JP2022029653A - Ophthalmologic device and ophthalmologic device control program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an ophthalmologic device and an ophthalmologic device control program capable of executing alignment appropriately even when a subject has an eye with a recessed eyeball.SOLUTION: An ophthalmologic device for examining an eye to be examined includes: examination means for examining eye characteristics of the eye to be examined; moving means for changing relative positional relationships between the eye to be examined and the eye examination means; alignment detection means for detecting alignment states in a right-left direction, a vertical direction, and a front-rear direction of the examination means with respect to the eye to be examined; control means for controlling the moving means on the basis of the alignment states detected by the alignment detection means; and switching means for switching modes between a first mode in which advance movement of the examination means is made up to a set limit position and a second mode in which the advance movement of the examination means can be made beyond the limit position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present disclosure relates to an ophthalmic apparatus for examining an eye to be inspected, and an ophthalmic apparatus control program.

In an ophthalmic apparatus, in order to inspect an eye to be inspected, the alignment state of the inspecting part with respect to the inspected eye is detected based on the image of the anterior ocular part of the inspected eye and the alignment index projected on the inspected eye, and the inspection is performed based on the detection result. There is known an ophthalmic apparatus that automatically aligns an optometry part with respect to an eye to be inspected by moving the eye part (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-64058

However, the above-mentioned conventional ophthalmic device is particularly good in a device such as an intraocular pressure measuring device in which the distance of the approaching portion to the eye to be examined is short, for example, when the face shape of the subject is deeply carved. In some cases, it could not be aligned.

In view of the problems of the prior art, it is a technical subject of the present disclosure to provide an ophthalmologic device and an ophthalmologic device control program that can perform good alignment even when the subject has a deep eye.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by having the following configurations.
(1) An ophthalmic device for inspecting an eye to be inspected, which is an inspection means for inspecting the eye characteristics of the inspected eye, a moving means for changing the relative positional relationship between the inspected eye and the inspected means, and a moving means for the inspected eye. An alignment detecting means for detecting an alignment state in the left-right direction, a vertical direction, and a front-back direction of the inspection means, a control means for controlling the moving means based on the alignment state detected by the alignment detection means, and the inspection. It is provided with a switching means for switching between a first mode in which the forward movement of the means is made to a set limit position and a second mode in which the forward movement of the inspection means is possible beyond the limit position. Characteristic (2) A control program for an ophthalmic apparatus executed in an ophthalmic apparatus provided with an inspection means for inspecting the eye characteristics of the eye to be inspected and a moving means for changing the relative positional relationship between the inspected eye. A first mode for executing an alignment detection step for detecting the alignment state of the inspection means in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-back direction with respect to the eye to be inspected, and a first mode in which the forward movement of the inspection means is set to a set limit position. 1 movement step, a second movement step for executing a second mode that enables forward movement of the inspection means beyond the limit position, and a switching step for switching between the first movement step and the second movement step. A control program for an ophthalmic device, characterized in that the control unit of the ophthalmic device is executed.

According to the present disclosure, even if the subject has a deep eye, good alignment can be performed.

It is a schematic diagram of the appearance of an ophthalmic appliance. It is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an ophthalmic appliance. It is a figure which shows the optical system of an ophthalmic apparatus. It is a block diagram of the control system provided in the ophthalmologic apparatus. It is a flowchart of the operation which an ophthalmologic apparatus performs at the time of an examination. It is a flowchart of the operation which an ophthalmologic apparatus performs at the time of alignment. This is an example of the screen displayed on the display during face image analysis. It is a schematic diagram of the XY alignment index projected on the eye to be inspected. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship between the limit position and the working distance. It is a figure which an examiner sets a limit position. It is a schematic diagram of the Z alignment of an ophthalmic appliance.

[Overview]
Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an intraocular pressure measuring device will be described as an example of an ophthalmic device, but an ophthalmoflex measuring device, a corneal curvature measuring device, a corneal shape measuring device, an axial length measuring device, a fundus camera, and an OCT (optical coherence tomography). ), Or other ophthalmic devices such as SLO (scanning laser optics). Further, FIGS. 1 to 6 are diagrams for explaining the configuration of the ophthalmic apparatus and the ophthalmic apparatus control program according to the embodiment.

For example, the ophthalmic apparatus includes an inspection means (for example, an inspection unit 100) for inspecting the eye characteristics of the eye to be inspected E. For example, the inspection means includes an inspection optical system (for example, a measurement optical system 10). For example, the inspection means includes a configuration (eg, a fluid ejection unit 200) necessary for inspecting the eye characteristics of the eye E to be inspected. For example, the ophthalmic apparatus includes moving means (for example, drive units 4, 5, 6) for changing the relative positional relationship between the eye to be inspected E and the inspection means. For example, the ophthalmic apparatus is an alignment detecting means (for example, for example) for detecting the alignment state of the inspection means in the left-right direction (hereinafter, X direction), the up-down direction (hereinafter, Y direction), and the front-back direction (hereinafter, Z direction). It is provided with an anterior segment observation optical system 37). For example, the ophthalmic apparatus includes a control means (for example, a control unit 80) that controls the moving means based on the alignment state detected by the alignment detecting means.

For example, the ophthalmologic apparatus has a first mode in which the Z-direction forward movement of the examination means is up to a preset limit position, and a second mode in which the inspection means can be forward-moved in the Z-direction beyond the limit position. A switching means (for example, a control unit 80) for switching between the above and the like is provided. For example, the switching means automatically switches to the second mode when the alignment positions in the X and Y directions (hereinafter referred to as XY alignment positions) detected by the alignment detecting means fall within a predetermined allowable range. Further, for example, when the XY alignment position detected by the alignment detecting means is out of a predetermined allowable range, the control means limits the forward movement of the inspection means in the Z direction to the set limit position. As a result, even when the subject has a back eye, the inspection means can be advanced while reducing the contact between the inspection means and the subject's eye, so that the alignment can be completed and the inspection can be performed. The predetermined allowable range when the switching means switches from the first mode to the second mode is set wider than the allowable range for completing alignment.

For example, the ophthalmic apparatus includes an imaging means (for example, an anterior eye portion observation optical system 37) for photographing the anterior segment of the eye to be inspected E. For example, the alignment detecting means includes a first detecting means for detecting an alignment state based on an anterior eye portion image captured by the photographing means. For example, the alignment detecting means projects an alignment index on the eye E to be inspected and detects an alignment state based on the alignment index projected on the eye E to be inspected (for example, a first alignment index projection light source 40, a first alignment detecting means). The two alignment index projection light sources 81, 82, 83 and 84, the optometry observation optical system 37, and the light receiving optical system 70b) are provided. For example, when the alignment index is detected by the second detection means, the control means controls the moving means based on the alignment state detected by the second detection means. For example, in a configuration in which a plurality of alignment indexes for detecting an alignment state in the XY direction are projected onto the eye to be inspected, even if all the alignment indexes are not detected, it is possible to determine the direction in which the inspection means should be moved. It may be the detection of the alignment index of the part. For example, when the alignment index is not detected by the second detection means, the control means controls the moving means based on the alignment state detected by the first detection means.

