JP6736304B2 - Ophthalmic imaging device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art There is a demand for an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus for performing screening of eye diseases, etc., which is capable of easily imaging the fundus of the eye to be examined in a wide field of view. A scanning laser ophthalmoscope (hereinafter referred to as SLO) is known as such an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus. The SLO is a device that scans the fundus with light and forms an image of the fundus by detecting the returned light with a light receiving device.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an SLO that includes three optical scanners and is capable of performing a scan in a wide area and a scan in which a part of the scan area is enlarged by controlling these.

JP, 2005-229023, A

However, it is known that a ghost (noise) caused by the surface reflection of the objective lens or the cornea of the eye to be inspected is drawn at the center of the image acquired by an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus such as SLO. The size and amount of light of the ghost increase as the angle of view increases. In many cases, a region of interest is placed in the center of the acquired image, and if a ghost is drawn in the center, it may interfere with diagnosis.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus capable of suppressing the depiction of a ghost even in an image with a wide angle of view.

The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a photographing unit, a view angle changing unit, and an image synthesizing unit. The imaging unit irradiates the eye to be inspected with light and receives the returned light, an SLO optical system, an OCT optical system to perform optical coherence tomography on the eye to receive coherent light, and an SLO optical system. including optical science system having a light path coupling member for coupling the optical paths of the OCT optical system of the system. The view angle changing unit is used to change the view angle. The image composition unit includes a first image representing the first range of the eye to be inspected acquired by the imaging unit when the first angle of view is set by the angle of view changing unit, and the first angle of view by the angle of view changing unit. When a narrow second angle of view is set, a second image that is acquired by the imaging unit and includes the position on the optical axis of the optical system and that represents a second range narrower than the first range is combined to form a combined image. To do. The first image is one of the SLO image acquired using the SLO optical system and the OCT image acquired using the OCT optical system, and the second image is the other of the SLO image and the OCT image.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus capable of suppressing the depiction of a ghost even in an image with a wide angle of view.

It is a schematic diagram showing an example of composition of an optical system of an ophthalmology photographing instrument concerning an embodiment. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of composition of an optical system of an ophthalmology photographing instrument concerning an embodiment. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of composition of an optical system of an ophthalmology photographing instrument concerning an embodiment. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of composition of a processing system of an ophthalmology photographing instrument concerning an embodiment. It is a flowchart of the 1st operation example of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is operation|movement explanatory drawing of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is operation|movement explanatory drawing of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is operation|movement explanatory drawing of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is operation|movement explanatory drawing of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is operation|movement explanatory drawing of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart of the 2nd operation example of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a flow figure of the 3rd example of operation of the ophthalmology photographing instrument concerning an embodiment.

An example of an embodiment of an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the contents of the documents cited in this specification and any known techniques can be applied to the following embodiments.

The ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment deflects light from a light source using an optical scanner and irradiates the deflected light on an eye to be inspected (target eye, patient eye), so that the light is projected through a pupil of the eye to be inspected. It is a device that can irradiate a wide range of the posterior segment (fundus, vitreous body, etc.) of the eye. Such a configuration can be applied to any ophthalmologic imaging apparatus capable of irradiating the posterior segment with light. The ophthalmologic imaging device capable of irradiating the posterior segment with light includes a laser treatment device for irradiating the treatment site on the fundus with laser light, and while moving the target while being fixed to the eye to be examined. There is a perimeter for measuring the visual field based on the response of the subject (patient).

Further, the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment forms a predetermined data distribution (image, layer thickness distribution, lesion distribution, etc.) in the posterior segment of the eye by receiving return light from the posterior segment of the eye. Is possible. Such a configuration can be applied to any ophthalmologic imaging apparatus capable of acquiring data by scanning the posterior segment with light. The ophthalmologic imaging apparatus capable of scanning the posterior segment with light to obtain data includes SLO for obtaining a front image of the fundus by laser scanning using a confocal optical system, and optical coherence tomography (optical coherence tomography: hereinafter, There are an optical coherence tomography device that obtains a tomographic image of the fundus using OCT, and a multi-function device that combines the functions of the SLO and the optical coherence tomography. Hereinafter, the case where the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment has the SLO function and the optical coherence tomography function will be described.

In the following description, the left-right direction when viewed from the subject is the X direction, the up-down direction is the Y direction, and the depth direction of the optical system when viewed from the subject is the Z direction.

[Optical system]
1 to 3 show configuration examples of the optical system of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment. The ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment can acquire an image of the eye to be inspected in a range corresponding to the imaging mode. The ophthalmic photographing apparatus can selectively arrange the objective lens unit corresponding to the photographing mode on the optical axis of the optical system.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an optical system of an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus when the wide angle (wide angle of view) photographing mode is set. FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration example of an objective lens system according to an embodiment that can be switched according to a shooting mode. 2, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the optical system of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus when the high magnification (narrow angle (narrow angle of view)) photographing mode is set. In FIG. 3, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 or 2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a position optically conjugate with the fundus Ef of the eye E is shown as a fundus conjugate position P, and a position optically conjugate with the pupil of the eye E is shown as a pupil conjugate position Q. There is.

The optical system 100 includes a projection system that projects light onto an eye to be inspected via an objective lens system 110, and a light receiving system that receives return light of light projected onto the eye E to be inspected by the projection system via the objective lens system 110. including. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus forms an image based on the light receiving result by the light receiving system. The ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment can form an SLO image and an OCT image. That is, the optical system 100 includes the SLO optical system 130 and the OCT optical system 140. The SLO optical system 130 includes an SLO projection system and an SLO light receiving system. The OCT optical system 140 includes an OCT projection system and an OCT light receiving system.

The ophthalmologic imaging apparatus is provided with an anterior segment imaging system (anterior segment observation system) 120 for capturing an anterior segment of the subject's eye. The optical system 100 can be moved in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction together with the objective lens system 110 and the anterior segment imaging system 120 by a moving mechanism (not shown) (a moving mechanism 100D described later). The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus moves the optical system 100 and the like by the moving mechanism based on the anterior ocular segment image of the eye E to be inspected obtained by the anterior ocular segment imaging system 120, so that the position of the optical system 100 with respect to the eye E to be inspected. It is possible to perform alignment for performing alignment. Hereinafter, the case where the optical system 100 includes the objective lens system 110 and the anterior ocular segment imaging system 120 will be described, but the optical system 100 may not include these.

(Objective lens system)
The ophthalmic photographing apparatus can arrange an objective lens unit according to the photographing mode on the optical axis O of the optical system 100. In this embodiment, the photographing mode includes a wide-angle photographing mode for photographing the eye E in the first range (for example, the angle of view is 105 degrees) and a second range narrower than the first range (for example, the angle of view is 50 degrees). There is a high magnification photographing mode for photographing the eye E to be inspected. In the wide-angle imaging mode, a wide-angle image (SLO image or OCT image) representing the first range of the eye E to be inspected is acquired. In the high-magnification imaging mode, a high-magnification (narrow-angle) image (SLO image or OCT image) representing the second range narrower than the first range of the eye E to be inspected is acquired. Hereinafter, an image acquired in the wide-angle shooting mode may be referred to as a “wide-angle image”, and an image acquired in the high-magnification shooting mode may be referred to as a “narrow-angle image” (“standard image”).

The objective lens system 110 includes objective lens units 110A and 110B (see FIG. 2). The objective lens system 110 is provided with a view angle changing mechanism 115 for changing the view angle. The objective lens units 110A and 110B can be inserted into and removed from the optical axis O of the optical system 100 by the view angle changing mechanism 115. The view angle changing mechanism 115 includes, for example, a known rotating mechanism or sliding mechanism. The objective angle changing mechanism 115 allows the objective lens units 110A and 110B to be manually arranged selectively on the optical axis O. In the wide-angle shooting mode, the optical axis of the optical system 100 is arranged so that the optical axis of the objective lens unit 110A coincides (FIG. 1). In the high magnification photographing mode, the optical axis O is arranged so that the optical axis of the objective lens unit 110B coincides (FIG. 3). For example, by providing the objective lens system 110 with a detection unit that detects the type of the objective lens unit arranged on the optical axis O, the control unit 200, which will be described later, determines the type of the objective lens unit arranged on the optical axis O. It is possible to specify the type of shooting mode from the detection result. The angle-of-view changing mechanism 115 may be controlled by the control unit 200, which will be described later, to automatically and selectively arrange the objective lens units 110A and 110B on the optical axis O.

