JP7117145B2 - ophthalmic microscope - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an ophthalmic microscope capable of switching between anterior eye observation (e.g., observation of the cornea, anterior capsule, sclera, etc.) and posterior ocular observation (e.g., retina observation) of an eye to be examined, and particularly to an ophthalmic microscope. , relates to an ophthalmic microscope capable of observing an anterior segment and a posterior segment of an eye without changing the positional relationship between an objective lens and an eye to be examined.
The present invention also relates to an OCT function expansion unit for adding an OCT measurement optical system (OCT: Optical Coherence Tomography) to the observation optical system of an ophthalmic microscope, and by adding the OCT function expansion unit, the objective lens and the object can be combined. The present invention relates to an OCT function expansion unit capable of switching between an anterior segment observation and a posterior segment observation without changing the positional relationship with the eye examination.

An ophthalmologic microscope is a device for medical or inspection purposes that illuminates a patient's eye to be inspected by an illumination optical system and magnifies the eye to be inspected by an observation optical system comprising lenses and the like.
Some ophthalmic microscopes have a function of observing the anterior segment of the eye (eg, the cornea, anterior capsule, sclera, etc.) and a function of observing the posterior segment of the eye (eg, the retina).
In this type of ophthalmic microscope, when observing the anterior eye, as shown in FIG. 72 are arranged relative to each other.
On the other hand, when observing the posterior segment of the eye, as shown in FIG. A front lens 74 is arranged between. The properties and placement of this front lens are selected so that the focal point is located on the retina 722 via the crystalline lens 721 of the eye 72 to be examined.
In FIGS. 16A and 16B, the optical axis of the right observation optical system and the optical axis of the left observation optical system are indicated by OR and OL.

Various ophthalmic microscopes with built-in OCT functions are also known.
As shown in FIG. 17 (a drawing citing FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1), an ophthalmologic microscope has left and right optical axes that transmit the optical axis of the left-eye observation optical system and the optical axis of the right-eye observation optical system, respectively. An observation optical system consisting of paired lens groups 130, 140, 150, 170, and 180, and one objective lens through which the optical axis of the observation optical system for the left eye and the optical axis of the observation optical system for the right eye pass in common. 110 , OCT measurement optical systems 200 , 250 , 450 , 460 and 470 , and illumination optical systems 310 , 320 and 330 . In the OCT measurement optical system, the output light from the OCT light source 200 passes through the optical fiber 250 and is emitted from the illumination optical system at the beam combiner 340 after the direction is controlled by the two scanning mirrors 450 and 460. , are reflected by the beam splitter 120 and enter the eye 1000 to be examined.
With the ophthalmic microscope shown in FIG. 17, it is possible to obtain tomographic images of the retina, cornea, anterior capsule, sclera, etc. of the subject's eye, and it is possible to observe not only the surface of the tissue but also the internal state. , thereby increasing the accuracy of diagnosing eye diseases and increasing the success rate of ophthalmic surgery.

JP-A-8-66421

However, with the conventional ophthalmic microscope as shown in FIG. 17, the cornea, anterior capsule, sclera, etc. can be observed and the cornea, anterior capsule, sclera, etc. can be observed when observing the retina or obtaining an OCT tomographic image of the retina. When obtaining an OCT tomographic image of a membrane or the like, it is necessary to change the distance between the ophthalmologic microscope and the eye to be examined, which causes problems such as reduced efficiency in examination, treatment, and the like.
Therefore, in view of the conventional situation described above, the present invention provides an ophthalmic microscope capable of observing the anterior segment and the posterior segment of the eye and obtaining a tomographic image without changing the positional relationship between the objective lens and the subject's eye. intended to
In addition, it is possible to incorporate a function that allows observation and acquisition of tomographic images of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye without changing the positional relationship between the objective lens and the eye to be inspected. It also aims to provide units.

In order to solve the above problems, the inventors of the present application conducted extensive research and found that when observing the anterior ocular segment (e.g., cornea, anterior capsule, sclera, etc.) and the posterior ocular segment (e.g., retina) using an ophthalmic microscope, By changing the focal position of the observation optical system along the optical axis during detection, observation of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye can be performed without changing the positions of the ophthalmic microscope and the subject's eye. Based on the knowledge that it can be performed, the present invention has been completed.
In addition, when the OCT measurement optical system is detachably unitized in an ophthalmic microscope with existing specifications, by installing a function that changes the focal position of the observation optical system along the optical axis in the unit, the ophthalmic microscope and Invention of a function expansion unit based on the knowledge that it is possible to provide an ophthalmologic microscope capable of OCT measurement that enables observation of the anterior segment of the eye and acquisition of a tomographic image of the posterior segment of the eye without changing the position of the eye to be examined. I came to make

