JP2580467B2 - Corneal endothelial cell imaging system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus for irradiating a cornea of an eye to be examined with slit light to photograph corneal endothelial cells.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus includes an illumination optical system for irradiating illumination light obliquely toward a cornea of an eye to be examined,
An imaging optical system that receives reflected light from the corneal endothelial cells of the cornea and observes and photographs the corneal endothelial cells is provided. The illumination optical system includes a slit plate provided with a slit, and emits slit light from the slit to irradiate the cornea of the subject's eye obliquely.

The corneal endothelial cells can be observed and photographed by obliquely irradiating the slit light.

However, since the cornea is irradiated obliquely with slit light, the range of the corneal endothelial cells to be irradiated is narrow, and the corneal endothelial cells can be observed and photographed only in this narrow range. For this reason, when there is a lesion in a part of the corneal endothelial cells, there is a disadvantage that the lesion is overlooked.

In view of this, there has been proposed a corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus in which a photographing site of a corneal endothelial cell is changed so as to photograph a plurality of regions .

[0006]

However, in such a corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus, there is a problem that it is impossible to know which part of the cornea was photographed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus capable of determining a corneal endothelial cell photographing site .

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention allows a subject's eye to fixate a fixation target, and
The slit light is illuminated obliquely toward the cornea of the eye to be examined.
The corneal endothelium cells receive reflected light from the corneal endothelial cells of the cornea.
In corneal endothelial cells photographing device for photographing the cells, predetermined
Selecting means for selecting an imaged region of the cornea obtained, and this selection
Imaging part table displaying the imaging part selected by the means
Indicating means for photographing selected by the selecting means.
It is characterized in that a part is photographed .

[0009]

According to the present invention, the above configuration allows the selection means to be used.
When the imaging region is selected, the imaging region display means displays the selection.
The selected imaging part is displayed.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] In FIG. 1, an anterior ocular segment observation optical system 1 is generally constituted by a half mirror 2, an objective lens 3, a half mirror 4, and a CCD (image pickup device) 6, and O1 is its optical axis. It is. The anterior segment of the eye E is illuminated by the anterior segment illumination light source 7.
The half mirror 2 forms a part of an alignment optical system 8 (see FIG. 2) as an alignment index light projecting unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, the alignment optical system 8 has an alignment light source 9, a pinhole plate 10, a projection lens 11, an aperture 12, and a half mirror 13.

The pinhole plate 10 is disposed at the focal point of the projection lens 11, and the alignment index light transmitted through the pinhole plate 10 is converted into a parallel light beam (alignment light beam K) by the projection lens 11, It is guided to the mirror 2. The parallel light beam is reflected by the half mirror 2 and guided to the cornea C. The half mirror 13 forms a part of the fixation target projection optical system 14.

The fixation target projection optical system 14 comprises a left-eye projection system 15 and a right-eye projection system 16 as shown in FIG.

The projection system 15 for the left eye and the projection system 16 for the right eye
In the right eye, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the eyeball optical axis O2 of the subject eye E and the visual axis S1 are inclined to the right by about 5 degrees. This is because, for the left eye, as shown in FIG. 3C, the optical axis O1 of the eyeball and the visual axis S1 are inclined to the left by about 5 degrees. The left-eye projection system 15 and the right-eye projection system 16 include a fixation target light source 517 and a projection lens 2 respectively.
Has zero.

The fixation target light source 517 is linked with the movement of the apparatus main body H, which will be described later, so that the light for the right eye is automatically turned on during the right eye examination, and the light for the left eye is automatically turned on during the left eye examination. Is lit.

The fixation target light from the fixation target projection optical system 514 is guided to the eye E through the half mirror 13 and the half mirror 2. The subject fixes the fixation target light source image, and performs the alignment adjustment while fixing the fixation target light source image.