The objective lens unit 110A includes two or more lenses. A dichroic mirror DM1A is provided between two or more lenses. For example, the objective lens unit 110A may be a lens unit (nagler type) including convex lenses 111A and 112A and a concave lens 113A. The convex lenses 111A and 112A and the concave lens 113A are arranged in this order from the eye E side. A dichroic mirror DM1A is arranged between the convex lens 112A and the concave lens 113A. The dichroic mirror DM1A is an optical path coupling member that couples the optical paths of the anterior segment imaging system 120 to both the optical paths of the SLO optical system 130 and the OCT optical system 140 in the wide-angle imaging mode. Between the dichroic mirror DM1A and the concave lens 113A, a position (fundus conjugate position) P optically conjugate with the fundus (retina) or its vicinity is arranged. The objective lens unit 110A may include a dichroic mirror DM1A.

The dichroic mirror DM1A collects the light (SLO light) from the SLO optical system 130, the return light from the eye E to be inspected, the light (OCT light, measurement light) from the OCT optical system 140, and the return light from the eye E to be inspected. Make it transparent. The dichroic mirror DM1A reflects the light from the anterior ocular segment imaging system 120 toward the eye E to be inspected, and reflects the return light from the eye E to the anterior segment imaging system 120.

The objective lens unit 110B includes at least one lens. A dichroic mirror DM1B is provided on the light source (SLO light source and OCT light source) side with respect to the at least one lens. For example, the objective lens unit 110B may include a convex lens 111B. The dichroic mirror DM1B is an optical path coupling member that couples the optical paths of the anterior segment imaging system 120 with both the optical paths of the SLO optical system 130 and the OCT optical system 140 in the high magnification imaging mode. The objective lens unit 110B may include a dichroic mirror DM1B.

Like the dichroic mirror DM1A, the dichroic mirror DM1B includes light (SLO light) from the SLO optical system 130, return light from the eye E to be inspected, light (OCT light, measurement light) from the OCT optical system 140, and the object to be measured. The return light from the optometry E is transmitted. Further, the dichroic mirror DM1B reflects the light from the anterior segment imaging system 120 toward the subject's eye E, and reflects the return light from the subject's eye E toward the anterior segment imaging system 120. The position of the dichroic mirror DM1B on the optical axis O when the objective lens unit 110B is arranged on the optical axis O is the dichroic mirror DM1A on the optical axis O when the objective lens unit 110A is arranged on the optical axis O. May be substantially the same as the position. This eliminates the need for adjusting the position and orientation of the anterior segment imaging system 120 when changing the shooting mode.

The objective lens unit 110A may include only the convex lenses 111A and 112A and the concave lens 113A, and the objective lens unit 110B may include only the convex lens 111B. Accordingly, when the objective lens unit arranged on the optical axis O is switched, it is possible to share the dichroic mirrors DM1A and DM1B with one dichroic mirror.

The objective lens system 110 can be moved along the optical axis O by a moving mechanism (not shown) (moving mechanism 110D described later). Thereby, the objective lens system 110 can be moved in the Z direction with respect to the optical system 100, and the focal positions of both the SLO optical system 130 and the OCT optical system 140 can be changed.

Hereinafter, a case where the objective lens unit 110A is arranged on the optical axis O will be mainly described.

(Anterior segment imaging system)
The anterior segment imaging system 120 includes an anterior segment illumination light source 121, a collimator lens 122, an anterior segment imaging camera 123, an imaging lens 124, and a beam splitter BS1. The beam splitter BS1 is an optical path coupling member that couples the optical path of the return light to the optical path of the illumination light for illuminating the anterior segment of the eye E to be inspected.

The anterior ocular segment illumination light source 121 is a light source for illuminating the anterior ocular segment of the subject's eye E. The anterior segment photographing camera 123 includes an image sensor for detecting reflected light (returned light) from the anterior segment of the eye E illuminated by the anterior segment illumination light source 121. As the anterior ocular segment illumination light source 121, for example, an LED that emits light having a center wavelength of 950 nm is used. The light emitted from the anterior segment illumination light source 121 is collimated by the collimator lens 122. The illumination light made into a parallel light flux is reflected by the beam splitter BS1 toward the dichroic mirror DM1A. The illumination light reflected by the beam splitter BS1 is deflected toward the eye E by the dichroic mirror DM1A. The return light of the illumination light from the eye E is reflected by the dichroic mirror DM1A and transmitted through the beam splitter BS1. The return light transmitted through the beam splitter BS1 is condensed by the imaging lens 124 on the detection surface of the image sensor of the anterior ocular segment photographing camera 123. The detection surface of the image sensor is arranged at or near the pupil conjugate position (anterior eye segment conjugate position) Q. The image pickup device is composed of, for example, a CCD or CMOS image sensor. The detection result of the return light from the anterior segment of the eye E to be inspected by the image sensor is used for forming an image of the anterior segment.

(SLO optical system)
The optical path of the SLO optical system 130 and the optical path of the OCT optical system 140 are coupled by the dichroic mirror DM2. At least a part of the SLO optical system 130 is formed as a telecentric optical system. Similarly, at least a part of the OCT optical system 140 is formed as a telecentric optical system. The dichroic mirror DM2 couples the optical path formed by the telecentric optical system of the SLO optical system 130 and the optical path formed by the telecentric optical system of the OCT optical system 140. As a result, even when the focal position of the optical system 100 is changed by moving the objective lens system 110, the aberration of the pupil (for example, the exit pupil of the objective lens system 110) becomes small, which facilitates the adjustment of the focused state.

It is desirable that the dichroic mirrors DM1A (DM1B) and DM2 are arranged on the optical axis O while maintaining a twisted relationship. The dichroic mirror DM1A (DM1B) converts at least a part of the light guided through the optical paths of the SLO optical system 130 and the OCT optical system 140 (the optical path of the optical system 100) and the light guided through the optical path of the anterior segment imaging system 120. A first optical surface that reflects at least one of the lights and transmits the other light is provided. The dichroic mirror DM2 reflects at least a part of the light guided through the optical path of the SLO optical system 130 and at least a part of the light guided through the optical path of the OCT optical system 140, and transmits the other light. The second optical surface is provided. The dichroic mirrors DM1A (DM1B) and DM2 are planes including the normal line of the first optical surface and the optical axis of the SLO optical system 130, and the plane including the normal line of the second optical surface and the optical axis of the SLO optical system 130. And are arranged so as to be orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to each other. Thereby, in the high magnification photographing mode shown in FIG. 3, since the concave lens 113A is not arranged between the dichroic mirror DM1B and the dichroic mirror DM2, the astigmatism is removed or the astigmatism is removed by the dichroic mirror DM1B and the dichroic mirror DM2. Can be made extremely small, so that it is possible to suppress deterioration of image quality. On the other hand, in the wide-angle shooting mode shown in FIG. 1, the roughness of the image is allowed more than in the high-magnification shooting mode, so that the influence on the image quality due to the residual astigmatism is small.

The SLO optical system 130 includes an SLO light source 131, a collimator lens 132, a beam splitter BS2, a condenser lens 133, a confocal diaphragm 134, a detector 135, an optical scanner 136, and a lens 137. The beam splitter BS2 is an optical path coupling member that couples the optical path of the return light with the optical path of the SLO light projected on the eye E.

As the SLO light source 131, for example, one that emits light having a center wavelength of 840 nm is used. Examples of the SLO light source 131 include a laser diode (Laser Diode: LD, hereinafter), a super luminescent diode (Super Luminescent Diode: SLD), a laser driven light source (Laser Driven Light Source: LDLS), and the like. The SLO light source 131 is arranged at or near a position (fundus conjugate position) P optically conjugate with the fundus (retina).

