JP5587481B2 - Ophthalmic photographing apparatus, information processing apparatus, and control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and a control method that are used in, for example, an ophthalmic clinic or the like and image a fundus portion such as a retina.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus typified by a non-mydriatic retinal camera is known in which an imaging unit such as a digital camera is attached to the apparatus body.

  Such an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus is provided with a display unit (hereinafter abbreviated as a main body display unit) that presents an observation image of the fundus, and the photographer can select the eye to be examined based on the observation image displayed on the main body display unit. The fundus image is taken by performing precise positioning and focusing with the ophthalmologic photographing device.

  When the photographing operation is completed, the display on the main body display unit is switched from the observation image to the photographed image, and the photographer confirms the photographed image. The display of the captured image on the main body display unit is terminated after a predetermined time, and the observation image is displayed again. The photographer looks at this observation image and proceeds to the next photographing operation.

  On the other hand, as a method for storing a photographed image obtained by photographing operation, a method is known in which an image processing device is connected to an ophthalmologic photographing device, and the photographed image is transferred and stored in a storage unit in the image processing device ( Patent Document 1). Furthermore, a captured image is also displayed on a display unit (hereinafter abbreviated as a connection display unit) provided in the image processing apparatus. Thereby, even if the photographed image displayed on the main body display unit is erased after a certain time, the photographer can check the photographed image by viewing the photographed image displayed on the connection display unit.

JP 2005-058267 A

  However, when the captured image displayed on the main body display unit is erased after a certain time, the captured image is not necessarily displayed on the connection display unit. This is because there is a case where the data transfer and storage of the photographed image from the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus to the image processing apparatus are not completed before the photographed image displayed on the main body display unit is deleted. Specifically, there are cases where the amount of data to be transferred is large and the transfer takes time.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ophthalmologic photographing system that can smoothly confirm and examine a photographed image without interrupting the photographer confirming the photographed image.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides an ophthalmic imaging apparatus including an imaging apparatus and an information processing apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit for storing an image of an eye to be inspected, First storage means for storing a photographed image obtained from the photographing means, first display means for displaying the photographed image stored in the first storage means, and photographing stored in the first storage means Transfer means for transferring an image to the information processing apparatus, and control means for erasing the display of the photographed image displayed on the first display means in response to a display switching signal from the information processing apparatus, The information processing apparatus includes: a second storage unit that stores the captured image transferred from the transfer unit; a detection unit that detects a transfer state of the captured image; and when the transfer is completed by detection of the detection unit Display off Providing an output means for outputting a signal to the imaging device, and a second display means for displaying the transfer state of the detection, the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus characterized by having a.

1 is a configuration diagram of an ophthalmologic imaging system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a timing chart of operation processing of the ophthalmologic imaging system according to the first embodiment. 3 is an operation process flowchart of the ophthalmologic photographing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an ophthalmologic imaging system according to a second embodiment. 6 is a timing chart of operation processing of the ophthalmic imaging system according to the second embodiment. 6 is an operation processing flowchart of the ophthalmic imaging system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an ophthalmologic imaging system according to a third embodiment. 3 is a timing chart of operation processing of the ophthalmologic imaging system according to the first embodiment. 6 is an operation processing flowchart of the ophthalmic imaging system according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example 1
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an ophthalmologic photographing system using a non-mydriatic fundus camera. The ophthalmologic imaging system includes a non-mydriatic fundus camera 1 that is an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus and a personal computer that is an information processing apparatus.

  An objective lens 16 is disposed in front of the eye E, and a perforated mirror 17 on the optical path behind the eye E, a photographing lens 18 movable for focusing, an imaging lens 19, and a movable mirror 20 are photographed. An image sensor 8 is arranged. The image sensor 8 is provided in the detachable digital camera 2 and is an image sensor for storing the acquired captured image.