The fixation target light source 517 is composed of five light emitting diodes 517a to 517e arranged in a cross shape as shown in FIG. In this case, different positions of the corneal endothelial cells are photographed. Then, the fixation target light source 517 is used as a selection unit for selecting an imaging region of the cornea.
Function.

The alignment light beam K is reflected by the surface T of the cornea C as shown in FIG. The alignment light beam K is reflected by the surface T so as to form a bright spot image (virtual image) R at an intermediate position between the corneal vertex P and the corneal curvature center O3. The reflected light flux is the half mirror 2 shown in FIG.
Through the objective lens 3.

A part of the reflected light beam guided to the objective lens 3 is reflected by the half mirror 4, and the remaining light beam passes through the half mirror 4. The light beam reflected by the half mirror 4 is guided to an alignment detection sensor 500 as a light receiving unit. Alignment detection sensor 5
At 00, a position sensor is used.

The light beam that has passed through the half mirror 4 is
The image is formed by being guided to 6, and a bright spot image is formed on the CCD 6. The half mirror 4 reflects a light beam from the alignment pattern projection optical system 21.

The alignment pattern projection optical system 21
It is schematically composed of an alignment pattern light source 22, an alignment pattern plate 23, and a projection lens 24.

An annular pattern is formed on the alignment pattern plate 23. The pattern forming light beam forming the annular pattern is reflected by the half mirror 4 and
The image is guided to the CD 6 and an annular pattern image is formed on the CCD 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, an anterior eye image 26 of the eye E is formed on the CCD 6, and an anterior eye image 26 and an annular pattern image 27 are displayed on a monitor described later. The alignment adjustment is performed by swinging the apparatus main body H up and down (Y direction) and left and right (X direction) so that the light beam reflected by the cornea C and forming the bright spot image R ′ is located at the center of the annular pattern image 27. Then, the optical axis O2 of the eye E and the optical axis O1 of the apparatus are matched. Further, the working distance is set by shifting the apparatus main body H back and forth (Z direction) with respect to the eye E to be examined.

On both sides of the anterior ocular segment observation optical system 1, an illumination optical system 28 and an observation and photographing optical system 29 are provided. The illumination optical system 28 illuminates the cornea C of the eye E with an illumination light beam from an oblique direction.

The illumination optical system 28 includes an illumination light source 3 for observation.
0, a condenser lens 31, an infrared filter F, an illumination light source 32 for photographing, a condenser lens 33, a slit plate 34, and a light projecting lens 35. The illumination light source 30 and the illumination light source 32 are conjugate with respect to the condenser lens 31.

As the illumination light source 30, a halogen lamp is used, and as the illumination light source 32, a xenon lamp is used. The light beam emitted from the illumination light source 30 passes through the condenser lens 31 and the infrared filter F and is once converged at the position where the illumination light source 32 is provided. This infrared light flux is guided to the condenser lens 33 as if it were emitted from the illumination light source 32. The infrared light flux condensed by the condenser lens 33 is guided to the slit plate 34. An elongated rectangular slit 36 is formed in the slit plate 34. The infrared beam is
And is guided to the light projecting lens 35.

Reference numeral 35a denotes an optical member for correcting an optical path length.
FIG. 1 shows a state of being inserted into the optical path when observing endothelial cells.
At the time of photographing with visible light, the optical member 35a is retracted to correct the optical path length, so that the optical member 35a is formed of a plane-parallel plate.

As shown in FIG. 1, the observation optical system 29 includes an objective lens 40, a half mirror 41, a mask 42,
It is roughly composed of an imaging lens 43 and a CCD 506.

When the alignment is completed, the slit plate 34 and the cornea C are substantially conjugate with respect to the light projecting lens 35, and the cornea C is irradiated with a slit light beam. This slit light beam crosses the cornea C from the surface T toward the inside.