The light emitted from the SLO light source 131 is converted into a parallel light flux by the collimator lens 132. The light converted into the parallel light flux passes through the beam splitter BS2. The light transmitted through the beam splitter BS2 is deflected by the optical scanner 136. The optical scanner 136 is used to scan the fundus Ef of the eye E with light from the SLO light source 131. The optical scanner 136 includes an optical scanner 136X that deflects light in the X direction and an optical scanner 136Y that deflects light in the Y direction. The optical scanner 136X is a mirror whose tilt can be changed, and the tilt of the reflecting surface is controlled by the control unit 200 described later. The optical scanner 136 is used, for example, for horizontal scanning within the fundus of the eye. An optical scanner 136Y is arranged on the eye E side of the optical scanner 136X. The optical scanner 136Y is a mirror whose tilt can be changed, and the tilt of the reflection surface is controlled by the control unit 200. The optical scanner 136Y is used, for example, for vertical scanning within the fundus of the eye orthogonal to the horizontal direction. One of the optical scanner 136X and the optical scanner 136Y is a low-speed scanner such as a galvano mirror, and the other is a high-speed scanner such as a resonant mirror, a polygon mirror, or a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems: MEMS) mirror. You may The reflection surface of the optical scanner 136Y is arranged at a position optically conjugate with the pupil of the eye E (pupil conjugate position) Q or in the vicinity thereof. A lens 137 and a dichroic mirror DM2 are arranged on the eye E side of the optical scanner 136Y. The light from the SLO light source 131 deflected by the optical scanner 136 passes through the lens 137 and the dichroic mirror DM2 and is projected onto the eye E through the objective lens system 110.

The return light of the light from the SLO light source 131 projected on the eye E to be examined is reflected by the beam splitter BS2 toward the detector 135 via the same optical path. A condenser lens 133 and a confocal diaphragm 134 are arranged between the beam splitter BS2 and the detector 135. The condenser lens 133 condenses the light reflected by the beam splitter BS2. The light condensed by the condenser lens 133 passes through the opening formed in the confocal diaphragm 134 and is incident on the detection surface of the detector 135. The opening formed in the confocal diaphragm 134 is arranged at a position optically conjugate with the fundus (retina) (fundus conjugate position) P or in the vicinity thereof. The detector 135 is configured by, for example, an avalanche photo diode (APD) or a photomultiplier tube (Photo Multiplier Tube: PMT).

(OCT optical system)
The OCT optical system 140 includes a focusing lens 141, an optical scanner 142, a collimating lens 143, and an interference optical system 150. The interference optical system 150 includes an OCT light source 151, fiber couplers 152 and 153, a prism 154, and a detector 155.

The focusing lens 141 can be moved along the optical axis (optical path) of the OCT optical system 140 by a moving mechanism (not shown) (moving mechanism 141D described later). This allows the focus position of the OCT optical system 140 to be changed independently of the SLO optical system 130. Therefore, for example, after the focusing states of the SLO optical system 130 and the OCT optical system 140 are adjusted by moving the objective lens system 110, the focusing state of the OCT optical system 140 is finely adjusted by moving the focusing lens 141. You can

The optical scanner 142 is used to scan the fundus Ef of the eye E with measurement light based on the light from the OCT light source 151. The optical scanner 142 includes an optical scanner 142X that deflects light in the X direction and an optical scanner 142Y that deflects light in the Y direction. The optical scanner 142X is a mirror whose tilt can be changed, and the tilt of the reflection surface is controlled by the control unit 200. The optical scanner 142 is used, for example, for horizontal scanning within the fundus of the eye. An optical scanner 142Y is arranged on the eye E side of the optical scanner 142X. The optical scanner 142Y is a mirror whose tilt can be changed, and the tilt of the reflection surface is controlled by the control unit 200. The optical scanner 142Y is used, for example, for vertical scanning within the fundus of the eye orthogonal to the horizontal direction. One of the optical scanner 142X and the optical scanner 142Y may be a low-speed scanner such as a low-speed galvanometer mirror, and the other may be a high-speed scanner such as a high-speed galvanometer mirror. An intermediate position between the optical scanners 142X and 142Y is arranged at a position (pupil conjugate position) Q optically conjugate with the pupil of the eye E to be examined or in the vicinity thereof. A collimator lens 143 is arranged on the OCT light source 151 side of the optical scanner 142Y.

The interference optical system 150 is provided with an optical system for acquiring an OCT image of the eye E to be inspected. This optical system has a configuration similar to that of a conventional swept source type OCT apparatus. That is, this optical system splits the light from the wavelength-swept (wavelength scanning) light source into the measurement light and the reference light, and returns the return light of the measurement light from the eye E and the reference light that has passed through the reference optical path. This is an interference optical system that causes interference to generate interference light and detects the interference light. The detection result (detection signal) of the interference light by the interference optical system is a signal indicating the spectrum of the interference light. Note that the interference optical system 150 may have the same configuration as a conventional spectral domain type OCT device instead of the swept source type OCT device.

The OCT light source 151 is a wavelength sweep type (wavelength scanning type) light source capable of sweeping (scanning) the wavelength of OCT light (emitted light). As the wavelength swept light source, for example, a laser light source that includes a resonator and emits light having a central wavelength of 1050 nm is used. The OCT light source 151 temporally changes the output wavelength in the near-infrared wavelength band that cannot be visually recognized by the human eye.

The light L0 output from the OCT light source 151 is guided to the fiber coupler 152 by the optical fiber f1 and split into the measurement light LS and the reference light LR.

The reference light LR is guided to the fiber emitting end c1 by the optical fiber f2, and is irradiated onto the collimator lens 156 from the fiber emitting end c1. The reference light LR emitted from the fiber emission end c1 is made into a parallel light flux by the collimator lens 156. The reference light LR that is a parallel light flux is guided to the prism 154. The prism 154 turns the traveling direction of the reference light LR, which is a parallel light flux by the collimator lens 156, in the opposite direction. The optical path of the reference light LR that enters the prism 154 and the optical path of the reference light LR that exits the prism 154 are parallel. The prism 154 is movable in a direction along the incident optical path and the outgoing optical path of the reference light LR by a moving mechanism (not shown) (moving mechanism 154D described later). In this case, an actuator that generates a driving force for moving the moving mechanism and a transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force are provided. The actuator is composed of, for example, a pulse motor. The transmission mechanism is composed of, for example, a combination of gears and a rack and pinion. Thereby, the length of the optical path of the reference light LR is changed.

The reference light LR that has passed through the prism 154 is converted from a parallel light flux into a focused light flux by the collimator lens 157, enters the fiber entrance end c2, and is guided to the fiber coupler 153 by the optical fiber f3. An optical path length correction member and a dispersion compensation member may be arranged between the collimator lenses 156 and 157 and the prism 154. The optical path length correction member acts as a delay unit for matching the optical path length (optical distance) of the reference light LR and the optical path length of the measurement light LS. The dispersion compensating member acts as a dispersion compensating means for matching the dispersion characteristics between the reference light LR and the measurement light LS.

On the other hand, the measurement light LS generated by the fiber coupler 152 is guided to the fiber end c3 by the optical fiber f4. The measurement light LS guided to the fiber end c3 is applied to the collimator lens 143. The measurement light LS emitted from the fiber end c3 is collimated by the collimator lens 143. The measurement light LS made into a parallel light flux reaches the dichroic mirror DM2 via the optical scanner 142 and the focusing lens 141. The measurement light LS is reflected by the dichroic mirror DM2, refracted by the objective lens system 110, and applied to the eye E to be inspected. The measurement light LS is scattered (including reflection) at various depth positions of the eye E to be inspected. Return light of the measurement light LS including such backscattered light travels in the same path as the forward path in the opposite direction, is guided to the fiber coupler 152, and reaches the fiber coupler 153 via the optical fiber f5.

The fiber coupler 153 synthesizes (interferes) the measurement light LS incident via the optical fiber f5 and the reference light LR incident via the optical fiber f3 to generate interference light. The fiber coupler 153 splits the interference light of the measurement light LS and the reference light LR with a predetermined splitting ratio (for example, 1:1) to generate a pair of interference light LC. The pair of interference lights LC emitted from the fiber coupler 153 are guided to the detector 155.