  A half mirror 21 is arranged in the reflection direction of the movable mirror 20, a relay lens 22 is arranged in the reflection direction of the half mirror 21, and an image sensor 7 having sensitivity in the infrared wavelength region is arranged, and the output of the image sensor 7 is output from the fundus camera controller 6. Is output. The image sensor 7 is an image sensor for observing the eye to be examined. In addition, a fixation lamp for fixing the line of sight of the eye to be examined is disposed in the transmission direction of the half mirror 21, but illustration thereof is omitted. The fundus camera control unit 6 is connected to the information processing apparatus 3 such as a personal computer via a monitor 5, a digital camera control unit 9, and a second communication path 14 including a USB or the like. The fundus camera control unit 6 is also connected to the movable mirror 20 and the imaging light source 25, but is not shown.

  In the incident direction of the illumination light to the perforated mirror 17, a condenser lens 27, a visible cut filter 26, a photographing light source 25, a ring slit 24, and a relay lens 23 are arranged in this order from the observation light source 28 side that emits visible light. Yes. The observation light source 28 is composed of a halogen lamp or the like, and the photographing light source 25 is composed of a strobe that emits visible light flash. In this way, an illumination optical system that illuminates the fundus by the optical path from the observation light source 28 to the perforated mirror 17, the objective lens 16, and the fundus Er is configured.

  In addition, a photographing optical system that photographs the fundus Er by the optical path from the fundus Er to the objective lens 16, the photographing lens 18, the imaging lens 19, the movable mirror 20, and the image sensor 8 is configured.

  In addition, the objective lens 16, the photographing lens 18, the imaging lens 19, the movable mirror 20, the half mirror 21, the relay lens 22, and the imaging element 7 are used to observe the fundus observation image when the photographer aligns from the fundus Er. An optical system is configured.

  The digital camera 2 includes an image sensor 8, a digital camera control unit 9, and a digital camera storage unit 10. The digital camera storage unit 10 is configured by a nonvolatile memory. The captured image obtained by the image sensor 8 is stored in the digital camera storage unit 10 by the digital camera control unit 9. Further, the digital camera control unit 9 transfers the captured image to the personal computer 3 via the fundus camera control unit 6 and the first communication path 13 such as USB.

  The personal computer 3 includes a personal computer storage unit 11 that stores captured images in a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk, a transfer detection unit 12, and a monitor 4. The personal computer storage unit 11, the transfer detection unit 12, and the personal computer storage unit 11 are made of software, and are executed by a control processing device such as a CPU and a computer readable memory that stores a program for executing each processing.

  In the configuration as described above, the fundus image is captured as follows.

  The photographer positions the eye E in front of the objective lens 16 and performs alignment for fundus photography. When the observation light source 28 is turned on, the light is collected by the condenser lens 27. The visible cut filter 26 becomes infrared observation light, which passes through the photographing light source 25, the ring slit 24, and the relay lens 23, and is reflected to the left by the perforated mirror 17. Then, the observation light passes through the objective lens 16 and illuminates the fundus Er through the pupil Ep of the eye E to be examined.

  The fundus image of the fundus Er illuminated by the observation light, which is infrared light, passes through the holes of the objective lens 16 and the perforated mirror 17 again, passes upward through the photographing lens 18 and the imaging lens 19, and is moved upward by the movable mirror 20. Reflected. Further, the fundus image is reflected leftward by the half mirror 21, passes through the relay lens 22, and reaches the image sensor 7 having sensitivity to infrared light. An observation image obtained by the image sensor 7 is output to the fundus camera control unit 6 and displayed on the screen of the monitor 5.

  The photographer operates the operation rod (not shown) while viewing the fundus image displayed on the monitor 5 to move the fundus camera left and right and up and down, so that the eye E and the fundus camera 1 are precisely aligned. I do. Further, the focus adjustment is performed by operating the focus knob (not shown) to move the photographing lens 18. After confirming that the position and focus are accurate, the photographer operates a photographing start switch (not shown) to photograph a fundus image.