The slit light beam is scattered and reflected by the cornea C. FIG. 7 shows the state of the scattered reflection. Part of the slit light beam is first reflected on the corneal surface T, which is the interface between the air and the cornea C. The light amount of the scattered reflected light beam L from the corneal surface T is the largest. The amount of the scattered reflected light beam M from the corneal endothelial cell N is relatively small. The light amount of the reflected light beam L 'from the corneal stroma M' is the smallest. The scattered reflected light flux M is condensed by the objective lens 40 and is guided to the half mirror 41 via the optical path length correction member 40a.

A part of the scattered reflected light beam is reflected by the half mirror 41 and guided to a line sensor 47 as a focusing state detecting sensor. Further, the scattered reflected light beam that has passed through the half mirror 41 is guided to the mask 42, and a corneal cross-sectional image including the corneal endothelial cells N is formed at the position where the mask 42 is provided.

The mask 42 plays a role in blocking extra reflected light flux other than forming a corneal endothelial cell image. The scattered reflected light beam forming the corneal endothelial cell image is formed on the CCD 506 by the imaging lens 43.

FIG. 8 shows a corneal endothelial cell image 48a formed on the CCD 506. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 49 denotes the mask 42.
If it is not blocked by the corneal surface T, it is an optical image formed by the reflected light beam from the corneal surface T, and 50 is an optical image by the scattered reflected light beam from the corneal substance M '.

As shown in FIG. 9, the anterior ocular segment image 26 is displayed on the monitor 25 as a parent screen.
Are displayed as child screens.

The line sensor 47 is arranged as shown in FIG. 10B with respect to the sectional direction of the cornea C, and the intensity distribution of the scattered reflected light beam is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 10A, reference numeral U denotes a peak due to a scattered reflected light beam scattered and reflected on the surface T of the cornea C. Symbol V is the peak of the endothelial cell portion of cornea C.
The peak U corresponds to the light image 49, and the peak V corresponds to the light image 48.
Corresponding to

The outputs of the elements at each address of the line sensor 47 are input to a focus determination circuit 101 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG.
By storing all the signals including the peak U and the peak V and performing arithmetic processing, the address of the peak V is determined. Then, the focus determination circuit 101 determines whether or not the address L of the peak V matches the center address Q of the line sensor 47, and outputs an H-level focus signal when it is determined that the addresses L match.

When the apparatus main body H is moved away from and approached toward the anterior segment of the eye E (the apparatus optical system is moved in the Z direction), the address L of the peak V moves. The apparatus main body H is designed so that the corneal endothelial cells are focused when the address L of the peak V coincides with the center address Q. The focus determination circuit 101 outputs a focus signal when the address L of the peak V coincides with the center address Q, whereby the light emission drive circuit 102 causes the illumination light source 32 to emit light and the eye E to be illuminated with visible light. Shooting is performed automatically.

The anterior ocular segment observation optical system 1, the illumination optical system 28, and the observation and photographing optical system 29 are housed in an apparatus body case 52 as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 11, reference numeral 53 denotes a base having a built-in power supply. At the upper part of the base 53, a gantry 54 is provided so as to be movable back and forth and left and right by operating a control lever 54a. The control lever 54a is provided with a photographing switch 54b, which is used in the manual photographing mode. A motor 55 and a support 56 are provided on an upper portion of the gantry 54.

The motor 55 and the support 56 are connected to a pinion rack (not shown), and the support 56 is moved up and down by the motor 55. A table 57 is provided at the upper end of the support 56.

The table 57 is provided with a support column 58 and a motor 59. A table 60 is slidably provided at the upper end of the column 58. At the rear end of the table 60, a rack 61 is provided as shown in FIG. A pinion 62 is provided on the output shaft of the motor 59, and the pinion 62 is engaged with the rack 61. Further, a motor 63 and a support column 64 are provided on the upper portion of the table 60. The output shaft of the motor 63 is provided with a pinion 65. The device main body case 52 is slidably provided on the upper part of the support column 64. A rack 66 is provided on the side of the apparatus main body case 52. Rack 66 is pinion 65
Is engaged. Then, the apparatus main body case 52 moves up and down by the up and down movement of the column 56. A control unit 200 performs signal processing and controls the motors 59 and 63 and the like.