That is, the gist of the ophthalmic microscope of the present invention is as follows.
(1) An ophthalmic microscope capable of switching between anterior ocular segment observation (e.g., observation of the cornea, anterior capsule, sclera, etc.) and posterior ocular segment observation (e.g., retina observation) of an eye to be examined,
an observation optical system having a first focal point in front of the subject's eye;
The objective lens in the observation optical system can be set on the side of the subject's eye (between the objective lens and the subject's eye and closer to the subject's eye than the focal point) or at a position opposite to the subject's eye, or at this position an objective auxiliary lens that can be released from the lens, and sets a focal point when set to a second focal point that is the anterior segment position of the eye to be examined;
A lens that can be set at a position closer to the eye to be inspected than the first focal point (a position between the first focal point and the eye to be inspected) or can be released from the position, a front lens that sets a focal point through the crystalline lens (including an artificial crystalline lens) of the eye to be examined to a third focal point that is the position of the posterior segment of the eye to be examined;
with
When observing the anterior segment, the auxiliary objective lens is set and the anterior lens is released without changing the positional relationship between the objective lens and the eye to be examined,
When observing the posterior segment, the front lens is set and the auxiliary objective lens is released without changing the positional relationship between the objective lens and the eye to be examined.
An ophthalmic microscope characterized by:
(2) The ophthalmic microscope according to (1), further comprising an OCT measurement optical system, wherein the OCT measurement optical system has an OCT measurement optical system objective lens.
(3) The OCT measurement optical system further includes a first optical member that guides light from the OCT light source in a first optical axis direction;
a first reflecting member that guides the light guided in the first optical axis direction to a second optical axis direction substantially orthogonal to the first optical axis direction;
a second optical member that relays the light guided in the direction of the second optical axis;
a second reflecting member that guides the light relayed by the second optical member in a third optical axis direction substantially orthogonal to the second optical axis direction;
has
The OCT measurement optical system objective lens is arranged in the direction of the third optical axis, and irradiates the light guided in the direction of the third optical axis onto a predetermined portion of the eye to be examined ( 2) The ophthalmic microscope described in 2).
(4) the observation optical system has the objective lens in a shape obtained by cutting a part of a circular lens (to have a cut surface parallel to the optical axis);
The OCT measurement optical system has the OCT measurement optical system objective lens arranged in the excised portion of the objective lens, has a first focal point in front of the eye to be examined, and performs OCT measurement. configured such that an optical path of light passes through the objective auxiliary lens;
When the auxiliary objective lens is set and the anterior lens is released, the focal point is set to a second focal point, which is the anterior ocular segment position of the subject's eye, and the OCT measurement of the anterior ocular segment is performed. ,
When the anterior lens is set and the objective auxiliary lens is released, the focal point is set to a third focal point, which is the posterior segment position of the subject's eye, and the OCT measurement of the posterior segment is performed. ,
The ophthalmic microscope according to (2) or (3) characterized by:
(5) (1) to (4) comprising a mechanism for releasing the front lens when the auxiliary objective lens is set, and releasing the auxiliary objective lens when the front lens is set; An ophthalmic microscope according to any one of .
(6) The ophthalmic microscope according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the auxiliary objective lens is a concave lens.
(7) The ophthalmic microscope according to any one of (1) to (6), comprising a plurality of types of front lenses, and a plurality of types of auxiliary objective lenses corresponding to the respective front lenses. .
(8) An ophthalmic microscope main body that can switch between anterior segment observation and posterior segment observation of the eye to be examined by having a front lens that can be set or released on the optical path of the observation optical system. In the OCT function expansion unit that adds an optical system,
a replacement objective lens for replacing the objective lens of the observation optical system of the microscope main body;
The replacement objective lens has a shape obtained by cutting a part of a circular lens,
Having an OCT measurement optical system objective lens in the cut portion of the replacement objective lens,
The observation optical system in which the objective lens has been replaced with the replacement objective lens and the OCT measurement optical system have a first focal point in front of the eye to be examined,
A lens that can be set at a position on the side of the eye to be examined or on the side opposite to the eye to be examined from the replacement objective lens and the OCT measurement optical system objective lens, or can be released from the position, and is a focal point when set is set to a second focal point, which is the anterior segment position of the eye to be examined;
a third focusing point in which the focal point through the crystalline lens of the eye to be inspected is the position of the posterior segment of the eye to be inspected when the front lens is set at a position closer to the eye to be inspected than the first focal point to be inspected; set in focus,
When observing the anterior segment, the auxiliary objective lens is set and the anterior lens is released,
By setting the anterior lens and releasing the auxiliary objective lens when observing the posterior segment of the eye,
It is characterized in that switching between the anterior segment observation and the posterior segment observation by the observation optical system and the OCT measurement optical system can be performed without changing the positional relationship between the objective lens and the eye to be examined. OCT function expansion unit.
(9) The OCT measurement optical system is
a first optical member that guides light from the OCT light source in a first optical axis direction;
a first reflecting member that guides the light guided in the first optical axis direction to a second optical axis direction substantially orthogonal to the first optical axis direction;
a second optical member that relays the light guided in the direction of the second optical axis;
a second reflecting member that guides the light relayed by the second optical member in a third optical axis direction substantially orthogonal to the second optical axis direction;
and
The OCT measurement optical system objective lens is arranged in the direction of the third optical axis, and irradiates the light guided in the direction of the third optical axis onto a predetermined portion of the eye to be examined ( 7) The OCT function expansion unit described in 7).