  When the photographing start switch is operated, the fundus camera control unit 6 flips the movable mirror 20 away from the optical path and informs the digital camera control unit 9 that the photographing start switch has been operated. Further, the fundus camera control unit 6 causes the photographing light source 25 to emit light. The luminous flux emitted from the imaging light source 25 passes through the ring slit 24 and the relay lens 23, is reflected leftward by the perforated mirror 17, and illuminates the fundus Er through the objective lens 17. The fundus image illuminated by the imaging light source 25 passes through the objective lens 16 and the perforated mirror 17 again, passes through the imaging lens 18 and the imaging lens 19, and forms an image on the imaging surface of the imaging device 8 for imaging. An image is obtained.

  The ophthalmologic imaging system process after such an imaging operation is completed will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. 2 and the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the photographing operation refers to a process from when the operation rod is operated as described above until a photographed image is obtained by the image sensor 8.

  In step S <b> 1, the digital camera control unit 9 stores the captured image obtained by the image sensor 8 at the timing T <b> 1 e in the digital camera storage unit 10 by the first shooting operation.

  In step S <b> 2, the digital camera control unit 9 starts to transfer the captured image stored via the first communication path 13 to the personal computer 3.

  In step S3, the digital camera control unit 9 causes the captured image being transferred to be displayed on the monitor 5 of the fundus camera. The photographer can check the captured image displayed on the monitor 5 to confirm whether an image suitable for diagnosis such as position, color tone, and focus state has been captured.

  In step S <b> 4, the personal computer storage unit 11 receives the image size information of the captured image transferred from the fundus camera 1 together with the imaging end signal. After receiving these pieces of information, the personal computer storage unit 11 transmits a request signal for requesting a captured image to the fundus camera 1. In response to the request signal, the personal computer storage unit 11 starts storing the captured image transferred.

  In step S5, the transfer detection unit 12 of the personal computer 3 reads the storage state of the personal computer storage unit 11, and detects the transfer completion rate. The transfer completion rate is realized by confirming the ratio of the data for the size transferred so far from the fundus camera 1 to the data for the size of the captured image received in advance. In step S5, the storage processing of the captured image is continued until it is determined that the transfer completion rate is 100%.

  Then, assuming that the timing at which the transfer of the captured image is completed is timing T1r, step S6 is started from timing T1r, and processing up to step S8 is performed.

  In step S <b> 6, the transfer detection unit 12 that detects the completion of the transfer notifies the fundus camera control unit 6 of the fundus camera 1 of the display switching signal 15 via the second communication path 14.

  In step S <b> 7, the transfer detection unit 12 of the personal computer 3 causes the display 4 to display the captured image that has been transferred.

  In step S <b> 8, the fundus camera control unit 6 of the fundus camera 1 displays the display image on the monitor 5 from the display state of the captured image to the observation image for the second shooting in response to the reception of the display switching signal 15. Control switching. Specifically, the fundus camera control unit 6 switches from displaying a captured image stored in the digital camera storage unit 10 to displaying a captured image output from the imaging device 7 for observation.

  In addition, when shooting is not continuously performed, the display of the shot image may be deleted without switching the display from the shot image to the observation image. Here, it may take a long time for the photographer to check the captured image depending on the state of the eye to be examined. In the present embodiment, when the confirmation of the photographed image is continued after the transfer completion timing T1r, it is possible to confirm by looking at the photographed image displayed on the display 4 connected to the personal computer 3. .

  When the confirmation of the captured image is completed in this way, the photographer can perform the second photographing operation while viewing the observation image displayed on the monitor 5 again. Even after the second shooting operation is completed, the same processing as the first time is performed.

  Note that the display of the display 4 is switched from a “no display” state to a state in which the first captured image is displayed at the timing T1r when the transfer of the first captured image is completed by the processing of the transfer detection unit 12. Further, at the timing T2r when the transfer of the second captured image is completed, the display 4 is switched from the state where the first captured image is displayed to the state where the second captured image is displayed. The display on the display 4 after the second time is processed in the same manner as the second time.

  As described above, since the photographed image is always displayed on the monitor 5 or the display 4, confirmation of the photographed image by the photographer is not interrupted, and the photographed image can be confirmed smoothly. When the captured image is displayed on the display 4, the monitor 5 can be easily switched to the observation image to easily move to the next shooting operation.