For example, the ophthalmologic apparatus includes a storage means (for example, a storage unit 87) for storing the limit position, and the control means controls the forward movement of the inspection means based on the limit position stored in the storage means. For example, the limit position is set by calling the limit position stored in the storage means. For example, the limit position stored in the storage means is assumed to be a standard face subject (a subject who is not a back eye) and is stored in the storage means as a design value.

For example, the ophthalmic apparatus includes a storage setting means (for example, a joystick 7, a control unit 80, an input means 86) for setting a limit position for an eye to be inspected and storing it in a storage means. You may. For example, the storage setting means may be a first storage setting means for arbitrarily determining the limit position by the examiner observing the positional relationship between the eye to be inspected placed in the examination state and the examination unit. Further, for example, the memory setting means captures the face of the subject including the eye to be inspected in the examination state by the face imaging means (for example, the face photographing unit 90) and the anteroposterior direction of the eye to be imaged by the face imaging means. A second storage setting means including an eye position detecting means (for example, an image pickup element 91, a control unit 80) for detecting the position of the eye position, and a second storage setting means for setting a limit position based on the detection result of the eye position detecting means. It may be a storage setting means (for example, a control unit 80). For example, the storage setting means includes at least one of a first storage setting means and a second storage setting means. By this storage setting means, the limit position can be arbitrarily set according to the eye to be inspected E placed in the inspected state.

For example, the ophthalmic apparatus includes a base (for example, a base 2) on which the inspection means is movably mounted in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-back direction. For example, the ophthalmic apparatus includes a front-rear position detecting means (for example, a control unit 80) for detecting the position of the inspection means in the front-rear direction with respect to the base. For example, the limit position is a position set with reference to the base, and in the first mode, the control means sets the forward movement of the inspection means to the limit position based on the detection result of the front-back position detecting means. Control. For example, the front-rear position detecting means may be a sensor that detects the position of the inspection means in the front-rear direction. For example, the front-rear position detecting means may be configured such that the control means detects the position of the inspection means in the front-rear direction based on the driving amount of the driving means (for example, the driving unit 6) that moves forward in the inspection means.

The present disclosure is not limited to the apparatus described in the present embodiment. For example, a control program (software) that performs the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or device via a network or various storage media. Then, the control unit of the system or the device (for example, a CPU or the like) can read and execute the program.

For example, the control program of the ophthalmic apparatus executed by the control unit of the ophthalmic apparatus includes an alignment detection step for detecting the alignment state of the inspection means with respect to the eye to be inspected in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the anteroposterior direction. For example, the control program comprises a first movement step that executes a first mode in which the forward movement of the inspection means is up to a set limit position. For example, the control program comprises a second movement step that executes a second mode that allows forward movement of the inspection means beyond the limit position. For example, the control program includes a switching step for switching between the first movement step and the second movement step.

[Example]
As an example of the ophthalmic device of the embodiment, for example, an intraocular pressure measuring device for measuring the intraocular pressure of the eye to be inspected E in a non-contact manner will be described as an example. For example, in the ophthalmic apparatus of this embodiment, the examination may be performed for each eye, or both eyes may be examined at the same time. Further, the ophthalmologic apparatus may inspect only one of the left and right eye E to be inspected.

One of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are external views of the ophthalmic appliance 1 according to the embodiment, FIG. 1A is a side view of the ophthalmic appliance 1, and FIG. 1B is an external view of the ophthalmic appliance 1 when viewed from the subject side. It is a figure. The ophthalmic appliance 1 includes an examination unit 100. The inspection unit 100 is an example of an inspection means for observing eye characteristics. In the following description, the left-right direction is the X direction, the up-down direction is the Y direction, and the front-back direction is the Z direction when viewed from the subject.

For example, the ophthalmic appliance 1 includes a base 2. A moving table 2a is mounted on the upper surface of the base 2 so as to be movable in the X direction. The moving table 2a is an example of a moving means for moving the inspection unit 100. For example, the ophthalmic appliance 1 includes a drive unit 4. The drive unit 4 is an example of a moving means for changing the positional relationship between the eye to be inspected E and the inspection unit 100, and moves the moving table 2a in the X direction. For example, the ophthalmic appliance 1 includes a drive unit 5. The drive unit 5 is an example of a moving means for changing the positional relationship between the eye to be inspected E and the inspection unit 100, and drives the inspection unit 100 with respect to the moving table 2a in the Y direction. For example, the ophthalmic appliance 1 includes a drive unit 6. The drive unit 6 is an example of a moving means for changing the positional relationship between the eye to be inspected E and the inspection unit 100, and drives the inspection unit 100 in the Z direction with respect to the moving table 2a. The drive units 4, 5, and 6 are composed of well-known moving mechanisms such as a motor and a slide mechanism.

For example, the ophthalmic appliance 1 includes a face support portion 3 for placing the eye E to be examined in the examination state. The face support portion 3 supports the face of the subject. The face support portion 3 includes, for example, a forehead rest 3a, a chin rest 3b, a chin rest sensor 3c, a chin base drive portion 3d, and the like. The jaw rest sensor 3c detects whether or not the jaw is placed on the jaw base 3b, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 80 described later. The jaw pedestal drive unit 3d adjusts the height by moving the jaw pedestal 3b up and down.

For example, the ophthalmic appliance 1 includes a joystick 7, which is an example of an input means. The joystick 7 is used by an operator (inspector) to input a drive signal for driving the inspection unit in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction to the control unit 80. For example, the ophthalmic appliance 1 includes a display 85. An observation image of the eye E to be inspected, a measurement result, and the like are displayed on the display 85, which is an example of the output means. Further, the display 85 may be used as an input means 86 for the operator to input a signal, a numerical value, or the like to the control unit 80. The input means 86 can be replaced with a human interface such as a mouse, a keyboard, a trackball, and a button. For example, the ophthalmic appliance 1 includes a voice output unit 89. The voice output unit 89 makes a voice announcement to the examiner or the subject. The audio output unit 89 is, for example, a speaker or the like. For example, the ophthalmology apparatus 1 includes a face photographing unit 90 which is an example of a photographing means for photographing at least one of the left and right eyes E to be inspected. The face photographing unit 90 outputs the photographed image to the control unit 80 described later, and the face photographing unit 90 includes, for example, an infrared camera.

For example, the ophthalmic appliance 1 includes an infrared illumination light source (which also serves as a second alignment index projection light source described later) 81, 82, 83, and 84. The infrared illumination light sources 81, 82, 83 and 84 are used to illuminate the anterior eye portion when acquiring the anterior eye portion image of the eye E to be inspected. Further, for example, the ophthalmic appliance 1 includes an illumination light source 96 for illuminating the face portion.

<Inspection unit>
For example, the inspection unit 100 includes a fluid ejection unit 200 for measuring the intraocular pressure of the eye to be inspected E, and a measurement optical system 10. The fluid ejection unit 200 is used to measure the intraocular pressure of the eye E to be inspected.

In this embodiment, the inspection unit 100 is used for inspecting intraocular pressure, and the inspection unit 100 is provided with an optical system and a configuration necessary for the inspection, depending on the use of the ophthalmic apparatus. For example, in the case of an ophthalmic apparatus for inspecting eye information such as optical power and corneal shape, the inspection unit 100 includes an optical system and a configuration necessary for inspecting eye information such as eye refractive power and corneal shape.

