JP2020036828A - Ophthalmologic imaging system and attachment unit - Google Patents

Abstract

To favorably detect contact of a device with a subject's face, even when an attachment unit is inserted.SOLUTION: An ophthalmologic imaging system 100 comprises an ophthalmologic imaging device 1, and an attachment unit 50 that is inserted/removed between the ophthalmologic device and a subject's eye. The ophthalmologic imaging device 1 includes an imaging optical system 2 that applies imaging light to the subject's eye E and captures an image of the subject's eye E on the basis of return light of the imaging light. Further, the attachment unit 50 includes an optical element 51 for changing over an imaging range in the subject's eye E in response to insertion/removal of the attachment unit 50, and a lens barrel 59 for holding the optical element 51. Furthermore, the ophthalmologic imaging system 100 comprises a detection unit for detecting contact of the subject with the attachment unit 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present disclosure relates to an ophthalmic imaging system and an attachment unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art In the field of ophthalmology, there is known a method of inserting and removing an optical member such as a lens or a mirror between an apparatus main body and an eye to be examined in order to switch an imaging range in an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an attachment unit having a lens for widening an imaging range of a scanning laser ophthalmoscope.

JP 2015-144731 A

  The above-mentioned attachment unit has a size larger than the diameter of an optical element such as a lens in the vertical and horizontal directions, and further projects from the housing surface of the apparatus body toward the subject's eye. It is likely to come into contact with the examiner's nose, cheeks, forehead, and the like. However, a method of detecting contact of the device with the face of the subject when the attachment unit is inserted has not been studied at all.

  The present disclosure has been made in view of at least one of the problems of the related art, and is capable of satisfactorily detecting the contact of the device with the face of the subject even when the attachment unit is inserted. It is a technical object to provide a photographing system and an attachment unit.

  An ophthalmologic imaging system according to a first aspect of the present disclosure is an ophthalmologic imaging system including: an ophthalmologic imaging device; and an attachment unit that is inserted and removed between the ophthalmologic imaging device and an eye to be inspected. The apparatus has a photographing optical system that irradiates photographing light to the subject's eye and captures an image of the subject's eye based on the return light of the photographing light. An optical element for switching in response to detachment, and a lens barrel for holding the optical element, and a detection unit for detecting contact of the subject with the attachment unit.

  The attachment unit according to the second aspect of the present disclosure irradiates imaging light to an eye to be inspected, and is attached to and detached from an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus having an imaging optical system that images the eye to be inspected based on return light of the imaging light. An attachment unit, an optical element for switching a photographing range in the eye to be inspected in accordance with the insertion / removal, a lens barrel holding the optical element, and detecting contact of a subject with the attachment unit. And an attachment-side detection area formed at the tip of the attachment unit.

  According to the present disclosure, even when the attachment unit is inserted, it is possible to satisfactorily detect contact of the device with the subject's face.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of an ophthalmologic imaging system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus included in the ophthalmologic photographing system. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a detailed configuration around an inspection window of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view illustrating a detailed configuration of an attachment unit included in the ophthalmologic imaging system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the attachment unit of FIG. 3 and the vicinity of an inspection window of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus of FIG. 2 in a mounted state. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of an inspection window of an attachment unit and an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus in a mounted state in a second embodiment.

  An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The items classified by <> below can be used independently or in association. Hereinafter, embodiments of an ophthalmologic imaging system and an attachment unit will be described. Note that the attachment unit is an embodiment of an “attachment unit” that is a part of the ophthalmologic imaging system.

<First embodiment>
First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, the detection circuit provided on the main body side is used for detecting contact with the tip of the attachment unit. It is also used for detecting contact with the tip of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus.

<Overall configuration>
As shown in FIG. 1, the ophthalmologic imaging system 100 includes at least an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus 1 (hereinafter, may be referred to as “apparatus main body”) and an attachment unit 50.

  The attachment unit 50 is inserted and removed between the apparatus main body 1 and the subject's eye E. For convenience, in the following description, a state in which the attachment unit 50 is inserted between the apparatus main body 1 and the subject's eye is referred to as an “inserted state”, and the attachment unit 50 is retracted from between the apparatus main body 1 and the subject's eye E. The retracted state is referred to as the “evacuated state”.

<Ophthalmic imaging device>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus main body 1 includes at least an imaging optical system 2. In the first embodiment, the apparatus main body 1 further includes a detection unit 20 (also referred to as “main body side detection unit 20”) (see FIG. 3). Further, the apparatus main body 1 may additionally include at least one of the driving unit 4, the stopping unit 5, the control unit 70, and the notification unit 8. The control unit 70 manages various controls of the device 1. The apparatus main body 1 may further include a housing 3 that houses the photographing optical system 2. Hereinafter, for convenience, the housing 3 and the imaging optical system 2 may be collectively referred to as an imaging unit.

