JP4934374B2 - Ophthalmic imaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus, and more particularly, to an ophthalmic photographing apparatus that photographs an eye fundus to be examined as an electronic image through a photographing aperture having a plurality of openings.

  Conventionally, it has been required to grasp the three-dimensional shape of the fundus for the diagnosis of glaucoma. For this reason, as so-called stereo photography, two images with parallax on the left and right sides of the same eye to be examined are taken. A stereoscopic view of the fundus of the eye to be examined is performed by displaying these images in pairs.

  In a fundus camera capable of photographing an image having parallax, a photographing aperture (two-hole aperture) in which two left and right apertures are formed at a position conjugate with the anterior eye portion of the eye to be examined (conjugated with the pupil) with respect to the objective lens. ), And the light flux from the fundus that has passed through each opening is photographed as a left and right image on the film surface or the image sensing surface of the image sensor, respectively, to obtain a stereoscopic image of the eye fundus to be examined.

  In the structure of the fundus camera described in Patent Document 1 below, each of the two light beams separated left and right by the two-hole aperture is imaged separately on the film surface via the light beam separation prism and two separate optical systems. Taking left and right images at the same time. In addition, the distance between the centers of the two left and right holes of the two-hole aperture is variable, whereby the distance between the pupils is variable.

  However, the configuration as in Patent Document 1 is dedicated to stereo photography, and cannot be switched between stereo photography and normal monaural photography. In addition, since the two optical systems are provided, the configuration is complicated, large, and expensive.

Also, a fundus camera (Patent Document 2) that acquires two images for the left and right in succession by switching from one hole of the photographing aperture to photographing from the other hole in accordance with the shutter operation, or 1 There is known a fundus camera capable of acquiring a first image by a shot and subsequently acquiring a second image in succession and displaying each image alternately on a monitor (Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent No. 2977607 JP 59-90547 A JP-A-10-75932

  In an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus capable of stereo photographing, speed is required so that the left and right aperture openings are switched instantaneously during stereo photographing. However, the conventional configuration has a problem in that switching of the aperture opening during monaural shooting and stereo shooting and switching of the left and right aperture openings during stereo shooting cannot be performed sufficiently quickly.

  Also, when the aperture stop is switched by moving the moving aperture plate, the optical fiber that guides the alignment index light for adjusting the working distance and the moving aperture plate interfere spatially. There was a problem that it was difficult.

  Furthermore, it is desired that this photographing aperture mechanism can perform stereo photographing with a simple structure and changing the inter-pupil distance.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus capable of performing monaural photographing and stereo photographing of the fundus by switching the position or size of the photographing aperture opening at high speed without interfering with other optical elements with a simple mechanism. Let it be an issue.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that photographs an eye to be examined as an electronic image via a photographing aperture, a recording unit that records the photographed eye image, and a first moving plate. And a switching mechanism for switching the aperture of the photographic aperture by moving the second movable plate, the first movable plate being an aperture switching plate for switching between the aperture of the monaural photographic aperture and the aperture of the stereo photographic aperture. plate is moved shielding plate for opening or shielding one of the plurality openings of the first moving plate, together with the mono photographic stop or a stereo photographic stop is formed by a combination of the second moving plate and the first moving plate When the first moving plate is in the first position, the monaural photographing aperture is arranged at the position of the optical axis, and when it is in the second position, the two apertures of the stereo photographing aperture are left about the optical axis. When the first moving plate is in the first position, the first moving plate is formed with two openings for passing the focus index light for focusing. The focus index light is projected through the two openings and projected onto the eye to be examined.
Alternatively, the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that photographs an eye to be examined as an electronic image via a photographing aperture, a recording unit that records the photographed eye image, a first moving plate, and a second moving plate. A switching mechanism for switching the aperture of the photographing aperture by moving the first moving plate, an aperture switching plate for switching between the aperture of the monaural photographing aperture and the aperture of the stereo photographing aperture, and the second moving plate is the first movement A moving light shielding plate that opens or shields any of a plurality of openings of the plate, and a monaural photographing aperture or a stereo photographing aperture is formed by a combination of the first moving plate and the second moving plate, and the first moving plate Is characterized in that a long hole is formed through the optical fiber for projecting the alignment index light along the moving direction of the first moving plate .

  According to the present invention, since the aperture of the photographing aperture can be switched at a high speed by moving the two moving plates, monaural photography and stereo photography can be performed at high speed with a simple configuration. In addition, a pair of apertures that open the two apertures of the stereo photographic aperture are formed on the moving plate, and a plurality of pairs are formed at different aperture center intervals. By selecting one of the aperture pairs, stereo shooting can be performed with a simple configuration. It becomes possible to change the distance between pupils. Furthermore, by forming a long hole in the moving plate through which the optical fiber for alignment index light projection passes along the moving direction of the moving plate, it is possible to prevent the optical fiber and the moving plate from interfering spatially. The index light can be projected without hindrance.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. Here, an example of an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus configured to perform photographing of the fundus of the eye to be examined in each of the non-mydriatic mode, the mydriatic mode, and the fluorescent mode, and to switch between normal monaural photographing and stereo photographing in each mode. Indicates.

  In FIG. 1, an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a fundus camera 10 for photographing a fundus oculi to be examined, a memory 61 and a hard disk device 64 as recording means for recording a photographed fundus image, and a photographed fundus image or recorded. The monitor 62 and the stereo monitor 63 for displaying the fundus image.