Observation and tomographic image acquisition of the anterior segment and the posterior segment of the eye can be performed without changing the positional relationship between the objective lens and the subject's eye.
With the OCT function expansion unit, a function that enables observation and acquisition of tomographic images of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye can be incorporated into existing ophthalmic microscopes without changing the positional relationship between the objective lens and the subject's eye. can be done.

1 is a schematic side view showing an ophthalmologic microscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention that does not include an OCT measurement optical system when observing an anterior segment; FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an ophthalmologic microscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention that does not include an OCT measurement optical system when observing an anterior segment; FIG. FIG. 3A shows the observation optical system of the ophthalmologic microscope shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (observation optical system in which the objective auxiliary lens is provided on the side of the eye to be examined of the observation objective lens) when observing the anterior segment of the eye. FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram showing an observation optical system in which an objective auxiliary lens is provided on the opposite side of the observation objective lens from the side of the subject's eye. 1 is a schematic side view showing an ophthalmologic microscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention that does not include an OCT measurement optical system when observing an anterior segment; FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an ophthalmologic microscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention that does not include an OCT measurement optical system when observing an anterior segment; FIG. FIG. 6A shows the observation optical system of the ophthalmologic microscope shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when observing the posterior segment of the eye (observation optical system in which the objective auxiliary lens is provided on the side of the eye to be examined of the observation objective lens). FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram showing an observation optical system in which an objective auxiliary lens is provided on the opposite side of the observation objective lens to the side of the subject's eye. FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing an ophthalmic microscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention including an OCT optical system when observing the anterior segment; FIG. 4 is a schematic front view showing an ophthalmologic microscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention including an OCT measurement optical system for observing the anterior segment of the eye. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view showing an ophthalmologic microscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention including an OCT measurement optical system for observing the posterior segment of the eye. FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram showing an OCT measurement optical system of an ophthalmologic microscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram showing the OCT measurement optical system when observing the anterior segment; ) is a schematic diagram showing an OCT measurement optical system for observing the posterior segment of the eye. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the OCT measurement optical system shown in FIG. 10; FIG. 11 is a side view of the OCT measurement optical system shown in FIG. 10; FIG. 11 is a front view of the OCT measurement optical system shown in FIG. 10; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an OCT apparatus used in the ophthalmologic microscope of the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a design aspect of the objective lens of the present invention; FIG. 16A is a diagram showing an observation optical system for observing the anterior segment of the eye with an ophthalmic microscope, and FIG. 16B is a diagram showing an observation optical system for observing the posterior segment of the eye with an ophthalmic microscope. be. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional ophthalmic microscope equipped with an OCT function; FIG.

1. The ophthalmic microscope of the present invention In the ophthalmic microscope of the present invention, the observation optical system includes a lens that enables observation of the subject's eye by return light reflected and scattered from the subject's eye illuminated by the illumination optical system. It is configured including an optical element such as a prism. In the present invention, the observation optical system can have a left-eye observation optical system and a right-eye observation optical system. It is also possible to observe stereoscopically.
Further, the observation optical system of the present invention may be one that allows direct observation of the subject's eye with the naked eye of an observer through an eyepiece, an eyepiece, or the like. can be received and displayed on a display, or can be directly observed by the naked eye and displayed on a display.
The observation optical system composed of the left-eye observation optical system and the right-eye observation optical system includes an objective lens through which the optical axis of the left-eye observation optical system and the optical axis of the right-eye observation optical system pass in common.
In the present invention, the objective lens is, for example, a lens incorporated in the body of an ophthalmic microscope on the side of the subject's eye.
The front lens (magnifying glass) is used by being removably inserted between the objective lens and the subject's eye (near the subject's eye), and is not called an objective lens in the present invention.
The illumination optical system includes an optical element that illuminates the subject's eye. The illumination optical system may guide natural light to the eye to be inspected, but is usually configured to include a light source for illumination and guide the light from the light source for illumination to the eye to be inspected. The illumination optics can be configured to include the objective lens included in the observation optics described above.