  The imaging optical system 2 is a main optical system used for imaging the eye E. The photographing optical system 2 irradiates photographing light to the eye E, and photographs an image of the eye E based on the returning light of the photographing light. The image of the eye E may be an image of the anterior segment or a fundus image. Further, the image of the eye E may be a front image in which a tissue viewed from the front is depicted, or may be a cross-sectional image (also referred to as a tomographic image) in which a section of the tissue is depicted. For further detailed configuration of the photographing optical system 2, refer to, for example, “JP-A-2017-184787” and “JP-A-2015-144731” by the present applicant. Each document discloses an SLO optical system that captures a front image of the fundus and an OCT optical system that captures a tomographic image of the fundus as a photographing optical system.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an inspection window 2 a is disposed at the tip of the apparatus main body 1. Photographing light is projected and received on the eye E through the inspection window 2a. The inspection window 2a is located at the tip of the imaging optical system 2. The inspection window 2a may be, for example, one surface of an objective lens (not shown). Further, the inspection window 2a may be formed by a transparent member such as a flat glass plate. In the present disclosure, the “tip” in the apparatus main body 1 and the imaging optical system 2 indicates the end closest to the eye E to be examined.

  In the first embodiment, the detection unit 20 (“main body side detection unit 20”) provided in the apparatus main body 1 detects contact of the subject with the tip of the apparatus main body 1. In the first embodiment, a detection area of the detection unit 20 is formed at the tip of the apparatus main body 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the detection region may be formed by, for example, a first conductive member 21 (a part of the connection unit in the first embodiment) disposed at a distal end portion. In the present disclosure, various conductive members may be, for example, a metal, a resin having conductivity, or a member made of another material. Further, the detection unit 20 may include a detection circuit 22 that detects a change in resistance or capacitance when the subject comes into contact with the first conductive member 21. In FIG. 3, the electrode 22a of the detection circuit 22 is disposed with an insulator interposed between the first conductive member 21 and the detection circuit 22 detects a change in capacitance through the electrode 22a.

The detection signal from the detection circuit 22 is input to, for example, the control unit 70. The control unit 70 may control each unit using a detection signal from the detection circuit 22 as a trigger. For example, the control unit 70 may stop the movement of the driving unit 4 or may drive the driving unit 4 so that the apparatus main body 1 moves away from the eye E (that is, retracts). The examiner may be notified that contact has occurred. In this case, for example, information indicating that contact has occurred may be displayed on the monitor 8. Further, a sound (warning sound or message) indicating that contact has occurred may be output from a speaker (not shown).
<Drive unit and stop unit>
Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the description will be continued. The drive unit 4 adjusts the positional relationship between the imaging unit (imaging optical system 2) and the eye E at least in the front-back direction. The drive unit 4 may further adjust the positional relationship between the imaging optical system 2 and the subject's eye E in the vertical and horizontal directions. The drive unit 4 may be a mechanical mechanism that moves the imaging unit according to the force applied by the examiner. Further, the drive unit 4 may include an actuator (not shown) for moving the photographing unit according to the control signal. The ophthalmologic imaging system may further include a base 6, and the driving unit 4 supports the imaging unit on the base 6 by being disposed between the base 6 and the imaging unit. You may.

  The stopping unit 5 is used to stop the movement of the photographing unit (the photographing optical system 2) by the driving unit 4. For example, when the detection unit 20 detects contact between the distal end of the apparatus main body 1 or the distal end of the attachment unit 50 and the subject, the stopping unit 5 stops the movement of the imaging unit. This prevents the device from being pressed further against the subject's face. The stopping unit 5 may also be used as an actuator of the driving unit 4. Of course, the stopping unit 5 may be separate from the driving unit 4. In this case, various types of braking mechanisms can be used for the stop unit 5.

  In the present embodiment, the photographing unit (photographing optical system 2) is moved by the driving unit 4, but is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the positional relationship between the imaging optical system and the eye E may be adjusted by moving the eye E side. In this case, a drive unit (not shown) that moves the face support unit 10 that supports the face of the subject may be provided in the apparatus main body 1.

<Attachment unit>
Next, an example of the attachment unit 50 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The attachment unit 50 can be inserted and removed between the apparatus main body 1 and the eye E, and is used for switching a photographing range. The attachment unit 50 may be detachable (that is, detachable) from the housing surface of the apparatus main body 1 on the subject side. In this case, an attachment mechanism (not shown) used for attachment / detachment may be formed on at least one of the attachment unit 50 and the apparatus main body 1. Various mechanisms can be applied to the attachment mechanism. For example, a mechanism using a magnet, a screw mechanism, or another mechanism may be used.

