information processing unit 210 performs control to execute imaging of the eye E to be examined by the subject to be examined. The information processing unit 210 that performs the shooting control constitutes a shooting control unit.

  Subsequently, in step S109, the information processing unit 210 stores second shooting position information (pan tilt angle) that is the shooting position information detected in step S104 in association with the shot image obtained by shooting in step S108. Store in the unit 211 and save.

  When the process of step S109 ends, the process of the flowchart of FIG.

  According to the first embodiment, when performing the follow-up observation of the eye E, it is possible to perform imaging at the same imaging position of the optical head 100 as in the case of past images captured in the past. As a result, if the eye E can be fixed at the same position as the past imaging, the same part of the eye E as the past image captured in the past can be imaged. It is possible to perform an appropriate evaluation.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the first embodiment described above, the information about the tilting position (tilting angle) and the panning position (panning angle) is acquired using an encoder or a potentiometer. However, the present invention is not limited to this form. The second embodiment adopts a form in which information on the tilting position (tilting angle) and the panning position (panning angle) is acquired from a captured image or an observation image of the eye E.

  The external configuration of the ophthalmic imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as the external configuration of the ophthalmic imaging apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The internal configuration of the optical head 100 in the second embodiment is the same as the internal configuration of the optical head 100 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment may or may not include the encoder or the like in the first embodiment described above.

  Next, processing at the time of follow-up shooting in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 6 shows the second embodiment of the present invention and is a diagram for explaining a method of detecting the panning angle of the optical head 100 by the panning mechanism unit 202 shown in FIG. 1-1.

  In FIG. 6A, the first attention point 601 and the second attention point 602 are two arbitrary points in the horizontal direction on the retina (captured image / observed image) of the eye E. FIG. 6B is a diagram in which the first attention point 601 and the second attention point 602 shown in FIG. 6A are extracted.

  In FIG. 6B, the length (the length between two points) 611 of the straight line 610 connecting the first attention point 601 and the second attention point 602 indicates that the optical head 100 pans the eye E to be examined. It represents the length when not (when viewed from the front direction in FIG. 6B). On the other hand, when the optical head 100 is panned with respect to the eye E (when viewed from an oblique direction in FIG. 6B), the second attention point 602 appears to be the third attention point 603. For this reason, the apparent length is the length (the length between two points) 621 of the straight line 620 connecting the first attention point 601 and the third attention point 603. Here, the apparent length of the straight line connecting the first attention point 601 and the second attention point 602 varies depending on whether the optical head 100 is not panned or panned. In the present embodiment, paying attention to this point, the information processing unit 210 detects the panning position (panning angle) of the optical head 100 by detecting the length between two horizontal points in the eye E to be examined. .

  Similarly, the information processing unit 210 sets two arbitrary points in the vertical direction on the retina (captured image / observed image) of the eye E, and considers the change in the length of the straight line connecting the two points. By detecting the length between the two points, the tilting position (tilting angle) of the optical head 100 is detected.

Next, a processing procedure in the control method of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3-2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the control method of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3B, the same processing steps as those in FIG. 3A are denoted by the same step numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted. When the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 3-2 is started, imaging position information relating to the imaging position of the optical head 100 when the eye E was previously captured is stored in the storage unit 211 in advance for each subject. It is assumed that (first shooting position information) is stored.

  First, in FIG. 3B, the processing of steps S101 and S102 shown in FIG.

As a result of the determination in step S102, if the subject list 401 shown in FIG. 4 includes information on the subject to be inspected (S102 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S201.
When the processing proceeds to step S201, the information processing unit 210 captures, from the storage unit 211, imaging position information (first image) related to the imaging position of the optical head 100 when the subject eye E has been imaged in the past. (Shooting position information) is read out. Here, in the example illustrated in FIG. 3B, as the imaging position information, the position of the first point of interest, the position of the second point of interest, and the distance between the two points in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the eye E to be examined. Read length information.

  Subsequently, in step S202, the information processing unit 210 detects the current shooting position of the optical head 100. The photographing position information relating to the photographing position detected here constitutes second photographing position information. Specifically, in the example illustrated in FIG. 3B, the position of the first point of interest, the position of the second point of interest, and the length between the two points in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the current eye E to be examined. Detect.

  Subsequently, in step S203, the information processing section 210 reads the length between two points in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in the past eye E read in step S201 and the horizontal direction in the current eye E detected in step S202. And the length between two points in the vertical direction are compared to determine whether or not each is the same.

