JP6260733B2 - Ophthalmic photographing apparatus and ophthalmic photographing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus and an ophthalmologic photographing program for photographing a tomographic image of an eye to be examined.

  Optical coherence tomography (Optical Coherence Tomography) using low-coherent light as an ophthalmic imaging device that can obtain non-invasive tomographic images (tomographic images) at a predetermined site (eg, fundus, anterior eye) of the eye to be examined : OCT) is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In an ophthalmic coherence tomometer, a scan pattern (for example, raster scan, radial scan, multi-scan, etc.) configured by combining scans at a plurality of different crossing positions (for example, raster scan, radial scan, multi-scan, etc.) Devices that acquire tomographic images are known (see, for example, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3).
JP 2008-29467 A JP 2011-92702 A JP 2011-245183 A

  By the way, when shooting is performed with a scan pattern configured by combining a plurality of scans, it takes some time from the start of shooting to the end of all scans. During this time, there is a scan in which imaging fails among a plurality of scans due to fixation disparity or blinking of the eye to be examined.

  In such a case, in order to perform re-imaging, it is necessary to perform re-imaging in all of a plurality of scans constituting the scan pattern, which is very troublesome. Further, even when re-imaging is performed, the imaging failure has been repeated for the eye to be examined in which fixation disparity or blinking occurs during the imaging time.

  In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus that can shorten a re-photographing time and can easily photograph a tomographic image.

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

(1) An optical scanner for scanning light emitted from a light source on the eye to be examined, and a detector for detecting an interference signal between the measurement light emitted from the light source and the reference light. An ophthalmologic imaging apparatus comprising an interference optical system for obtaining a tomographic image and an observation optical system for acquiring a front image of a subject eye, wherein the optical scanner is controlled at a plurality of different transverse positions on the subject eye A control means for scanning the measurement light and acquiring the interference signal at each crossing position; a photographing screen for acquiring the interference signal; and a confirmation screen for confirming the acquired interference signal. And a confirmation control screen that is a different screen from the photographing screen, and after the acquisition of the interference signal at each crossing position by the control means is completed, Each traverse acquired by the control means Display control means for displaying on the monitor a tomographic image generated based on the interference signal at the position and the front image; and an operation unit for at least one of the tomographic image and the front image on the monitor Re-shooting setting means for setting a re-shooting crossing position for a part of the crossing positions at each crossing position selected by the operation, and the control means is configured to set the re-shooting set by the re-shooting setting means. The interference signal is acquired by scanning measurement light at a photographing transverse position.
(2) In the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to (1), the re-imaging setting unit sets the re-imaging transverse position and sets the re-imaging transverse position with a scan pattern changed by an operation of the operation unit. It is characterized in that it is set to re-photograph .
(3) an optical scanner for scanning the light emitted from the light source on the eye to be examined; and a detector for detecting an interference signal between the measurement light emitted from the light source and the reference light; An ophthalmic imaging program that is executed in a control device that controls the operation of an ophthalmic imaging device that includes an interference optical system for obtaining a tomographic image and an observation optical system that acquires a front image of the eye to be examined. A control step of controlling the optical scanner at a plurality of different crossing positions on the eye to be scanned, scanning the measurement light, and acquiring the interference signal at each crossing position. Display control means for displaying an imaging screen for acquiring the interference signal and a confirmation screen for confirming the acquired interference signal, wherein the control means Complete acquisition Then, in the confirmation screen for confirming the acquired interference signal, which is a screen different from the photographing screen for acquiring the interference signal, at each crossing position acquired by the control means A display control step for displaying a tomographic image generated based on the interference signal and the front image on a monitor; and at the confirmation screen, at least one of the tomographic image and the front image on the monitor A re-imaging setting step for setting a re-imaging crossing position for a position selected by operating the operation unit, and scanning the measurement light at the re-photographing crossing position set by the re-photographing setting step And a re-imaging control step of re-acquiring the interference signal .

  The re-imaging time can be shortened and a tomographic image can be easily captured.

It is a schematic block diagram explaining the structure of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus which concerns on a present Example. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of control operation. It is a figure which shows an example of the imaging | photography screen displayed on a monitor in the case of imaging | photography with multiscan. It is a figure which shows an example of the confirmation screen after imaging | photography by multiscan. It is a figure which shows an example of the confirmation screen after changing the tomogram of a 1st tomogram. It is a figure which shows an example of the imaging | photography screen displayed on a monitor in the case of performing reimaging. It is a figure which shows an example of the confirmation screen after re-photographing. It is a figure which shows an example of the imaging | photography screen after imaging completion.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the configuration of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the axial direction of the subject's eye (eye E) will be described as the Z direction, the horizontal direction as the X direction, and the vertical direction as the Y direction. The surface direction of the fundus may be considered as the XY direction.

<Overview>
An outline of an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus (optical coherence tomography device) 10 according to the present embodiment includes an interference optical system 100, an observation optical system 200, a display unit (monitor) 75, an operation input unit (operation unit) 74, a control unit (CPU) 70, Is provided.

  The interference optical system 100 includes a scanning unit (optical scanner) 108 and a detector 120, and obtains a tomographic image of the eye to be examined. The optical scanner 108 scans the light emitted from the light source 102 two-dimensionally on the eye to be examined. The detector 120 detects an interference state between the measurement light emitted from the light source and the reference light.

  The observation optical system 200 is used for acquiring a front image of a moving image of the eye to be examined. The observation optical system 200 includes a light receiving element that irradiates a subject eye with infrared light and receives reflected light from the subject eye, and obtains a front image of the subject eye based on a light reception signal from the light receiving element. Can be mentioned. For example, SLO and a fundus camera can be mentioned. Further, the interference optical system 100 may be used as the observation optical system 200. In this case, a front image of the eye to be examined is acquired based on the three-dimensional image acquired by the interference optical system 100.

  Note that when the observation optical system 200 is an SLO or a fundus camera, the control unit 70 and the front image acquired by the observation optical system 200 and the front image acquired by the interference optical system 100 (for example, based on three-dimensional image data). Alignment (matching) with the OCT front image (for example, integrated image)). As a result, the tomographic image acquired by the interference optical system 100 and the front image acquired by the observation optical system 200 are associated with each other.

  The operation unit 74 is operated by an examiner. For the operation unit 74, for example, a user interface such as a mouse 74a, a trackball, or a touch panel is used.

  As the monitor 75, for example, a display provided in a PC or a display provided in an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus is used. The monitor 75 may be a touch panel. When the monitor 75 is a touch panel, the monitor 75 functions as an operation unit.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 70 serves as a control unit, a display control unit, and a re-shooting setting unit. Of course, a configuration in which different control units are provided may be used, or a configuration in which some control units are also used.