  In the fundus camera 10 surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line, a halogen lamp 11 as an observation light source that emits infrared light and visible illumination light is disposed at the center of curvature of the spherical mirror 12. Light from the halogen lamp 11 and the spherical mirror 12 passes through a visible light cut infrared light transmission filter 13 that can be inserted into and removed from the optical path, a condenser lens 14, a flash lamp 15 that is a photographing light source, and a condenser lens 16, and then a total reflection mirror. 17 is incident.

  The illumination light reflected by the total reflection mirror 17 passes through a relay lens 22 through a ring slit 21 as an illumination stop, is reflected by a perforated total reflection mirror (hereinafter abbreviated as a perforated mirror) 23, and passes through an objective lens 24. Then, it enters the anterior eye part (pupil) Ep of the eye E to be examined.

  The ring slit 21 is disposed in a position substantially conjugate with the anterior eye part (pupil) Ep of the eye to be examined in the illumination optical system, and three types of ring slits 21a, 21b, and 21c are used as shown in FIG. The ring slit 21a is used in the non-mydriatic mode, and the ring slit 21b is inserted into the optical path when performing fluorescence photographing in stereo, and the ring slit 21c is inserted in other cases. The inner diameters of the ring slits 21a and 21c are substantially the same, the outer diameter of the non-mydriatic is smaller, and the outer diameters of the ring slits 21b and 21c are substantially the same.

  An exciter filter 18 is inserted into the optical path of the illumination optical system during fluorescent photographing.

  In addition, in order to perform alignment with the anterior eye part, a light source 27 composed of an infrared LED (light emitting diode) that illuminates the anterior eye part Ep with infrared light, and an anterior eye part for photographing the anterior eye part A light source 28 composed of an LED that illuminates with white light is disposed.

  The reflected light from the fundus Er illuminated by the illumination light that has passed through the ring slit 21 is the objective lens 24, the perforated mirror 23, the fixed aperture plate 31, the moving aperture plate 32, the focusing lens 35, the imaging lens 36, and the half. The light passes through the mirror 37 and the variable magnification lens 38 a and enters the return mirror 39. When the return mirror 39 is at the position shown in the figure and the return mirror 71 is rotated from the position shown in the figure and separated from the optical path, the reflected light from the fundus is sensitive to infrared light and is at a position conjugate with the fundus. The light is incident on the CCD 40 as the imaging means, and the fundus is imaged by the CCD 40.

  In addition, when the return mirrors 39 and 71 are in the illustrated positions, the reflected light from the fundus is guided to the eyepiece lens 72. Further, when the return mirror 39 leaves the optical path, the reflected light from the fundus enters the CCD 41 as an imaging means conjugate with the fundus sensitive to visible light, and the fundus is imaged by the CCD 41.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the perforated mirror 23 is a circular total reflection mirror provided with a horizontally long elliptical opening 23 a at the center, and is photographed at a position where the center of the opening 23 a coincides with the photographing optical axis 26. They are arranged so as to intersect at a predetermined angle with respect to the optical axis.

  Further, a fixed diaphragm plate (imaging diaphragm) 31, a movable diaphragm plate (first movable plate) 32, and left and right light shielding plates (second movable plates) 33 and 33 'shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and a solenoid (switching mechanism). (Or switching means) 81A to 81C constitutes a photographing aperture unit 80.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the fixed aperture plate 31 is formed as a rectangular flat plate that is slightly larger than the aperture 23a of the perforated mirror 23, and has three rectangular aperture apertures 31a, 31b, 31b ′ at the center and the left and right. (Hereinafter, referred to as a center diaphragm, a left diaphragm, and a right diaphragm in this order) are formed side by side. Further, two holes 31c and 31c ′ are formed for inserting and fixing the tip portions of optical fibers (hereinafter referred to as WD fibers) 75 and 75 ′ for guiding the alignment index light for adjusting the working distance (WD). ing.

  The fixed aperture plate 31 has its center (the center of the central aperture 31a) aligned with the center of the perforated mirror 23 (the center of the opening 23a, the position of the photographing optical axis 26), and the back surface of the perforated mirror 23 (with the objective lens 24). The opposite surface is fixed in an overlapping manner (see FIGS. 6 and 7), and is inclined with respect to the photographing optical axis 26 at the same angle as the perforated mirror 23.

  The diaphragms 31a, 31b, and 31b 'are arranged at positions almost conjugate with the anterior eye portion (pupil) to be examined. The center stop 31a is disposed at a position where the center thereof coincides with the photographing optical axis 26 (the optical axis of the objective lens 24). The left diaphragm 31b is disposed at the left optical path position when the imaging optical path is divided into left and right at the pupil conjugate position in order to obtain left and right images for stereoscopic viewing, and focus index light (hereinafter referred to as FD) for focusing on the fundus Light) passes through the left diaphragm 31b. The right diaphragm 31b 'is disposed at the right optical path position when the photographing optical path is divided into left and right at the pupil conjugate position, and the other FD light passes through the right diaphragm 31b'.