The microscope optical system of the present invention includes a collimator (an optical member for an OCT interface) that takes in light from an OCT light source provided in an OCT apparatus and returns light returned from an eye to be examined irradiated with the light to the OCT apparatus. can contain. In this case, the microscope optics can include OCT measurement optics, or additionally OCT reference beam optics, and can also incorporate an OCT light source.
In the microscope optical system of the present invention, a part of the objective lens of the observation optical system can be removed, and the removed part is provided with the objective lens of the OCT measurement optical system.
With such a configuration, in the microscope optical system of the present invention, the OCT measurement optical system is independent from the observation optical system. Therefore, in the optical design of the microscope optical system of the present invention, it is not necessary to consider the mutual influence between the observation optical system and the OCT measurement optical system.
As a result, the microscope optical system of the present invention has the effect of increasing the degree of freedom in optical design.
For example, by separately controlling the positions of the objective lens of the observation optical system and the objective lens of the OCT measurement optical system, an optical design is possible in which the focus of the observation optical system and the focus of the OCT measurement optical system can be adjusted independently. Become.
An XY scanning mechanism and a Z scanning mechanism can be mounted on the measurement light optical path of the OCT measurement optical system. These mechanisms can be made by MEMS, for example.
Also, the OCT measurement optical system can be detachably incorporated into the observation optical system as one unit. By incorporating a plurality of OCT measurement optical systems into the microscope optical system, it is also possible to achieve an optical design capable of obtaining a more detailed three-dimensional tomographic image of the observation target.
In the present invention, for example, lenses, prisms, mirrors, optical filters, diaphragms, diffraction gratings, polarizing elements, and the like can be used as optical elements used in the observation optical system, illumination optical system, and OCT measurement optical system.

In the present invention, an ophthalmologic microscope is a medical or inspection instrument capable of magnifying and visually observing an eye to be examined, and includes not only those for humans but also those for animals.
"Ophthalmic microscope" includes, but is not limited to, retinal cameras, slit lamps, ophthalmic surgical microscopes, and the like.

2. First Embodiment An example of an ophthalmic microscope (hereinafter simply referred to as "microscope") according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a microscope 1 that has an observation function but does not have an OCT function (tomography function), and FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the same. Anterior capsule, sclera, etc.) are shown. FIG. 3A shows a schematic diagram of the observation optical system 400 of the microscope of FIGS. 1 and 2 (the observation optical system in which the auxiliary objective lens is provided on the eye side of the observation objective lens).
As shown in FIG. 1, the microscope 1 includes an observation optical system 400 as well as an illumination optical system 300 (not shown in FIG. 2).
The observation optical system 400 can observe the retina of an observation target (eye 81 to be examined in FIGS. 1 and 2). As shown in FIG. 1, an illumination optical system 300 can illuminate a portion of the subject's eye 81 to be observed.
1 and 2, the observation optical system has a first focal point U1 in front of the eye 81 to be examined.

As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the observation optical system 400 has a right eye observation optical system 400R and a left eye observation optical system 400L. Note that FIG. 1 shows the entire configuration of the right-eye observation optical system 400R, and shows only the objective lens 2 of the left-eye observation optical system 400L, which is shared with the right-eye observation optical system 400R. .
2, the optical axis O-400R of the right-eye observation optical system 400R and the optical axis O-400L of the left-eye observation optical system 400L pass through the objective lens 2, respectively.
In this embodiment, the illumination optical system 300 and the observation optical system 400 are housed in the microscope main body 6 . 1 and 2, the microscope main body 6 is indicated by a dashed line.

The illumination optical system 300 shown in FIG. 1 includes an illumination light source 9, an optical fiber 301, an exit light aperture 302, a condenser lens 303, an illumination field aperture 304, a collimating lens 305, and a reflecting mirror 306. The optical axis of the illumination optical system 300 is indicated by O-300.
As shown in FIG. 1, the illumination light source 9 is provided outside the microscope main body 6 in this embodiment. One end of an optical fiber 301 is connected to the illumination light source 9 . The other end of the optical fiber 301 is arranged at a position facing the output light stop 302 of the microscope main body 6 . Illumination light emitted from the illumination light source 9 is guided by the optical fiber 301 and enters the condenser lens 303 via the exit light aperture 302 .
The exit light aperture 302 acts to block a partial area of the exit aperture of the optical fiber 301 . When the cut-off area by the exit light diaphragm 302 is changed, the emission area of the illumination light is changed. Thereby, the irradiation angle of the illumination light, that is, the angle formed by the incident direction of the illumination light to the eye 81 to be inspected and the optical axis of the objective lens 2 can be changed.

The illumination field stop 304 is provided at a position (x position) optically conjugate with the first focal point U1 of the objective lens 2 . A collimating lens 305 converts the illumination light that has passed through the illumination field stop 304 into a parallel light beam. The reflecting mirror 306 reflects the illumination light collimated by the collimator lens 305 toward the observation objective lens 2 . The light reflected by the reflecting mirror 306 passes through the objective lens 2 and illuminates the subject's eye 81 .
The illumination light applied to the subject's eye 81 is reflected and scattered by the tissue of the retina. The reflected and scattered return light (also called “observation light”) passes through the objective lens 2 and enters the observation optical system 400 .

The observation optical system 400 is used to observe the subject's eye 81 illuminated by the illumination optical system 300 through the objective lens 2 .
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a variable power lens system 401 (lenses 401a, 401b, 401c), a beam splitter 402 (a beam splitter for acquiring image information for television camera display), an imaging lens 403, It includes an image erecting prism 404 , an interpupillary distance adjusting prism 405 , a field stop 406 and an eyepiece lens 407 . The optical axis of the observation optical system 400 is indicated by O-400.