The motor 55 is connected to the apparatus main body H with respect to the eye E to be examined.
The motor 59 is used for automatically aligning the apparatus body H with respect to the eye E in the X direction, and the motor 63 is used for automatically aligning the apparatus body H with respect to the eye E. Are automatically performed in the Z direction, and these can be operated in the automatic photographing mode. That is, the motors 55, 59,
A driving unit 63 drives the apparatus main body H based on the light receiving output of the light receiving unit.

In the manual photographing mode, the anterior ocular segment observation optical system 1
By operating the control lever 54a while viewing the anterior eye image 26 displayed on the monitor 25, the bright spot image R '
Can be clearly seen, and the gantry 54 is roughly operated so that the bright spot image R ′ approaches the predetermined annular circle 27. Thus, the scattered reflected light beam forming the bright spot image R ′ is guided to the alignment detection sensor 500.

The alignment detection sensor 500 detects the X-direction position information and the Y-direction position information of the bright spot image R ′.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing system of the first embodiment. In FIG. 13, reference numeral 521 denotes a comparator for comparing the alignment signal output from the alignment detection sensor 500 with the reference signal from the reference signal generation circuit 522. The comparator 521 outputs a high-level signal when the alignment signal exceeds the reference signal. Output. That is, when the alignment is completed, the comparator 521 outputs a high-level alignment completion signal.

An AND circuit 523 outputs a high-level operation command signal when an alignment completion signal output from the comparator 521 and a focus signal output from the focus determination circuit 101 are input. A photographing trigger pulse generating circuit that outputs photographing signals J1 and J2 and a photographing trigger pulse J3 in response to a command signal. The photographing trigger pulse generation circuit 524 sequentially outputs the photographing signal J1, the photographing trigger pulse J3, and the photographing signal J2 in this order. The photographing trigger pulse J3 activates the light emission drive circuit 102 to cause the photographing light source 32 to emit light.

Reference numerals 527 and 528 denote frame memories for storing anterior eye images and corneal endothelial cell images photographed by the CCDs 6 and 506, respectively. When photographing signals J1 and J2 are inputted, the images at that time are stored and held. ing. 529 combines the anterior ocular segment image and the corneal endothelial cell image stored in the frame memories 527 and 528 as shown in FIGS.
An image processing device (image synthesizing means) that performs display processing on the monitor 25 via the A-converter 531 and stores the image in the storage device 530, and also performs synthesis processing of images stored in the storage device 530. is there. And the monitor 25 has a corner
Functions as an imaging part display means for displaying the imaging part of the membrane
You.

An image switching circuit 532 is an enlarged display of the anterior ocular segment image 26 as shown in FIG. 9 when the alignment signal output from the alignment detection sensor 500 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, that is, before the alignment is completed. The corneal endothelial cell image 48a is displayed as a child screen to facilitate alignment, and when the alignment signal is equal to or more than a predetermined value, that is, when the alignment is completed, as shown in FIG. Anterior eye image 2
6 is displayed as a child screen to facilitate observation.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the light emitting diode 517a of the fixed index light source 517 emits light, and the alignment light source 409 of the alignment optical system 408 is turned on. The eye E is directed straight ahead by the light emission of the light emitting diode 517a. Then, the CCD 6 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), an annular pattern image 27, a bright spot image R ', and an anterior segment image 26 of the eye E are formed.

On the other hand, an image of the corneal endothelium near the optical axis O1 is formed on the CCD 506 because the eye E is facing straight ahead. These images are stored in frame memories 527 and 5
The image data is input to the image synthesis processing device 529 via.