<Control action>
The control unit 70 controls the front light scanner 108 at a plurality of different crossing positions (imaging positions) on the eye to be set set on the front image, scans the measurement light, and outputs an interference signal at each crossing position. To get. The control unit 70 displays an image generated based on the acquired interference signal at each crossing position on the monitor 75. The control unit 70 sets at least one re-imaging transverse position for the image generated based on the interference signal on the monitor 75 based on the operation signal from the operation unit 74. The control unit 70 scans the measurement light at the set re-imaging crossing position and acquires the interference signal.

  For example, various scan patterns can be cited as scans for photographing at a plurality of different crossing positions. For example, multi-scan, radial scan, raster scan, cross scan and the like can be mentioned. In addition, a scan pattern configured by a combination of a line scan, a circle scan, or the like is given.

  For example, the image generated based on the interference signal includes a front image and a tomographic image. In this case, for example, the image displayed on the monitor 75 includes a configuration in which at least one of a front image and a tomographic image is displayed.

  The examiner may set the re-shooting transverse position from the front image or tomographic image based on the interference signal, or may be set from the shooting information acquired based on the interference signal. For example, the imaging information includes the number of tomographic images used in the averaging process of tomographic images for each different transverse position (scan line), the luminance distribution of the tomographic images, the layer detection result, and the like.

  In addition, for example, when setting the re-shooting transverse position, a still image is used as an image generated based on the interference signal. In this case, for example, when using a tomographic image in a stationary state at the time of setting a re-imaging crossing position, the examiner confirms the tomographic image in a stationary state on the monitor 75 and selects a tomographic image to be re-imaged. Then, the control unit 70 re-photographs the crossing position (imaging position) on the front image of the tomographic image selected based on the operation signal from the operation unit 74 with respect to the tomographic image on the monitor 75. Set as the crossing position. In this way, the examiner can confirm the tomographic image at each crossing position and set the re-imaging position, so that only the tomographic image at the imaging position desired by the examiner can be selected as the re-photographing target, which is convenient. Becomes higher. In addition, since the tomographic image is confirmed and re-photographing is performed, a photographing position that was not successfully photographed can be accurately selected as the re-photographing position.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 70 further performs tracking control in re-photographing. For example, when the control unit 70 acquires an interference signal at a plurality of different crossing positions, the first front image of the eye to be examined acquired by the observation optical system 200 when acquiring the interference signal at a plurality of different crossing positions, and the crossing position for re-imaging. A positional deviation from the second front image acquired by the observation optical system 200 is detected by image processing, the drive of the optical scanner 108 is controlled based on the detection result, and the interference signal is acquired at the re-shooting transverse position. To do.

For example, the re-imaging setting is performed on the confirmation screen for confirming the photographed tomographic image. For example, in a series of photographing operations, the control unit 70 switches and displays the display on the monitor 75 between a photographing screen for acquiring an interference signal and a confirmation screen for confirming the acquired interference signal.
In this case, for example, the control unit 70 scans the measurement light by controlling the optical scanner 108 at a plurality of different transverse positions on the eye to be examined set on the front image on the imaging screen, and each transverse position is scanned. The interference signal is acquired at. The control unit 70 switches from the shooting screen to the confirmation screen, and displays an image generated based on the acquired interference signal at each crossing position on the monitor 75. On the confirmation screen, the control unit 70 sets at least one re-imaging transverse position for the image on the monitor 75 based on the operation signal from the operation unit 74.

  The control unit 70 switches from the confirmation screen to the imaging screen, scans the measurement light at the set re-imaging crossing position, and acquires an interference signal. For example, the control unit 70 controls the optical scanner 108 on the photographing screen, and scans the measurement light in the transverse direction at a scanning position preset as a re-imaging transverse position on the confirmation screen. Then, the control unit 70 may acquire a tomographic image at the re-imaging transverse position as a still image based on the imaging start signal generated automatically or manually.

  By adopting such a configuration, immediately after imaging, re-imaging can be performed at an imaging position where an unsatisfactory tomographic image is acquired from among a plurality of captured tomographic images. It can be carried out.

  In addition to switching the shooting screen and the confirmation screen, the shooting screen and the confirmation screen are displayed on separate screens, and the shooting screen and the confirmation screen are displayed on the same screen. A configuration is also included in which the shooting screen and the confirmation screen are switched by switching.

  In the state where the confirmation screen is displayed, the control unit 70 can smoothly perform re-imaging by executing at least one of tracking control of measurement light and optical path length adjustment according to the movement of the eye to be examined. . In addition, on the confirmation screen, the burden on the eye to be examined may be reduced by stopping the irradiation of the measurement light. After the re-photographing, for example, the control unit 70 uses the interference signal at the crossing position selected based on the operation signal from the operation unit 74 for the image on the monitor 75 before the re-photographing and the re-photographing crossing position. Replace the acquired interference signal. In addition, for example, the control unit 70 acquires the interference signal at the crossing position selected based on the operation signal from the operation unit 74 on the image on the monitor 75 and the re-shooting crossing position before the re-photographing. The interference signal is added and averaged. With such a configuration, all tomographic images acquired at a plurality of different crossing positions can be changed to good tomographic images. As a result, it is possible to smoothly perform image capturing with a scan pattern configured by image capturing at a plurality of different transverse positions.

  For example, the first front image may be configured to use a front image acquired at the start of shooting. Further, for example, the first front image may be a front image acquired before the second front image. For example, every time a front image is acquired, the first front image is updated and set so that the front image acquired immediately before the newly acquired front image is the first front image. Can be mentioned.

  For example, the second front image includes a configuration using the current front image acquired in real time.

  Note that the present embodiment is not limited to the apparatus described in the above embodiment. For example, ophthalmic imaging software (program) that performs the functions of the above embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media. A computer of the system or apparatus (for example, a CPU) can also read and execute the program.

  For example, an optical scanner 108 for scanning light emitted from a light source on the eye to be examined, and a detector 120 for detecting an interference signal between measurement light and reference light emitted from the light source, and the eye to be examined An ophthalmic imaging program executed in a control device that controls the operation of the ophthalmic imaging apparatus 10 that includes an interference optical system 100 for obtaining a tomographic image of the subject and an observation optical system 200 that acquires a front image of the eye to be examined. . In this case, the ophthalmic imaging program is executed by the processor of the control device, so that the optical scanner 108 is operated at a plurality of different transverse positions on the eye to be examined set on the front image acquired by the observation optical system 200. A control step of controlling and scanning the measurement light and acquiring an interference signal at each crossing position, and an image generated based on the interference signals at a plurality of different crossing positions acquired by the control step on the monitor 75 A display control step for displaying, a re-shooting setting step for setting at least one re-shooting crossing position for the image on the monitor 75 based on an operation signal from the operation unit 74, and a re-shooting setting step A re-imaging control step of scanning the measurement light at the re-imaging crossing position set by the step and re-acquiring the interference signal; To row.