<Fluid ejection unit>
The fluid ejection unit 200 is a component of the inspection unit 100 and ejects air to the eye E to be inspected. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the fluid ejection unit 200. The fluid ejection unit 200 includes a cylinder 201, a piston 202, a solenoid actuator (hereinafter, solenoid) 203, a nozzle unit 205, and a detection unit 250. The cylinder 201 and the piston 202 are used as an air compression mechanism for compressing the air ejected to the eye E to be inspected. The cylinder 201 is an example of a fluid compression chamber. The piston 202 slides along the axial direction of the cylinder 201. The piston 202 compresses the air in the air compression chamber 234 in the cylinder 201. The solenoid in this embodiment is a linear solenoid and operates linearly.

Further, the fluid ejection unit 200 may include a pressure sensor 212 and an air bleeding hole 213. The pressure sensor 212 detects, for example, the pressure in the airtight chamber 221. By bleeding air from the air bleeding hole 213, for example, the resistance until the piston 202 reaches the initial velocity is reduced, and a rising pressure change proportional to time can be obtained.

The nozzle portion 205 is an approaching portion that is arranged in front of the subject's eyes at the time of measurement and approaches the subject. The nozzle portion 205 includes, for example, a nozzle 206, a nozzle holder 207, and the like. Nozzle 206 ejects compressed air to the outside of the device. The nozzle holder 207 houses the nozzle 206 inside. Further, the nozzle portion may include glass plates 208 and 209. The glass plate 208 is transparent and holds the nozzle 206 and transmits observation light and alignment light. Behind the glass plate 209, an observation / alignment optical system is arranged so that the observation optical axis and the alignment optical axis are coaxial with the nozzle 206.

The detection unit 250 is, for example, a detection means for detecting that the nozzle unit 205 has come into contact with the subject, and includes a contact sensor 251. The contact sensor 251 may be a pressure sensor or the like. In this case, the contact sensor 251 is arranged on the surface of the nozzle portion 205 on the subject side.

The air compressed in the air compression chamber 234 in the cylinder 201 by the movement of the piston 202 includes a connecting member 220 (for example, a tube) connected to the tip of the cylinder 201, an airtight chamber 221 for accommodating the compressed air, and the airtight chamber 221. Is ejected from the nozzle 206 toward the corneum of the eye E to be inspected.

<Measurement optical system>
The measurement optical system 10 is a component of the inspection unit 100 and is an optical system used for inspection of the eye E to be inspected. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the measurement optical system 10. The measurement optical system 10 includes an anterior segment observation optical system 37, a fixation optical system 48, a square film thickness measurement optical system 70, a corneal deformation detection optical system 500, a working distance detection optical system 600, and a face illumination optical system 95.

<Optical eye observation optical system>
The anterior eye observation optical system 37 will be described. The anterior eye observation optical system 37 is used to acquire an E image of the eye to be inspected, and the optical axis L1 which is a reference of the eyeliment in the XY direction is used as an observation optical axis. The optical axis L1 is set to pass through the center of the nozzle 206. The E-image to be inspected illuminated by the infrared illumination light source (also serving as the second alignment index projection light source described later) 81, 82, 83 and 84 is the beam splitter 31, the objective lens 32, the dichroic mirror 33, the image pickup lens 34, and the filter. An image is formed on the CCD camera 36 via the 35. That is, the anterior eye observation optical system 37 is an optical system from the beam splitter 31 to the CCD camera 36. In the present embodiment, the second alignment index light source described later and the infrared illumination light source for illuminating the anterior eye portion are used in combination, but they may be provided separately.

The filter 35 transmits the light of the infrared illumination light sources 81, 82, 83 and 84, and the first alignment index projection light source 40, and is opaque to the light and visible light of the light source 50 for detecting corneal deformation, which will be described later. Has characteristics. The image formed on the CCD camera 36 is displayed on the display 85.

The anterior eye observation optical system 37 is also used to detect the XY alignment position of the inspection unit 100. In this case, the anterior eye observation optical system 37 is used as an index detection optical system for detecting an index projected on the anterior eye portion.

A first alignment index projection light source (center index projection light source) 40 and a second alignment index projection light source 81, 82, 83, 84 are used to project the alignment index onto the eye E to be inspected. The infrared light projected from the first alignment index projection light source 40 through the projection lens 41 is reflected by the beam splitter 31 and projected onto the eye E to be inspected from the front. The luminous flux mirror-reflected by the cornea forms the first alignment index i1, which is a virtual image of the light source 40. The luminous flux of the first alignment index i1 forms an image of the first alignment index i1 on the CCD camera 36 via the front eye observation optical system 37 (see FIG. 8).

The second alignment index projection light sources 81 and 82, and 83 and 84 are arranged at the same height distance across the optical axis, respectively, and have the same optical distance of the index. The light from the light sources 81 and 82 is irradiated from diagonally upward toward the periphery of the cornea of the eye E to be inspected, and forms the second alignment indexes i2 and i3 which are virtual images of the light sources 81 and 82. The light from the light sources 83 and 84 is emitted from diagonally downward toward the periphery of the cornea of the eye E to be inspected, and forms the second alignment indexes i4 and i5 which are virtual images of the light sources 83 and 84. The luminous flux of the second alignment index i2, i3, i4, i5 forms an image of the second alignment index i2, i3, i4, i5 on the CCD camera 36 via the anterior eye observation optical system 37 (see FIG. 8). ).

<Optometry optical system>
The fixation optical system 48 has an optical axis L1 and presents a fixation target from the front to the eye E to be inspected. The fixation optical system 48 includes, for example, a visible light source (fixation lamp) 45, a projection lens 46, and a dichroic mirror 33. The visible light emitted from the visible light source 45 is projected onto the fundus of the eye E via the projection lens 46, the dichroic mirror 33, and the objective lens 32. As a result, the eye E is in a state of fixing the fixed viewpoint in the front direction, and the line-of-sight direction is fixed.

<Corneal deformation detection optical system>
The corneal deformation detection optical system 500 includes a light projecting optical system 500a and a light receiving optical system 500b, and is used for detecting a deformed state of the cornea. The projection optical system 500a has an optical axis L3 as a projection light axis, and irradiates the cornea of the eye E with illumination light from an oblique direction. The floodlight optical system 500a includes, for example, an infrared light source 50, a collimator lens 51, and a beam splitter 52. The light receiving optical system 500b has a photodetector 57, and receives the reflected light of the illumination light in the cornea of the eye E. The light receiving optical system 500b includes, for example, a lens 53, a beam splitter 55, a pinhole plate 56, and a photodetector 57, and forms an optical axis L2 as a light receiving optical axis.

The light emitted from the light source 50 is projected onto the cornea of the eye E to be inspected via the collimator lens 51 and the beam splitter 52. The light reflected by the cornea is received by the photodetector 57 via the lens 53, the beam splitter 55, and the pinhole plate 56. The lens 53 has a characteristic of being opaque to the light of the light source 30 and the light source 40. Further, the optical system for detecting corneal deformation is arranged so that the amount of light received by the photodetector 57 is maximized when the eye E to be inspected is in a predetermined deformation state (flat state).