Before the completion of the alignment, the alignment signal output from the alignment detection sensor 500 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, so that the image synthesizing processor 529 synthesizes the image as shown in FIG. The examiner adjusts the alignment by swinging the apparatus main body H up and down (Y direction) and left and right (X direction) so that the bright spot image R 'is located at the center of the annular pattern image 27 while watching the monitor 25. When the bright spot image R 'comes to the center of the annular pattern image 27, the comparator 5
At the same time, an alignment completion signal is output from 21 and the image on the monitor 25 is switched by the image switching circuit 532 as shown in FIG. Then, the working distance is set by shifting the apparatus body H back and forth (Z direction) with respect to the eye E to be examined.

When the working distance is set, the focus determination circuit 1
01 and the alignment completion signal from the comparator 521, the AND circuit 523
Outputs an operation command signal. In response to this operation command signal, the photographing trigger pulse generating circuit 524 outputs a photographing signal J1 (step 1). In step 2, the image at the time when the photographing signal J1 is output is stored in the frame memory 527.
Is kept. That is, the anterior ocular segment image 26 is displayed as a child screen on the display of the corneal endothelial cell image 48a.

In step 3, the photographing trigger pulse generation circuit 524 outputs the photographing trigger pulse J3 to operate the light emission drive circuit 102. The operation of the light emission drive circuit 102 causes the illumination light source 32 to emit light, and turns off the light emitting diode 517a and the alignment light source 409.

Next, the photographing trigger pulse generating circuit 52
4 outputs a photographing signal J2 (step 4). The image at the time when the photographing signal J2 is output is stored in the frame memory 528.
And the corneal endothelial cell image 48a is displayed on the monitor 25 as a still image.

Then, the image displayed on the monitor 25 is stored in the storage device 530. That is, the anterior ocular segment image 26 is stored together with the corneal endothelial cell image 48a.

The anterior eye image 26 includes an annular pattern image 27.
However, since the eye E is facing directly in front, the optical axis O1 of the anterior ocular segment observation optical system 1 is located at the center of the pupil Ea. ), An annular pattern image 27 is provided at the center of the pupil image Ea 'of the eye E to be examined.
And a bright spot image R ′.

In this state, the photographing optical system 29
Is coincident with the corneal vertex P, and a corneal endothelial cell near the corneal vertex P is photographed. This corneal vertex P
The vicinity is the center of the pupil image Ea ′ of the anterior eye image 26 observed on the monitor 25 as shown in FIG. 9, and the vertex P of the cornea coincides with the position of the annular pattern image 27.

Next, when the light-emitting diode 517b of the light source 517 for fixed index is caused to emit light to orient the eye E in the X direction in FIG. 1 (to the right as viewed from the examiner) (at this time, the position P1 on the cornea C becomes Optical axis O1 of anterior ocular segment observation optical system 1
16B, an annular pattern image 27 and a bright spot image R 'are formed on the left side of the pupil image Ea' on the CCD 6, as shown in FIG. The information is displayed on the monitor 25 as shown in FIG. When the alignment is completed, the image is switched and displayed on the monitor 25 as shown in FIG. 17B, and the corneal endothelial cells are photographed. Then, the image of FIG. 17B is stored in the storage device.

At the time of this photographing, since the optical axis 29a of the photographing optical system 29 coincides with the position P1 of the cornea C, the position P1
The nearby corneal endothelial cells 48b are imaged. The position P1 is on the left side of the corneal apex P as viewed from the examiner, and FIG.
Anterior eye image 2 observed on monitor 25 as shown in FIG.
6 is on the left side of the pupil image Ea ', and the annular pattern image 27
Is coincident with the position P1 of the cornea C.

Similarly, when the eye E is turned to the left or up and down, as shown in FIGS. 16C, 16D and 16E, the CCD 6 is placed on the left, lower and upper sides of the pupil image Ea '. Ring pattern image 27
Then, a bright spot image R 'is formed, and corneal endothelial cell images 48c to 48e (not shown) at left, lower, and upper positions with respect to the corneal vertex P are photographed by the CCD 506. And
The anterior ocular segment image 26 showing the annular pattern image 27 and the bright spot image R 'together with the corneal endothelial cell images 48c to 48e is displayed on the monitor 2.
5 is stored in the storage device 530.