  The size of the aperture 23a of the perforated mirror 23 is such that almost the entire apertures of the apertures 31a, 31b, 31b ′ can be included in the aperture 23a in a state where the center of the mirror 23 and the fixed aperture plate 31 are aligned. ing.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the movable diaphragm plate 32 is formed as a rectangular plate that is vertically longer than the fixed diaphragm plate 31, and has a rectangular central diaphragm 32a for observation and monaural photography at the center of the upper part, and a lower part. Rectangular stereo diaphragms 32d and 32d 'for stereo photography are formed on the left and right. In addition, rectangular FD light windows (openings) 32b and 32b 'for passing FD light are formed at positions shifted outward from the stereo diaphragms 32d and 32d' on both the left and right sides of the central diaphragm 32a. Further, the two WD fiber escape holes 32c and 32c ′ are arranged in the vertical direction from the vicinity of the left and right sides of the lower half of the central diaphragm 32a to the inside of the upper half of the stereo diaphragms 32d and 32d ′. It is formed so as to extend along the moving direction.

  The size of the central aperture 32a is substantially the same as that of the central aperture 31a of the fixed aperture plate 31. The sizes of the FD light windows 32 b and 32 b ′ and the stereo diaphragms 32 d and 32 d ′ are approximately half the width of the left and right diaphragms 31 b and 31 b ′ of the fixed diaphragm plate 31.

  Here, the aperture of the central aperture 32a is a monaural imaging aperture, and the apertures of the stereo apertures 32d and 32d 'are apertures of a stereo imaging aperture. The movable diaphragm plate 32 has a function of an aperture switching plate for switching between the apertures of the monaural photographing aperture and the stereo photographing aperture.

  The left and right light shielding plates 33 and 33 ′ are formed in a rectangular shape larger than the left and right stops 31 b and 31 b ′ of the fixed diaphragm plate 31, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the light shielding plates 33 and 33 ′ overlap the back surface of the fixed aperture plate 31 that is fixed to the back surface of the perforated mirror 23 (the surface opposite to the objective lens 24). Further, the moving diaphragm plate 32 is arranged so as to overlap the back surface thereof. The order in which the light shielding plates 33, 33 'and the movable diaphragm plate 32 are overlapped may be reversed from the illustration.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the distal end portion of the WD fiber 75 is inserted from the back surface side of the movable diaphragm plate 32 into the escape elongated hole 32c, and is further inserted into the hole 31c of the fixed diaphragm plate 31, and the distal end is the opening 23a. It is fixed at the portion of the hole 31c so as to protrude from the center of the lens toward the objective lens 24 side. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the tip of another WD fiber 75 ′ is inserted into the elongated hole 32 c ′ from the back side of the movable diaphragm plate 32, and further into the hole 31 c ′ of the fixed diaphragm plate 31. It is inserted and fixed at the portion of the hole 31c ′. The WD fiber 75 is disposed so as not to interfere with the light shielding plates 33 and 33 '.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a WD LED 73 is provided as a light source of alignment index light (hereinafter referred to as WD light) for adjusting the working distance (WD), and light emitted from the LED 73 is collected by a lens 74. Then, the light is guided to the rear end of the WD fiber 75, passes through the WD fiber 75, and is projected onto the eye E as WD light from the front end through the objective lens 24.

  In the state where the fixed diaphragm plate 31, the movable diaphragm plate 32, and the light shielding plates 33 and 33 ′ are arranged so as to overlap as described above, as shown in FIG. The left diaphragm 31b is matched with the left stereo diaphragm 32d and the FD light window 32b, and the right diaphragm 31b 'is matched with the right stereo diaphragm 32d' and the FD light window 32b '.

  The movable diaphragm plate 32 has a first position (hereinafter referred to as (a) position) where the central diaphragm 32a opens the central diaphragm 31a of the fixed diaphragm plate 31 by turning off the solenoid 81C via a guide member (not shown). When the solenoid 81C is turned on, the central diaphragm 31a is moved to a second position (hereinafter referred to as (b) position) where the central diaphragm 31a is shielded and closed.

  The light shielding plate 33 is moved to a position (hereinafter referred to as a closed position) for closing the left diaphragm 31b and the left stereo diaphragm 32d or the FD light window 32b via a guide member (not shown) when the solenoid 81A is turned on. When it is turned off, it moves in the reverse direction and is moved to a position for opening them (hereinafter referred to as an open position). On the other hand, the light shielding plate 33 ′ is moved to a closed position for closing the right diaphragm 31b ′ and the right stereo diaphragm 32d ′ or the FD light window 32b ′ by turning on the solenoid 81B, and opening them by turning off the solenoid 81B. Moved to the open position.

  FIG. 5 shows a state where the moving diaphragm plate 32 is moved to the position (b) when the solenoid 81C is turned on, and the light shielding plates 33 and 33 'are both moved to the open position when the solenoids 81A and 81B are turned off. In this state, the left and right stereo stops 32d and 32d 'are effective openings. If the solenoid 81A or 81B is turned on from this state and the light shielding plate 33 or 33 'is moved to the closed position, only the stereo diaphragm 32d or 32d' is an effective opening.

  If the solenoid 81C is turned off in the state of FIG. 5 and the movable diaphragm plate 32 is moved to the position (a), the central diaphragm 32a and the FD light windows 32b and 32b ′ become effective openings. If the solenoids 81A and 81B are turned on to move the light shielding plates 33 and 33 'to the closed position, the FD light windows 32b and 32b' are closed, and only the central aperture 32a is selected as an effective photographing aperture opening. .