<Example>
Hereinafter, examples according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the configuration of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the following description, a fundus imaging apparatus that performs fundus imaging of the eye to be examined will be described as an example of an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus. Of course, the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus is not limited to the fundus imaging apparatus, and includes an anterior ocular segment imaging apparatus that performs anterior segment imaging of the eye to be examined.

  An outline of the apparatus configuration will be described. This apparatus is an optical coherence tomography device (OCT device) 10 for taking a tomographic image of the fundus oculi Ef of the subject's eye E. The OCT device 10 includes an interference optical system (OCT optical system) 100, a front observation optical system 200, a fixation target projection unit 300, and an arithmetic control unit (CPU) 70.

  The OCT optical system 100 irradiates the fundus with measurement light. The OCT optical system 100 detects the interference state between the measurement light reflected from the fundus and the reference light by the light receiving element (detector 120). The OCT optical system 100 includes an irradiation position changing unit (for example, the optical scanner 108 and the fixation target projection unit 300) that changes the irradiation position of the measurement light on the fundus oculi Ef in order to change the imaging position on the fundus oculi Ef. The control unit 70 controls the operation of the irradiation position changing unit based on the set imaging position information, and acquires a tomographic image based on the light reception signal from the detector 120.

<OCT optical system>
The OCT optical system 100 has an apparatus configuration of a so-called ophthalmic optical coherence tomography (OCT) and takes a tomographic image of the eye E. The OCT optical system 100 splits the light emitted from the measurement light source 102 into measurement light (sample light) and reference light by a coupler (light splitter) 104. The OCT optical system 100 guides the measurement light to the fundus oculi Ef of the eye E by the measurement optical system 106 and guides the reference light to the reference optical system 110. Thereafter, the detector (light receiving element) 120 receives the interference light obtained by combining the measurement light reflected by the fundus oculi Ef and the reference light.

  The detector 120 detects an interference state between the measurement light and the reference light. In the case of Fourier domain OCT, the spectral intensity of the interference light is detected by the detector 120, and a depth profile (A scan signal) in a predetermined range is obtained by Fourier transform on the spectral intensity data. Examples include Spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) and Swept-source OCT (SS-OCT). Moreover, Time-domain OCT (TD-OCT) may be used.

  The optical scanner 108 scans light emitted from the measurement light source on the eye fundus. For example, the optical scanner 108 scans the measurement light two-dimensionally (XY direction (transverse direction)) on the fundus. The optical scanner 108 is arranged at a position substantially conjugate with the pupil. The optical scanner 108 is, for example, two galvanometer mirrors, and the reflection angle thereof is arbitrarily adjusted by the drive mechanism 50.

  Thereby, the reflection (advance) direction of the light beam emitted from the light source 102 is changed, and is scanned in an arbitrary direction on the fundus. Thereby, the imaging position on the fundus oculi Ef is changed. The optical scanner 108 may be configured to deflect light. For example, in addition to a reflective mirror (galvano mirror, polygon mirror, resonant scanner), an acousto-optic device (AOM) that changes the traveling (deflection) direction of light is used.

  The reference optical system 110 generates reference light that is combined with reflected light acquired by reflection of measurement light at the fundus oculi Ef. The reference optical system 110 may be a Michelson type or a Mach-Zehnder type. The reference optical system 110 is formed by, for example, a reflection optical system (for example, a reference mirror), and reflects light from the coupler 104 back to the coupler 104 by being reflected by the reflection optical system and guides it to the detector 120. As another example, the reference optical system 110 is formed by a transmission optical system (for example, an optical fiber), and guides the light from the coupler 104 to the detector 120 by transmitting the light without returning.

  The reference optical system 110 has a configuration in which the optical path length difference between the measurement light and the reference light is changed by moving an optical member in the reference optical path. For example, the reference mirror is moved in the optical axis direction. The configuration for changing the optical path length difference may be arranged in the measurement optical path of the measurement optical system 106.

<Front observation optical system>
The front observation optical system (front image observation device) 200 is provided to obtain a front image of the fundus oculi Ef. The observation optical system 200 includes, for example, an optical scanner that two-dimensionally scans the fundus of measurement light (for example, infrared light) emitted from a light source, and a confocal aperture that is disposed at a position substantially conjugate with the fundus. And a second light receiving element for receiving the fundus reflection light, and has a so-called ophthalmic scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) device configuration.

  Note that the configuration of the observation optical system 200 may be a so-called fundus camera type configuration. The OCT optical system 100 may also serve as the observation optical system 200. That is, the front image may be acquired using data forming a tomographic image obtained two-dimensionally (for example, an integrated image in the depth direction of a three-dimensional tomographic image, at each XY position). Of the spectrum data, luminance data at each XY position in a certain depth direction, retina surface layer image, etc.).

<Fixation target projection unit>
The fixation target projecting unit 300 includes an optical system for guiding the line-of-sight direction of the eye E. The projection unit 300 has a fixation target presented to the eye E, and can guide the eye E in a plurality of directions.

  For example, the fixation target projection unit 300 has a visible light source that emits visible light, and changes the presentation position of the target two-dimensionally. Thereby, the line-of-sight direction is changed, and as a result, the imaging region is changed. For example, when the fixation target is presented from the same direction as the imaging optical axis, the center of the fundus is set as the imaging site. When the fixation target is presented upward with respect to the imaging optical axis, the upper part of the fundus is set as the imaging region. That is, the imaging region is changed according to the position of the target with respect to the imaging optical axis.

  As the fixation target projection unit 300, for example, a configuration in which the fixation position is adjusted by the lighting positions of LEDs arranged in a matrix, light from a light source is scanned using an optical scanner, and fixation is performed by lighting control of the light source. Various configurations such as a configuration for adjusting the position are conceivable. The projection unit 300 may be an internal fixation lamp type or an external fixation lamp type.

<Control unit>
The control unit 70 controls the entire apparatus such as each member of each configuration 100 to 300. The control unit 70 also serves as an image processing unit that processes the acquired image, an image analysis unit that analyzes the acquired image, and the like. The control unit 70 is realized by a general CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like. As shown below, the control unit 70 analyzes the fundus oculi Ef based on the tomographic image.

