JP4649218B2 - Ophthalmic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ophthalmologic apparatus for inspecting and measuring an eye to be examined.

Ophthalmic devices such as fundus cameras and autorefractometers used in ophthalmic clinics, etc. are provided with a chin rest that fixes the subject's face, and can be moved up and down according to the size of the subject's face It has become. Such vertical movement of the chin rest is generally performed by the examiner by operating a dedicated rotary knob or the like, but in recent years, in order to simplify the work of the examiner, the anterior segment of the eye to be examined is moved. A device that controls the driving of the vertical movement mechanism of the chin rest based on position information between the eye to be examined and the device acquired by imaging has been proposed (for example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2).
JP 2004-174155 A JP 11-47094 A

  By the way, in patent document 1, the output from the touch sensor provided in the chin rest is utilized as a trigger which starts drive control of the vertical movement mechanism of a chin rest. Moreover, in the case of patent document 2, the detection signal when the subject's face is detected by a dedicated photoelectric sensor is used. In the case of such a device, the movement of the chin rest is started regardless of the will of the examiner.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention can reduce the labor of adjusting the height of a chin rest used for alignment of an eye to be examined, and can raise and lower the chin rest based on the intention of the examiner. The technical challenge is to provide

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by having the following configuration.

(1) In order to fix the subject's face by having an inspection unit having an inspection optical system for inspecting the subject's eye , a chin rest for receiving the subject's chin, and a forehead for applying the subject's forehead In the ophthalmic apparatus, the motor includes: a face support unit; and manual alignment means used for aligning the examination unit with respect to one eye of the subject fixed to the face support unit. a driving means for moving the jaw holder in the vertical direction with a detecting means for detecting that using the positioning means to inspect the subject's eye, said drive means based on a detection signal by said detecting means Trigger signal transmission means for transmitting a trigger signal for operating the drive means, and control means for starting drive control of the drive means based on the trigger signal by the trigger signal transmission means .
(2) The ophthalmic measure according to (1) includes face fixation detection means for detecting that the face of the subject is fixed to the face support unit, and the trigger signal transmission means includes the face fixation detection means and detection. The trigger signal is transmitted based on a detection signal by the means .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while reducing the effort of height adjustment of the chin rest used for position alignment of an eye to be examined, a chin rest can be raised and lowered based on an examiner's intention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic external view of an ophthalmologic apparatus according to this embodiment.