<Operating distance detection optical system>
The working distance detection optical system 600 includes a projection optical system 600a and a light receiving optical system 600b, and is used to detect the alignment state of the inspection unit 100 in the Z direction. In this embodiment, a part of the corneal deformation detection optical system 500 also serves as a part of the working distance detection optical system 600, and the projection optical system 600a is a projection optical system 500a of the corneal deformation detection optical system 500. Also used. The light receiving optical system 600b that receives the light reflected by the light source 50 on the cortex has, for example, a lens 53 of the light projecting optical system 500a, a beam splitter 58, a condenser lens 59, and a position detecting element 60, and has light as a light receiving optical axis. Form the axis L2.

The illumination light projected from the light source 50 and reflected by the cornea forms an index image which is a virtual image of the light source 50. The light of the index image is incident on a one-dimensional or two-dimensional position detecting element 60 such as a PSD or a line sensor via a lens 53, a beam splitter 55, a beam splitter 58, and a condenser lens 59. The position detection element 60 outputs a signal to the control unit 80 based on the incident light. The control unit 80 detects the alignment state of the inspection unit 100 in the Z direction based on the output signal from the position detection element 60.

<Corneal thickness measurement optical system>
The angular film thickness measuring optical system 70 includes a light projecting optical system 70a, a light receiving optical system 70b, and a fixation optical system 48, and is used for measuring the angular film thickness of the eye E to be inspected. Further, as the projection optical system 70a, a part of the corneal deformation detection optical system 500 and the working distance detection optical system 600 is also used. The projection optical system 70a includes, for example, an illumination light source 71, a condenser lens 72, a light limiting member 73, a concave lens 74, and a lens 53 that is also used as a corneal deformation detection optical system. The projection optical system 70a forms a predetermined pattern luminous flux (for example, spot luminous flux, slit luminous flux) on the cornea of the eye E to be inspected.

The light receiving optical system 70b has a light receiving element 77, and receives the reflected light of the illumination light on the front and back surfaces of the cornea of the eye E. The light receiving optical system 70b is arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the light projecting optical system 70a with respect to the optical axis L1. The light receiving optical system 70b includes, for example, a light receiving lens 75, a concave lens 76, and a light receiving element 77. The control unit 80 detects the corneal deformation state by the output signal from the light receiving element 77, and controls the drive of the solenoid 203.

The light emitted from the illumination light source 71 is condensed by the condenser lens 72 and illuminates the light limiting member 73 from behind. Then, the light from the light source 71 is restricted by the light limiting member 73, and then imaged (condensed) in the vicinity of the cornea by the lens 53. In the vicinity of the cornea, for example, a pinhole image (when using a pinhole plate) and a slit image (when using a slit plate) are imaged. At this time, the light from the light source 71 is imaged in the vicinity of the intersection with the visual axis on the cornea.

When the illumination light is projected onto the cortex by the projection optical system 70a, the reflected light of the illumination light on the cortex travels in a direction symmetric to the projection light beam with respect to the optical axis L1. Then, the reflected light is imaged on the light receiving surface on the light receiving element 77 by the light receiving lens 75.

The lens 53, which is also used in the light receiving optical systems 500b and 600b and the floodlight optical system 70a, collects the light reflected by the light source 50 in the corneal membrane at the center of the hole of the pinhole plate 56, and also from the light source 71. It is arranged at a position where the illumination light of the lens is focused on the front surface and the back surface of the corneum.

<Face photography section>
The face photographing unit 90 is, for example, an optical system for photographing a face including at least one of the left and right eye Es to be inspected. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the face photographing unit 90 of this embodiment mainly includes, for example, an image pickup element 91 and an image pickup lens 92.

The face photographing unit 90 is provided, for example, at a position where both eyes of the eye to be inspected E can be photographed when the inspection unit 100 is in the initial position. In this embodiment, the initial position of the inspection unit 100 is set to a position shifted to the right side with respect to the chin rest 3b when viewed from the direction of the chin base 3b so that the right eye can be easily inspected. Therefore, the face photographing unit 90 is provided at a position where both eyes of the eye to be inspected E can be photographed in a state where the inspection unit 100 is in the initial position shifted to the right side. For example, the face photographing unit 90 is arranged at the center of the machine in a state where the inspection unit 100 is in the initial position. When the initial position is set based on, for example, half the interpupillary distance, that is, the interpupillary distance of one eye, the facial imaging unit 90 is displaced to the left or right by the interpupillary distance of one eye with respect to the machine center of the main body of the apparatus. It may be placed in a position.

The face photographing unit 90 of this embodiment is moved together with the inspection unit 100 by the drive units 4, 5, and 6. Of course, the face photographing unit 90 may be fixed to the base 2 and may not move, for example.

The image pickup lens 92 may be, for example, a wide-angle lens. The wide-angle lens is, for example, a fisheye lens, a conical lens, or the like. By providing the wide-angle lens, the face photographing unit 90 can photograph the face of the subject with a wide angle of view.

<Face lighting optical system>
The face illumination optical system 95 illuminates the face of the eye E to be inspected. The face illumination optical system 95 includes, for example, an illumination light source 96. The illumination light source 96 emits infrared light. In this embodiment, illumination light sources 96 are provided at the left and right positions of the optometry window. As the face illumination optical system 95, a light source having a lower directivity than the index light source for alignment is used.

<Rough electrical system configuration diagram>
FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical system in the ophthalmic appliance 1 of the embodiment. For example, the control unit 80 is connected to the electrical system components (solenoids and the like) of each unit shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. For example, the control unit 80 is composed of a CPU (processor), RAM, ROM, and the like. The control unit 80 is configured to control the entire device. Further, the control unit 80 controls the operation of the drive units 4, 5 and 6 based on the alignment state of the inspection unit 100 with respect to the eye E to be inspected detected by using the measurement optical system 10, thereby aligning the inspection unit 100. I do. The control unit 80 also functions as a front-rear position detecting means for detecting the position of the inspection unit 100 in the front-rear direction with respect to the base 2 based on the driving amount of the drive unit 4 that moves the inspection unit 100 in the Z direction.

For example, the ROM stores an ophthalmic appliance control program for controlling the ophthalmic appliance 1, initial values, and the like. For example, RAM temporarily stores various types of information. The control unit 80 includes an inspection unit 100, a face photographing unit 90, a drive unit 4, 5 and 6, a display 85, an input means 86, a chin rest drive unit 3d, a storage unit (for example, a non-volatile memory) 87, and an audio output unit 89. Etc. are connected. The storage unit 87 is, for example, a non-transient storage medium capable of retaining the stored contents even when the power supply is cut off. For example, a hard disk drive, a detachable USB flash memory, or the like can be used as the storage unit 87. For example, the storage unit 87 is a storage means for storing the limit position Lim described later.

<Operation of the device>
The operation of the ophthalmic appliance 1 having the above configuration will be described (see the flowchart of the apparatus operation in FIGS. 5 and 6). In this embodiment, the ophthalmic appliance 1 aligns the examination unit 100 with the eye E to be inspected in a fully automatic manner.

First, when the subject puts his chin on the chin rest 3b, the chin rest sensor 3c detects that the subject puts his chin on it, and the operation of the device starts. The examiner may input a start signal to the control unit 80 using the input means 86 to start the operation of the device.