  Returning to FIG. 1, an anterior ocular lens 30 is detachably disposed in the optical path between the objective lens 24 and the perforated mirror 23, and when the anterior ocular lens 30 is inserted into the optical path, an illumination light source is obtained. The image of the anterior segment Ep illuminated by 27 is formed on the CCD 40, and alignment is performed by the image of the anterior segment Ep.

  In addition, the fundus camera is provided with a projection optical system for FD light (focus index light) to facilitate focusing on the fundus. In this projection optical system, FD light from an FD LED (infrared LED) 50 serving as a light source passes through a lens 51, a mirror 52, and a lens 53 along the optical axis 57 of the FD light, and the photographing aperture unit 80. Is reflected by two mirrors 54 provided on the upper part of a U-shaped member (not shown) arranged in the vicinity of the rear of the lens, and passes through the FD light windows 32b and 32b 'and is projected onto the fundus Er. At this time, when the eye fundus is in focus, the two focus index images that have passed through the windows overlap each other, and when they are out of focus, they are separated. When the focusing lens 35 is moved for focus adjustment, the lens 53 moves in conjunction with it, and the separation state of the FD light on the fundus Er changes, so by observing the image of the focus index, The examiner can focus on the fundus.

  At the time of fluorescent photographing, a barrier filter 34 is inserted on the eye side of the focusing lens 35.

  In order to fix the eye E to the fundus camera 10, an internal fixation lamp 55 including a plurality of fixation lamps 55a to 55d is provided. Any one of the fixation lamps 55a to 55d is selected and turned on depending on whether the subject's eye to be photographed is the left eye or the right eye and the photographing position of the fundus (near the nipple or away). Light from the lighted fixation lamp passes through the lens 56, is reflected by the half mirror 37, and passes through the photographing lens 36, the focusing lens 35, the photographing aperture unit 80, the perforated mirror 23, and the objective lens 24. Projected onto the fundus Er. The patient can hold the eye E in a predetermined position with respect to the fundus camera 10 by fixing the internal fixation lamp. In the drawing, the fixation lamps 55a to 55d are illustrated as being juxtaposed on the paper surface, but actually, they are juxtaposed perpendicular to the paper surface.

  The CCD 40 images the fundus illuminated with infrared light that has passed through the visible light cut infrared light transmission filter 13 during observation with a non-mydriatic pupil, or the anterior eye segment illuminated with infrared light from the light source 27. The image is input to a control calculation unit 60 composed of a CPU or the like, and the image is displayed on the monitor 62 as a moving image. The examiner can perform alignment and focus adjustment by looking at the image displayed on the monitor 62. In addition, a stereo monitor 63 is provided as a stereoscopic display, and the examiner can observe the fundus in a stereoscopic manner by observing the left and right images through the stereo monitor 63.

  Further, the CCD 41 captures the fundus illuminated by the flash lamp 15 as a still image when the examiner operates the shutter switch 66. The fundus image is temporarily stored in the high-speed memory 61 and recorded on a low-speed hard disk device (HDD) 64 as an external recording device via the control calculation unit 60 or displayed on the monitor 62 and the stereo monitor 63. .

  Also, input means such as a keyboard 67 and a mouse 68 are provided, and various data can be input via these input means.

  Further, the fundus camera 10 is provided with a control unit 65 composed of a CPU or the like. The control unit 65 is connected to the control calculation unit 60 and exchanges signals with each other. When the shutter switch 66 is operated, the return mirror 39 is detached from the optical path, and the flash lamp 15 is caused to emit light with an appropriate amount of light. Further, the control unit 65 controls insertion / removal of the visible light cut infrared light transmission filter 13, the exciter filter 18, the barrier filter 34, the anterior eye lens 30, and the variable magnification lenses 38a and 38b into the optical path, and further, photographing. The drive of the solenoids 81A to 81C of the aperture unit 80 is controlled.

  The fundus camera is provided with an operation unit (operation panel) 69. The operation unit 69 includes a non-mydriatic, mydriatic, and fluorescent photographing modes, a photographing mode selection switch for selecting monaural photographing (monocular photographing) and stereo photographing in each mode, and an anterior ocular lens insertion / removal. A switch, a shooting position selection switch, and the like are arranged, and each switch information selected by the operation unit 69 is input to the control unit 65.

  Further, a left / right eye detection unit 70 that detects whether the subject eye to be photographed is the left eye or the right eye is provided, and information on whether the detected left eye or right eye is detected is input to the control unit 65.

  Next, the operation of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus configured as described above will be described along the flow of FIGS. 8A and 8B. Hereinafter, the operation in the non-mydriatic photographing mode will be described.

  First, as an initial setting when the apparatus is turned on (step S1), the open / close state of each aperture of the photographic aperture unit 80 is as shown in the first row from the top of the table of FIG. . That is, the solenoids 81A to 81C are all off, the moving diaphragm plate 32a is in the (a) position, the light shielding plates 33 and 33 'are both in the open position, and the central diaphragm 32a and the FD light windows 32b and 32b' are in the open position. Selected as an effective aperture. Further, it is assumed that the visible light cut infrared light transmission filter 13 is inserted in the optical path.

  Next, the control unit 65 determines whether the fixation lamps 55a to 55d are based on the information on the fundus position (part) to be photographed selected by the photographing position selection switch of the operation unit 69 and the information from the left and right eye detection unit 70. Since any one is selected and turned on, the subject fixes the fixed fixation lamp (step S2).