  A face support unit 2 for fixing the subject's face is fixed to the base 1 of the ophthalmologic apparatus. The face support unit 2 is provided with a chin rest 2a for receiving the subject's chin so as to be movable up and down. The chin rest 2a is moved up and down by a chin rest moving mechanism 30 described later. Reference numeral 2b denotes a touch sensor that detects that the subject's jaw is placed.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a main body that moves in the XZ direction with respect to the base 1, and reference numeral 5 denotes an inspection unit that is mounted on the main body 3 and stores an inspection optical system and the like. Reference numeral 6 denotes a Y drive unit that moves the inspection unit 5 in the vertical (Y) direction. Reference numeral 7 denotes an XZ drive unit that moves the inspection unit 5 in the left and right (X) and front and rear (Z) directions. It is mounted inside. The examination unit 5 is configured to be movable in the three-dimensional directions of XYZ with respect to the eye to be examined by the Y drive unit 6 and the XZ drive unit 7. The Y drive unit 6 and the XZ drive unit 7 are configured by a slide mechanism and a motor not shown.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a joystick used when the examiner performs alignment, and the joystick 4 can be used to move the main body 3 in the XZ direction. Thereby, the test | inspection part 5 mounted on the main-body part 3 can be moved to a XZ direction. The main body 3 itself can be moved in the XZ direction by the examiner. Further, when the rotary knob 4a of the joystick 4 is rotated, the inspection unit 5 moves in the vertical direction. A measurement start switch is provided on the top of the joystick 4. Further, a switch portion 94 having a monitor 8 and various switches is provided on the examiner side of the main body portion 3.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the left / right movement detection mechanism 11 that detects that the inspection unit 5 has reached a predetermined position in the left / right direction. FIG. 2 is a view seen from the examiner direction. Reference numerals 101 a and 101 b denote photosensors that optically detect the presence or absence of the light shielding plate 100 provided in the main body 3. When the main body 3 placed near the center as an initial position moves to the left or right and the light shielding plate 100 of the main body 3 reaches the photosensor 101a or 101b (including the passage), the control unit 90 It can be detected that (inspection unit 5) has reached a predetermined position in the left-right direction with respect to the base 1. Even when the light shielding plate 100 is on the left side of the photosensor 101a and the light shielding plate 100 is on the right side of the photosensor 101b, the body is operated by operating the joystick 4 to move the main body 3 to the center by the examiner. It can be detected that the part 3 has reached a predetermined position in the left-right direction.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a chin rest moving mechanism 30 that automatically moves the chin rest 2a up and down. A feed screw 21 is erected on the support base 20, and a column 23 having a female screw screwed to the feed screw 21 is guided by the support base 20 and attached to be movable up and down. The chin rest 2 a is fixed on the support column 23. A gear 22 is provided below the feed screw 21 and meshes with the gear on the pulse motor 24 side. Further, the support 23 has a groove 25, and the support 25 is prevented from rotating by the groove 25 and the screw 26 for rotation prevention. The feed screw 21 is rotated by the rotation of the motor 24, and thereby the chin rest 2 a is moved up and down together with the column 23. A light shielding plate 27 is attached below the column 23, and a photo sensor 28 for detecting the light shielding plate 27 is provided on the support base 20 side. The photo sensor 28 detects that the chin rest 2 a has been lowered to the lower limit by detecting the light shielding plate 27.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the configuration of the optical system and the control system provided in the inspection unit 5 of the present embodiment. An objective lens 12 and an inspection optical system 11 are arranged on the optical axis L1. As the inspection optical system 11, for example, an eye refractive power measurement optical system or a fundus photographing optical system can be adopted. A light beam emitted from the inspection optical system 11 enters the eye to be examined through the objective lens 12. Then, the reflected light from the eye to be examined enters the examination optical system 11 again through the objective lens 12, and predetermined eye characteristics (for example, eye refractive power, fundus image, etc.) are obtained. The inspection unit 5 houses an alignment index projection optical system 40 and an anterior ocular segment observation optical system 60.

  The alignment index projection optical system 40 has two sets of first index projection optical systems arranged symmetrically about the optical axis L1 and an optical axis arranged at an angle narrower than that of the first index projection optical system. 2 sets of 2nd parameter | index projection optical systems arrange | positioned left-right symmetrically on both sides of the perpendicular plane which L1 passes are provided. The first index projection optical system projects an infinite target on the eye to be examined. On the other hand, the second index projection optical system projects a finite distance target on the eye to be examined. The alignment index projection optical system 50 is actually arranged in the left-right direction.

  The anterior ocular segment observation optical system 60 that can observe the anterior ocular segment of the eye to be examined includes a field lens 61, a mirror 62, a diaphragm 63, a relay lens 64, and a two-dimensional light receiving element 65 on the reflection side of the beam splitter 13. In the above optical system, the reflected light from the anterior segment illuminated by the light source 58 is received by the two-dimensional light receiving element 65 through the objective lens 12, the beam splitter 13, and the field lens 61 to the relay lens 64. . Since the anterior ocular segment observation optical system 60 is also used to detect the alignment index projected by the alignment index projection optical system 40, the two-dimensional light receiving element 65 has an anterior segment illuminated by the illumination light source 58 and the alignment index. Is received. FIG. 5 is an example when the image captured by the two-dimensional light receiving element 65 is displayed on the monitor 8.