  The control unit 70 obtains a tomographic image by image processing based on the light reception signal output from the detector 120 of the OCT optical system 100, and also detects the front surface based on the light reception signal output from the light receiving element of the front observation optical system 200. Get a statue. Further, the control unit 70 controls the fixation target projection unit 300 to change the fixation position.

  The memory (storage unit) 72, the monitor 75, and the control unit (operation unit) 74 are electrically connected to the control unit 70, respectively. The control unit 70 controls the display screen of the monitor 75. The acquired fundus image is output to the monitor 75 as a still image or a moving image and stored in the memory 72. For example, the memory 72 records various types of information related to imaging such as a captured tomographic image (for example, a three-dimensional tomographic image), a front image, and imaging position information of each tomographic image. The memory 72 stores a control program (ophthalmic imaging program) for controlling the operation of the ophthalmic imaging apparatus. The control unit 70 controls each member of the OCT optical system 100, the front observation optical system 200, and the fixation target projection unit 300 based on the operation signal output from the operation unit 74. The operation unit 74 is connected to a mouse 74a, operation knobs 74b, 74c, and the like as operation members operated by an examiner.

  The mouse 74a includes a sensor for detecting a movement signal when the body of the mouse 74a is two-dimensionally moved by the examiner's hand, and a left and right 2 for detecting that the mouse 74a is pressed by the examiner's hand. One mouse button and a wheel mechanism that can rotate in the front-rear direction are provided between the two left and right mouse buttons.

  The operation knobs 74b and 74c are configured to be rotatable in the left-right direction.

  The monitor 75 may be a display monitor mounted on the apparatus main body or a display monitor of a personal computer. Moreover, the structure in which these were used together may be sufficient.

<Control action>
The control operation of the apparatus having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the control operation. The control unit 70 executes the process shown in FIG. 2 according to the control program stored in the memory 72. The examiner instructs the subject to gaze at the fixation target of the fixation target projection unit 300, and then observes the anterior ocular segment observation image captured by the anterior ocular segment observation camera (not shown) on the monitor 75. Then, an alignment operation is performed using an operation unit 74 (for example, a joystick (not shown)) so that the measurement optical axis comes to the center of the pupil of the eye to be examined.

  Then, the control unit 70 controls driving of the optical scanner 108, scans the measurement light on the fundus in a predetermined direction, and receives a light reception signal corresponding to a predetermined scanning area from an output signal output from the detector 120 during the scanning. To obtain a tomographic image. In addition, the control unit 70 controls the OCT optical system 100 to acquire a tomographic image and also controls the observation optical system 200 to acquire a fundus front image. Then, the control unit 70 acquires a tomographic image by the OCT optical system 100 and a fundus front image (front image) by the observation optical system 200 as needed.

  In this embodiment, a tomographic image is acquired with a scan pattern configured by combining a plurality of scans at different crossing positions. In the following description, a multi-scan will be described as an example of the scan pattern. As the multi-scan of the present embodiment, for example, a multi-scan composed of scan lines of 5 lines in the vertical direction and 5 lines in the horizontal direction will be described as an example. Of course, the number of scan lines is not limited to this, and can be changed. The present invention is not limited to application to multi-scan. The present invention can be applied to a scan pattern configured by combining a plurality of scans at different transverse positions. For example, the present invention can be applied to raster scan, radial scan, cross scan, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a shooting screen displayed on the monitor 75 when shooting is performed by multi-scanning. The control unit 70 displays the front image 20, the index 25, and the tomographic image 30 acquired by the observation optical system 200 on the monitor 75. The index 25 is an index that represents the measurement position (acquisition position) of the tomographic image on the front image 20 and the scan pattern. That is, when the scan pattern is changed, the control unit 70 changes the display pattern of the index based on the changed scan pattern. The index 25 is electrically superimposed and displayed on the front image on the monitor 75.

  As the tomographic image 30, for example, a first tomographic image 30a and a second tomographic image 30b are displayed on the monitor 75. For example, the first tomographic image 30a shows a tomographic image acquired at a cutting position passing through the index 25 in the horizontal direction (X direction). Further, for example, the second tomographic image 30b shows a tomographic image acquired at a cutting position passing through the index 25 in the vertical direction (Y direction).

  In the present embodiment, as an initial setting at the time of multi-scan imaging, the tomographic images displayed on the first tomographic image 30a and the second tomographic image 30b on the imaging screen are horizontal and vertical at the center position 26 of the multi-scan. The tomographic image of the direction scan is displayed. Of course, images at different scan positions may be displayed during shooting. The tomographic images displayed on the first tomographic image 30a and the second tomographic image 30b can be changed by operating the operation unit. For example, when the mouse 74a is operated and the examiner selects a scan line at a position where the tomographic image is to be confirmed, the display is changed to a tomographic image acquired by the selected scan line.

  Hereinafter, a tomographic imaging method will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, when the tomographic image and the front image are displayed on the same screen, the examiner sets the position of the tomographic image that the examiner wants to photograph from the front image on the monitor 75 observed in real time. . Here, the examiner performs a drag operation using the mouse 74a to move the index 25 with respect to the front image and set the scanning position.

  When the index 25 is moved with respect to the front image 20 by the examiner, the control unit 70 sets a scanning position at any time and acquires a tomographic image at the corresponding scanning position. Then, the acquired tomographic image is displayed on the display screen of the monitor 75 as needed. Further, the control unit 70 changes the scanning position of the measurement light based on the operation signal output from the mouse 74a, and displays the index 25 at the display position corresponding to the changed scanning position. It is possible to change the scan pattern by selecting the scan scan pattern setting field 35 with the operation unit 74 along with the change of the scanning position.

  When a scan pattern, a scan position, and the like are set by the examiner and an imaging switch (not shown) is selected, the control unit 70 acquires a front image and a tomographic image based on the set scan position.

  The control unit 70 causes the memory 72 to store the front image acquired at the start of multi-scan shooting and the information on the scan position of the multi-scan set on the front image. The front image is used during tracking control during re-shooting (details will be described later).

  In addition, the control unit 70 drives the optical scanner 108 based on the display position of the index 25 set on the front image 20 so that a tomographic image of the fundus corresponding to the position of the index 25 is obtained. To scan. Since the relationship between the display position of the index 25 (coordinate position on the monitor 75) and the scanning position of the measurement light by the optical scanner 108 is determined in advance, the control unit 70 corresponds to the set display position of the index 25. The two galvanometer mirrors of the optical scanner 108 are appropriately driven and controlled so that the measurement light is scanned within the scanning range.