  Next, either the monaural shooting (monocular shooting) mode, the stereo shooting mode, or the three-shot shooting mode (three-frame continuous shooting mode) is selected by the shooting mode selection switch of the operation unit 69, and the information is sent to the control unit 65. Input (step S3).

  Next, the light source 27 is turned on, and the reflected light from the illuminated anterior ocular segment passes through the anterior ocular lens 30 and is imaged on the CCD 40 to image the anterior ocular segment. The anterior eye part alignment is performed (step S4). When the anterior segment alignment is completed (step S5), the anterior segment lens insertion / removal switch is operated (step S6), so that the light source 28 is turned on instead of the light source 27, and the return mirror 39 is detached from the optical path. Therefore, the anterior segment is imaged by the CCD 41 (step S7), and the image is stored in the memory 61. The control calculator 60 processes the anterior eye image stored in the memory 61 to calculate the pupil diameter and determine the iris color (step S8).

  Subsequently, the light source 28 is turned off, and the anterior eye lens 30 is removed from the optical path (step S9). Further, the halogen lamp 11 is turned on and the return mirror 39 is inserted into the optical path. The return mirror 71 is removed from the optical path.

  For alignment, the WD LED 73 is turned on, and WD light is projected onto the anterior eye via the WD fibers 75 and 75 '. Light from the fundus Er illuminated by infrared light that has passed through the visible light cut infrared light transmission filter 13 from the halogen lamp 11 passes through the central aperture 31a of the fixed aperture 31 and the central aperture 32a of the moving aperture plate 32, and then the CCD 40. The fundus is imaged and the image is displayed on the monitor 62 together with the reflected image of the WD light. If the working distance is appropriate, the reflected image of the WD light is formed at a predetermined position, and the examiner performs alignment along the optical axis so that the working distance is appropriate (step S10).

  At this time, the FD LED 50 is turned on, and the FD light passes through the FD light windows 32b and 32b ′ of the moving diaphragm plate 32 and the left diaphragm 31b and the right diaphragm 31b ′ of the fixed diaphragm 31 and is projected onto the fundus Er. . When the examiner operates the focusing lens 35, the lens 53 moves in conjunction with the movement of the focusing lens 35, and the separation state of the index image on the fundus changes, so that the examiner matches the index image. The focusing lens 35 is operated until focus adjustment is performed until the fundus is in focus (step S11).

  When focusing is completed (step S12), it is determined whether or not the stereo shooting is performed (step S13). When the monaural shooting mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S15 and the shutter button 66 is turned on. Synchronously with this, the solenoids 81A and 81B are switched on, the light shielding plates 33 and 33 ′ are moved, the FD light windows 32b and 32b ′ are closed, and only the central diaphragm 32a is opened to open the central diaphragm of the fixed diaphragm 31. 31a opens. At this time, the light shielding plates 33 and 33 ′ are moved by driving the solenoids 81A and 81B, so that the light shielding plates 33 and 33 ′ can be performed at high speed, for example, about 100 msec as shown in FIG. 10A. Aperture can be switched instantly.

  When the shutter switch 66 is turned on, the return mirror 39 is removed from the optical path, and as shown in FIG. 10A, the flash lamp 15 emits light immediately after the light shielding plates 33 and 33 ′ move, and the fundus is fixed. Images are taken through the central aperture 31a of 31 and the central aperture 32a of the moving aperture plate 32 (steps S16 and S17). This fundus image is once recorded in the memory 61, then processed by the control calculation unit 60 and recorded in the hard disk device 64 (step S18). At this time, the fundus image is recorded in association with the photographing conditions such as the eye ID to be examined, photographing date / time, photographing light amount (strobe light emission amount), left / right eye distinction, photographing aperture position, and the like.

  Subsequently, in step S19, it is determined whether or not monaural shooting is performed. Since it is now monaural shooting, the process proceeds to step S35 in FIG. 8B and the shooting ends. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10A, the open / close state of the diaphragm is returned to the initial state (the state at the time of observation).

  On the other hand, when the stereo shooting mode is selected (Yes in Step S13), when the shutter switch 66 is turned on (Step S14), the control unit 65 turns on / off the solenoids 81A to 81C in the table of FIG. The state is switched to the state shown in the third row from the top (step S20), whereby only the left stereo diaphragm 32d becomes an effective aperture. At this time, the moving diaphragm plate 32 and the light shielding plate 33 'are also moved at high speed. For example, as shown in FIG. 10B, the diaphragm can be switched instantaneously.

  Subsequently, the flash lamp 15 emits light (step S21), and a left image for stereoscopic viewing of the fundus is photographed via the left diaphragm 31b of the fixed diaphragm 31 and the stereo diaphragm 32d of the moving diaphragm plate 32 (step S22). The left image is recorded in the memory 61 with information on the aperture position of the photographing aperture when the image is acquired (step S23).

  Subsequently, the control unit 65 switches the solenoids 81A to 81C on and off from the state shown in the third stage of the table of FIG. 8 to the state shown in the fourth stage, and opens the light shielding plates 33 and 33 ′ to the closed position and the open state, respectively. The position is moved to the position, and the right stereo diaphragm 32d ′ is opened (step S31). The movement of the light shielding plates 33 and 33 'is also performed at high speed, and is instantaneously performed, for example, at about 100 msec as shown in FIG.