As shown in FIG. 2, the beam splitter 402 of the right-eye observation optical system 400R splits a part of the observation light guided along the right-eye observation optical system from the subject's eye 81 and splits it into the photographing optical system. Lead to 1100. The imaging optical system 1100 includes an imaging lens 1101 , a reflecting mirror 1102 and a television camera 1103 . Image information acquired by the television camera 1103 is sent to a monitor (not shown) and displayed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, image erecting prism 404 converts an inverted image into an erect image. The interpupillary distance adjustment prism 405 is an optical element for adjusting the distance between the left and right observation optical paths according to the interpupillary distance (distance between the left eye and the right eye) of the observer. The field stop 406 limits the field of view of the observer by blocking the peripheral area in the cross section of the observation light. The field stop 406 is provided at a position (x position) conjugated to the first focal point U1 of the objective lens 2 .
The right-eye observation optical system 400R and the left-eye observation optical system 400L may include a stereo variator that can be inserted into and removed from the optical path. The stereo variator is an optical axis position changing element for changing the relative positions of the optical axes O-400L and O-400R of the left and right observation optical systems guided by the left and right zoom lens systems 401, respectively. The stereo variator is, for example, retracted to a retracted position provided on the observer side with respect to the observation optical path.

In the microscope 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the observation optical system has a first focal point (U1 )have.
The microscope 1 is provided with an objective auxiliary lens 82 on the subject's eye 81 side of the objective lens 2 .
The auxiliary objective lens 82 is set at a position between the first focal point U1 and the objective lens 2 and closer to the objective lens 2, or can be released from this position. The objective auxiliary lens 82 is selected so that the focal point when set is the second focal point (U2), which is the anterior segment position of the subject's eye.
Note that FIG. 3A shows a case where the objective auxiliary lens 82 is provided on the eye 81 side of the objective lens 2 in the observation optical system for observing the anterior segment of the eye 81 to be inspected. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3B, an auxiliary objective lens 82 can be provided on the side of the objective lens 2 opposite to the side of the subject's eye 81 to observe the anterior segment of the subject's eye 81 .

FIG. 4 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing how the posterior segment (for example, the retina) of the subject's eye 81 is observed by the apparatus described in FIGS. 5 is a front view similarly corresponding to FIG. 2, and FIG. 6(A) is a schematic diagram similarly corresponding to FIG. 3(A).
4 and 5, the front lens 14 is set at a position closer to the subject's eye 81 than the first focal point U1. 3) is set at the position of the retina (posterior segment position) of the subject's eye 81 .
When the auxiliary objective lens 82 is provided on the side of the objective lens 2 opposite to the side of the eye 81 to be inspected (see FIG. 3B), when observing the posterior segment of the eye 81 to be inspected, It is necessary to release the objective lens 82 as shown in (B).

3. Second Embodiment An embodiment of an ophthalmologic microscope 1 having an OCT function (tomography function) will be described below.
The OCT measuring optics can preferably be additionally integrated as an extension in an ophthalmic microscope with observation optics and illumination optics. The inventors of the present invention have found that the optical path of the OCT measurement optical system can be folded twice so that the optical system can be incorporated in a compact manner in conformance with the original functions of the microscope.

That is, the ophthalmic microscope of the present invention further has an OCT measurement optical system,
The OCT measurement optical system is
a first optical member that guides light from the OCT light source in a first optical axis direction;
a first reflecting member that guides the light guided in the first optical axis direction to a second optical axis direction substantially orthogonal to the first optical axis direction;
a second optical member that relays the light guided in the direction of the second optical axis;
a second reflecting member for guiding the light relayed by the second optical member in a third optical axis direction substantially perpendicular to the second optical axis direction;
It is preferable to arrange the OCT measurement optical system objective lens on the third optical axis so that the light guided in the direction of the third optical axis can irradiate a predetermined portion of the eye to be examined.
By adopting such an optical configuration, the OCT measurement optical system can be incorporated in a compact manner in conformance with the original functions of the ophthalmic microscope.

An example of an embodiment of an ophthalmic microscope of the present invention having an OCT measurement optical system in which the optical path is bent twice will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
7 to 14 are drawings schematically showing a second embodiment, which is another example of the ophthalmic microscope of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the ophthalmologic microscope 1, and FIG. 8 is a schematic front view for observing the anterior segment of the eye (eg, cornea, anterior capsule, sclera, etc.). FIG. 9 is a schematic front view showing an ophthalmic microscope for observing the posterior segment of the eye (for example, the retina).
As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the ophthalmologic microscope 1 is provided with an OCT device 5 .
The ophthalmologic microscope 1 includes an illumination optical system 300 (not shown in FIGS. 8 and 9), an observation optical system 400 and an OCT measurement optical system 500 .
The observation optical system 400 can observe a predetermined portion of an observation target (eye 81 to be examined in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9). As shown in FIG. 7, the illumination optical system 300 can illuminate the portion of the subject's eye 81 to be observed.