  The attachment unit 50 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is externally attached to the housing 3 without removing a part of the imaging optical system 2 from the apparatus main body 1. That is, the attachment unit 50 is attached to and detached from the inspection window 2a formed on the housing surface of the apparatus main body 1. This makes it difficult for dust to enter the housing as the attachment unit 50 is attached and detached. However, the attachment unit 50 is not necessarily limited to this, and the attachment unit 50 is mounted so as to be replaced with a part of the imaging optical system 2 (for example, part or all of the objective optical system included in the imaging optical system). You may.

  Further, the attachment unit 50 does not necessarily need to be detachable, and may be held by the apparatus main body 1 in each of the inserted state and the retracted state. In this case, the apparatus main body 1 may have an insertion / removal mechanism for inserting / removing the attachment unit 50 into / from the optical path of the imaging optical system 2.

  The attachment unit 50 has at least an optical element 51 that switches the imaging range of the eye E according to insertion and removal, and a lens barrel 59 that holds the optical element 51. As an example, FIGS. 4 and 5 have a lens as the optical element 51. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and the optical element may be at least one or more lenses, mirrors, or a combination thereof. The optical element 51 is disposed on the optical axis of the photographing optical system 2 in the inserted state, and is retracted outside the optical axis of the photographing optical system 2 in the retracted state.

  The attachment unit 50 may have a characteristic of switching the imaging range in the depth direction, or may have a characteristic of switching in the transverse direction (up, down, left, and right directions). As an example of the latter, the attachment unit 50 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is attached to the apparatus main body 1 to increase the angle of view of a fundus image captured via the imaging optical system 2.

  At the tip of the attachment unit 50, an attachment-side detection area is formed. The detection area is used to detect contact of the subject with the attachment unit 50. In the attachment unit 50 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the attachment-side detection region is formed by disposing the second conductive member 52 at the tip.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the attachment unit 50 has an extension. The extension unit extends the main body side detection area to the tip of the attachment unit 50 (in other words, to the attachment side detection area). Thus, in the first embodiment, even when the attachment unit 50 is inserted between the apparatus main body 1 and the eye E, the contact of the apparatus with the face of the subject is detected well. .

  The extension in the attachment unit 50 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 includes, for example, a second conductive member 52 and a third conductive member 53 (part of the connection unit in the first embodiment). 4 and 5, the third conductive member 53 is connected to the second conductive member 52, and is formed to extend to the base end side of the attachment unit 50. In the inserted state, the third conductive member 53 (an example of the second terminal) is electrically connected to the first conductive member 21 (an example of the first terminal) on the apparatus body side. As a result, the first conductive member 21 (main body side detection area), the third conductive member 53, and the second conductive member 52 (attachment side detection area) on the apparatus main body side are electrically connected, and the detection area becomes It is extended to the tip of the attachment unit 50. That is, a change in resistance or capacitance when the subject comes into contact with the second conductive member 52 is detected by the detection circuit 22 provided on the main body side. In other words, contact detection in the attachment-side detection area is effective, so that contact of the subject with the tip of the attachment unit 50 can be detected.

  In the ophthalmologic imaging system 100 of the present embodiment, when the attachment unit 50 is inserted into the predetermined insertion position between the apparatus main body 1 and the eye E, the first conductive member 21 and the third conductive member 53 are moved. Are arranged so as to contact each other. When the conductive members 21 and 53 come into contact with each other, contact detection becomes effective. As a result, since the work of switching the connection state between the third conductive member 53 and the first conductive member 21 does not occur separately from the insertion / removal (removal) of the attachment unit 50, the image is taken immediately after the attachment / detachment of the attachment unit 50. Can be transferred to

  4 and 5, the second conductive member 52 covers both the front surface and the side surface of the distal end of the attachment unit 50. That is, the attachment-side detection area is formed on both the front surface of the distal end portion and the side surface of the distal end portion. In particular, the second conductive member 52 includes a corner portion (that is, a corner portion of the attachment unit) sandwiched between the front surface of the front end portion and the side surface of the front end portion. Since the corners are considered particularly easy to come into contact with the subject, including the corners or in contact with the corners, the attachment-side detection region is formed, so that the corners can more reliably come into contact with the subject. It is thought that contact can be detected.

  Note that when the image of the fundus is photographed by the photographing optical system 2 and the attachment unit 50 is to increase the angle of view, the technique of the present disclosure is applied to the tip of the attachment unit 50. Detecting the contact of the subject is particularly effective. This is because, in this case, in general, the larger the angle of view, the shorter the appropriate working distance, and thus the more easily the device contacts the face of the subject in the inserted state.

<Second embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, in the attachment unit 50, a detection circuit 55 for detecting contact of the subject with the tip of the attachment unit 50 is provided. In addition, the power for driving the detection circuit is supplied from the apparatus main body to the attachment unit, and the output from the detection circuit is transmitted from the attachment unit to the apparatus main body.