As a result of the determination in step S203, the length between the two points in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in the past eye E is not the same as the length between the two points in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in the current eye E (that is, If not (S203 / No), the process proceeds to step S204. Here, the length between two horizontal points in the past eye E, the length between two horizontal points in the current eye E, and the length between two vertical points in the past eye E If at least one of the lengths between the two points in the vertical direction of the eye E to be examined is different, the process proceeds to step S204.
In step S <b> 204, the information processing unit 210 performs control to display an index that prompts the user to move the current pan / tilt of the optical head 100 on the shooting screen of the display unit 212. Specifically, in the present embodiment, control is performed to display an index indicating a deviation of the current pan / tilt angle with respect to the past pan / tilt angle on the display unit 212.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an example of the shooting screen 520 displayed on the display unit 212 of FIG. 1-1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 5B, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIG. 5A, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
In this shooting screen 520, indexes 521 and 522 are shown. Here, the index 521 is an index for promoting panning, and the index 522 is an index for promoting tilting. By displaying the indicators 521 and 522, the examiner can be prompted to change the pan / tilt angle of the optical head 100. Specifically, in the example illustrated in FIG. 5B, the indicator 521 has a rectangular display mode, which indicates that the panning angle is the same as that in the past shooting. On the other hand, in the example illustrated in FIG. 5B, the indicator 522 has a trapezoidal display mode, which indicates that the tilting angle is not the same as in the past shooting. Here, in the present embodiment, for example, in the index 522, the direction in which the direction of the trapezoid is tapered is set so that the examiner pans and tilts in a direction to reduce the deviation amount of the current pan / tilt angle with respect to the past pan / tilt angle. Is shown. By these displays, the examiner can visually recognize whether or not the pan / tilt angle is the same as that in the past photographing.

Here, it returns to description of FIG. 3-2 again.
When the process of step S204 ends, the process returns to step S202. And the process after step S202 is performed again. In step S203, the loop of steps S202 to S204 includes the length between two points in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in the past eye E and the length between two points in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in the current eye E. Is repeated until it is determined that they are the same.

When the process of step S107 is completed, or in step S203, the length between two points in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in the past eye E in the past and the length between two points in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in the current eye E in the past. When it is determined that they are the same (S203 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S108.
In step S108, the information processing unit 210 performs control to execute imaging of the eye E to be examined by the subject to be examined. The information processing unit 210 that performs the shooting control constitutes a shooting control unit.

  Subsequently, in step S205, the information processing unit 210 associates with the photographed image obtained by the photographing in step S108 and associates with the second photographing position information (horizontal in the eye E to be examined) that is the photographing position information detected in step S202. The position of the first point of interest, the position of the second point of interest, and the length between the two points) in each of the direction and the vertical direction are stored in the storage unit 211 and stored.

  When the process of step S205 ends, the process of the flowchart of FIG. 3-2 ends.

  According to the second embodiment, when performing the follow-up observation of the eye E, it is possible to perform imaging at the same imaging position of the optical head 100 as in the case of past images captured in the past. As a result, if the eye E can be fixed at the same position as the past imaging, the same part of the eye E as the past image captured in the past can be imaged. It is possible to perform an appropriate evaluation.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the first embodiment described above, the information about the tilting position (tilting angle) and the panning position (panning angle) is acquired using an encoder or a potentiometer. However, the present invention is not limited to this form. In the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the information about the tilting position (tilting angle) and the panning position (panning angle) is acquired from the captured image or observation image of the eye E. .

  The external configuration of the ophthalmic imaging apparatus according to the third embodiment is the same as the external configuration of the ophthalmic imaging apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The internal configuration of the optical head 100 in the third embodiment is the same as the internal configuration of the optical head 100 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment may or may not include the encoder or the like in the first embodiment described above.

  Next, processing at the time of follow-up shooting in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows the third embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram for explaining a method of detecting the tilting angle of the optical head 100 by the tilting mechanism unit 201 shown in FIG. 1-1.

  In FIG. 7A, the attention area 710 is an arbitrary area in the eye to be examined in the captured image or the observation image. When the optical head 100 is tilted with respect to the eye E, the attention area 710 shown in FIG. 7A becomes an apparently collapsed circle as shown in the attention area 720 shown in FIG. 7B. In this embodiment, paying attention to the change in the vertical length 711 of the attention area 710 and the vertical length 721 of the attention area 720, the information processing unit 210 performs the vertical movement of the attention area in the eye to be examined in the image. By detecting the length, the tilting position (tilting angle) of the optical head 100 is detected.

  Similarly, the information processing unit 210 detects the panning position (panning angle) of the optical head 100 by detecting the horizontal length of the region of interest in the eye to be examined in the image.

Next, a processing procedure in the control method of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3-3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the control method of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3C, the same processing steps as those in FIG. 3A are denoted by the same step numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted. When starting the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 3C, the storage unit 211 stores in advance the imaging position information related to the imaging position of the optical head 100 when the eye E is captured in the past for each subject. It is assumed that (first shooting position information) is stored.

  First, in FIG. 3C, the process of steps S101 and S102 shown in FIG.