Then, the positions of the annular pattern image (figure) 27 and the bright spot image R 'in the pupil image Ea' are the same as those of the cornea.
Since the shadow site is shown, the corneal endothelial cell images 48a to 48e are
This is particularly effective when observing which part of the corneal endothelial cell is the corneal endothelial cell and observing the change over time in a specific part.
Further, the bright spot image R 'and the pupil image E by the alignment light beam K are obtained.
Since the imaging site is indicated by the positional relationship with a ', the eye E to be inspected is not damaged and a safe corneal endothelial cell imaging apparatus can be provided.

Then, by operating a keyboard (not shown), the image processing device 529 combines the corneal endothelial cell images 48a to 48e stored in the storage device 530 to create a panoramic image as shown in FIG. It is displayed and stored in the storage device 530. If necessary,
A desired image stored in the storage device 530 may be read out by operating the keyboard, displayed on the monitor 25, and observed.

In the first embodiment, the corneal endothelial cell images 48a to 48e are photographed at five different positions. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a panoramic image may be synthesized by photographing, for example, eight positions. . Further, the corneal endothelial cell images 48a to 48a-4 captured by the annular pattern image 27 and the bright spot image R '
Although in the shown sites 8e, not limited to this, for example, based on the center of the corneal apex P "up"
Characters such as “bottom”, “left”, “right”, and “center” may be written on the images of the corneal endothelial cell images 48a to 48e to indicate which part of the image is shifted from the center.

FIG. 19 shows a case in which the fixation target is moved to change the direction of the eye E to be inspected. In FIG. 19, 5
40 is a fixation target light source, 541 is a diffusion plate, and 542 is a pinhole plate which can move up, down, left and right in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis O1. The direction of the eye E is changed by moving the pinhole plate 542.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 20 shows a second embodiment. In this embodiment, a plurality of slits 36a to 36c are provided on a slit plate 34 to photograph corneal endothelial cells at different positions. It is like that.

The slit plate 34 shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the elongated rectangular slits 36a, 36b,
The slit 36a is formed on the slit plate 3
4, the slit 36b is located on the center line 34a.
The slit 36c is formed at a position slightly shifted to the right (inward in FIG. 20) from 4a, and at a position slightly shifted to the left (outward in FIG. 20) from the center line 34a.

Then, as shown in FIG. 22, when the slit plate 34 is moved to the position shown by the solid line, the slit 36a is inserted at the same position as the optical axis 28a in the optical path of the illumination optical system 28, and the slit plate 34 is moved. When the slit 36b is moved to the position shown by the dashed line, the slit 36b is inserted into the optical path at a position slightly shifted to the right (in FIG. 20) from the optical axis 28a.
Is moved to the position indicated by the dotted line, the slit 36c is inserted into the optical path at a position slightly shifted to the left (in FIG. 20) from the optical axis 28a. That is, by moving the slit plate 34 in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow, the positions of the slits 36a to 36c in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis 28a change in the left-right direction (in FIG. 20).
The slit plate 34 is used to select the imaging region to change the imaging region of the cornea
Functions as a means.

The infrared light beam passes through any of the slits 36a to 36c and is guided to the light projecting lens 35. When the alignment between the apparatus and the cornea is performed, the slit 36a is used.

Reference numerals 35a, 35b 'and 35c' are optical members for correcting the optical path length. FIG. 20 shows that 3
The state which inserted 5a is shown. At the time of photographing with visible light, the optical member 35a is retracted to correct the optical path length, so that the optical member 35a is formed of a plane-parallel plate. In the case of observation with infrared light, the optical member 35a is inserted into the optical path when the slit 36a is inserted into the optical path. When photographing with visible light by the slits 36b and 36c, the optical members 35b 'and 35c are respectively used.
'Into the optical path.