The detector 155 is, for example, a balanced photodiode (Balanced Photo Diode) that has a pair of photo detectors that detect a pair of interference light LC, respectively, and that outputs the difference between the detection results of these detectors. The detector 155 sends the detection result (detection signal) to a DAQ (Data Acquisition System) (not shown). A clock is supplied to the DAQ from the OCT light source 151. This clock is generated in the OCT light source 151 in synchronization with the output timing of each wavelength swept (scanned) within a predetermined wavelength range by the wavelength swept light source. The DAQ samples the detection result of the detector 155 based on this clock and sends it to the image forming unit or the like described later. The image forming unit forms the reflection intensity profile on each A line by performing Fourier transform or the like on the spectral distribution based on the detection result obtained by the detector 155, for example, for each series of wavelength scanning (for each A line). To do. Further, the image forming unit forms image data by imaging the reflection intensity profile of each A line.

[Processing system]
FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the processing system of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment. 4, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

(Control unit)
The processing system of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment is mainly composed of the control unit 200. The control unit 200 controls each unit of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus. The control unit 200 includes a main control unit 201 and a storage unit 202. The function of the main control unit 201 is realized by, for example, a microprocessor. A computer program for controlling the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus is stored in the storage unit 202 in advance. This computer program includes various light source control programs, optical scanner control programs, various detector control programs, image forming programs, data processing programs, user interface programs, and the like. When the main control unit 201 operates according to such a computer program, the control unit 200 executes control processing.

The control of the objective lens system 110 includes control of a moving mechanism 110D that moves the objective lens system 110 along the optical axis O. For example, the moving mechanism 110D is provided with an actuator that generates a driving force for moving the moving mechanism 110D and a transmission mechanism that transmits this driving force. The actuator is composed of, for example, a pulse motor. The transmission mechanism is composed of, for example, a combination of gears and a rack and pinion. The main controller 201 controls the moving mechanism 110D by sending a control signal to the actuator.

Control of the SLO optical system 130 includes control of the SLO light source 131, control of the optical scanner 136, control of the detector 135, and the like. The control of the SLO light source 131 includes turning on/off the light source, adjusting the light amount, adjusting the diaphragm, and the like. The control of the optical scanner 136 includes control of the scanning position and scanning range by the optical scanner 136X, control of the scanning position and scanning range by the optical scanner 136Y, and the like. The control of the detector 135 includes exposure adjustment, gain adjustment, and detection rate adjustment of the detection element.

Control of the OCT optical system 140 includes control of the OCT light source 151, control of the optical scanner 142, control of the moving mechanism 141D and the moving mechanism 154D, control of the detector 155, and the like. The control of the OCT light source 151 includes turning on/off the light source, adjusting the amount of light, adjusting the diaphragm, and the like. The control of the optical scanner 142 includes control of the scanning position and scanning range by the optical scanner 142X, control of the scanning position and scanning range by the optical scanner 142Y, and the like. The moving mechanism 141D moves the focusing lens 141 along the optical path of the OCT optical system 140. For example, the moving mechanism 141D is provided with an actuator that generates a driving force for moving the moving mechanism and a transmission mechanism that transmits this driving force. The actuator is composed of, for example, a pulse motor. The transmission mechanism is composed of, for example, a combination of gears and a rack and pinion. The main controller 201 controls the moving mechanism 141D by sending a control signal to the actuator. The moving mechanism 154D moves the prism 154 in a direction along the incident optical path and the outgoing optical path of the reference light LR. For example, the moving mechanism 154D is provided with an actuator that generates a driving force for moving the moving mechanism and a transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force. The actuator is composed of, for example, a pulse motor. The transmission mechanism is composed of, for example, a combination of gears and a rack and pinion. The main control unit 201 controls the moving mechanism 154D by sending a control signal to the actuator. The control of the detector 155 includes exposure adjustment, gain adjustment, and detection rate adjustment of the detection element.

Control of the anterior segment imaging system 120 includes control of the anterior segment illumination light source 121, control of the anterior segment imaging camera 123, and the like. The control of the anterior segment illumination light source 121 includes turning on/off the light source, adjusting the light amount, adjusting the diaphragm, and the like. The control of the anterior segment photographing camera 123 includes exposure adjustment, gain adjustment, and photographing rate adjustment of the image sensor.

The control of the optical system 100 includes control of a moving mechanism 100D that moves the optical system 100 (including the dichroic mirrors DM1A and DM1B and the anterior ocular segment imaging system 120) in the X, Y, and Z directions. For example, the moving mechanism 100D is provided with an actuator that generates a driving force for moving the moving mechanism and a transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force. The actuator is composed of, for example, a pulse motor. The transmission mechanism is composed of, for example, a combination of gears and a rack and pinion. The main control unit 201 controls the moving mechanism 100D by sending a control signal to the actuator.

The main controller 201 includes an alignment controller 201A, a tracking controller 201B, and a display controller 201C.

The alignment control unit 201A controls execution of alignment for aligning the optical system 100 with the eye E to be inspected. The alignment control unit 201A controls the moving mechanisms 100D and 110D based on the anterior segment image of the subject's eye E obtained by the anterior segment imaging system 120. The alignment control unit 201A specifies, for example, a characteristic part in the anterior ocular segment image of the subject's eye E obtained by the anterior ocular segment imaging system 120, and the amount of deviation between the position of the specified characteristic part and a predetermined target position The movement amount of the optical system 100 or the like is calculated so that The alignment control unit 201A controls the moving mechanism 100D based on the obtained moving amount to align the optical system 100 with the eye E (XY directions). The target position may be a predetermined position or a position in the anterior segment image designated using the UI unit 230.

The alignment control unit 201A identifies, for example, the in-focus state (degree of blurring) of the anterior ocular segment image of the eye E obtained by the anterior segment imaging system 120, and the identified in-focus state is the desired in-focus state. It is possible to obtain the amount of movement of the objective lens system 110 in the Z direction so that The alignment control unit 201A aligns the optical system 100 and the objective lens system 110 with respect to the eye E by controlling the moving mechanisms 100D and 110D based on the calculated movement amount (Z direction). Note that the anterior segment is photographed from different directions using two or more cameras, the focusing state is three-dimensionally specified from the two or more images provided with parallax, and the specified focusing state is desired. The amount of movement of the objective lens system 110 in the Z direction may be calculated so as to bring the object into focus.

The alignment control unit 201A may align the objective lens system 110 with respect to the eye E (in the Z direction) by controlling the moving mechanism 110D based on the SLO image obtained by the SLO optical system 130. In this case, the alignment control unit 201A identifies the in-focus state (degree of blurring) of the acquired SLO image, and adjusts the Z direction of the objective lens system 110 so that the identified in-focus state becomes a desired in-focus state. Find the amount of movement. The alignment control unit 201A controls the moving mechanism 110D based on the calculated moving amount.

The tracking control unit 201B controls the tracking of the SLO image of the subject's eye E obtained by the SLO optical system 130. The tracking control unit 201B, for example, specifies a characteristic part in the SLO image at a predetermined timing, and when the position of the specified characteristic part changes, obtains the movement amount so that the displacement amount of the position is canceled. The tracking control unit 201B controls tracking for the SLO image based on the calculated movement amount.

Further, the tracking control unit 201B controls tracking of the eye E to be inspected, which is obtained by the OCT optical system 140, with respect to the OCT image based on the SLO image. The tracking control unit 201B, for example, specifies a characteristic part in the SLO image at a predetermined timing, and when the position of the specified characteristic part changes, obtains the movement amount so that the displacement amount of the position is canceled. The tracking control unit 201B controls tracking for the OCT image based on the calculated movement amount. The tracking control unit 201B may be provided in the data processing unit 220.

The display control unit 201C causes the UI unit 230, which will be described later, to display various types of information. The information displayed on the UI unit 230 includes information generated by the control unit 200, an image formed by the image forming unit 210, information after data processing by the data processing unit 220, and the like.