Next, the detection of the position of the subject's eye in the XY direction from the face image captured by the face photographing unit 90 performed by the control unit 80 will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

Reference numeral 301a in FIG. 7A is an example of an image taken by the face photographing unit 90. Further, the image 301a to be captured may be displayed on the display 85. At this time, since the range of irradiation of the alignment index is narrow, it is not possible to illuminate the face including both eyes of the subject. Therefore, in this embodiment, the face illumination optical system 95 is provided. As a method for detecting the position of both eyes in the XY direction, a known technique can be used, and for example, an analysis process for detecting a characteristic site of the eye E to be inspected is performed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-196304).

After the position of the eye in the XY direction is detected, an alignment index or a pupil detection is performed. Reference numeral 301b in FIG. 7B is an example of an image acquired by the anterior eye observation optical system 37. Further, the acquired image 301b may be displayed on the display 85. As an example of the method for detecting the pupil, a known technique can be used (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3606706). For example, the following method can be mentioned. When the eye E to be inspected is irradiated with infrared light, the level (luminance) of the amount of reflected light from the pupil, the iris, and the sclera is different. Utilizing this, the control unit 80 analyzes the image of the anterior segment of the eye to detect the boundary edge of the pupil (or iris). When the position of the pupil is detected, for example, the geometric center of the pupil is obtained as the center of the pupil.

If the index or pupil can be detected, the position of the chin rest 3b is appropriate, so that the measurement preparation is completed and the position adjustment is performed based on at least one of the anterior ocular segment image and the alignment index. Otherwise, the chin rest adjustment is performed. For the adjustment of the chin rest, the control unit 80 drives the chin base driving unit 3d based on the position detection result of the eye in the XY direction in the face photographing unit previously obtained. Reference numeral 301c in FIG. 7C is an example of an image acquired by the anterior ocular segment observation optical system 37 when the position of the chin rest 3b is not appropriate. Further, the acquired image 301c may be displayed on the display 85. The jaw stand may be adjusted manually by the operator. At this time, since the pupil can be detected even if the face illumination is on, it may be on. Hereinafter, each step in FIG. 5 will be described.

{Step S110: Face image analysis}
The control unit 80 illuminates the face by the face illumination optical system 95. For example, the illumination light source 96 is turned on. At this time, the control unit 80 may turn off the alignment lights 81, 82, 83, 84. The control unit 80 detects at least one of the left and right eyes E to be inspected based on the image pickup signal from the face photographing unit 90.

{Step S120: Inspector detection determination}
The control unit 80 determines whether or not the eye E to be inspected is detected based on the image pickup signal from the face photographing unit 90. If the eye E to be inspected is detected, the process proceeds to step S130. If the eye E to be inspected is not detected, the process proceeds to step S160.

{Step S130: Jaw stand adjustment}
The control unit 80 controls the chin rest driving unit 3d based on the image pickup signal from the face photographing unit 90, for example, and adjusts the height of the chin rest 3b. In this case, the control unit 80 may control the jaw pedestal drive unit 3d so that the eye E to be inspected is arranged within the movable range in the Y direction of the inspection unit 100, and may adjust the height of the jaw pedestal 3b. .. After adjusting the height of the chin rest 3b, the control unit 80 performs facial image analysis in the same manner as in step S110 to detect the eye E to be inspected.

{Step S140: Position adjustment based on face image}
The control unit 80 adjusts the position of the inspection unit 100 in the XYZ direction based on the analysis result of the face image performed in step S130. That is, the control unit 80 moves the inspection unit 100 in the XY direction so that the anterior eye portion image of the eye E to be inspected is acquired by the anterior eye portion observation optical system 37 based on the analysis result of the facial image. Also, the inspection unit 100 is advanced.

{Step S150: Position adjustment based on anterior eye image / alignment index}
The control unit 80 controls the drive units 4, 5 and 6 based on the image pickup signal of the anterior eye portion by the anterior eye observation optical system 37 and the working distance detection optical system 600, and adjusts the position of the inspection unit 100 in the XYZ direction. do. As a result, the position adjustment is performed more precisely than in step S140.

{Step S160: Search for the eye to be inspected}
If the eye E to be inspected is not detected in step S120, the control unit 80 searches for the eye E to be inspected. For example, the control unit 80 controls the drive units 4, 5, and 6 and moves the inspection unit 100 in the XY direction to search for the eye E to be inspected. For example, the inspection unit 100 may be moved from the position moved to the rightmost direction when viewed from the subject side to the position moved to the leftmost direction as the movement in the X direction. Of course, this movement in the X direction may be in the opposite direction. For example, the inspection unit 100 may be moved from the position moved most upward to the position moved most downward as the movement in the Y direction. Of course, this movement in the Y direction may be in the opposite direction. Further, for example, these movements in the XY directions may be performed at the same time. As described above, when the eye E to be inspected is not detected, the control unit 80 searches for the eye E to be inspected by moving the inspection unit 100 within the driveable range.

For example, the control unit 80 may control the jaw pedestal driving unit 3d and move the jaw pedestal 3b in the vertical direction to search for the eye E to be inspected.

{Step S300: Measurement execution}
When step S150 (position adjustment based on the anterior eye image / alignment index) is completed, the control unit 80 executes the measurement. That is, it automatically emits a trigger signal to drive the solenoid 203. When air is ejected to the eye E to be inspected, the control unit 80 obtains an intraocular pressure measurement result based on the detection signal of the corneal deformation detection optical system 500.

<Position adjustment based on anterior eye image and alignment index>
In step S150, the control unit 80 advances the inspection unit 100 in the direction of the eye to be inspected E. Further, the control unit 80 aligns the inspection unit 100 in the XY direction in parallel with the advancement of the inspection unit 100. With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, the control executed by the control unit 80 in step S150 will be described below.

{Step S200: Advance of inspection unit}
First, the control unit 80 drives the drive unit 6 and advances the inspection unit 100 in the E-direction (Z-direction) to be inspected. The advance of the inspection unit 100 is performed in parallel with other steps until it is stopped in step S207 described later or step S215 described later.

{Step S201: Anterior eye image analysis}
The anterior segment image of the eye E to be inspected is acquired by the anterior segment observation optical system 37. The control unit 80 performs image analysis processing on the acquired anterior eye portion image to determine whether the position of the corneal apex of the eye to be inspected E is detected in step S202 described later, or the direction of the corneal apex is changed. It is determined whether or not it is guessed, and it is determined whether or not the center of the pupil is detected in step S203, which will be described later.

{Step S202: Alignment state detection determination based on index}
The control unit 80 determines in step S201 whether or not the XY alignment state of the inspection unit 100 is detected based on the alignment index. For example, the control unit 80 determines whether or not the position of the corneal apex is detected or whether or not the direction of the corneal apex is estimated based on the alignment index. If the position of the corneal apex is detected or the direction of the corneal apex is estimated, the process proceeds to step S210. If the position of the corneal apex is not detected and the direction of the corneal apex is not estimated, the process proceeds to step S203. An example of detecting the position of the corneal apex and detecting the direction of the corneal apex will be described below.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an alignment index projected on the anterior eye portion and captured by the CCD camera 36. In the properly aligned state, the alignment index i1 by the first alignment index projection light source 40 and the four alignment indexes i2, i3 by the second alignment index projection light sources 81, 82, 83, 84 in the anterior segment image, i4 and i5 are appearing. When the alignment index i1 is acquired from the anterior eye image analysis result, the control unit 80 detects the detected index i1 as the corneal apex.