  When acquiring a tomographic image, the control unit 70 sequentially acquires a tomographic image for each scan in the case of imaging with a scan pattern configured by a plurality of scans. For example, in the case of shooting with the above-described multi-scan, after shooting with all horizontal scan lines is completed, shooting with all vertical scan lines is performed. For example, when shooting is performed with each scan line in the horizontal direction, shooting is performed in the downward direction in order from the scan line located at the upper end. That is, in the index 25, the horizontal shooting is sequentially performed from the index 25a at the upper end in the horizontal direction to the index 25b at the lower end.

  At this time, tomographic images are taken a plurality of times on each scan line. For example, after shooting at the position of the index 25a at the upper end a plurality of times, the process shifts to the shooting position of the next scan line. For example, the control unit 70 performs an averaging process between tomographic images while acquiring a plurality of tomographic images for each scan line, and acquires an averaged image from the plurality of tomographic images for each scan line.

  Here, the averaging process will be described. For example, the control unit 70 acquires an averaged image by performing an averaging process on a plurality of tomographic images acquired by the OCT optical system 100. For each scan line, the control unit 70 sets the tomographic image acquired first at the position of each scan line as a reference image, and performs an addition averaging process. The control unit 70 detects, for each tomographic image acquired at the position of each scan line, a shift between the reference image and other tomographic images by image processing. Then, the control unit 70 determines whether or not the addition process is appropriate based on the shift detection result, corrects a shift between the reference image and each tomographic image, and adds a plurality of tomographic images to the reference image. To go. In the present embodiment, the reference image is set to the front image (latest photographed image) acquired first, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a reference image may be set as a reference for addition processing among a plurality of tomographic images.

  The control unit 70 sequentially performs the averaging process on the tomographic images with respect to the reference image. Then, the amount of shift between each tomographic image and the reference image is detected for each tomographic image, and each tomographic image is aligned with respect to the reference image. That is, the reference image and each tomographic image are compared, and the positional deviation direction and the positional deviation amount of each tomographic image with respect to the reference image are detected by image processing for each tomographic image.

  Various image processing methods (a method using various correlation functions, a method using Fourier transform, and a method based on feature point matching) can be used as a method for detecting the shift amount.

  For example, when a predetermined reference image (the first tomographic image acquired) or a target image (a tomographic image excluding the reference image) is displaced pixel by pixel, the reference image and the target image are compared, and the two data are most consistent ( It is conceivable to detect a position shift direction and a position shift amount between both data (when the correlation is highest). Further, a method is conceivable in which common feature points are extracted from a predetermined reference image and target image, and the positional deviation direction and the positional deviation amount of the extracted feature points are detected.

  In the present embodiment, the correlation value (the larger the value, the higher the correlation between the images (maximum 1)) is sequentially calculated while shifting each front image with respect to the reference image in units of one pixel. Then, the control unit 70 calculates the displacement amount (the number of displaced pixels) of the pixel when the correlation value is maximized as the displacement amount, and calculates the displaced direction as the displacement direction.

  As a determination method, determination is performed using a correlation value calculated at the time of detecting a deviation. For example, when the correlation value is smaller than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 0.4), the correlation value is excluded from the tomographic image objects used for the addition process. That is, when the correlation value is small, there is a high possibility that the imaging area is greatly different between the reference image and the tomographic image due to microscopic fixation, a shift between the apparatus and the eye, or the like. Note that the image used for the addition process is not limited to this in determining whether the image is appropriate. For example, a front image in which the detected displacement amount exceeds the allowable range may be excluded from the addition processing target.

  As described above, the amount of misalignment and the direction of misalignment are detected, and the suitability of the image used for the addition process is determined. Then, the control unit 70 compares each front image with respect to the reference image by the amount of positional deviation so that the positional deviation is corrected with respect to the image determined to be appropriate as the image for addition processing. Deviate. After the positional deviation correction, the control unit 70 adds the pixel value of the tomographic image to the reference image.

  In this manner, the image quality of the acquired tomographic image is improved by performing the averaging process using a plurality of tomographic images at each scan line.

  After the horizontal shooting is completed, the vertical scan lines are used in the same manner as the horizontal shooting. For example, when shooting is performed with each scan line in the vertical direction, shooting is performed in the right direction sequentially from the scan line located at the left end. That is, shooting in the vertical direction is sequentially performed from the leftmost index 25c in the vertical direction to the right end index 25d in the index 25. Note that the shooting order is not limited to the above. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which imaging with a horizontal scan line is performed after imaging with a vertical scan line is completed. In addition, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which shooting with the vertical and horizontal scan lines is alternately performed, or a configuration in which shooting with the vertical and horizontal scan lines is switched for each of a plurality of shootings.

  When imaging is completed as described above, the control unit 70 stores the acquired tomographic image in the memory 72. Then, the control unit 70 changes the display on the monitor 75 from the shooting screen to the confirmation screen. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a confirmation screen after shooting by multi-scan. The control unit 70 calls the front image and tomographic image from the memory 72. The control unit 70 displays the front image 20, the index 25, and the tomographic image 30 on the monitor 75.

  For example, as the front image 20 displayed on the confirmation screen, the front image acquired at the start of multi-scan shooting is displayed. Further, for example, the tomographic images displayed on the first tomographic image 30a and the second tomographic image 30b on the confirmation screen are in the horizontal direction (first tomographic image) and the vertical direction (second tomographic image) at the center position of the multi-scan. It is configured to display a scan tomogram. Of course, images at different scan positions may be displayed as acquired images on the confirmation screen. Note that the tomographic image displayed on the confirmation screen is the tomographic image acquired by the averaging process. At this time, for example, the number of tomographic images used for the averaging process of tomographic images in each scan line may be displayed. Further, the number of all tomographic images in each scan line and the number of tomographic images that have been subjected to the addition averaging process among the captured tomographic images may be displayed. In addition, a configuration in which a number is assigned to each scan line so that the correspondence between the tomographic image and the scan line of the front image can be grasped, and the same number as that of each scan line is assigned to the tomographic image corresponding to each scan line. It is good.

  In addition, a scan display 31 is displayed on the first tomographic image 30a. The scan display 31 indicates a scan line at a position where the first tomographic image 30a is acquired among a plurality of horizontal scan lines constituting the multi-scan. For example, when the first tomographic image 30a is a tomographic image acquired at a cutting position passing through the center position 26 of the index 25 in the lateral direction, the scan display 31 includes a plurality of lateral directions constituting a multi-scan. It is displayed so as to indicate the scan line at the center position among the scan lines. Further, on the second tomographic image 30b, a scan display 32 indicating a scan line at a position where the second tomographic image 30b is acquired among a plurality of vertical scan lines constituting the multi-scan is displayed.