  An output from the two-dimensional light receiving element 65 is connected to the image processing unit 80. The image processing unit 80 detects the eye to be examined and specifies the position of the eye to be examined by image processing from the image of the anterior eye image captured by the two-dimensional light receiving element 65. Further, the image processing unit 80 obtains the alignment state of the apparatus with respect to the eye to be examined by detecting the alignment index from the anterior eye image. Note that the apparatus according to the present embodiment automatically controls the XZ driving unit 7 and the Y driving unit 6 to automatically align the examination unit 5 with the eye to be inspected based on the alignment state detected by the image processing unit 80. It has an auto alignment function.

  The image processing unit 80 is connected to the display monitor 8 and controls the display image. The control unit 90 includes an image processing unit 80, a Y drive unit 6, an XZ drive unit 7, a motor 24, a photosensor 28, a joystick 4, a switch unit 94 having various operation switches, photosensors 101a and 101b, light sources, and the like. It is connected.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the ophthalmologic apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. When a power switch (not shown) is input at the time of measurement, the touch sensor 2b is in a detectable state. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the position of the main body 3 is placed at the center in the initial state before the inspection. Further, the height of the chin rest 2a is assumed to be at the lower limit position in the initial state. Here, when the subject's chin is placed on the chin rest 2a in order to fix the subject's face, a detection signal is input to the control unit 90 from the touch sensor 2b. Accordingly, the control unit 90 detects that the subject is ready for inspection. The configuration for detecting that the subject is ready to be examined is not limited to the touch sensor 2b, and the configuration for detecting that the face of the subject is fixed by the face instruction unit 2 is used. If it is. For example, the structure which detects that the subject's forehead contacted the forehead which is one of the face instruction units is mentioned. Further, by projecting light from a dedicated light source onto the subject's face and combining a photoelectric sensor for detecting reflected light from the face, the subject's face is indirectly attached to one of the face instruction units 2. It may be configured to detect that the face is in contact.

  Next, the examiner uses the joystick 4 to move the main body 3 (inspection unit 5) in the horizontal direction (XZ direction) so as to perform alignment with the eye to be examined. At this time, when the light shielding plate 100 provided in the main body unit 3 reaches the photosensor 101a, a detection signal from the photosensor 101a is input to the control unit 90. The controller 90 starts the movement of the chin rest 2a in the Y direction by driving the motor 24 using the signal from the photosensor 101a as a trigger. Accordingly, the control unit 90 notifies the examiner of the movement of the chin rest 2a by the monitor 8. Thereby, the examiner can know the movement of the chin rest 2a.

  When the control unit 90 moves the chin rest 2a upward from the lower limit position, the eye to be examined is picked up by the two-dimensional light receiving element 65, and the eye to be examined is detected by the image processing unit 80. The position of the optometry is specified. In this case, the image processing unit 80 performs edge extraction on an image obtained from the two-dimensional light receiving element 65, for example. Since there are many edges in the face in the face, the edge image data can be analyzed in the horizontal and vertical directions, and the eye position can be almost specified from the obtained edge distribution (the eyebrows part). Even if many edges appear, it can be distinguished by looking at the horizontal and vertical edge shapes). When the position of the eye can be almost specified, the black portion of the pupil is extracted by extracting the density information from the image in the vicinity. That is, since the pupil is the darkest around the eye, the position of the eye in the X direction and the Y direction can be specified.

  In this way, when the position of the eye to be examined is specified by the image processing unit 80 and the height in the Y direction of the eye to be examined is within the movement range of the examination unit 5 in the Y direction, the control unit 90 moves the chin rest 2a. To stop. Further, the monitor 8 displays that the movement of the chin rest 2a has stopped. If the stop position of the chin rest 2a is within a range where the automatic alignment by the inspection unit 5 can be operated, the automatic alignment can be smoothly performed.

