JPH08206080A - Cornea endotherium observing and photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make automatic alignment of a device optical system relative to the eye to be inspected in the directions up and down, to left and right, and fore and aft, eliminate requiring any skillfulness of the inspector, and reduce the burden on both the inspector and the subject. CONSTITUTION: Position information about an eye to be inspected in the directions up and down and to left and right is sensed by an alignment sensor 4', and position information of the eye in the direction fore and aft is sensed by a line sensor 47, and on the basis of the output result from these sensors 4', 47, a driving means performs alignment of the device body relative to the eye.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for observing and observing corneal endothelial cells, and more particularly, an apparatus for observing and photographing corneal endothelial cells of an eye by illuminating the cornea of the eye to be illuminated with illumination light. It relates to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a corneal endothelial cell observing and photographing apparatus for observing and photographing a corneal endothelial cell image of an eye to be inspected, a cone is formed on the corneal surface of the eye to be inspected after anesthetizing the eye of the subject (patient). A contact type in which a lens is contacted to observe and photograph a corneal endothelium image is known. In this contact type,
There is a problem of damaging the corneal surface. In addition, it takes time and effort to disinfect the cone lens. Therefore, a non-contact type in which an optical attachment for observing corneal endothelium is attached to a slit lamp to observe and photograph a corneal endothelial cell image has been developed.

In this non-contact type corneal endothelial cell observation / photographing device, the relative positional relationship between the eye to be inspected and the optical system of the device (device main body) is roughly adjusted by visual observation, and then illumination light from an illumination light source for observation is used. It is known that the cornea is irradiated obliquely and the corneal endothelium is focused on by looking into the eyepiece lens based on the reflected light flux from the cornea. It is also known to focus on the corneal endothelial cells displayed on the monitor.

[0004]

By the way, since the cornea is thin, it must be observed at a high magnification in order to observe corneal endothelial cells. Further, the eye to be inspected constantly undergoes involuntary eye movements, but since the magnification is high, the corneal endothelial cell image is greatly shaken by the involuntary eye movements. Therefore, the non-contact type requires considerable skill to observe and photograph the corneal endothelial cells.

When photographing a corneal endothelial cell image, the photographing switch must be operated at the same time as focusing.
It requires considerable skill to operate the photographing switch at the same time as focusing of corneal endothelial cells.

Further, in the alignment operation of the main body of the apparatus with respect to the cornea, the proper absolute positional relationship between the eye to be inspected and the optical system of the apparatus has not been determined, and the corneal endothelial cell image itself or the reflection from the corneal surface appearing beside it. Since you will be observing a completely dark state where you cannot see anything until you search for the luminous flux, it depends greatly on the intuition and experience of the examiner.

Moreover, since alignment often takes a long time, the subject is forced to keep his eyes open for a long time until the subject is focused and the photographing is completed, which causes great pain to the subject. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and enables automatic alignment of the optical system of the apparatus with respect to the eye to be inspected in the vertical and horizontal directions as well as in the front-back direction, so that alignment can be performed without requiring the examiner to be skilled. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a corneal endothelial cell observation and imaging device that can reduce the burden on the examiner and the subject.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is directed to an alignment detection sensor for detecting position information of an eye to be examined in the vertical and horizontal directions, and position information of the eye to be examined in the longitudinal direction. And a focus state detection sensor for detecting, and a drive means for driving the apparatus main body based on the output result from each sensor to align the eye to be inspected with the apparatus main body. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the illuminating light source for photographing is connected to a light source drive circuit, and the light source driving circuit controls the illuminating light source for photographing based on an image receiving state of the focusing image receiving element. The point is to have the light emitted automatically.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of a corneal endothelial cell observation and photographing device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 28.

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 24 show a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a device optical system of the corneal endothelial cell observation and photographing device. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an anterior segment observation optical system for observing an anterior segment of an eye E to be examined.

The anterior segment observation optical system 1 includes a half mirror 2,
The objective lens 3, the half mirror 4, the optical path switching mirror 5, and the CCD 6 are generally included, and O1 is an optical axis thereof. The anterior segment of the eye E is illuminated by the anterior segment illumination light source 7. The half mirror 2 constitutes a part of the alignment optical system 8 as an alignment index light projection means.

As shown in FIG. 2, the alignment optical system 8 has an alignment light source 9, a pinhole plate 10, a projection lens 11, a diaphragm 12, and a half mirror 13. The pinhole plate 10 is disposed at the focal point of the projection lens 11, and the alignment index light that has passed through the pinhole plate 10 is collimated by the projection lens 11 and guided to the half mirror 2 via the half mirror 13. The parallel light flux is reflected by the half mirror 2 and guided to the cornea C. The half mirror 13 constitutes a part of the fixation target projection optical system 14.

The fixation target projection optical system 14 includes a left-eye projection system 15 and a right-eye projection system 16 as shown in FIG.