The OCT device 5 provided side by side with the ophthalmologic microscope 1 can acquire a tomographic image of the eye 81 to be examined. The OCT measurement optical system 500 is incorporated in the ophthalmologic microscope 1 as part of the OCT device 5 . The OCT measurement optical system 500, the front lens 14, and the reflecting surface (cornea, retina, etc.) of the eye 81 constitute a reciprocating light guide path for measurement light.
As clearly shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the observation optical system 400 has a right eye observation optical system 400R and a left eye observation optical system 400L. Note that FIG. 7 shows the entire configuration of the right-eye observation optical system 400R, and shows only the objective lens 2 of the left-eye observation optical system 400L, which is shared with the right-eye observation optical system 400R. .
8 and 9, the optical axis O-400R of the right eye observation optical system 400R and the optical axis O-400L of the left eye observation optical system 400L pass through the objective lens 2, respectively. ing.
In this embodiment, the illumination optical system 300 and the observation optical system 400 are housed in the ophthalmic microscope body 6 . Also, the OCT measurement optical system 500 is housed in the OCT function expansion unit 7 . 7, 8 and 9, the ophthalmic microscope main body 6 is indicated by a dashed line, and the OCT function expansion unit 7 is indicated by a broken line.
The OCT function expansion unit 7 is detachably/attachably connected to the ophthalmic microscope main body 6 by a joint portion (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the OCT device 5 consists of an OCT unit 10 and an OCT function expansion unit 7. FIG.
The OCT function expansion unit 7 accommodates an OCT measurement optical system 500 .
FIG. 10(A) shows a perspective view of the OCT measurement optical system 500 when configured as shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10(B) shows a perspective view when configured as shown in FIG. 11 is a plan view of the OCT measurement optical system 500, FIG. 12 is a side view of the same, and FIG. 13 is a front view of the same. 11 and 13 do not show the collimating lens 502, the scanning function unit 503, and the first optical member 510 (to be described later).
10 and 12, the OCT measurement optical system 500 includes a collimating lens 502, a scanning function unit 503, a first optical member 510, a first reflecting member 511, a second optical member 512, a second reflecting member 513, and an OCT measurement optical system. It is configured including an optical system objective lens 507 .

The scanning function unit 503 is a two-dimensional scanning mechanism having galvanometer mirrors 503a and 503b. The scanning function unit 503 is provided on the back side of the ophthalmic microscope main body 6 (the side far from the observer).
The first optical member 510 is an OCT imaging lens, and guides the light scanned by the scanning function unit 503 in the direction of the first optical axis O-501. The first optical axis O-501 is formed from the back to the front at a right outer position of the ophthalmic microscope main body 6 when the ophthalmic microscope main body 6 is viewed from the front. The scanned light is guided along the first optical axis O-501 from the back to the front.

As shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13, the light guided along the first optical axis O-501 is perpendicular to the direction of the first optical axis O-501 by the first reflecting member 511. Light is guided in the direction of the second optical axis O-502.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the second optical axis O-502 is directed from the outside to the inside on the right side of the ophthalmic microscope main body 6. As shown in FIG.
A second optical member 512 is arranged on the second optical axis O-502, and light passing through the second optical member 512 is directed downward by a second reflecting member 513 (approximately along the second optical axis O-502). orthogonal direction). This reflected light path is indicated by the third optical axis direction O-503.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the objective lens 2 is notched so as to have a cut surface substantially parallel to the optical axis O-400.
In this embodiment, the OCT measurement optical system objective lens 507 is accommodated in this cutout portion.
The light guided in the third optical axis direction O-503 is focused at a predetermined position on the subject's eye 81 side by the OCT measurement optical system objective lens 507 .
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the front focal position (first focal point U1) of the objective lens 2 is in front of the subject's eye 81 and the first focal point of the objective lens 2 is When the auxiliary objective lens 82 is set on the focal point U1 side of the objective lens 2, the front lens 14 is released (see FIGS. 7, 8 and 10A), and conversely, the first focal point of the objective lens 2 is set. When the objective auxiliary lens 82 is released on the U1 side, the front lens 14 is set (see FIGS. 9 and 10(B)).

As described above, the optical axis O-503 of the OCT measurement optical system 500 passes through the OCT measurement optical system objective lens 507, and the optical axis O-503 of the OCT measurement optical system 500 is aligned with the optical axis O of the observation optical system 400. -400 away.
Therefore, the OCT measurement optical system 500 and the observation optical system 400 are independent of each other.

FIG. 14 is a drawing schematically showing the optical configuration of the OCT body unit 10 used in the microscope 1 of this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 14, the OCT main body unit 10 splits the light L0 emitted from the OCT light source unit 1001 into the measurement light LS and the reference light LR, and causes the measurement light LS and the reference light LR to interfere with each other through different optical paths. It constitutes an interferometer that detects
The OCT light source unit 1001 includes a wavelength scanning (wavelength sweeping) light source capable of scanning (sweeping) the wavelength of emitted light, like a general swept source type OCT apparatus. The OCT light source unit 1001 temporally changes the output wavelength in near-infrared wavelengths invisible to the human eye. Light output from the OCT light source unit 1001 is denoted by L0.