Further, in a configuration in which a plurality of alignment indexes are projected onto the cornea of the eye to be inspected, a method of obtaining the position or direction of the apex of the cornea from the number of indexes formed on the eye E to be inspected and the positional relationship of the indexes is known (). See Patent No. 3606706). By utilizing this, even when the alignment index i1 is not formed on the eye E to be inspected (for example, when the reflected light of the alignment index i1 is cast by the nozzle 206), the position or direction of the corneal apex (inspection unit 100). Alignment state in the XY direction) can be estimated. For example, when the alignment index i1 is not detected, the control unit 80 performs alignment using the alignment indexes i2, i3, i4, and i5. Among the second alignment indexes i2, i3, i4, and i5, the position or direction of the corneal apex is estimated based on the number of indexes projected on the anterior eye portion and the positional relationship of the indexes.

{Step S203: Pupil detection determination}
The control unit 80 determines whether or not the alignment state in the XY direction is detected based on the front eye portion image. For example, the control unit 80 determines whether or not the position of the center of the pupil is detected based on the front eye image. If the position of the center of the pupil is detected, the process proceeds to step S204. If the position of the center of the pupil is not detected, the process proceeds to step S205. The method for detecting the center of the pupil may be the same as in step S130 or step S170.

{Step S204: XY movement to the center of the pupil}
The control unit 80 drives the drive units 5 and 6 based on the detection result of step S203, and aligns the optical axis L1 (optical axis serving as an alignment reference in the XY direction) of the inspection unit 100 with the center of the pupil. Move 100 in the XY direction.

{Step S205: Forward stop of inspection unit}
When the position of the center of the pupil is not detected, the control unit 80 controls the drive unit 4 to stop the advance of the inspection unit 100. After that, the control unit 80 retracts the inspection unit 100 and stops the inspection. The control unit 80 may make the inspection unit 100 stand by at the stopped position for a predetermined time, instead of stopping the inspection unit 100 and immediately retreating it. When the pupil is detected within a predetermined time, the process may proceed to step S204 described above, and the advancement of the examination unit 100 may be restarted. In that case, the inspection will continue. Furthermore, while the examination unit 100 is waiting at the stopped position, the examiner may use the joystick 7 to move the examination unit 100 in the XY direction so that the center of the pupil is detected. When the center of the pupil is detected, the process may proceed to step S204 described above, and the advancement of the inspection unit 100 may be resumed. In that case, the inspection will continue.

{Step S206: Limit arrival determination}
The control unit 80 determines whether or not the nozzle unit 205 has reached the limit position Lim, which will be described later, for alignment in the Z direction. For example, the control unit 80 detects the position of the inspection unit 100 with respect to the base 2 based on the drive amount of the drive unit 6 that moves the inspection unit 100 in the Z direction. In this case, the control unit 80 functions as a front-rear position detecting means for detecting the position of the inspection unit 100 in the front-rear direction with respect to the base 2. Then, the control unit 80 determines whether or not the nozzle portion 205 has reached the limit position Lim based on the detection result of the front-rear position detecting means. The front-rear position detecting means may be configured such that the base 2 or the moving base 2a is provided with a sensor for detecting the position of the inspection unit 100 in the front-rear direction. When the nozzle portion 205 has reached the limit position Lim, the process proceeds to step S207. If the nozzle portion 205 has not reached the limit position Lim, the process proceeds to step S209.

The details of the limit position Lim are described below. FIG. 9 represents the limit position Lim set when the subject is in the standard eye position rather than the back eye. The limit position Lim is a predetermined position set in advance for the purpose of preventing the nozzle portion 205 and the subject from coming into contact with each other. Further, the nozzle portion 205 is an approaching portion located at the tip of the inspection unit 100 on the subject side.

FIG. 9A shows a case where the subject is not a back eye but a standard eye subject. As shown in FIG. 9A, when the subject is not the back eye, the distance between the eye E to be inspected and the nozzle portion 205 reaches the working distance WD before reaching the limit position Lim. Therefore, the control unit 80 can complete the Z-direction alignment before the nozzle portion 205 reaches the limit position Lim. Further, when the distance index is not detected (therefore, the completion of Z alignment is not detected) when the distance between the eye to be inspected E and the nozzle portion 205 reaches the working distance WD, and the advancement of the inspection unit 100 is continued. However, since the advance of the nozzle portion 205 (inspection unit 100) is stopped at the limit position, contact between the subject and the nozzle portion 205 (inspection unit 100) can be prevented.

FIG. 9B shows a case where the subject has a back eye. As shown in FIG. 9B, when the subject is a back eye, the distance between the subject and the nozzle portion 205 reaches the limit position Lim before the working distance WD is reached. Therefore, the inspection unit cannot complete the Z-direction alignment unless it advances beyond the Lim position.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the tip of the nozzle portion 205 reaches the limit position Lim, the control unit 80 determines whether the inspection unit continues to advance or stops advancing at the center of the pupil (or the apex of the cornea) in the XY direction. ) And the optical axis L1 are determined based on whether or not the distance (deviation amount) is within a predetermined allowable range described later. That is, the control unit 80 allows the inspection unit 100 to advance beyond the limit position Lim if the alignment state in the XY direction is within a predetermined allowable range.

Here, the setting of the limit position Lim will be described. For example, the limit position Lim is a position set with respect to a predetermined reference position of the base 2. For example, the reference position is the tip position of the nozzle portion 205 when the inspection unit 100 is most retracted in the Z direction from the eye to be inspected. For example, the limit position Lim is a value set as a design value and stored in the storage unit 87, assuming a subject with a standard face (a subject who is not a deep eye). For example, the limit position Lim is a position where the tip of the nozzle portion 205 is advanced by 23 mm from a predetermined reference position of the base 2 toward the eye to be inspected.

Further, the limit position Lim may be set as an arbitrary value by the examiner (first storage setting means). FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram when the examiner confirms the distance between the eye to be inspected E and the nozzle portion 205 and sets the limit position. For example, the examiner observes the positional relationship between the eye to be inspected E placed in the inspected state and the inspected unit 100, and the limit position is arbitrarily set. The inspection unit 100 is moved by the control unit 80 based on the drive signal input by the examiner operating the joystick 7. For example, after aligning the eye to be inspected E in the XY direction, the inspection unit 100 is advanced so that the tip of the nozzle portion 205 with respect to the eye to be inspected E does not come into contact with the eye to be inspected E, and the limit position Lim is determined. .. The limit position Lim is stored and set in the storage unit 87, which is an example of the storage means, by pressing the setting switch provided on the display 85 or the like.