The display control unit 201C causes the UI unit 230 to display a combined image obtained by combining the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image by the image combining unit 220C described later. The wide-angle image is an image (SLO image, OCT image) acquired in the wide-angle shooting mode as described above. The narrow-angle image is an image (SLO image, OCT image) acquired in the high magnification imaging mode as described above.

The display control unit 201C can display a composite image as a still image on the UI unit 230, and can repeatedly display a composite image as a moving image on the UI unit 230. As a composite image as a moving image, there is one in which only a narrow-angle image in the composite image is updated, one in which only a wide-angle image in the composite image is updated, and the like. For example, when the narrow-angle image is repeatedly acquired after the wide-angle image is acquired using the SLO optical system 130 or the OCT optical system 140, the narrow-angle image in the composite image is updated to the newly acquired narrow-angle image. It Alternatively, when the wide-angle image is repeatedly acquired after the narrow-angle image is acquired using the SLO optical system 130 or the OCT optical system 140, the wide-angle image in the composite image is updated to the newly acquired wide-angle image.

(Image forming section)
The image forming unit 210 includes an SLO image forming unit 210A and an OCT image forming unit 210B. The SLO image forming unit 210A forms image data of an SLO image based on the detection signal input from the detector 135 and the pixel position signal input from the control unit 200. The OCT image forming unit 210B forms image data of an OCT image (tomographic image of the fundus oculi Ef) based on the detection signal input from the detector 155 and the pixel position signal input from the control unit 200. The image forming unit 210 also forms an anterior segment image based on the detection result of the reflected light from the anterior segment of the eye E to be inspected by the image sensor of the anterior segment photographing camera 123. Various images (image data) formed by the image forming unit 210 are stored in, for example, the storage unit 202.

(Data processing unit)
The data processing unit 220 executes various types of data processing. An example of data processing is processing on image data formed by the image forming unit 210 or another device. Examples of this process include various image processes, image analysis processes, and diagnostic support processes such as image evaluation based on image data.

The data processing unit 220 includes an alignment unit 220A, a scale adjustment unit 220B, and an image composition unit 220C.

The alignment unit 220A aligns the wide-angle image of the eye E to be acquired in the wide-angle shooting mode with the narrow-angle image of the eye E to be captured in the high-magnification shooting mode including the central portion of the wide-angle image. The central portion of the wide-angle image is a portion including the position on the optical axis O. The wide-angle image is a wide-angle (first range) SLO image formed by the SLO image forming unit 210A or a wide-angle OCT image formed by the OCT image forming unit 210B in the wide-angle shooting mode. The narrow-angle image is a narrow-angle (second range) SLO image formed by the SLO image forming unit 210A or a narrow-angle OCT image formed by the OCT image forming unit 210B in the high-magnification imaging mode.

The alignment unit 220A identifies, for example, a corresponding area of the wide-angle image corresponding to the central area including the central portion of the narrow-angle image. The alignment unit 220A can specify the corresponding region based on the respective view angles of the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image and the position of the central region including the central portion of the wide-angle image. The alignment unit 220A aligns the corresponding region in the wide-angle image with the narrow-angle image. In addition, the alignment unit 220A identifies a characteristic portion of the fundus oculi Ef (a characteristic portion such as a nipple, a blood vessel, etc.) drawn in common for the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image, and uses the identified characteristic portion as an index. It is also possible to align the image and the narrow-angle image.

The scale adjustment unit 220B compares the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image that are aligned by the alignment unit 220A based on the angle of view set in the wide-angle shooting mode and the angle of view set in the high-magnification shooting mode. Perform processing to match the scale.

The image synthesizing unit 220C synthesizes the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image that have been scale-adjusted by the scale adjusting unit 220B to form a synthetic image from which the ghost in the central portion has been removed. The image synthesizing unit 220C defines a central area (area including the central portion, partial area) of the wide-angle image including the position on the optical axis O of the optical system 100 as at least a partial area of the narrow-angle image corresponding to the central area. It is possible to form a composite image by substituting. For example, the image compositing unit 220C forms a composite image by cutting out the corresponding area in the wide-angle image identified as described above and arranging at least a part of the narrow-angle image in the corresponding area. That is, the area including the central portion of the wide-angle image is replaced with at least a part of the area of the narrow-angle image corresponding to the area. Since a ghost is hardly drawn in the center of the narrow-angle image or is less affected by the ghost than in the center of the wide-angle image, it is possible to acquire a wide-angle image in which the ghost in the center is suppressed. Also, the resolution of the central portion of the wide-angle image is improved.

Further, the image composition unit 220C forms a composite image by superimposing at least a part of the narrow-angle image corresponding to the central area of the wide-angle image including the position on the optical axis O of the optical system 100. It is possible to For example, the image compositing unit 220C forms a composite image by superimposing at least a part of the narrow-angle image on the corresponding area in the wide-angle image specified as described above. That is, at least a part of the narrow-angle image corresponding to the area is superimposed on the area including the central portion of the wide-angle image. Also in this case, it is possible to acquire a wide-angle image in which the ghost in the central portion is suppressed. Also, the resolution of the central portion of the wide-angle image is improved.

As described above, the image synthesizing unit 220C synthesizes the wide-angle SLO image with the narrow-angle SLO image at the center of the wide-angle SLO image and the narrow-angle SLO image with the narrow-angle SLO image superimposed on the wide-angle SLO image. , A synthetic image in which the central portion of the wide-angle OCT image is replaced with a narrow-angle OCT image, or a synthetic image in which the narrow-angle OCT image is superimposed on the central portion of the wide-angle OCT image is formed. Further, the image combining unit 220C includes a composite image in which the central portion of the wide-angle SLO image is replaced with a narrow-angle OCT image, a composite image in which the narrow-angle OCT image is superimposed on the central portion of the wide-angle SLO image, and a wide-angle image. A synthetic image in which the central portion of the OCT image is replaced with the narrow-angle SLO image, or a synthetic image in which the narrow-angle SLO image is superimposed on the central portion of the wide-angle OCT image may be formed.

The alignment unit 220A aligns the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image adjusted so that the scales match each other, and the image combining unit 220C merges the aligned wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image. You may form a synthetic image by which the ghost of the center part was removed by synthesize|combining.

(UI part)
The UI (User Interface) unit 230 has a function of exchanging information between the user and the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus. The UI unit 230 includes a display device and an operation device (input device). The display device may include a display unit and may include other display devices. The operating device includes various hardware keys and/or software keys. The control unit 200 can receive the operation content of the operation device and output a control signal corresponding to the operation content to each unit. At least a part of the operation device and at least a part of the display device can be integrally configured. A touch panel display is one example.

The optical system 100, the control unit 200, and the image forming unit 210 are examples of the “imaging unit” according to the embodiment. The view angle changing mechanism 115 is an example of the “view angle changing unit” according to the embodiment. The angle of view (for example, 105 degrees) when the wide-angle shooting mode is set is an example of the “first angle of view” according to the embodiment. The shooting range of the eye E to be inspected when the wide-angle shooting mode is set is an example of the “first range” according to the embodiment. The wide-angle image obtained by photographing the subject's eye E when the wide-angle photographing mode is set is an example of the “first image” according to the embodiment. The angle of view (for example, 50 degrees) when set in the high-magnification shooting mode is an example of the “second angle of view” according to the embodiment. The imaging range of the eye E to be inspected when the high-magnification imaging mode is set is an example of the “second range” according to the embodiment. The narrow-angle image obtained by photographing the eye E under the high-magnification photographing mode is an example of the “second image” according to the embodiment. The display device included in the UI unit 230 is an example of the “display unit” according to the embodiment.

Further, one of the SLO optical system 130, the control unit 200 and the SLO image forming unit 210A, and one of the OCT optical system 140, the control unit 200, and the OCT image forming unit 210B is an example of the “first imaging unit” according to the embodiment. is there. Similarly, one of the SLO optical system 130, the control unit 200 and the SLO image forming unit 210A, and one of the OCT optical system 140, the control unit 200, and the OCT image forming unit 210B is an example of a “second imaging unit” according to the embodiment. Is. The optical system 100 is an example of the “data collecting unit that scans the eye to be examined with light and collects data” according to the embodiment. In this case, the SLO optical system 130 or the OCT optical system 140 executes the first scan for the range corresponding to the wide-angle shooting mode and the second scan for the range corresponding to the high-magnification shooting mode. The SLO image forming unit 210A or the OCT image forming unit 210B forms a wide-angle image based on the first data collected by the first scan and forms a narrow-angle image based on the second data collected by the second scan.