The light L0 output from the OCT light source unit 1001 is guided to the polarization controller 1003 by the optical fiber 1002, and its polarization state is adjusted. Polarization controller 1003 adjusts the polarization state of light L0 guided through optical fiber 1002, for example, by externally applying stress to looped optical fiber 1002. FIG.
The light L0 whose polarization state has been adjusted by the polarization controller 1003 is guided by the optical fiber 1004 to the fiber coupler 1005 and split into the measurement light LS and the reference light LR.

As shown in FIG. 14, the reference light LR is guided by the optical fiber 1006 to the collimator 1007 and becomes a parallel light beam. The collimated reference light LR is guided to the corner cube 1010 via the optical path length correction member 1008 and the dispersion compensation member 1009 . The optical path length correction member 1008 acts as delay means for matching the optical path lengths (optical distances) of the reference light LR and the measurement light LS. The dispersion compensation member 1009 acts as dispersion compensation means for matching the dispersion characteristics of the reference light LR and the measurement light LS.
The corner cube 1010 reverses the traveling direction of the reference light LR collimated by the collimator 1007 . The optical path of the reference light LR entering the corner cube 1010 and the optical path of the reference light LR emerging from the corner cube 1010 are parallel. Also, the corner cube 1010 is movable in directions along the incident optical path and the outgoing optical path of the reference light LR. This movement changes the length of the optical path of the reference light LR (reference optical path).

As shown in FIG. 14, the reference light LR that has passed through the corner cube 1010 passes through the dispersion compensating member 1009 and the optical path length correcting member 1008, is converted by the collimator 1011 from a parallel beam into a focused beam, and enters the optical fiber 1012. Then, the polarization state of the reference light LR is adjusted by being guided to the polarization controller 1013 .
The polarization controller 1013 has the same configuration as the polarization controller 1003, for example. The reference light LR whose polarization state has been adjusted by the polarization controller 1013 is guided to the attenuator 1015 by the optical fiber 1014 and the light amount is adjusted under the control of the arithmetic control unit 12 . The reference light LR whose light amount is adjusted by the attenuator 1015 is guided to the fiber coupler 1017 by the optical fiber 1016 .

Measurement light LS generated by fiber coupler 1005 is guided to collimator lens 502 by optical fiber 501 . As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the measurement light incident on the collimator lens 502 is reflected by galvanometer mirrors 503a and 503b, the first optical member 510, the first reflecting member 511, the second optical member 512, and through the second reflecting member 513, the subject's eye 81 is irradiated with the light. The measurement light is reflected and scattered at various depth positions of the subject's eye 81 . The backscattered light of the measurement light from the eye 81 to be examined travels in the opposite direction along the same path as the forward path, is guided to the fiber coupler 1005 as shown in FIG. reach.

The fiber coupler 1017 synthesizes (interferences) the measurement light LS input via the optical fiber 1018 and the reference light (LR) input via the optical fiber 1016 to generate interference light. The fiber coupler 1017 splits the interference light between the measurement light LS and the reference light LR at a predetermined splitting ratio (for example, 50:50) to generate a pair of interference lights LC. A pair of interference lights LC emitted from the fiber coupler 1017 are guided to the detector 1021 by two optical fibers 1019 and 1020, respectively.

The detector 1021 is, for example, a balanced photodiode (hereinafter referred to as “BPD”) that has a pair of photodetectors that respectively detect a pair of interference lights LC and outputs the difference between the detection results. The detector 1021 sends the detection result (detection signal) to the arithmetic control unit 12 . The arithmetic control unit 12 forms a cross-sectional image by, for example, applying Fourier transform or the like to the spectral distribution based on the detection result obtained by the detector 1021 for each series of wavelength scans (for each A line). The arithmetic control unit 12 causes the display section 13 to display the formed image.

Although this embodiment employs a Michelson-type interferometer, any type of interferometer, such as, for example, a Mach-Zehnder type, can be applied.

4. Shape of Objective Lens FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing another specific example of the objective lens 2 for the observation optical system and the OCT measurement optical system objective lens 507 . FIG. 15(A) shows an objective lens 2 for an observation optical system in which a circular convex lens is cut with a curved surface parallel to the optical axis (the shape in plan view is a partial circle) and a circular OCT measurement optical system objective arranged in the cut portion. FIG. 15B is a diagram showing a lens 507 (convex lens), and FIG. 15B is an observation optical system objective lens 2 having a rectangular plan view obtained by cutting a circular convex lens along a plane parallel to the optical axis, and arranged in the cut-out portion. 10 is a diagram showing an OCT measurement optical system objective lens 507 (convex lens) that is rectangular in plan view.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and all modifications of conditions without departing from the gist of the present invention are within the scope of the present invention.