  Then, immediately after the movement of the light shielding plates 33 and 33 ′, the flash lamp 15 automatically emits light (step S 32), and the right image for stereoscopic viewing is displayed on the right diaphragm 31 b ′ of the fixed diaphragm 31 and the movable diaphragm plate 32. Photographing is performed through the stereo diaphragm 32d ′ (step S33). Similarly to the left image, this right image is recorded in the memory 61 with information on the aperture position of the photographing aperture when the right image is acquired (step S34). After performing the right stereo shooting, the open / close state of the shooting aperture is returned to the initial state, and the stereo shooting is ended (step S35).

  As described above, during stereo shooting, the two apertures (31b, 31b ′; 32d, 32d ′) of the shooting diaphragm are automatically switched by one shutter operation, and in synchronization with the switching. Since the flash lamp 15 automatically emits light, left and right images for stereoscopic viewing can be acquired by a single shutter operation.

  In step S3, when the three continuous shooting mode is selected, the stereo shooting can be continuously performed following the monaural shooting. In this case, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 10, after monaural photographing is performed, the operation proceeds to switching of an aperture for stereo photographing, and stereo photographing is performed. As a result, the flash lamp 15 emits light continuously three times by one shutter operation, the monocular image by the first light emission, the left image for stereoscopic vision by the second light emission, and the stereoscopic image by the third light emission. The right images of are taken.

  In the above-described embodiments, the non-mydriatic photographing mode has been described. However, the present invention can be performed in the mydriatic photographing mode and the fluorescent photographing mode. In the mydriatic imaging mode, the visible light cut infrared light transmission filter 13 is detached from the optical path, and observation is performed through the eyepiece lens 72 by inserting a return mirror 71 into the optical path. In the case of fluorescence photography, the exciter filter 18 and the barrier filter 34 are inserted into the optical path to perform photography.

  Further, the image recorded in the memory 61 is transferred to the external recording device 64 at a predetermined timing. At this time, the timing of transferring the image recorded in the memory 61 to the external recording device 64 is changed depending on whether monaural shooting is performed. For example, except during monaural shooting, an image is stored in the memory 61 until a predetermined number of images have been taken, and then taken into the external recording device 64. At the time of fluorescent photographing, the control calculation unit 60 converts the image into a black and white image and stores the converted image in the external recording device 64.

  When an image recorded in the memory 61 or the external recording device 64 is called up and displayed (step S36), the display method and display means (monitor) are changed according to the shooting mode (steps S37 to S39). . For example, when displaying a fundus image captured by monaural shooting, the monitor 62 is automatically selected, and the fundus image is displayed on the monitor 62 with shooting condition information as a still image. When the left and right images obtained by stereo shooting are called up and the fundus is stereoscopically viewed, the stereo monitor 63 is used to display an image with left position information on the left side and right position information. The images marked with are arranged on the right side and displayed with other shooting condition information.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the aperture of the photographing aperture can be switched instantaneously at a high speed, so that, for example, during stereo photography, the reduction between taking two right and left fundus images for stereoscopic viewing. Problems such as pupils and misalignment can be reduced, and good stereo shooting can be performed.

  Further, the distal ends of the two WD fibers 75 and 75 ′ are inserted into the long holes 32c and 32c ′ formed so as to extend along the vertical direction which is the moving direction of the movable diaphragm plate 32, respectively. Since it is fixed to the plate 31, the WD fiber does not interfere with the movement of the moving diaphragm plate 32, and the index light can be projected by the WD fiber without any trouble.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the WD fiber 75 is arranged so that the tip of the WD fiber 75 with its tip bent is fixed to the back surface of the perforated mirror 23 and the tip slightly protrudes from the center of the opening 23a. May be. By doing so, the fixed diaphragm plate 31 is not necessary, and it is not necessary to form a long hole for WD fiber escape in the movable diaphragm plate 32.

  Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, portions common to or corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 to 11 are denoted by common reference numerals, and description of the common portions is omitted.

  A moving diaphragm plate 32 shown in FIG. 12 has a central diaphragm 32a and FD light windows 32b and 32b ′ formed in the upper and lower directions side by side at the position (a), and three pairs of left and right stereo diaphragms. 32d, 32d ′, 32e, 32e ′, and 32f, 32f ′ are formed at positions (b), (c), (d) below (a). The left and right stereo diaphragms 32d, 32e, and 32f are positioned to overlap the left diaphragm 31b of the fixed diaphragm plate 31, and the right and left stereo diaphragms 32d ′, 32e ′, and 32f ′ are positioned to the right diaphragm 31b. It is in a position that overlaps'.

  The stereo diaphragms 32d, 32d ′, 32e, 32e ′, and 32f, 32f ′ correspond to small-parallax stereo shooting, medium-parallax stereo shooting, and large-parallax stereo shooting, respectively, in that order. The distance is increased, and the distance between the pupils is set to be 2 mm, 3 mm, and 4 mm, for example.

  Although not shown, the moving diaphragm plate 32 is formed with two elongated holes for WD fiber escape as in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the light shielding plates 33 and 33 ′ are provided with the left and right stops 31 b and 31 b of the fixed stop plate 31 by driving the solenoid 81 </ b> A and the solenoid 81 </ b> B, respectively, as in the first embodiment. It is moved back and forth between a closed position where the light is blocked and light-shielded and an open position where it is opened (not light-shielded).