[motion]
The operation of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment will be described.

"First operation example"
5 and 6A to 6E show a first operation example of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of an operation example of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus when acquiring an SLO image. 6A to 6E are operation explanatory diagrams of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of FIG.

(S1)
First, the field angle changing mechanism 115 sets the objective lens unit 110A for the wide-angle shooting mode on the optical axis O. For example, a user such as an examiner, a subject, a doctor, or a patient manually sets the objective lens unit 110A on the optical axis O. The ophthalmologic imaging apparatus can shift to the next operation based on the operation performed on the UI unit 230 by the user. Further, the ophthalmic photographing apparatus detects the type of the objective lens unit arranged on the optical axis O, and when it is determined that the detected type is a type corresponding to the photographing mode registered in advance, the following operation is performed. You may make it shift to.

When the objective lens unit 110A for the wide-angle shooting mode is set on the optical axis O, the control unit 200 acquires the anterior segment image by capturing the anterior segment of the eye E by the anterior segment imaging system 120. .. The alignment control unit 201A controls the moving mechanism 100D based on the acquired anterior segment image to align the optical system 100 and the objective lens system 110 with the eye E (X direction, Y direction, and Z direction). direction). The control unit 200 moves the optical scanner 136 to a predetermined initial position. In S1, the tracking control unit 201B may start tracking control for the SLO image.

(S2)
The control unit 200 turns on the SLO light source 131 and controls the optical scanner 136 to start scanning the fundus Ef of the eye E with light from the SLO light source 131. The SLO image forming unit 210A forms an SLO image of the fundus Ef based on the detection result of the fundus reflected light by the detector 135. The SLO image obtained in S2 is a wide-angle image as shown in FIG. 6A. A ghost G is drawn at the center of this wide-angle image.

(S3)
Then, the angle-of-view changing mechanism 115 sets the objective lens unit 110B for the high-magnification shooting mode on the optical axis O. For example, a user such as an examiner, an examinee, a doctor, or a patient manually sets the objective lens unit 110B on the optical axis O. When the objective lens unit 110B for the high magnification photographing mode is set on the optical axis O, the control unit 200 performs alignment and moves the optical scanner 136 to a predetermined initial position, as in S1.

(S4)
When the objective lens unit 110B for the high-magnification photographing mode is set on the optical axis O, the control unit 200 performs alignment again, and controls the optical scanner 136 in the same manner as in S2 to control the light from the SLO light source 131. Then, the scan of the fundus Ef of the eye E is started. At this time, the area including the central portion of the SLO image acquired in S2 is set to scan. The SLO image forming unit 210A forms an SLO image of the fundus Ef based on the detection result of the fundus reflected light by the detector 135. The SLO image obtained in S4 is a narrow-angle image as shown in FIG. 6B. No ghost is drawn in the center of the narrow-angle image, or the ghost is less noticeable than the wide-angle image.

(S5)
Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the alignment unit 220A converts the SLO image (wide-angle image) of the eye E to be acquired in S2 into the SLO image (narrow-angle image) of the eye E to be acquired in S4. A corresponding area (corresponding area) C1 is specified. The alignment unit 220A aligns the SLO image (wide-angle image) of the eye E acquired in S2 and the SLO image (narrow-angle image) of the eye E acquired in S4 as described above. ..

The scale adjustment unit 220B compares the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image that are aligned by the alignment unit 220A based on the angle of view set in the wide-angle shooting mode and the angle of view set in the high-magnification shooting mode. Match the scale. In FIG. 6D, the scale of the narrow-angle image acquired in S4 is adjusted so as to match the scale of the wide-angle image acquired in S2. At this time, the scale adjustment unit 220B (data processing unit 220) can perform known distortion correction processing and color correction processing on at least one of the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image. As shown in FIG. 6E, the image synthesis unit 220C synthesizes the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image that have been scale-adjusted by the scale adjustment unit 220B to remove (or suppress) the ghost in the central portion. To form. For example, the image compositing unit 220C forms a composite image by replacing the central area of the wide-angle image with at least a partial area of the narrow-angle image corresponding to the central area.

(S6)
The display control unit 201C causes the UI unit 230 to display the composite image formed in S5.

(S7)
The control unit 200 determines whether or not the user can diagnose the eye E based on the combined image displayed in S6. The user confirms the composite image displayed on the UI unit 230 and instructs the UI unit 230 whether or not diagnosis is possible. The control unit 200 can determine whether or not the diagnosis is possible based on the operation content of the user on the UI unit 230. When it is determined that the diagnosis is possible (S7:Y), the operation of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus ends (END). When it is determined that the diagnosis is not possible (S7:N), the operation of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus proceeds to S8.

(S8)
When it is determined that the diagnosis is not possible (S7:N), the display control unit 201C receives a predetermined operation of the user on the UI unit 230, and the display control unit 201C acquires the SLO image (narrow-angle image) of the eye E to be inspected acquired in S4. Is enlarged and displayed on the UI unit 230. After that, the operation of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus ends (END).

"Second operation example"
5 and 6A to 6E have been described with respect to the case where the wide-angle SLO image and the narrow-angle SLO image are combined, the same applies to the case where the wide-angle OCT image and the narrow-angle OCT image are combined.

FIG. 7 shows a second operation example of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an operation example of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus when acquiring an OCT image.

(S11)
First, similarly to S1, the objective lens unit 110A for the wide-angle shooting mode is set on the optical axis O by the view angle changing mechanism 115. For example, a user such as an examiner, a subject, a doctor, or a patient manually sets the objective lens unit 110A on the optical axis O.

When the objective lens unit 110A for the wide-angle shooting mode is set on the optical axis O, the control unit 200 acquires the anterior segment image by capturing the anterior segment of the eye E by the anterior segment imaging system 120. .. The alignment control unit 201A controls the moving mechanism 100D based on the acquired anterior segment image to align the optical system 100 and the objective lens system 110 with the eye E (X direction, Y direction, and Z direction). direction). The control unit 200 moves the optical scanner 142 to a predetermined initial position.

Next, the alignment control unit 201A performs alignment in the focus direction of the retina from the anterior segment image obtained by the anterior segment imaging system 120 or the SLO image obtained separately. This enables fine adjustment of the position of the objective lens system 110 in the direction of the optical axis O.

Subsequently, the main control unit 201 changes the focus position of the OCT optical system 140 based on the detection signal of the interference light obtained by the OCT optical system 140. The main control unit 201 changes the focus position of the OCT optical system 140 by controlling the moving mechanism 141D so that the amplitude of the detection signal of the predetermined interference light is maximized, for example.

In S11, the tracking control unit 201B may start tracking control for the OCT image.

(S12)
The control unit 200 turns on the OCT light source 151 and controls the optical scanner 142 to start scanning the fundus Ef of the eye E with the measurement light LS based on the light from the OCT light source 151. The OCT image forming unit 210B forms an OCT image of the fundus Ef based on the detection result of the interference light by the detector 155. The OCT image obtained in S12 is a wide-angle image. A ghost is drawn at the center of this wide-angle image.

(S13)
Then, the angle-of-view changing mechanism 115 sets the objective lens unit 110B for the high-magnification shooting mode on the optical axis O. For example, a user such as an examiner, an examinee, a doctor, or a patient manually sets the objective lens unit 110B on the optical axis O. When the objective lens unit 110B for the high magnification photographing mode is set on the optical axis O, the control unit 200 performs alignment and moves the optical scanner 142 to a predetermined initial position, as in S11.

(S14)
When the objective lens unit 110B for the high-magnification imaging mode is set on the optical axis O, the control unit 200 performs alignment again, and controls the optical scanner 142 in the same manner as S12, and the measurement light LS is used to measure the eye to be examined. The scan of the fundus Ef of E is started. The OCT image forming unit 210B forms an OCT image of the fundus Ef based on the detection result of the interference light by the detector 155. This OCT image is a narrow-angle image. No ghost is drawn in the center of the narrow-angle image, or the ghost is less noticeable than the wide-angle image.