  The captured image is displayed on the display 4 during the transfer of the captured image after the second time, but since it has shifted to the next capturing operation, characters such as the transfer completion rate and the transfer in progress may be displayed.

(Example 2)
Next, a second embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the photographing ophthalmologic system using a non-mydriatic fundus camera. 4, the same components as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the ophthalmic imaging system of FIG. 1, the function of the transfer time detection unit 29 is added to the personal computer 3. By adding the transfer time detection unit 29, when the transfer time is long, it is possible to shift to the next photographing without waiting until the transfer is completed. The transfer time detection unit 29 is made of software in the same manner as the transfer detection unit 12 and is executed by a computer-readable memory that stores a control processing device such as a CPU and a program for executing the processing of the transfer detection unit 12.

  In the following description, an example will be described in which the time for transferring a captured image obtained by the first shooting is long and the time for transferring the captured image obtained by the second shooting is short.

  It should be noted that the process is the same as in the first embodiment until a captured image is obtained by operating the fundus camera 1, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The processing after the captured image is obtained will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. 5 and the flowchart shown in FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is obtained by adding the processes of steps S16 to S19 executed when the transfer is not completed in step S5 to the flowchart of FIG.

  Specifically, in step S <b> 4 ′, the personal computer storage unit 11 starts storing the captured image transferred from the fundus camera 1. In addition, the transfer time detection unit 29 starts counting the time (transfer elapsed time) from the start of reception of the captured image.

  In step S5 ′, the transfer detection unit 12 of the personal computer 3 reads the storage state of the memory by the personal computer storage unit 11 and detects the transfer completion rate. If the transfer completion rate is not 100%, the process proceeds to step S16.

  In step S <b> 16, the transfer time detection unit 29 detects whether or not the elapsed transfer time since the start of storage in the personal computer storage unit 11 has exceeded a predetermined set time ts. Steps S4 'and S5' are repeated until it is determined that the elapsed time is longer than the set time ts. If the transfer does not end within the set time ts, the process of step S17 is started at time T1s, assuming that the set time end timing T1s.

  In step S <b> 17, the transfer time detection unit 29 transmits the display switching signal 15 to the fundus camera control unit 6 through the second communication path 14. Further, in parallel with the process of step S17, the personal computer storage unit 11 stores the transferred captured image (step S18), and the transfer detection unit 12 detects whether the transfer of the captured image is completed (step S18). Step S19).

  Since the processing of the fundus camera 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the photographer performs confirmation by looking at the photographed image displayed on the monitor 5 of the fundus camera 1 from the timing T1e at which the photographing operation is performed to the timing T1s after the set time ts has elapsed. The set time ts of the transfer time detection unit 29 is set to a time at which the photographer can sufficiently check and study the photographed image, so that the photographed image is not displayed on the monitor 5 longer than necessary. Thereby, the fundus camera 1 performs a process of switching the display of the monitor 5 of the fundus camera 1 to the observation image at the timing T1s, and the photographer can shift to the next photographing operation without waiting for the completion of the transfer of the photographed image.

  Note that the captured image captured at the second timing T2e shown in FIG. 5 has a transfer time shorter than the set time ts. In this case, the process proceeds from step S5 ′ to step S6 in FIG. That is, the display switching signal is output from the personal computer 3 to the fundus camera 1 upon completion of transfer of the captured image. In FIG. 5, the observation image read from the image sensor 7 from the captured image obtained by capturing the display on the monitor 5 of the fundus camera 1 at the timing T2r at which the transfer of the captured image is completed without waiting for the timing T2s. The display switches to.

(Example 3)
Next, Example 3 will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the ophthalmic imaging system according to the third embodiment.

  The ophthalmologic imaging system shown in FIG. 7 has a configuration in which a display detection unit 30 is added in the personal computer 3 and the display on the monitor 5 is switched using the display detection unit 30.

  The display switching process of the monitor 5 of the ophthalmic imaging system according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. 8 and the flowchart shown in FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol shall perform the process similar to the above-mentioned Example, The description is abbreviate | omitted.