In this way, the control unit 90 stops the movement of the chin rest 2a, and then the eye to be examined and the examination unit 5 are roughly aligned, and the alignment index images Ma to Md are captured by the two-dimensional light receiving element 65. Then, the movement of the inspection unit 5 is switched to the control by detecting the alignment index image (see FIG. 5A). Here, the control unit 90 uses the intermediate position between the index images Ma and Mb as the corneal apex position M ₀ to obtain a deviation amount with respect to the alignment reference position in the XY directions, and drives and controls the XZ driving unit 6 and the Y driving unit 7. . Further, by comparing the interval between the index images Ma and Mb from the infinity light source and the interval between the index images Mc and Md from the finite light source, the alignment state in the Z direction is detected, and the alignment reference position in the Z direction is detected. The displacement amount is obtained and the XZ drive unit 7 is driven and controlled (for details, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-46999). In this manner, the control unit 90 operates the automatic alignment of the inspection unit 5 in the XYZ directions with respect to the eye to be examined, and moves the inspection unit 5 so as to satisfy a predetermined alignment condition. When it is determined that the alignment state in the XYZ directions has become appropriate (see FIG. 5B), the control unit 90 generates a trigger signal and performs measurement by the inspection optical system 11.

  With the configuration as described above, the height adjustment of the chin rest 2a is performed by the drive control of the chin rest moving mechanism 30, thereby reducing the labor of the examiner and starting the drive control of the chin rest moving mechanism 30. Since the trigger signal is transmitted based on a predetermined operation from the examiner, the chin rest 2a can be moved up and down based on the examiner's will.

In the present embodiment, photosensors 101a and 101b are provided as a configuration for detecting that the inspection unit 5 has reached a predetermined position in the left-right direction, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, a position detection mechanism that can detect the position in the left-right direction of the inspection unit 5 composed of a potentiometer or the like is provided, and it is detected that the inspection unit 5 has reached a predetermined position based on position information from the position detection mechanism. It is good also as a simple structure. When the inspection unit 5 is in a predetermined position in the left-right direction when the power is turned on, it is preferable to drive and control the chin rest moving mechanism 30 in order to prevent the chin rest 2a from moving up and down.

  When detecting that the inspection unit 5 has reached a predetermined position in the left-right direction and using this detection signal as a trigger signal for starting drive control of the chin rest moving mechanism 30, the predetermined position is a two-dimensional light reception. It is preferable that the eye to be examined is included in the imageable range of the element 65 in the left-right direction. This is because if the eye to be examined can be detected by the two-dimensional light receiving element 65 when the chin rest 2a moves up and down, the alignment state of the examination unit 5 with respect to the eye to be examined can be obtained. For example, when the photosensors 101a and 101b are used as in the present embodiment, when the light shielding plate 100 reaches the photosensor 101a or 101b, the eye to be examined is included in the imageable range in the left-right direction of the two-dimensional light receiving element 65. This should be done (see FIG. 6). In this way, in conjunction with the movement of the chin rest 2a by the drive control of the chin rest moving mechanism 2a, the manual alignment operation by the examiner and the automatic alignment operation of the inspection unit 5 can be smoothly executed. . Further, it is detected that the inspection unit 5 has reached a predetermined position in the left-right direction, and the control unit 90 to which the detection signal is input indicates on the monitor 8 that the drive control of the chin rest moving mechanism 30 is started. If the examiner temporarily stops the operation of the joystick 4 (this may be indicated by the monitor 8), the two-dimensional light receiving element 65 is covered by the movement of the chin rest 2a. Since the optometry can be reliably detected, it is possible to smoothly shift to the automatic alignment operation or the manual alignment, and it is possible to reduce unnecessary operations by the examiner.