Further, for example, the position of the eye to be inspected E placed in the inspection state in the Z direction is detected based on the image captured by the image sensor 91 of the face photographing unit 90, and the limit position Lim is set based on the detection result. It may be (second storage setting means). For example, two image pickup devices 91 are arranged so as to have parallax. Then, by using a well-known triangulation technique, the eye E to be inspected is detected, and the position of the eye E to be inspected with respect to the face photographing unit 90 is detected. When the position of the eye to be inspected E with respect to the face photographing unit 90 is detected, the limit position Lim is set by the control unit 80 and stored in the storage unit 87 which is an example of the storage means. The eye E to be inspected is placed in the inspected state by the subject fixing the chin to the chin rest 3b of the face support portion 3.

{Step S207: Determine if XY alignment with respect to the center of the pupil is within the allowable range}
The control unit 80 determines whether the distance (deviation amount) between the center of the pupil and the optical axis L1 is within a predetermined allowable range described later. If the distance between the center of the pupil and the optical axis L1 is not within a predetermined allowable range, the process proceeds to step S208 (stopping the advance of the inspection unit 100). If the distance between the center of the pupil and the optical axis L1 is within a predetermined allowable range, the process proceeds to step S209 (continuation of advancement of the inspection unit 100).

The predetermined allowable range is described below. The predetermined allowable range is set in the storage unit 87 in advance with the optical axis L1 as a reference so that the nozzle unit 205 does not come into contact with the forehead or nose of the subject when the nozzle unit 205 advances beyond the limit position Lim for inspection. It is a held value, for example, 0.5 mm from the optical axis L1. That is, in step S207, it is determined whether or not the center of the pupil exists inside a circle having a radius of 0.5 mm centered on the optical axis L1.

{Step S208: Forward stop of inspection unit 100}
When the distance between the center of the pupil (or the apex of the cornea) and the optical axis L1 is not within a predetermined allowable range, the control unit 80 controls the drive unit 4 to stop the advance of the inspection unit 100. That is, the forward movement of the inspection unit 100 in the Z direction is limited to the limit position Lim. The control in which the forward movement in the Z direction is limited to the limit position is defined as the first mode.

{Step S209: Advance of inspection unit}
If the nozzle unit 205 has not reached the limit position Lim in step S206 described above, the control unit 80 continues to drive the drive unit 6 and advances the inspection unit 100 in the direction of the eye to be inspected E.

Further, when the center of the pupil is included in the predetermined allowable range in step S207 described above, the control unit 80 continues to drive the drive unit 6 and advances the inspection unit 100 in the direction of the eye to be inspected E beyond the limit position Lim. Let me. The control for advancing the inspection unit 100 beyond the limit position Lim is defined as the second mode.

The effect obtained by setting the limit position and switching between the first mode and the second mode will be described with reference to FIG. The subject is the back eye, that is, the position of the inspection unit 100 reaches the limit position Lim before the distance between the inspection unit 100 and the inspection eye E reaches the working distance WD. In FIG. 11A, the position of the inspection unit 100 with respect to the eye E to be inspected is displaced in the XY direction. If the inspection unit 100 is advanced while the inspection unit XY direction is out of alignment, the nozzle portion 205 comes into contact with the nose and forehead of the subject, as shown in FIG. 11B.

In FIG. 11 (c), the inspection unit 100 is XY-aligned with respect to the eye E to be inspected, and the position of the inspection unit 100 is within the predetermined allowable range described above. When the inspection unit 100 advances in this state, the nozzle portion 205 can advance to the working distance WD by reducing the possibility of contact with the subject, as shown in FIG. 11D. That is, when the alignment in the XY direction is performed at the limit position Lim, and the mode is switched from the first mode to the second mode, and the inspection unit 100 advances beyond the limit position, the nozzle portion 205 and the subject Contact can be reduced. When the nozzle unit 205 comes into contact with the subject, the detection unit 250 may detect the contact and the control unit 80 may retract the inspection unit 100.

{Step S210: Move XY to the apex of the cornea}
When the corneal apex is detected in step S202, the control unit 80 drives the drive units 5 and 6 to perform XY alignment of the inspection unit 100 with respect to the corneal apex.

{Step S211: Distance index detection determination}
The control unit 80 uses the working distance detection optical system 600 to determine whether or not an index (hereinafter referred to as a distance index), which is a virtual image of the light source 50, is detected by the position detection element 60. If the distance index is not detected, the process proceeds to step S212. If the distance index is detected, the process proceeds to step S215.

{Step S212: Limit arrival determination}
When the distance index is not detected in step S211 described above, the control unit 80 determines whether the nozzle unit 205 has reached the limit position Lim, as in step S206. If the nozzle portion 205 has not reached the limit position Lim, the process proceeds to step S214. When the nozzle portion 205 has reached the limit position Lim, the process proceeds to step S213.

{Step S213: Determining whether the XY alignment with respect to the corneal apex is within the allowable range}
When the limit is reached in step S212 described above, the control unit 80 determines whether the distance between the apex of the cornea and the optical axis L1 is within the predetermined allowable range described above. If the distance between the center of the pupil and the optical axis L1 is not within a predetermined allowable range, the process proceeds to step S208. If the distance between the apex of the cornea and the optical axis L1 is within a predetermined allowable range, the process proceeds to step S214.

{Step S214: Advance of inspection unit}
When the nozzle unit 205 has not reached the limit position Lim in step S212 described above, the control unit 80 continues to drive the drive unit 6 and advances the inspection unit 100 in the direction of the eye to be inspected E. Further, when the corneal apex is included in the predetermined allowable range in step S213 described above, the control unit 80 continues to drive the drive unit 6 and advances the inspection unit 100 in the direction of the eye to be inspected E beyond the limit position Lim. Let me. The control for advancing the inspection unit 100 beyond the limit position Lim is the same as the second mode described in step S209 described above.

{Step S215: Move to working distance}
When the distance index is detected in step S211 described above, the control unit 80 drives the drive unit 6 based on the detected distance index and moves the inspection unit 100 to the working distance WD in the Z direction.

{Step S216: Alignment completion determination}
The control unit 80 determines whether the alignment of the inspection unit 100 with respect to the eye E to be inspected in the XY direction and the alignment in the Z direction are completed by the XY movement in step S210 and the Z movement in step S215. That is, the control unit 80 determines whether the distance between the apex of the cornea and the optical axis L1 is within the allowable range of alignment completion, and the distance between the inspection unit 100 and the eye E to be inspected reaches the working distance WD. Judge whether or not. The allowable range in the XY direction is more severe than the predetermined allowable range described in step S206, and is, for example, 0.05 mm. Further, the determination of the position in the Z direction is performed based on the distance index.

If the alignment is completed, step S150 ends and the process proceeds to step S300 (measurement execution). If the inspection unit 100 is moving forward, the control unit 80 stops moving forward when step S150 is completed. If the alignment is not completed, the process proceeds to step S201.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when performing the position adjustment based on the anterior eye portion image and the alignment index, the control unit 80 performs XY alignment while advancing the inspection unit 100 in the Z direction. When the nozzle unit 205 reaches the limit position Lim, the control unit 80 stops the movement in the Z direction at the limit position Lim if the inspection unit 100 is not XY-aligned within the predetermined allowable range, and the predetermined allowable range is reached. If the inspection unit 100 is XY-aligned inside, the inspection unit 100 is advanced beyond the limit. As a result, even when the subject has a back eye, the nozzle portion (approaching portion) 205 can be aligned in the Z direction without touching the subject.