  Here, the examiner confirms whether or not photographing on each scan line is completed satisfactorily. For example, the examiner operates the mouse 74a, moves a pointer (not shown) (for example, an arrow, a cross mark, etc.) on the monitor 75, and selects the tomographic image of the first tomographic image 30a or the second tomographic image 30b. . When the tomographic image is selected by the examiner, the control unit 70 displays the frame F so as to surround the selected tomographic image. In this state, when the examiner performs a scroll operation using the mouse 74a, the displayed tomographic image is changed to display of another tomographic image. For example, when the tomographic image at the center position is displayed in the first tomographic image 30a, the first tomographic image is displayed when a scroll operation is performed by the examiner. The tomographic image displayed at 30a is changed to a tomographic image captured at the position of the scan line in the upward or downward direction from the center position. Further, along with the change of the displayed tomographic image, the display of the scan displays 31 and 32 indicating the acquisition position of the tomographic image is changed to the display indicating the corresponding scan line position.

  In the present embodiment, the tomographic image is changed by a scroll operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which all photographed tomographic images are displayed as a list.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a confirmation screen after changing the tomographic image of the first tomographic image 30a. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the tomographic image acquired at the position of the scan line 28 is not captured and acquired satisfactorily, a good tomographic image is not displayed on the first tomographic image 30a. In this manner, the examiner can confirm whether or not the imaging has been performed satisfactorily by changing the first tomographic image 30a and the second tomographic image 30b and confirming the acquired tomographic image.

  When the examiner operates the mouse 74a to check a tomographic image at each scan line and confirms a scan line that has not been photographed well, re-imaging can be performed at the position of the scan line. . In the following description of re-shooting, a case where shooting is not performed well at the position of the scan line 28 will be described as an example.

  For example, the examiner operates the mouse 74a, confirms a tomographic image, and selects a scan line for re-imaging. For example, when the scan line 28 that has not been photographed well is selected by the examiner, the control unit 70 changes the color of the selected scan line 28 in the index 25 (not shown in the drawing). ). Of course, any configuration may be used as long as the selected scan line and the unselected scan line are represented by different displays. For example, the configuration may be such that the size or shape of the scan line is changed.

  When the selection of the scan line 28 to be re-photographed by the examiner is completed and the re-photograph switch 34 is selected, the control unit 70 performs re-photographing at the photographing position of the selected scan line 28. The display on the monitor 75 is changed from the confirmation screen to the shooting screen. In this embodiment, the configuration is such that one scan line is re-photographed, but the present invention is not limited to this. A configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of scan lines are selected together and re-photographing is performed. In this case, for example, a plurality of scan lines are selected, and the selected scan lines are set as candidates for re-imaging. When the re-photographing switch 34 is selected, re-photographing is performed at positions corresponding to all tomographic images set as candidates.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a shooting screen displayed on the monitor 75 when performing re-shooting. For example, a front image 60 and a tomographic image 65 are displayed on the monitor 75. In the front image 60, the front image currently being acquired is displayed. The tomographic image 65 displays a tomographic image acquired at the position of the scan line 28 selected as the scan line to be re-photographed.

  At this time, in order to acquire a tomographic image at the same position as the position where the scanning position is set when the front image is shifted from the scanning position (imaging position) due to fixation eye movement of the eye to be examined, the scanning position Need to be corrected. For example, there may be a case where the shooting position is different between the position of the scan line 28 when shooting in the past (during multi-scan shooting) and the position of the scan line 28 when shooting again. For this reason, the control unit 70 performs tracking control.

  Hereinafter, tracking control will be described. The control unit 70 uses the front image acquired at the start of multi-scan shooting stored in the memory 72 and the multi-scan scan position information set on the front image to correct the scan position at the time of re-shooting. I do. First, the control unit 70 compares the front image stored in the memory 72 with the current front image. The control unit 70 detects (calculates) the position shift direction and the position shift amount of the current front image with respect to the front image acquired at the start of shooting in multi-scan by image processing.

  The control unit 70 uses the front image data acquired at the start of shooting in multi-scan as a reference image, and calculates a positional deviation between the reference image and the front image acquired in real time. Thereby, positional deviation information with respect to the front image acquired at the start of shooting in multi-scan can be obtained.

  As described above, when the positional deviation is detected, the control unit 70 corrects the positional deviation between the position of the scan line 28 when the image is captured in the past and the position of the scan line 28 when the image is re-photographed. Thus, the two galvanometer mirrors of the optical scanner 108 are appropriately driven and controlled. Thereby, the scanning position is corrected. In this way, even when the eye to be examined is displaced, the scanning position is corrected, and a tomographic image of the same part as the part where the imaging position is set is always acquired.

  Here, when an imaging switch (not shown) is selected by the examiner, the control unit 70 acquires a tomographic image at the position of the scan line 28 and stores it in the memory 72. When re-photographing is performed at a plurality of scan line positions, when a non-illustrated photographing switch is selected, photographing on each scan line is sequentially performed.

  In the present embodiment, the two galvanometer mirrors of the optical scanner 108 are appropriately driven and controlled so that the positional deviation is corrected, but the present invention is not limited to this. A configuration may be adopted in which imaging is waited until the positional deviation is eliminated and the reference image and the front image acquired in real time match. In this case, there is a configuration in which shooting is performed when the reference image and the front image acquired in real time are matched, or a configuration in which the match is notified and the examiner is notified of the timing to start shooting.

  In the tracking control, as a method for detecting a positional deviation between two images, various image processing methods (a method using various correlation functions, a Fourier transform are used in the same manner as the above-described averaging process. And a method based on feature point matching).

As described above, when the re-photographing is completed, the control unit 70 changes the display on the monitor 75 from the photographing screen to the confirmation screen. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a confirmation screen after re-photographing. The control unit 70 replaces the tomographic image data that has been re-photographed with the tomographic image data that has not been re-photographed.
That is, the control unit 70 changes the tomographic image at the photographing position (crossing position) of the scan line 28 selected as the scan line to be re-photographed to the tomographic image acquired at the time of re-photographing. As shown in FIG. 7, a tomographic image corresponding to the imaging position of the scan line 28 is displayed on the first tomographic image 30a. Thereby, all tomographic images of each scan line acquired by the multi-scan become good tomographic images.

  In the present embodiment, the tomographic image data that has been re-photographed and the tomographic image data that has not been re-photographed are replaced. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the data of the tomographic image that has been re-photographed and the tomographic image data before the re-photographing may be added and averaged to obtain a good tomographic image.