  Other points in the second embodiment may be the same as those in the first embodiment, and the description of the first embodiment can be used as appropriate.

  In the second embodiment, the device main body 1 has a first terminal 26 (part of the connection unit in the second embodiment) for inputting and outputting power and a signal to and from the attachment unit 50. The first terminal 26 may be arranged on the case surface on the subject side. Further, the attachment unit 50 has a detection circuit 55 (second detection circuit) and a second terminal 56. The second terminal 56 is connected to the first terminal 26 on the apparatus main body side in the inserted state. The first terminal 26 and the second terminal 56 form a contact for inputting and outputting power and a signal. For example, a USB terminal or the like may be appropriately used as each terminal. The first terminal 26 and the second terminal 56 are respectively arranged at positions where the attachment unit 50 comes into contact with each other when the attachment unit 50 is inserted between the apparatus main body 1 and the eye E to a predetermined insertion position. You may. When the first terminal 26 and the second terminal 56 come into contact with each other, the contact detection becomes effective.

  When the first terminal 26 and the second terminal 56 are connected, the driving power is supplied from the apparatus main body 1 to the detection circuit 55 arranged in the attachment unit 50. The detection circuit outputs a detection signal based on the contact of the subject with the tip of the attachment unit 50. The detection signal is input to the apparatus main body through each terminal. At this time, for example, the detection signal is input to the control unit 70, and as a result, the detection signal may be used to stop the driving unit 4 and notify the examiner.

  The detection circuit provided in the attachment unit 50 may be a circuit that detects a change in capacitance or resistance as provided in the device main body 1 of the first embodiment. The present invention is not limited to this, and various sensors such as a micro switch and a photo switch can be used as the second detection circuit.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2 photographing optical system 20 detecting section 21, 26 first terminal 22 detecting circuit 26 first terminal 50 attachment unit 51 optical element 55 detecting circuit 53, 56 second terminal 59 lens barrel 100 ophthalmic photographing system

Claims (8)

An ophthalmologic imaging system, comprising: an ophthalmologic imaging device, and an attachment unit that is inserted and removed between the ophthalmologic imaging device and the subject's eye,
The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus has a photographing optical system that irradiates photographing light to the subject's eye, and photographs an image of the subject's eye based on return light of the photographing light,
The attachment unit,
An optical element for switching the imaging range in the eye to be inspected according to the insertion and removal, and a lens barrel that holds the optical element,
An ophthalmologic imaging system, comprising: detection means for detecting contact of a subject with the attachment unit.   When the attachment unit is inserted into a predetermined insertion position between the ophthalmic imaging apparatus and the subject's eye, a first terminal of the ophthalmic imaging apparatus and a second terminal of the attachment unit are in contact with each other. The first terminal and the second terminal are arranged respectively, and when the first terminal and the second terminal come into contact with each other, contact detection by the detection means becomes effective. Ophthalmic photography system.   The detection means includes a detection area formed at a tip end of the attachment unit, and a detection area electrically connected to the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus via the first terminal and the second terminal. The ophthalmologic imaging system according to claim 2, comprising a circuit. The ophthalmologic imaging apparatus further forms a main body side detection region at a distal end portion of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus, and the detection circuit includes:
4. The ophthalmologic imaging system according to claim 3, wherein when the attachment unit is retracted from between the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus and the subject's eye, the subject's contact with the main body side detection area is detected. 5. The detection circuit is for detecting a change in the detected resistance or capacitance via an electrode,
The attachment unit has a conductive member that forms the attachment-side detection area by being disposed at a tip of the attachment unit,
The ophthalmologic imaging system according to claim 4, wherein the conductive member and the electrode are electrically connected when the first terminal and the second terminal are in contact with each other.   The detection unit has a second detection circuit that outputs a detection signal to the attachment unit based on a contact of a subject with a tip portion of the attachment unit, wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other. 3. The ophthalmologic imaging system according to claim 2, wherein a detection signal from the second detection circuit is output from the second detection circuit to the ophthalmologic imaging device in a state of being in contact. Driving means for adjusting the positional relationship between the imaging optical system and the subject's eye, at least in the front-back direction,
7. A stop means for stopping movement of the photographing optical system by the drive unit when contact between the tip of the attachment unit and the subject is detected. Ophthalmic photography system. An attachment unit that irradiates photographing light to the subject's eye and is attached to and detached from an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus having a photographing optical system that photographs the subject's eye based on return light of the photographing light,
An optical element for switching a photographing range in the eye to be examined according to the insertion / removal,
A lens barrel holding the optical element,
An attachment unit, comprising: an attachment-side detection region formed at a tip end of the attachment unit for detecting a contact of a subject with the attachment unit.

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