The center of the pupil in this embodiment is an example of a feature point different from the corneal apex in the eye E to be inspected, and is not limited to the feature point different from the corneal apex in the present disclosure. Further, in the present embodiment, the method of detecting the position of the corneal apex and the method of using the index as the calculation method have been described, but this is only an example and does not limit the method of detecting the corneal apex in the present disclosure. ..

If the nozzle unit 205 of the inspection unit 100 comes into contact with the subject during alignment and inspection, the detection unit 250 detects the contact, and the control unit 80 drives the drive unit 4 to drive the inspection unit 100. Is retracted from the E side of the eye to be inspected. After that, the control unit 80 may stop the operation of the ophthalmologic device 1. For example, the display 85 may indicate that the nozzle unit 205 has touched the subject, or, for example, an announcement may be made that the nozzle unit 205 has approached the subject. For example, after the inspection unit 100 is retracted from the eye E side to be inspected, the mode may be switched to the manual mode in which the subject performs alignment.

Further, after the examination of one eye is completed as described above, the examination of the other eye may be automatically performed. In that case, for example, the ophthalmic appliance 1 is controlled as follows.

After the inspection of one of the eyes E to be inspected is completed, the control unit 80 retracts the inspection unit 100 once and then moves it in the X direction. As a result, it is possible to switch the eye E to be inspected while avoiding the nozzle portion 205 from coming into contact with the subject when moving. Then, the inspection unit 100 is moved to the other eye E to be inspected in the same manner. Further, for example, when inspecting the first eye, the position of the XY alignment of both eyes is detected in step S110, and the result is held to inspect the position of the XY alignment held when the eye to be inspected E is switched. The unit 100 can be moved. As a result, the second step S110 can be omitted, so that the inspection time can be shortened. Furthermore, for example, when one of the eyes E to be inspected is inspected, the position of Z alignment at the time of alignment completion may be held in the storage unit 87. In that case, when aligning the other eye E to be inspected, the distance index detection process (that is, Z alignment) may be started from a position behind the held Z alignment position by a predetermined distance. ..

In the above embodiment, the first mode (mode in which the forward movement of the inspection unit 100 is set to the limit position) and the second mode (mode in which the forward movement of the inspection unit 100 is possible beyond the limit) are performed. Although the control unit 80 is automatically switched, the examiner may manually switch the switch. For example, the inspection (measurement) is normally performed in the first mode, but when the advance of the inspection unit 100 is stopped at the limit position, the display 85 or the like notifies that fact. In this case, the examiner switches to the second mode by the changeover switch (for example, the switch displayed on the display) provided in the input means 86. Further, the alignment mode is switched to the manual mode by the switch provided in the input means 86 (for example, the switch displayed on the display). As a result, even in the case of a subject with a back eye, the measurement can be performed after the inspection unit 100 is aligned with the subject to be examined beyond a preset limit position.

The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in this embodiment are programs executed by the control unit 80 of the ophthalmic appliance 1. For example, a control program (software) that performs the functions of the above-described embodiment may be supplied to the system or device via a network or various storage media. Then, the control unit of the system or the device (for example, a CPU or the like) can read and execute the program.

Although the typical examples of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the examples shown here, and various modifications can be made within the scope of making the technical idea of the present disclosure the same.

1 Ophthalmology equipment 4 to 6 Drive unit 10 Measurement optical system 40 1st alignment index Projection light source 80 Control unit
81-84 2nd Alignment Index Projection Light Source 100 Inspection Unit 205 Nozzle

Claims (9)

An ophthalmic device that inspects the eye to be inspected
Examination means for inspecting the ocular characteristics of the eye to be inspected,
A moving means that changes the relative positional relationship between the eye to be inspected and the inspection means, and
An alignment detecting means for detecting the alignment state of the inspection means in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-back direction with respect to the eye to be inspected.
A control means for controlling the moving means based on the alignment state detected by the alignment detecting means, and a control means.
A switching means for switching between a first mode in which the forward movement of the inspection means is up to a set limit position and a second mode in which the forward movement of the inspection means is possible beyond the limit position.
An ophthalmic device characterized by comprising. In the ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1,
The switching means is an ophthalmic apparatus, characterized in that it automatically switches to the second mode when the left-right, up-down alignment state detected by the alignment detecting means falls within a predetermined allowable range. In the ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1 or 2.
When the left / right / up / down alignment state is not within the allowable range, the control means controls the moving means so as to limit the advance of the inspection means to the limit position, and the left / right / up / down alignment state becomes a predetermined allowable range. An ophthalmic apparatus characterized in that when it enters, it switches to the second mode and controls the moving means so that alignment in the front-rear direction is completed. In the ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
Equipped with a means of photographing the anterior segment of the eye to be inspected,
The alignment detecting means includes a first detecting means for detecting an alignment state based on an image of the anterior eye portion captured by the photographing means, and an alignment index projected on the eye to be inspected based on the alignment index projected on the eye to be inspected. A second detection means for detecting the alignment state is provided.
When the alignment index is detected by the second detection means, the control means controls the moving means based on the alignment state detected by the second detection means, and the alignment index is controlled by the second detection means. When is not detected, the ophthalmic apparatus is characterized in that the moving means is controlled based on the alignment state detected by the first detecting means. In the ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
A storage means for storing the limit position is provided.
The ophthalmic apparatus, wherein the control means controls the forward movement of the inspection means based on the limit position stored in the storage means. In the ophthalmic apparatus of claim 5,
An ophthalmic apparatus comprising: a storage setting means for setting the limit position for an eye to be inspected placed in an examination state and storing the limit position in the storage means. In the ophthalmic apparatus of claim 6,
The memory setting means includes a first memory setting means for arbitrarily setting the limit position by the examiner observing the positional relationship between the eye to be inspected placed in the inspection state and the inspection unit.
A first unit comprising a face imaging means for imaging the face of a subject including an eye to be inspected and an eye position detecting means for detecting the position of the eye to be inspected imaged by the face imaging means in the anteroposterior direction. 2. A second storage setting means for setting the limit position based on the detection result of the eye position detecting means, which is a storage setting means.
An ophthalmic device characterized by having at least one of. In the ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
A base on which the inspection means can be moved in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-back direction, and
A front-rear position detecting means for detecting the position of the inspection means in the front-rear direction with respect to the base is provided.
The limit position is a position set with reference to the base.
The control means is an ophthalmic apparatus, characterized in that, in the first mode, the forward movement of the inspection means is controlled to reach the limit position based on the detection result of the front-back position detecting means. A control program for an ophthalmologic device executed in an ophthalmologic device provided with an inspection means for inspecting the eye characteristics of the eye to be inspected and a moving means for changing the relative positional relationship between the eye to be inspected.
An alignment detection step for detecting the alignment state of the inspection means in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-back direction with respect to the eye to be inspected.
The first movement step of executing the first mode for moving the forward movement of the inspection means to the set limit position, and
A second movement step that executes a second mode that enables forward movement of the inspection means beyond the limit position.
A switching step for switching between the first moving step and the second moving step,
A control program for an ophthalmic appliance, characterized in that the control unit of the ophthalmic appliance is executed.

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