As a result of the determination in step S102, when the subject list 401 shown in FIG. 4 includes information on the subject to be inspected (S102 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S301.
When the processing proceeds to step S301, the information processing unit 210 captures from the storage unit 211 imaging position information (first image) related to the imaging position of the optical head 100 when the subject E to be inspected previously images the eye E to be examined. (Shooting position information) is read out. Here, in the example illustrated in FIG. 3C, information on the length in the vertical direction and the length in the horizontal direction of the region of interest in the eye E is read as the imaging position information.

  Subsequently, in step S302, the information processing unit 210 detects the current shooting position of the optical head 100. The photographing position information relating to the photographing position detected here constitutes second photographing position information. Specifically, in the example illustrated in FIG. 3C, the vertical length and the horizontal length of the attention area in the current eye E are detected.

  Subsequently, in step S303, the information processing unit 210 performs the vertical length and the horizontal length of the attention area in the past eye E read in step S301 and the current eye E detected in step S302. The length in the vertical direction and the length in the horizontal direction of the attention area are compared, and it is determined whether or not they are the same.

As a result of the determination in step S303, the vertical length and the horizontal length of the attention area in the past eye E are the same as the vertical length and the horizontal length of the attention area in the current eye E. If not (ie, different) (S303 / No), the process proceeds to step S304. Here, the vertical length of the attention area in the past eye E and the vertical length of the attention area in the current eye E, and the horizontal length of the attention area in the past eye E and the current length. If at least one of the horizontal lengths of the region of interest in the eye E is different, the process proceeds to step S304.
In step S304, the information processing unit 210 performs control to display an index that prompts the user to move the current pan / tilt of the optical head 100 on the photographing screen of the display unit 212. Specifically, in the present embodiment, control is performed to display an index indicating a deviation of the current pan / tilt angle with respect to the past pan / tilt angle on the display unit 212.

FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating an example of the shooting screen 530 displayed on the display unit 212 of FIG. 1-1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 5C, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIG. 5A, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
In this photographing screen 530, indicators 531 and 532 are shown. Here, the index 531 is an index that promotes panning, and in the example illustrated in FIG. 5C, the deviation angle of the panning angle from the past image is illustrated. An index 532 is an index that promotes tilting. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5C, the tilt angle shifts from the past image. Displaying the indicators 531 and 532 can prompt the examiner to change the pan / tilt angle of the optical head 100. Note that the indices 531 and 532 illustrated in FIG. 5C indicate the shift angle with respect to the past image. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this mode. For example, the angle with respect to the absolute coordinates of the optical head 100 is not limited. May be shown. In this case, the aspect which displays the angle with respect to the absolute coordinate of the past image, and the angle with respect to the current absolute coordinate is taken.

Here, the description returns to FIG. 3-3 again.
When the process of step S304 ends, the process returns to step S302. And the process after step S302 is performed again. In step S303, the loop of steps S302 to S304 includes the vertical length and horizontal length of the attention area in the past eye E, and the vertical length and horizontal length of the attention area in the current eye E. The process is repeated until it is determined that the lengths of the directions are the same.

When the process of step S107 is completed, or in step S303, the vertical length and the horizontal length of the attention area in the past eye E, and the vertical length of the attention area in the current eye E and When it is determined that the horizontal lengths are the same (S303 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S108.
In step S108, the information processing unit 210 performs control to execute imaging of the eye E to be examined by the subject to be examined. The information processing unit 210 that performs the shooting control constitutes a shooting control unit.

  Subsequently, in step S305, the information processing unit 210 associates with the photographed image obtained by the photographing in step S108 and associates with the second photographing position information (the attention in the eye E) detected as the photographing position information detected in step S302. The vertical length and the horizontal length of the region are stored in the storage unit 211 and stored.

  When the process of step S305 ends, the process of the flowchart of FIG. 3-3 ends.

  According to the third embodiment, when performing the follow-up observation of the eye E, it is possible to perform imaging at the same imaging position of the optical head 100 as in the case of past images captured in the past. As a result, if the eye E can be fixed at the same position as the past imaging, the same part of the eye E as the past image captured in the past can be imaged. It is possible to perform an appropriate evaluation.

(Other embodiments)
In each of the embodiments of the present invention described above, the angle detection method of the optical head 100 and the angle shift display method to the examiner on the shooting screen have been explained on a one-to-one basis. A combination other than the method of displaying the angle deviation to the examiner on the screen may be used. For example, the angle detection method for the optical head 100 in the first embodiment may be combined with the method for displaying the angle shift to the examiner on the imaging screen in the second or third embodiment. Further, the angle detection method of the optical head 100 in the second embodiment may be combined with the method of displaying the angle deviation to the examiner on the photographing screen in the first or third embodiment. Furthermore, the angle detection method of the optical head 100 according to the third embodiment may be combined with the angle deviation display method for the examiner on the photographing screen according to the first or second embodiment.