(S15)
Subsequently, the alignment unit 220A, in the OCT image (wide-angle image) of the eye E to be acquired in S12, a region (corresponding region) corresponding to the OCT image (narrow-angle image) of the eye E to be acquired in S14. Specify. As described above, the alignment unit 220A aligns the OCT image (wide-angle image) of the eye E acquired in S12 and the OCT image (narrow-angle image) of the eye E acquired in S14. ..

The scale adjustment unit 220B compares the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image that are aligned by the alignment unit 220A based on the angle of view set in the wide-angle shooting mode and the angle of view set in the high-magnification shooting mode. Match the scale. At this time, the scale adjustment unit 220B (data processing unit 220) can perform known distortion correction processing and color correction processing on at least one of the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image. The image combining unit 220C forms a combined image in which the ghost in the center is removed (or suppressed) by combining the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image that have been scale-adjusted by the scale adjusting unit 220B. For example, the image compositing unit 220C forms a composite image by replacing the central area of the wide-angle image with at least a partial area of the narrow-angle image corresponding to the central area.

(S16)
The display control unit 201C causes the UI unit 230 to display the composite image formed in S15.

(S17)
Similar to S7, the control unit 200 determines whether the user can diagnose the eye E based on the combined image displayed in S16. When it is determined that the diagnosis is possible (S17:Y), the operation of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus ends (END). When it is determined that the diagnosis is not possible (S17:N), the operation of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus proceeds to S18.

(S18)
When it is determined that the diagnosis is not possible (S17:N), the display control unit 201C receives the user's predetermined operation on the UI unit 230, and the display control unit 201C receives the OCT image (narrow-angle image) of the eye E acquired in S14. Is enlarged and displayed on the UI unit 230. After that, the operation of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus ends (END).

"Third operation example"
5 illustrates a case where a wide-angle SLO image and a narrow-angle SLO image are combined, and FIG. 7 illustrates a case where a wide-angle OCT image and a narrow-angle OCT image are combined. However, one is an SLO image. If the other is an OCT image, they may be combined.

FIG. 8 shows a third operation example of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an operation example of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus when a wide-angle SLO image and a narrow-angle SLO image are combined and only the narrow-angle SLO image is updated.

(S21)
First, similarly to S1, the objective lens unit 110A for the wide-angle shooting mode is set on the optical axis O by the view angle changing mechanism 115. For example, a user such as an examiner, a subject, a doctor, or a patient manually sets the objective lens unit 110A on the optical axis O.

When the objective lens unit 110A for the wide-angle shooting mode is set on the optical axis O, the control unit 200 acquires the anterior segment image by capturing the anterior segment of the eye E by the anterior segment imaging system 120. .. The alignment control unit 201A controls the moving mechanism 100D based on the acquired anterior segment image to align the optical system 100 and the objective lens system 110 with the eye E (X direction, Y direction, and Z direction). direction). The control unit 200 moves the optical scanner 136 to a predetermined initial position. In S21, the tracking control unit 201B may start tracking control for the SLO image.

(S22)
The control unit 200 turns on the SLO light source 131 and controls the optical scanner 136 to start scanning the fundus Ef of the eye E with light from the SLO light source 131. The SLO image forming unit 210A forms an SLO image of the fundus Ef based on the detection result of the fundus reflected light by the detector 135. The SLO image obtained in S22 is a wide-angle image.

(S23)
Then, the angle-of-view changing mechanism 115 sets the objective lens unit 110B for the high-magnification shooting mode on the optical axis O. For example, a user such as an examiner, an examinee, a doctor, or a patient manually sets the objective lens unit 110B on the optical axis O. When the objective lens unit 110B for the high magnification photographing mode is set on the optical axis O, the control unit 200 performs alignment and moves the optical scanner 136 to a predetermined initial position, as in S1.

(S24)
As in S22, the control unit 200 controls the optical scanner 142 to start scanning the fundus Ef of the eye E with the measurement light LS based on the light from the OCT light source 151. At this time, the area including the central portion of the SLO image acquired in S22 is set to scan. The SLO image forming unit 210A forms an SLO image of the fundus Ef based on the detection result of the fundus reflected light by the detector 135. The SLO image obtained in S24 is a narrow-angle image.

(S25)
Subsequently, the alignment unit 220A, in the SLO image (wide-angle image) of the eye E to be acquired in S22, a region (corresponding region) corresponding to the SLO image (narrow-angle image) of the eye E to be acquired in S24. Specify. As described above, the alignment unit 220A aligns the SLO image (wide-angle image) of the eye E acquired in S22 and the SLO image (narrow-angle image) of the eye E acquired in S24. ..

The scale adjustment unit 220B compares the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image that are aligned by the alignment unit 220A based on the angle of view set in the wide-angle shooting mode and the angle of view set in the high-magnification shooting mode. Match the scale. At this time, the scale adjustment unit 220B (data processing unit 220) can perform known distortion correction processing and color correction processing on at least one of the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image. The image combining unit 220C forms a combined image in which the ghost in the center is removed (or suppressed) by combining the wide-angle image and the narrow-angle image that have been scale-adjusted by the scale adjusting unit 220B. For example, the image compositing unit 220C forms a composite image by replacing the central area of the wide-angle image with at least a partial area of the narrow-angle image corresponding to the central area.

(S26)
The display control unit 201C causes the UI unit 230 to display the composite image formed in S25.

(S27)
Similar to S7, the control unit 200 determines whether the user can diagnose the eye E based on the composite image displayed in S26. When it is determined that the diagnosis is possible (S27:Y), the operation of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus proceeds to S24. Thereby, a new narrow-angle SLO image is acquired in S24, and the narrow-angle SLO image in the composite image is updated to the narrow-angle SLO image newly acquired in S24 in S25. In this case, each time a narrow-angle SLO image is acquired, the narrow-angle SLO image in the composite image is updated with a new narrow-angle SLO image.

When it is determined in S27 that the diagnosis is not possible (S27:N), the operation of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus proceeds to S28.

(S28)
When it is determined that the diagnosis is not possible (S27:N), the display control unit 201C receives the user's predetermined operation on the UI unit 230, and the display control unit 201C acquires the SLO image (narrow-angle image) of the eye E to be inspected acquired in S24. Is enlarged and displayed on the UI unit 230. After that, the operation of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus ends (END).

Note that, although FIG. 8 illustrates the case where the wide-angle SLO image and the narrow-angle SLO image are combined and only the narrow-angle SLO image is updated, the wide-angle OCT image and the narrow-angle OCT image are combined. The same applies when updating only the narrow-angle OCT image. Further, the wide-angle SLO image and the narrow-angle OCT image are combined to update only the wide-angle SLO image or the narrow-angle OCT image, or the wide-angle OCT image and the narrow-angle SLO image are combined to obtain the wide-angle SLO image. Only the OCT image or the narrow-angle SLO image may be updated.

<Modification>
In the embodiment, the case where the angle of view is changed by changing the objective lens unit corresponding to the shooting mode has been described, but the configuration according to the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the optical system 100 may include a zoom optical system. In this case, the zoom optical system includes an objective lens system including at least one lens that can move along the optical axis O of the optical system 100, or one or more optical elements that can be inserted into and removed from the optical axis O. (Lens, prism, plate glass, etc.) One or more optical elements can be inserted between the dichroic mirror DM2 and the objective lens unit.

The control unit 200 according to the embodiment moves at least the objective lens system 110 (optical system 100) so that the working distance (working distance) in the wide-angle shooting mode is shorter than the working distance in the high-magnification shooting mode. Good.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the configuration of the optical system 100 is the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 has been described, but the configuration of the optical system according to the embodiment is not limited to this. The optical system according to the embodiment may include an optical system for irradiating the treatment site on the fundus with laser light, an optical system for moving the target in a state in which the eye is fixed on the subject, and the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the configuration of the objective lens system 110 is the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has been described, but the configuration of the objective lens system according to the embodiment is not limited to this.