  In the present embodiment, the chin rest 2a is in the lower limit position in the initial state before the examination, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the initial position is in the upper limit position. The chin rest 2a may be moved downward in accordance with a chin rest movement start signal by a predetermined device operation. In addition, when the initial position of the chin rest 2a is in an intermediate position that is neither an upper limit nor a lower limit, it is difficult to specify whether the position of the eye to be examined is in the upward direction or the downward direction with respect to the examination unit 5, Even in this case, a configuration that can detect the position of the eye to be examined in the Y direction (for example, the eye to be examined is specified by an imaging optical system having a wide imaging range) may be provided.

  Alternatively, it may be detected that the examiner has operated the joystick 4 (manual alignment operation member by the examiner), and this detection signal may be used as a trigger signal for starting movement of the chin rest 2a. In this case, the configuration for detecting the operation of the joystick 4 may be a configuration for detecting the movement of the main body 3 with respect to the base 1 due to the operation of the joystick 4, or detecting the operation of the rotary knob 9. It is good also as a simple structure. Further, the tilt of the joystick 4 may be detected optically or electrically.

  In recent years, there has been proposed an apparatus having a configuration in which the movable range of the inspection unit 3 is widened and the eye is aligned only by movement control of the inspection unit 3. Even in such an apparatus, a joystick or a trackball is also provided. The present invention can be applied by electrically detecting the operation amount such as the above or by obtaining the movement amount of the inspection unit 3.

  In addition, as a configuration for transmitting a trigger signal for starting drive control of the automatic jaw support mechanism 30 by a predetermined operation of the examiner, a dedicated switch for the examiner to operate may be provided. In this case, the control unit 90 starts automatic height adjustment of the chin rest 2a using an input operation from the dedicated switch from the examiner as a trigger signal. Even with such a configuration, the height of the chin rest 2a can be automatically adjusted in a state where the start of the drive control of the chin rest can be sufficiently anticipated.

  Moreover, you may provide the audio | voice generator for alert | reporting a test subject to the start of the vertical movement of the chin rest 2a. Thereby, the subject can know in advance the start of the vertical movement of the chin rest 2a.

  Further, the switch unit 94 may be provided with a selection switch 94a for selecting whether or not to perform drive control of the chin rest moving mechanism 30 triggered by a predetermined operation of the examiner as described above.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance schematic of the ophthalmologic apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the left-right movement detection mechanism which detects that the test | inspection part reached the predetermined position in the left-right direction. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the chin rest moving mechanism which moves a chin rest automatically up and down. It is a schematic block diagram explaining the structure of the optical system and control system provided in the test | inspection part of this embodiment. It is an example when the image imaged with the two-dimensional light receiving element is displayed on the monitor. It is a figure explaining the positional relationship between the imaging range in the left-right direction of the two-dimensional light receiving element and the eye to be examined.

Explanation of symbols

2 face support unit 2a chin rest 2b touch sensor 3 main body 5 inspection section 11 left / right movement detection mechanism 30 chin rest movement mechanism 40 alignment index projection optical system 60 anterior ocular segment observation optical system 80 image processing section 90 control section

Claims (2)

Face support for fixing the subject's face with an examination part having an examination optical system for examining the subject's eye , a chin rest for receiving the subject's chin, and a forehead for placing the subject's forehead In an ophthalmologic apparatus comprising: a unit; and manual alignment means used for aligning the examination unit with respect to one eye of a subject fixed to the face support unit, using a motor a driving means for moving the jaw holder in the vertical direction, operating a detecting means for detecting that using the positioning means to inspect the eye, said drive means based on a detection signal by said detecting means An ophthalmologic apparatus comprising: a trigger signal transmitting unit that transmits a trigger signal for controlling the driving unit, and a control unit that starts driving control of the driving unit based on the trigger signal generated by the trigger signal transmitting unit . The ophthalmic measure according to claim 1 further comprises face fixation detection means for detecting that the face of the subject is fixed to the face support unit, and the trigger signal transmission means is detected by the face fixation detection means and the detection means. An ophthalmologic apparatus that transmits the trigger signal based on a signal.