  When the examiner confirms that the re-imaging has been completed and the tomographic images in all the scan lines have been successfully captured, the examiner selects the imaging completion switch 36. When the imaging completion switch 36 is selected by the examiner, the control unit 70 changes the display on the monitor 75 from the confirmation screen to the imaging screen so that the next imaging can be performed. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a shooting screen after shooting is completed. The control unit 70 displays the shooting data that has been shot in the shooting completion list 37. The examiner selects the one that maintains the state stored in the memory 72 from the photographing completion list 37 and the photographing data to be deleted from the memory 72 to be finally used for analysis or the like. For example, in the shooting data to be stored in the memory 72, the shooting data is selected, and a decision switch (not shown) is selected. In the re-shooting, a configuration may be adopted in which shooting for re-shooting is selected from the shooting completion list 37. In this case, selection is made from the shooting completion list 37 by clicking on the shooting to be shot again. The control unit 70 retrieves data relating to the selected shooting from the memory 72 and displays a confirmation screen for the data. As a result, a scan line to be re-photographed can be selected from the confirmation screen and re-photographing can be performed.

  When the selection switch (not shown) is selected, the control unit 70 ends the shooting. Then, the display on the monitor 75 is changed from the confirmation screen to the analysis screen. The analysis screen displays the tomographic analysis results (for example, the layer detection result and the layer thickness map) together with the acquired image. The examiner confirms the analysis result and performs settings such as diagnosis of a lesion and follow-up imaging.

  As described above, when shooting is performed with a scan pattern configured by combining a plurality of scans, it is possible to perform shooting only at a shooting position where re-shooting is desired, thereby shortening the re-shooting time. be able to. Further, at the time of re-shooting, the same shooting position (crossing position) can be shot with high accuracy by tracking control.

<Transformation example>
In the present embodiment, at the time of re-imaging, the examiner can change the imaging conditions (for example, scanning conditions). The examiner can change the imaging condition by operating the operation unit 74. Hereinafter, the change of the imaging condition will be described by taking the change of the scanning condition as an example. Examples of changes in scanning conditions include changes in scan length (scan width), scan pattern (scan pattern), scan pattern rotation angle (a line is rotated around the scan center), and the like. When the scanning condition is set, the control unit 70 compares the front image (reference image) acquired in advance with the current front image, and the positional deviation direction and positional deviation of the current front image with respect to the reference image. The amount is detected (calculated) by image processing.

  For example, when changing the scan pattern, the examiner operates the mouse 74a, selects a desired scan pattern from the scan pattern setting field 35 displayed on the monitor 75, and changes the scan pattern. In the scan pattern setting field 35, various scan patterns are listed. For example, as the scanning pattern, a cross scan, a circle scan, a raster scan, a radial scan, or the like can be considered.

  When the examiner operates the mouse 74a and selects a predetermined scan pattern in the scan pattern setting field 35 displayed on the monitor 75, the control unit 70 changes the selected scan pattern. Do. At this time, the scan center position is set in advance for each scan pattern, and the control unit 70 scans the scan pattern so that the scan center position of the past scan pattern matches the scan center position of the selected scan pattern. To change. Thereby, tomographic images relating to the same part on the fundus are acquired with different scan patterns.

  The controller 70 continues the tracking control even after changing the scanning conditions as described above. When the scanning condition is changed, for example, the control unit 70 compares the front image used for correction (tracking) of the scanning position before the scanning condition is changed with the current front image, and compares the current image with respect to the front image. Is detected (calculated) by image processing. When the positional deviation is detected, the control unit 70 appropriately drives and controls the two galvanometer mirrors of the optical scanner 108 so that the deviation of the scanning position after changing the scanning condition is corrected. Thereby, the scanning position after changing the scanning condition is corrected.

  Note that when rescanning, the scanning conditions may be changed, and rescanning may be performed under a plurality of scanning conditions. In this case, imaging is sequentially performed under the set scanning conditions, and a tomographic image is acquired.

  In addition, when selecting an imaging position at the time of re-imaging, not only a tomographic image constructed based on an interference signal acquired by a predetermined scan pattern before re-imaging but also a different scan pattern based on the acquired interference signal The tomographic image may be reconstructed and displayed. For example, not only the tomographic image acquired by the raster scan but also the tomographic image of the circle scan is constructed based on the interference signal acquired by the raster scan. That is, tomographic images with different scan patterns are constructed and displayed from a common interference signal. With such a configuration, the tomographic image relating to the site desired by the examiner can be confirmed with a larger number of patterns, which is useful in selecting a site for re-imaging.

  In this embodiment, the change of the scanning condition is given as an example at the time of re-imaging, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is applicable to changes related to shooting conditions. For example, when the subject's fixation is not stable at the time of re-imaging, the conditions of the fixation target (eg, fixation target pattern, fixation target size, fixation position) are changed. It may be.

  As described above, since the scanning condition can be changed at the time of re-imaging, it is not necessary to adjust the scanning position again when the scanning condition is changed. For this reason, a tomographic image at the same part (for example, a lesioned part) on the fundus can be easily acquired with various scan patterns, and it is not troublesome. In addition, it is possible to avoid setting different scanning positions on the fundus and to perform scanning with high accuracy. Further, since the scanning position can be changed from the same part without changing the scanning position, it is highly convenient. In addition, when observing a tomographic image acquired by imaging before re-imaging and performing detailed imaging for a predetermined target region, select an area for which detailed imaging is to be performed, and use a different scan pattern for that part. Shooting can be performed. For this reason, it becomes possible to acquire more detailed information regarding the selected part from various acquired tomographic images.

  In this embodiment, the scan line to be re-photographed is selected. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be configured to select a tomographic image. For example, as a method for selecting a tomographic image, there is a configuration in which a tomographic image surrounded by a frame F is handled as a selected tomographic image. When a tomographic image is selected, the selection may be made by clicking the mouse 74a. At this time, for example, when the tomographic image that has been clicked is set as a candidate for re-imaging and the re-imaging switch 34 is selected, re-imaging is performed at positions corresponding to all the tomographic images set as candidates. It is good also as a structure. Further, it may be configured such that the selected tomographic image is re-photographed by a double-click operation. Further, in selecting these tomographic images, the color of the scan line corresponding to the selected tomographic image may be changed. In addition, when displaying a tomographic image set for re-imaging, the color of the frame F may be changed to a color different from that of the tomographic image not selected.