The anterior segment imaging system according to the embodiment may include two or more cameras for capturing the anterior segment of the eye E from two or more different directions. In this case, the alignment control unit 201A according to the embodiment executes the alignment in the Z direction from the parallax obtained based on the captured images of the anterior segment from two or more different directions acquired by using these cameras. It is possible.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the alignment is performed using the anterior segment image acquired using the anterior segment imaging system 120 has been described. However, the acquired anterior segment image is displayed on the UI unit 230. It may be displayed on the device. Further, the acquired anterior segment image need not be used for alignment.

[effect]
The effects of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment will be described.

The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a photographing unit (optical system 100, control unit 200, and image forming unit 210), a view angle changing unit (view angle changing mechanism 115), an image combining unit (image combining unit 220C). including. The imaging unit includes an optical system (optical system 100) that forms an optical path for imaging an eye to be inspected (eye E to be inspected). The view angle changing unit is used to change the view angle. The image composition unit includes a first image (wide-angle image) representing the first range of the eye to be inspected acquired by the imaging unit when the first angle of view (for example, 105 degrees) is set by the angle-of-view change unit, The first range includes the position on the optical axis (optical axis O) of the optical system acquired by the imaging unit when the second angle of view (eg, 50 degrees) narrower than the first angle of view is set by the angle changing unit. A second image (narrow-angle image) representing the narrower second range is combined to form a combined image.

With such a configuration, the first image in which the ghost caused by the surface reflection of the objective lens included in the optical system and the cornea of the eye to be examined is depicted includes the position on the optical axis (optical axis O) of the optical system. By combining with the second image, it becomes possible to form a combined image in which the depiction of the ghost is suppressed mainly at the position on the optical axis. As a result, it is possible to provide an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus capable of suppressing ghost depiction even in an image with a wide angle of view.

In the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment, the optical system includes two or more objective lenses (objective lens units 110A and 110B), and the view angle changing unit selectively arranges the two or more objective lenses in the optical path. May be.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus capable of suppressing the depiction of a ghost even in an image with a wide angle of view while easily changing the angle of view.

Further, in the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment, the optical system includes a zoom optical system, and the zoom optical system includes an objective lens system including at least one lens that is movable along the optical axis, or an optical axis. It may include one or more optical elements that can be inserted and removed.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus capable of suppressing the depiction of a ghost even in an image with a wide angle of view while easily changing the angle of view.

Further, in the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment, the image composition unit sets the partial area (central area) of the first image including the position on the optical axis to at least a partial area of the second image corresponding to the partial area. You may substitute.

According to such a configuration, the partial area of the first image including the position on the optical axis is replaced with the corresponding area of the second image, so that an image with a wide angle of view can be obtained by simple image processing. It is also possible to suppress the rendering of ghosts.

Further, in the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment, the image combining unit sets at least a partial area of the second image corresponding to the partial area in the partial area (central area) of the first image including the position on the optical axis. You may overlap.

According to such a configuration, since the corresponding area of the second image is superimposed on the partial area of the first image including the position on the optical axis, the image having a wide angle of view can be obtained by simple image processing. It is also possible to suppress the rendering of ghosts.

Further, in the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment, the image combining unit may include a position adjusting unit (position adjusting unit 220A) and a scale adjusting unit (220B). The alignment unit aligns the first image and the second image. The scale adjustment unit matches the scale of the first image with the scale of the second image based on the first angle of view and the second angle of view.

With such a configuration, it is possible to acquire a composite image with less discomfort by simple processing.

Further, the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment may include a display control unit (display control unit 201C) that causes the display unit (UI unit 230) to display the composite image.

With such a configuration, it is possible to display an image in which the ghost is suppressed from being drawn even if the image has a wide angle of view.

Further, in the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment, the imaging unit repeatedly acquires the second image after acquiring the first image, and the display control unit displays the second image in the composite image when the new second image is acquired. The second image may be updated based on the new second image.

With such a configuration, it is possible to display only the second image as a moving image in the first image as a still image.

In the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment, the imaging unit includes a first imaging unit (SLO optical system 130, control unit 200 and SLO image forming unit 210A, OCT optical system 140, control unit 200, and OCT image forming unit). 210B) and a second imaging unit (SLO optical system 130, control unit 200 and SLO image forming unit 210A, and one of OCT optical system 140, control unit 200, and OCT image forming unit 210B). .. The first imaging unit is used to acquire the first image. The second imaging unit is used to acquire the second image.

With such a configuration, by combining the image obtained by the first image capturing unit and the image obtained by the second image capturing unit, it is possible to prevent the ghost from being drawn even if the image has a wide angle of view. It is possible to provide an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus capable of acquiring an image.

Further, in the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to the embodiment, the imaging unit may include a data collection unit (optical system 100) and an image forming unit (image forming unit 210). The data collection unit scans the eye to be examined with light and collects data. The image forming unit forms an image of the subject's eye based on the data collected by the data collecting unit. The data collection unit executes a first scan for the first range when the first angle of view is set, and a second scan for the second range when the second angle of view is set. The image forming unit forms a first image based on the first data collected by the first scan, and forms a second image based on the second data collected by the second scan.

According to such a configuration, by combining the first image and the second image obtained by scanning the eye to be inspected with light, an image in which the ghost is suppressed even if the image has a wide angle of view (Scanned image) can be acquired.

The embodiments described above are merely examples for implementing the present invention. A person who intends to carry out the present invention can make arbitrary modifications, omissions, additions, etc. within the scope of the present invention.

100 Optical System 110 Objective Lens Systems 110A and 110B Objective Lens Unit 115 Angle of View Changing Mechanism 120 Anterior Eye Imaging System 130 SLO Optical System 140 OCT Optical System 150 Interferometric Optical System 200 Control Unit 210 Image Forming Unit 210A SLO Image Forming Unit 210B OCT Image forming unit 220 Data processing unit 220A Positioning unit 220B Scale adjusting unit 220C Image combining unit 230 UI unit DM1A, DM1B Dichroic mirror E Eye to be examined

Claims (8)

The SLO optical system that irradiates the eye to be inspected with light and receives the return light, the OCT optical system that performs optical coherence tomography on the eye to be inspected and receives the interference light, and the SLO optical system An imaging unit including an optical system having an optical path and an optical path coupling member for coupling the optical path of the OCT optical system ;
Angle of view change unit to change the angle of view,
A first image representing the first range of the eye to be inspected, which is acquired by the imaging unit when the first angle of view is set by the angle of view changing unit, and the first angle of view from the first angle of view by the angle of view changing unit. When a narrow second angle of view is set, a second image which is acquired by the imaging unit and includes a position on the optical axis of the optical system and which represents a second range narrower than the first range is combined and combined. An image composition unit that forms an image,
Only including,
The first image is one of an SLO image acquired using the SLO optical system and an OCT image acquired using the OCT optical system,
The second image, the SLO image, and the other of the OCT image, ophthalmology imaging device. The optical system includes two or more objective lenses,
The ophthalmic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angle-of-view changing unit selectively arranges the two or more objective lenses in the optical path. The optical system includes a zoom optical system,
The zoom optical system includes an objective lens system including at least one lens that is movable along the optical axis, or one or more optical elements that can be inserted into and removed from the optical axis. The ophthalmic photographing apparatus according to claim 1. The image synthesizing unit replaces a partial area of the first image including a position on the optical axis with at least a partial area of the second image corresponding to the partial area. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 3. The image synthesizing unit superimposes at least a partial region of the second image corresponding to the partial region on the partial region of the first image including the position on the optical axis. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 3. The image composition unit
An alignment unit that aligns the first image and the second image,
A scale adjustment unit that matches the scale of the first image with the scale of the second image based on the first angle of view and the second angle of view;
The ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The ophthalmologic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display control unit that causes the display unit to display the composite image. The photographing unit repeatedly acquires the second image after acquiring the first image,
The ophthalmologic photography according to claim 7, wherein the display control unit updates the second image in the composite image based on the new second image when a new second image is acquired. apparatus.

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