  Further, the movable diaphragm plate 32 is reciprocated between each of the positions P1 to P4 by a stepping motor 82 driven by the controller 65. The position P1 is a position where the vertical position (a) of the movable diaphragm plate 32 in FIG. 12 substantially coincides with the photographing optical axis 26 as shown in FIG. At this position P1, the central diaphragm 32a and the FD light windows 32b and 32b ′ are effective openings. At the position P2, the position (b) of the movable diaphragm plate 32 substantially coincides with the photographing optical axis 26, and the stereo diaphragm 32d. , 32d 'is an effective opening. At the position P3, the position (c) of the moving diaphragm plate 32 substantially coincides with the photographing optical axis 26, and the stereo diaphragms 32e and 32e 'are effective openings. At the position P4, the position (d) of the moving diaphragm plate 32 is obtained. The position substantially coincides with the photographing optical axis 26, and the stereo diaphragms 32f and 32f ′ are effective openings.

  With the movable diaphragm plate 32 moved to any one of these positions P1 to P4, the solenoids 81A and 81B are independently turned on or off to move the light shielding plates 33 and 33 ′ to the closed position or the open position. As a result, the two openings of each pair of the FD light windows 32b and 32b ′, stereo diaphragms 32d, 32d ′, 32e, 32e ′ or 32f, 32f ′ can be shielded or opened independently.

  FIG. 15 shows the switching state of the aperture opening in each photographing mode. In any of the non-mydriatic, mydriatic and fluorescent photographing modes, at the time of focus adjustment and monaural observation, the central diaphragm 32a and the FD light window 32b are shown. 32b 'is selected as an effective aperture, and the central aperture 32a is selected as an effective aperture during monaural photography. At the time of stereo shooting, the small-parallax stereo diaphragm 32d or 32d ′ is used for non-mydriatic shooting, and in the case of a narrow-angle variable magnification lens for mydriatic shooting, the small-parallax stereo diaphragm 32d or 32d ′ is also used for wide-angle shooting. In the case of the variable magnification lens, the stereo parallax 32e or 32e ′ for medium parallax is selected. In the fluorescent photographing mode, the large parallax stereo diaphragm 32f or 32f 'is selected.

  Note that the left and right switching of the stereo diaphragm is performed by moving the light shielding plates 33 and 33 ′ by driving the solenoids 81 </ b> A and 81 </ b> B, and thus can be performed instantaneously at high speed as in the first embodiment.

  Further, in Example 1, the FD light is projected onto the eye to be examined through the FD light windows 32b and 32b ′ using the two mirrors provided on the upper portion of the U-shaped member. A return mirror 77 may be used as shown. The return mirror 77 is inserted into the photographing optical path when the movable diaphragm 32 is at a position P1 where the height of the position (a) substantially coincides with the photographing optical axis 26, and the movable diaphragm 32 is moved from the position P1 to the positions P2 to P2. In conjunction with the movement to any one of P4, it is separated from the photographing optical path.

  According to the apparatus of the present embodiment as described above, the distance between pupils can be selected by selecting and using any one of the three sets of photographing apertures 32d, 32d ′, 32e, 32e ′ and 32f, 32f ′ during stereo photographing. Can be variably set to any of the three types of small, medium, and large. This has the following advantages.

1) Advantage of changing the pupillary distance depending on the angle of view For example, an image with an angle of view of 50 degrees has a wider fundus range displayed on the monitor than an image with an angle of view of 25 degrees. However, when photographing at the same inter-pupil distance, there is a problem in that a sense of depth cannot be obtained with a 50-degree image, and small concavo-convex information on the retina is overlooked. On the other hand, a 25 degree image has a small depth of unevenness, so there is no fear of oversight. However, since the observation range is small, for example, a macular disease with gently unevenness has a problem that the whole image cannot be grasped.

  In order to overcome both problems, it is preferable to change the inter-pupil distance between 25 degree photographing and 50 degree photographing. That is, at 50 degrees, the problem can be overcome by increasing the inter-pupil distance, for example, compared to 25 degrees. However, since the flare is easier to enter at 50 degrees, there is a demerit that the flare becomes easier to enter as the distance between the pupils becomes longer.

2) Advantage of changing pupillary distance between color photography and fluorescent photography Longer pupillary distance is simply advantageous for stereoscopic viewing because of increased parallax. However, if the distance between the pupils is increased, flare is likely to occur. However, in the case of fluorescence imaging, the wavelength of the excitation light is cut by the barrier filter, so that in principle there is no flare. Therefore, the distance between pupils can be increased without worrying about flare in fluorescence photography. For this reason, in the FAG shooting mode, the inter-pupil distance can be made longer compared to the color shooting mode, which is advantageous for stereoscopic viewing.

3) Advantage of changing the pupillary distance between the mydriatic mode and the non-mydriatic mode In the mydriatic mode, a specifiable pupil diameter is, for example, 5.5 mm, and in the non-mydriatic mode, a specification of 4.0 mm is required. In accordance with this, by changing the inter-pupil distance at the time of stereo shooting, the most efficient combination is obtained among the obtained amounts of shooting light and stereo parallax. For example, it is considered best to set the interpupillary distance to 3 mm for a photographable pupil diameter of 5.5 mm and to set the interpupillary distance to 2 mm for a photographable pupil diameter of 4 mm. In FIG. 15, the inter-pupil distance is changed in the non-mydriatic mode only at the wide angle of the mydriatic mode.

  It should be noted that the arrangement of the apertures of the photographing apertures of the moving aperture plate 32 shown in FIG. 12 of the present embodiment may be changed as follows.