The symbols used in FIGS. 1 to 15 indicate the following.
1: ophthalmic microscope 2: objective lens 5: OCT device 6: ophthalmic microscope body 7: OCT function expansion unit 9: illumination light source 10: OCT unit 12: arithmetic control unit 13: display unit 14: head lens 81: cover Optometry 82 : Objective auxiliary lens 300 : Illumination optical system 301 : Optical fiber 302 : Emission light aperture 303 : Condenser lens 304 : Illumination field aperture 305 : Collimator lens 306 : Reflecting mirror 400 : Observation optical system 400L : Observation optical system for left eye 400R: observation optical system for right eye 401: variable power lens system 402: beam splitter 403: imaging lens 404: image erecting prism 405: interpupillary adjustment prism 406: field stop 407: eyepiece lens 500: OCT measurement optical system 501 : Optical fiber 502 : Collimating lens 503 : Scanning function unit 503a : Galvano mirror 503b : Galvano mirror 507 : OCT measurement optical system Objective lens 510 : First optical member 511 : First reflecting member 512 : Second optical member 513 : Second Reflecting member 1001 : OCT light source unit 1002 : Optical fiber 1003 : Polarization controller 1004 : Optical fiber 1005 : Fiber coupler 1006 : Optical fiber 1007 : Collimator 1008 : Optical path length correction member 1009 : Dispersion compensation member 1010 : Corner cube 1011 : Collimator 1012 : Optical fiber 1013 : Polarization controller 1014 : Optical fiber 1015 : Attenuator 1016 : Optical fiber 1017 : Fiber coupler 1018 : Optical fiber 1019 : Optical fiber 1020 : Optical fiber 1021 : Detector 1100 : Imaging optical system 1101 : Imaging lens 1102 : Reflecting mirror 1103 : Television camera L0 : Light LC : Interference light LR : Reference light LS : Measurement light O-300 : Optical axis O-400 of illumination optical system : Optical axis O-400L of observation optical system : Observation for left eye Optical axis O-400R of optical system: Optical axis O-500 of observation optical system for right eye: Optical axis O-501 of OCT measurement optical system: First optical axis O-502: Second optical axis O-503 : Third optical axis U1 : First focal point U2 : Second focal point U3 : Third focal point

Claims (5)

An ophthalmic microscope having a function of switching between an anterior segment observation and a posterior segment observation of an eye to be inspected,
an observation optical system having a first focal point in front of the subject's eye;
A lens that can be set at a position on the side of the eye to be examined or on the side opposite to the eye to be examined in the observation optical system, or can be released from the position, wherein the focal point when set is the anterior eye of the eye to be examined. an objective auxiliary lens that is set to a second focal point that is the internal position;
A lens that can be set at a position closer to the subject's eye than the first focal point or can be released from the position, wherein the focal point through the crystalline lens of the subject's eye when set is the posterior eye of the subject's eye. a front lens that is set to a third focal point that is the internal position;
an OCT measurement optical system having an OCT measurement optical system objective;
with
When observing the anterior segment, the auxiliary objective lens is set and the anterior lens is released without changing the positional relationship between the objective lens and the eye to be examined,
When observing the posterior segment, the anterior lens is set and the auxiliary objective lens is released without changing the positional relationship between the objective lens and the eye to be examined,
The observation optical system has the objective lens in the shape of a partially cut circular lens,
The OCT measurement optical system has the OCT measurement optical system objective lens arranged in the excised portion of the objective lens, has a first focal point in front of the eye to be examined, and performs OCT measurement. configured such that an optical path of light passes through the objective auxiliary lens;
When the auxiliary objective lens is set and the anterior lens is released, the focal point is set to a second focal point, which is the anterior ocular segment position of the subject's eye, and the OCT measurement of the anterior ocular segment is performed. ,
When the anterior lens is set and the objective auxiliary lens is released, the focal point is set to a third focal point, which is the posterior segment position of the subject's eye, and the OCT measurement of the posterior segment is performed. ,
An ophthalmic microscope characterized by: The OCT measurement optical system further includes a first optical member that guides light from the OCT light source in a first optical axis direction;
a first reflecting member that guides the light guided in the first optical axis direction to a second optical axis direction substantially orthogonal to the first optical axis direction;
a second optical member that relays the light guided in the direction of the second optical axis;
a second reflecting member that guides the light relayed by the second optical member in a third optical axis direction substantially orthogonal to the second optical axis direction;
has
The OCT measurement optical system objective lens is arranged in the third optical axis direction, and irradiates the light guided in the third optical axis direction to a predetermined location of the eye to be examined. An ophthalmic microscope according to claim 1 . 3. The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism for releasing the front lens when the auxiliary objective lens is set, and for releasing the auxiliary objective lens when the front lens is set. microscope. An ophthalmic microscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said auxiliary objective lens is a concave lens. The ophthalmic microscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , comprising a plurality of types of front lenses, and a plurality of types of auxiliary objective lenses corresponding to the respective front lenses.

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