  Further, as a configuration for selecting a scan line to be re-photographed, a configuration using an image generated based on an interference signal can be given. For example, an OCT front image is acquired based on an interference signal acquired by a raster scan configured by a plurality of horizontal line scans. Since the OCT front image is acquired based on the tomographic image, each position of the OCT front image and the tomographic image acquired by OCT are associated with each other. In this case, for example, there is a method in which the examiner confirms the OCT front image, selects a scan line of the portion where the data of the OCT front image is not displayed, and performs re-imaging. As a method for acquiring the OCT front image, there is a method in which the measurement light is scanned two-dimensionally and the spectral intensity of the interference signal from the light receiving element is integrated for each XY point.

  In the raster scan, a vertical line scan is performed after the raster scan, and a tomographic image thereof is acquired. Then, by confirming the tomographic image acquired by the vertical line scan, it is possible to easily confirm the imaging position from which the tomographic image was not successfully acquired among the plurality of horizontal line scans. That is, a configuration may be adopted in which a scan line is selected so that a missing portion of data is confirmed in a tomographic image acquired by a line scan in the vertical direction, and re-imaging regarding the portion is performed.

  Further, the configuration for selecting the scan line to be re-photographed may be a configuration based on the photographing information. For example, the photographing information includes information related to the averaging process, tomographic layer detection results, tomographic luminance information, and the like. For example, the examiner may select a scan line with a smaller number from the number of tomographic images used for the averaging process displayed for each scan line, and perform re-imaging. For example, the luminance information of the tomographic image is displayed for each scan line. A configuration in which the examiner selects a scan line with a small luminance value and performs re-imaging is exemplified. In addition, according to the value of imaging | photography information, you may make it display by color. For example, when the addition average number is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, it is displayed in red, and when it is equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold value, it may be displayed in green.

  In this embodiment, the examiner checks the tomographic image and selects the scan line for re-imaging. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A scan line that should be automatically re-photographed based on a predetermined condition may be extracted and presented to the examiner. For example, the control unit 70 may be configured to extract scan lines that have not reached a predetermined number from the number of tomographic images used for the averaging process for each scan line from the acquired tomographic images. Further, there is a configuration in which luminance information of a tomographic image is acquired, and a scan line whose luminance value does not satisfy a predetermined threshold is extracted as a scan line that is better re-photographed. With such a configuration, the labor of the examiner is reduced, and re-imaging can be performed smoothly. In addition, it is possible to reduce mistakes forgetting to obtain a tomographic image to be re-photographed.

  In this embodiment, it is better to perform tracking control when shooting a plurality of tomographic images at the shooting position on each scan line. In this case, the control unit 70 compares the front image acquired at the start of shooting with the current front image acquired at any time during the shooting, and performs image processing on the positional deviation of the current front image with respect to the front image at the start of shooting. To detect (calculate). When the positional deviation is detected, the control unit 70 appropriately drives and controls the two galvanometer mirrors of the optical scanner 108 so that the deviation of the scanning position after changing the scanning condition is corrected. By adopting such a configuration, a plurality of tomographic images on each scan line can be accurately captured at the same site. This increases the number of tomographic images that can be used for the averaging process, leading to an improvement in the image quality of the acquired tomographic images. In addition, the possibility of imaging a part different from the imaging position selected by the examiner is reduced, leading to a reduction in tomographic image acquisition errors.

  In this embodiment, the re-shooting position may be set in a predetermined area. For example, when it is desired to select a plurality of adjacent line scans in a tomographic image captured by a raster scan, the examiner selects a predetermined region on the front image by dragging the mouse 74a. The controller 70 may be configured to re-capture a tomographic image of a scan line included in the selected region.

  In the present embodiment, an optical tomography apparatus that images the fundus is described as the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is also applicable to an optical tomographic imaging apparatus that captures an anterior tomographic image.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the apparatus described in this embodiment. For example, ophthalmic imaging software (program) that performs the functions of the above embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media. A computer of the system or apparatus (for example, a CPU) can also read and execute the program.

70 Control Unit 72 Memory 74 Operation Unit 74a Mouse 74b, 74c Operation Knob 75 Monitor 100 Interference Optical System 108 Optical Scanner 200 Observation Optical System 300 Fixation Target Projection Unit

Claims (3)

An optical scanner for scanning the light emitted from the light source on the eye to be examined; and a detector for detecting an interference signal between the measurement light emitted from the light source and the reference light; and a tomographic image of the eye to be examined An interference optical system to obtain,
An observation optical system for acquiring a front image of the eye to be examined;
An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus comprising:
Control means for controlling the optical scanner at a plurality of different crossing positions on the eye to be examined, scanning measurement light, and acquiring the interference signal at each crossing position;
Display control means for displaying a shooting screen for acquiring the interference signal and a confirmation screen for checking the acquired interference signal, which is a screen different from the shooting screen. After the acquisition of the interference signal at each crossing position by the control means, on the confirmation screen, a tomographic image generated based on the interference signal at each crossing position acquired by the control means; and Display control means for displaying a front image on a monitor;
In the confirmation screen, a re-imaging setting means for setting a re-imaging transverse position with respect to a position selected by operation of an operation unit for at least one of the tomographic image and the front image on the monitor;
With
The ophthalmic imaging apparatus characterized in that the control means scans measurement light at the re-imaging transverse position set by the re-imaging setting means and acquires the interference signal. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 1.
The re-photographing setting unit sets the re-photographing crossing position and sets the re-photographing crossing position to be re-photographed with a scan pattern changed by an operation of the operation unit. Ophthalmic photography device. An optical scanner for scanning the light emitted from the light source on the eye to be examined; and a detector for detecting an interference signal between the measurement light emitted from the light source and the reference light; and a tomographic image of the eye to be examined An interference optical system to obtain,
An observation optical system for acquiring a front image of the eye to be examined;
An ophthalmic imaging program that is executed in a control device that controls the operation of the ophthalmic imaging device.
By being executed by the processor of the control device,
A control step of controlling the optical scanner at a plurality of different crossing positions on the eye to be examined, scanning measurement light, and acquiring the interference signal at each crossing position;
Display control means for displaying an imaging screen for acquiring the interference signal and a confirmation screen for confirming the acquired interference signal, wherein the control means Each of the confirmation screens obtained by the control unit is a confirmation screen for confirming the acquired interference signal after completing the acquisition, and a confirmation screen that is different from a shooting screen for acquiring the interference signal. A display control step of displaying a tomographic image generated based on the interference signal at a crossing position and the front image on a monitor;
In the confirmation screen, a re-shooting setting step for setting a re-shooting transverse position with respect to a position selected by operation of the operation unit for at least one of the tomographic image and the front image on the monitor, and
Re-imaging control step of scanning the measurement light at the re-imaging transverse position set by the re-imaging setting step and re-acquiring the interference signal;
Is executed by the control device.