  In addition, a combination of the angle detection methods of the optical head 100 in the first to third embodiments is also applicable to the present invention. When this mode is adopted, for example, rough detection is performed using the angle detection method of the optical head 100 in the first embodiment, and then the angle detection method of the optical head 100 in the second or third embodiment is used. Detailed detection. In this case, step S105 of FIG. 3-1 in the first embodiment is a step of determining that the deviation amount of the current pan / tilt angle with respect to the past pan / tilt angle is within the threshold value. When it is determined that the deviation amount is within the threshold, the deviation amount is determined in step S203 of FIG. 3-2 in the second embodiment or in step S303 of FIG. 3-3 in the third embodiment. It may be. Further, in the case of adopting the form, as a method of displaying the above-described deviation amount, for example, the indicators 511 and 512 shown in FIG. 5A may be continuously used, or the angle detection method of the optical head 100 may be used. May be changed to the indicators 521 and 522 shown in FIG. 5-2 or the indicators 531 and 532 shown in FIG. Further, in this case, the indicators 521 and 522 shown in FIG. 5-2 or the indicators 531 and 532 shown in FIG. 5-3 may be displayed together with the indicators 511 and 512 shown in FIG.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments of the present invention, description has been made assuming that SS (Swept Source) -OCT is used when taking a tomographic image. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, when capturing a tomographic image, SD (Spectral Domain) -OCT or TD (Time Domain) -OCT may be used.

  Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the description has been made assuming that the SLO is used for observing the fundus of the eye E. It may be used.

The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.
This program and a computer-readable storage medium storing the program are included in the present invention.

  Note that the above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely examples of implementation in practicing the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. It is. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ophthalmic imaging device, 100 Optical head, 200 Stage part, 201 Tilting mechanism part, 202 Panning mechanism part, 203 Base part, 204 Joystick, 210 Information processing part, 211 Storage part, 212 Display part, 213 Input part, 300 Cover Optometry position fixing part, 301 chin rest part, 302 forehead rest part, 303 eye height line, 304 external fixation lamp

Claims (10)

An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus including an optical head including an optical system for photographing an eye to be examined,
Detecting means for detecting a photographing position of the optical head;
Storage means for storing first imaging position information relating to the imaging position of the optical head detected by the detection means when the eye to be examined has been imaged in the past;
Comparing means for comparing the first shooting position information with the second shooting position information relating to the current shooting position of the optical head detected by the detection means;
An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus comprising: a display control unit that displays a result of comparison by the comparison unit on a display unit. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus further includes a tilting mechanism for tilting the optical head in the vertical direction, and a panning mechanism for panning the optical head in the horizontal direction.
2. The detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects a tilting position of the optical head by the tilting mechanism and a panning position of the optical head by the panning mechanism as a photographing position of the optical head. Ophthalmic photography device.   The detection means detects a photographing position of the optical head by detecting a length between two points in the horizontal direction in the eye to be examined and a length between two points in the vertical direction in the eye to be examined. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   The detection unit detects a photographing position of the optical head by detecting a vertical length and a horizontal length of a region of interest in the eye to be examined. Ophthalmic photography device.   The display control means, when the first photographing position information is different from the second photographing position information as a result of the comparison by the comparing means, the second photographing position information with respect to the first photographing position information. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an index indicating a deviation is displayed on the display unit.   The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the index indicates a direction in which a shift amount of the second photographing position information with respect to the first photographing position information is reduced.   7. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the first imaging position information in association with a captured image obtained when the eye to be examined has been captured in the past. The ophthalmic imaging apparatus described.   When the first photographing position information and the second photographing position information are the same as a result of the comparison by the comparison means, the photographing control means further includes a photographing control unit that performs control for performing photographing by the optical head. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus is characterized. A method for controlling an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus including an optical head including an optical system for photographing an eye to be examined,
A detecting step of detecting a photographing position of the optical head by a detecting means;
A storage step of storing, in a storage unit, first imaging position information relating to the imaging position of the optical head detected by the detection unit when the eye to be examined has been imaged in the past;
A comparison step of comparing the first shooting position information with the second shooting position information relating to the current shooting position of the optical head detected by the detection unit;
And a display control step of displaying a result of the comparison in the comparison step on a display unit. A program for causing a computer to execute a method for controlling an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus including an optical head including an optical system for photographing a subject eye,
A detecting step of detecting a photographing position of the optical head by a detecting means;
A storage step of storing, in a storage unit, first imaging position information relating to the imaging position of the optical head detected by the detection unit when the eye to be examined has been imaged in the past;
A comparison step of comparing the first shooting position information with the second shooting position information relating to the current shooting position of the optical head detected by the detection unit;
A program for causing a computer to execute a display control step for displaying a result of comparison in the comparison step on a display unit.

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