The slit light beam G1 by the slit 36a is
As shown in FIG. 23, the central portion S1 of the corneal endothelial cell N is irradiated, the slit light beam G2 by the slit 36b irradiates the S2 portion of the corneal endothelial cell N, and the slit light beam G3 by the slit 36c is irradiated by the corneal endothelial cell N Illuminate the S3 part of

As shown in FIG. 24, the mask 42 has three mask patterns 42a to 42c corresponding to the slits 36a to 36c, respectively. The mask pattern 42a is located at a position on the center line 42d.
b is formed at a position slightly shifted left (outward in FIG. 20) from the center line 42d, and the mask pattern 42c is formed at a position slightly shifted right (inward in FIG. 20) from the center line 42d.

The mask 42 moves in conjunction with the slit plate 34, and the slit 36a is
8, the mask pattern 42a is inserted into the optical path of the observation / photographing optical system 29. Similarly slit 36
When b and 36c are inserted into the optical path, the mask patterns 42b and 4
2c is inserted into the optical path. That is, by moving the mask 42 in the vertical direction, the mask 42 is inserted into or retracted from the optical path of the observation / photographing optical system 29.

Immediately after the image is taken by the slit 36a, the slit plate 34 moves to the dashed line position (see FIG. 20), and the slit 36b is inserted into the optical path of the illumination optical system 28. The mask 42 moves in conjunction with this, and the slit 36
The mask pattern 42b corresponding to the observation b.
In the optical path. Then, the correction lenses 35b, 40
The b and 43b are inserted, the illumination light source 32 emits light again, the eye to be examined is illuminated, and the second photographing is performed.

Subsequently, when this second photographing is performed, the slit plate 34 immediately moves to the dotted line position, the slit 36c is inserted into the optical path of the illumination optical system 28, and the mask 42 moves in conjunction with this. Then, the mask pattern 42c corresponding to the slit 36c is inserted into the optical path of the observation / photographing optical system 29, and is replaced with the correction lenses 35b ', 40b', 43b ', and the correction lenses 35c', 40c ', 4 (not shown) are omitted.
3c 'is inserted, the illumination light source 32 emits light again, the eye to be inspected is illuminated, and the third imaging is performed.

Incidentally, the movement of the slit plate 34 and the mask 42 is performed by a solenoid (not shown) or the like. The replacement of each correction lens is also performed by a solenoid or the like.

A, B, and C in FIG. 25 are slits 36a, 36b,
It is a corneal endothelium image taken at 36c. The corneal endothelial cell image shown in FIG. 25A taken with the slit 36a is the portion S1 shown in FIG. 23, and FIG. 2 taken with the slits 36b and 36c.
The corneal endothelial cell images shown in B and C of FIG.
This is the S3 part.

As described above, since images of the corneal endothelium in a wide range S1 to S3 can be taken, even if there is a lesion in a part of the corneal endothelial cells, the lesion can be photographed and the lesion is overlooked. Will be prevented.

Further, similarly to the first embodiment, before the alignment is completed, as shown in FIG.
Is enlarged and displayed as a parent screen, and the corneal endothelial cell image 48a is displayed as a child screen. When a photograph is taken by the slit 36a, the position of the photographed portion (the photographing unit)
The mark (figure) G1 is shown at the position. This mark G1
Are synthesized and displayed by the image synthesis processing device 529 based on the switching position of the slit plate 34. When the images are taken by the slits 36b and 36c, marks G2 and G3 are shown at the positions (image parts ) indicated by broken lines.

Since the photographing position of the corneal endothelial cell is determined by each of the slits 36a to 36c, the marks G1 to G3 are combined with the photographing position based on the switching position of the slit plate 34. As shown in FIG. 27, the image synthesizing processor 529 synthesizes the marks G1 to G3 according to a signal from a controller 601 which controls a solenoid 600 for switching the slit plate 34. Then, the control device 601 functions as a photographing position detecting unit that detects the photographing position. The control device 60
Reference numeral 1 controls the switching of the mask 42 and the like.