  First, the processing of step S1 is started from the timing T1e of the photographing operation, and the processing up to step S5 is performed.

  Then, step S21 is started at timing T1r at which the transfer of the captured image is completed. In step S21, the transfer detection unit 12 of the personal computer 3 causes the display 4 to display the captured image that has been transferred.

  In step S <b> 22, the display detection unit 30 realized by software detects whether or not the display process on the display 4 for the captured image has been completed. Specifically, it is recognized whether or not the output of the captured image data to be displayed to the display 4 has been completed.

  Then, at the timing T1d when the output of the captured image to the display 4 is completed, the process of step S23 is started. In step S <b> 23, the display detection unit 30 notifies the fundus camera control unit 6 of a display switching signal 15 indicating that the display of the captured image is completed via the second communication path 14.

  In step S <b> 8, the fundus camera control unit 6 switches the display from the state in which the display of the monitor 5 is reproduced and displayed to the state in which an observation image for the next photographing is displayed.

  As described above, the display of the monitor 5 is switched using the display detection unit 30 in the third embodiment, but the transfer time detection unit 29 used in the second embodiment is further used in the same manner as in the second embodiment. An effect can also be obtained.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, the observation optical system and the photographing optical system are configured separately, but the same effect can be obtained by using one optical system that has both the observation function and the photographing function. I can do it. In addition, although the image pickup device 7 and the image pickup device 8 are configured separately, the same effect can be obtained by using a single image pickup unit to obtain images for observation and photographing.

  The display switching signal may be output to the fundus camera 1 upon detection of a confirmation completion operation of a captured image displayed on the display 4 of the user executed on the personal computer 3 side.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fundus camera 2 Digital camera 3 Personal computer 4 Display 5 Monitor 6 Fundus camera control part 7 Image sensor 8 Image sensor 9 Digital camera control part 10 Digital camera memory | storage part 11 Personal computer memory | storage part 12 Transfer detection part 15 Display switching signal 29 Transfer time Detection unit 30 Display detection unit

Claims (6)

In the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus constituted by the photographing apparatus and the information processing apparatus,
The imaging device
Imaging means for storage for imaging the eye to be examined;
First storage means for storing a photographed image obtained from the storage photographing means;
First display means for displaying a captured image stored in the first storage means;
Transfer means for transferring the captured image stored in the first storage means to the information processing apparatus;
Control means for erasing the display of the photographed image displayed on the first display means in response to a display switching signal from the information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Second storage means for storing the captured image transferred from the transfer means;
Detecting means for detecting a transfer state of the captured image;
An output means for outputting the display switching signal to the photographing device when the transfer is completed by detection of the detection means;
An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus comprising: a second display unit configured to display the detected transfer state. The transfer means transfers information related to the size of a captured image to be transferred to the information processing apparatus,
The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects a transfer state of the captured image based on the transferred information.   The ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus further includes a display unit that displays a captured image that has been transferred. In an information processing apparatus connected to an imaging apparatus having an imaging means for imaging an eye to be examined and a first display means for displaying a captured image,
Storage means for storing the captured image transferred from the imaging device;
Detecting means for detecting a transfer state of the captured image;
An output means for outputting a display switching signal for instructing erasure of display of the photographed image displayed on the first display means to the photographing apparatus when the detection means determines that the transfer is completed;
And a second display means for displaying the detected transfer state.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the detection unit detects a transfer state of the photographed image based on information on a size of the photographed image transferred from the photographing apparatus. In a control method for an information processing apparatus connected to an imaging apparatus having an imaging means for imaging an eye to be examined and a first display means for displaying a captured image,
Storing the captured image transferred from the imaging device in a storage means;
A detection step of detecting a transfer state of the captured image;
Displaying the detected transfer state on a second display means;
And a step of outputting a display switching signal instructing to erase the display of the photographed image displayed on the first display means to the photographing device when it is determined that the transfer is completed in the detecting step. Characteristic control method.

Images