  First, a plurality of types of central diaphragms 32a to be selected at the time of observation and monaural photography can be prepared to cope with small pupil photography or high magnification (narrow angle) photography with fluorescence.

  Further, since it is better to move from the position (a) to another position as fast as possible, the position (a) is set between the positions (b) and (c) or between (c) and (d). You may arrange | position between positions.

  As a specific arrangement example, for example, the following may be considered in order from the top of the movable diaphragm plate 32. A central aperture smaller than the central aperture at the position (a) is disposed at the position (a1), and a central aperture having a larger central aperture at the position (a) is disposed at the position (a2). .

Position (a1) Aperture for observation / monaural photography with non-mydriatic pupil / small pupil diameter Position (b) Aperture for small parallax stereo photography Position (a) Aperture for normal observation / monaural photography Position (c) A diaphragm for medium-parallax stereo photography is arranged Position (a2) A diaphragm for observation / monaural photography during fluorescence is arranged Position (d) A diaphragm for large-parallax stereo photography during fluorescence is arranged In the first and second embodiments, push-pull solenoids are used as the solenoids 81A to 81C for moving the light shielding plates 33 and 33 ', but rotary solenoids may be used instead. In this case, the light shielding plate is moved via a mechanism that converts the rotation of the rotary solenoid into the lateral direction of the light shielding plate.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the ophthalmic imaging device of this invention. It is a table | surface figure which shows the pattern of the ring slit switched by the imaging | photography mode of the apparatus. It is a top view of the perforated total reflection mirror provided in the apparatus. It is a top view which shows the fixed aperture plate, the moving aperture plate, and the light-shielding plate which comprise the imaging aperture unit of the same apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the imaging | photography aperture unit, and the mode of a movement of a moving aperture plate and a light-shielding plate. It is explanatory drawing which shows arrangement | positioning along the imaging | photography optical axis of a perforated mirror, a fixed aperture plate, a light-shielding plate, and a moving aperture plate. It is sectional drawing which shows the fixation structure of WD fiber. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of fundus photography performed by selecting a photography mode. It is a flowchart following FIG. 8A which shows the flow of fundus photography performed by selecting a photography mode. It is a table | surface figure which shows the relationship of the mode of a retinal camera, the switching state of an imaging aperture, solenoid on / off, and the light source which light-emits. FIG. 6 is a timing diagram showing timings of movement and observation of a light-shielding plate or a moving diaphragm plate for effective switching of an imaging aperture in monaural imaging and stereo imaging, imaging, and light emission of a light source. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of WD fiber fixation. It is a top view which shows the fixed aperture plate, the moving aperture plate, and the light-shielding plate of the imaging aperture unit in another Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the imaging | photography aperture unit, and the mode of a movement of a moving aperture plate and a light-shielding plate. It is explanatory drawing which shows arrangement | positioning along the imaging | photography optical axis of a perforated mirror, a fixed aperture plate, a light-shielding plate, and a moving aperture plate. It is a table | surface figure which shows the relationship of the mode of the fundus camera in another Example, the switching state of an imaging aperture, the moving position of a stepping motor, the solenoid on / off, the light source that emits light, and the imaging mode.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fundus camera 11 Halogen lamp 15 Flash lamp 21 Ring slit 23 Perforated total reflection mirror 24 Objective lens 26 Imaging optical axis 31 Fixed aperture plate 32 Moving aperture plate 33, 33 'Light-shielding plate 40, 41 CCD
50 FD LED
54 FD light reflecting mirror 73 WD LED
75 WD fiber 77 Return mirror 80 Imaging aperture unit 81A to 81C Solenoid 82 Stepping motor

Claims (3)

An imaging means for photographing the eye to be examined as an electronic image through an imaging aperture;
Recording means for recording the photographed eye image;
A switching mechanism that moves the first moving plate and the second moving plate to switch the aperture of the photographing aperture;
The first moving plate is an aperture switching plate for switching between a mono photography aperture and a stereo photography aperture;
The second moving plate is a moving light blocking plate that opens or blocks any of the plurality of openings of the first moving plate,
A combination of the first moving plate and the second moving plate forms a monaural shooting aperture or a stereo shooting aperture ,
When the first moving plate is in the first position, the monaural photographing aperture is arranged at the position of the optical axis, and when in the second position, the two apertures of the stereo photographing aperture are symmetric about the optical axis. When the first moving plate is in the first position, the first moving plate is formed with two openings through which focus index light for focusing is passed, and the first moving plate is in the first position. An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus characterized in that light passes through the two openings and is projected onto the eye to be examined . The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an elongated hole through which an optical fiber for alignment index light projection is passed is formed in the first moving plate along a moving direction of the first moving plate . An imaging means for photographing the eye to be examined as an electronic image through an imaging aperture;
Recording means for recording the photographed eye image;
A switching mechanism that moves the first moving plate and the second moving plate to switch the aperture of the photographing aperture;
The first moving plate is an aperture switching plate for switching between a mono photography aperture and a stereo photography aperture;
The second moving plate is a moving light blocking plate that opens or blocks any of the plurality of openings of the first moving plate,
A combination of the first moving plate and the second moving plate forms a monaural shooting aperture or a stereo shooting aperture,
The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an elongated hole through which an optical fiber for alignment index light projection is passed is formed in the first moving plate along a moving direction of the first moving plate .

Images