When the alignment is completed, the image is switched to a corneal endothelial cell image 48a as shown in FIG.
Is enlarged and displayed as the parent screen, and the anterior ocular segment image 26 is displayed on the child screen.

Similarly, when the alignment is completed and the images are taken by the slits 36b and 36c, the anterior ocular segment image 26 is displayed on the child screen and the corneal endothelial cell images 48b and 48c are displayed as shown in FIGS. It is enlarged and displayed as the main screen. Since the marks G2 and G3 indicating the imaging site are combined and displayed in the anterior eye image 26 of the child screen, it is possible to know which site of the corneal endothelial cell was imaged.

[0084]

According to the present invention, a predetermined cornea is provided.
Is selected by the selection means,
The photographed region is displayed by the photographed region display means.
Therefore, the part to be imaged can be known.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first example of a corneal endothelial cell imaging apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an arrangement of an optical system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an optical arrangement diagram showing an arrangement of an alignment optical system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an optical arrangement diagram showing an arrangement of a fixation target projection optical system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a configuration of a fixation target light source.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a reflection state of an alignment index light beam.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a display state of an anterior eye image.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a reflection state of a slit light beam on the cornea.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a corneal endothelial cell image formed on a CCD.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an image displayed on a monitor.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between a corneal endothelial cell image and the amount of light received by a line sensor.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a corneal endothelial cell observation and imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view partially showing a corneal endothelial cell observation / photographing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an image displayed on a monitor.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an imaging order.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an anterior segment image formed on a CCD.

FIG. 17A is an explanatory diagram showing an image obtained by enlarging and displaying an anterior ocular segment image. (b) is an explanatory view showing an enlarged image of a corneal endothelial cell image.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a panoramic image.

FIG. 19 is an optical arrangement diagram showing a fixation target light source of another example.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing an arrangement of an optical system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a front view showing a slit plate.

FIG. 22 is a side view showing an illumination optical system.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a photographing position of a corneal endothelial cell.

FIG. 24 is a front view showing a mask.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory view showing a photographed corneal endothelial cell image.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing an image displayed on a monitor.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

E eye to be examined C cornea 6 CCD 25 monitor 34 slit plate 517a-517e light emitting diode (imaging position changing means) 529 image synthesizing processing device (image synthesizing means) 601 control device (imaging position detecting means)

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] (1) The eye to be examined is fixed at the fixation target,
The slit light is illuminated obliquely toward the cornea of the eye to be examined.
The corneal endothelium cells receive the reflected light from the corneal endothelial cells
In a corneal endothelial cell imaging device for imaging vesicles, Selecting means for selecting a predetermined cornea imaging region, An image for displaying the imaging region selected by the selecting means
And a shadow site display means, The imaging part selected by the selecting means can be imaged.
A corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus, characterized in that: 2. The imaging region display means according to claim 1, wherein said imaging region display means comprises :
Is displayed in characters or figures
Item 8. The corneal endothelial cell imaging device according to Item 1 . 3. The imaging region display means includes an alignment key.
Alignment pattern projected on the subject's eye for adjustment
And display the imaging region based on the positional relationship with the subject's eye
The corneal endothelial cell imaging device according to claim 1, wherein: Wherein said imaging region display means, the alignment adjustment
Alignment alignment light projected onto the eye to be examined for
The feature to display the imaging part according to the positional relationship with the optometry
The corneal endothelial cell imaging device according to claim 1, wherein Wherein said imaging region display means indicates a scanning region
Characters are shown on an image of a corneal endothelial cell.
Corneal endothelium photographing apparatus according to Motomeko 1. 6. The corneal endothelium at different sites photographed.
Image synthesis to create a panoramic image by combining images of cell images
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
Corneal endothelium imaging apparatus according to Motomeko 5.