The projection system 15 for the left eye and the projection system 16 for the right eye
In the right eye, the eyeball optical axis O2 and the visual axis S1 of the eye E are inclined 5 ° to the right while the right eye is provided to the left. This is because in the eye, as shown in FIG. 3C, the eyeball optical axis O2 and the visual axis S1 are inclined to the left by 5 °. The left-eye projection system 15 and the right-eye projection system 16 respectively include a fixation target light source 17 and a pinhole plate 1.
8. Optical member 1 for presenting a plurality of fixation target light sources 17
9. It has a projection lens 20.

The fixation target light source 17 is linked to the movement of the apparatus main body H, which will be described later, so that the right eye one is automatically turned on during the right eye examination and the left eye one is automatically turned on during the left eye examination. Lights up. The fixation target light from the fixation target projection optical system 14 is transmitted through the half mirror 13 and the half mirror 2 to the eye E to be examined.
Be led to. At this time, the fixation target light is reflected a plurality of times on the reflection surfaces 19a and 19b of the optical member 19,
A plurality of fixation target light source images are presented to the eye E to be examined. The subject fixes the fixation target light source image according to the diopter, and the alignment adjustment is performed while fixing the fixation target light source image.

The alignment light beam K is reflected by the surface T of the cornea C as shown in FIG. The alignment light flux K is reflected by the surface T so as to form a bright spot image R at an intermediate position between the corneal vertex P and the corneal curvature center O3. The reflected light flux is guided to the objective lens 3 via the half mirror 2.

A part of the reflected light beam guided to the objective lens 3 is reflected by the half mirror 4, and the remaining light beam passes through the half mirror 4. The reflected light flux reflected by the half mirror 4 is guided to an alignment detection sensor 4'as an alignment image receiving element.

The alignment detecting sensor 4 'is used as a criterion for switching the optical path by the optical path switching mirror 5. A position sensor (PSD), which will be described later, such as a position-detectable sensor, is used as the alignment detection sensor 4 ′.

The optical path switching mirror 5 is normally retracted from the optical path of the anterior segment observation optical system 1. The optical path switching mirror 5 has a light shielding surface 5a on one surface and a total reflection surface 5b on the other surface. The light flux that has passed through the half mirror 4 is guided to the CCD 6 to form an image, and a bright spot image is formed on the CCD 6. The half mirror 4 reflects the light flux from the alignment pattern projection optical system 21.

The alignment pattern projection optical system 21 includes
The outline includes a light source 22 for alignment pattern, an alignment pattern plate 23, and a projection lens 24.

An annular pattern is formed on the alignment pattern plate 23. The pattern forming light flux forming the annular pattern is reflected by the half mirror 4 and C
It is guided to the CD 6 and an annular pattern image is formed on the CCD 6.

The CCD 6 is connected to a monitor device (not shown), and a screen 25 of the monitor device displays an anterior eye image 26 of the eye E as shown in FIG. Further, an annular pattern image 27 is displayed. Alignment adjustment is performed by swinging the apparatus main body H up and down (Y direction) and left and right (X direction) so that the light flux that is reflected by the cornea C and forms the bright spot image R ′ is located at the center of the annular pattern image 27. Then, the eyeball optical axis O2 of the eye E and the apparatus optical axis O1 are matched. In addition, the working distance is set by shifting the device body H forward and backward with respect to the eye E (in the Z direction).

On both sides of the anterior segment observation optical system 1, an illumination optical system 28 and an observation and photographing optical system 29 are provided. The illumination optical system 28 irradiates the cornea C of the eye E with an illumination light beam from an oblique direction.

The illumination optical system 28 includes an illumination light source 3 for observation.
0, a condenser lens 31, an infrared filter 31 ′, an illumination light source 32 for photographing, a condenser lens 33, a slit plate 34, and a light projecting lens 35. The illumination light source 30 and the illumination light source 32 are conjugate with respect to the condenser lens 31.

A halogen lamp is used as the illumination light source 30, and a xenon lamp is used as the illumination light source 32. The light flux emitted from the illumination light source 30 passes through the condenser lens 31 and the infrared filter 31 ′ and is once converged at the position where the illumination light source 32 is arranged. The infrared light flux is guided to the condenser lens 33 as if emitted from the illumination light source 32. The infrared light flux condensed by the condenser lens 33 is formed by the slit plate 3
Guided to 4. An elongated rectangular slit 36 is formed in the slit plate 34. The infrared light flux passes through the slit 36 and is guided to the light projecting lens 35.

Reference numeral 35 'is an optical member for correcting the optical path length.
FIG. 1 shows a state of being inserted into the optical path when observing endothelial cells.
It is made up of a convex lens because it retracts and corrects the optical path length when photographing with visible light. On the other hand, if the optical member 35 'is not inserted into the optical path during observation but is to be inserted at the time of photographing, a parallel plane plate or a concave lens may be used. The insertion position of the optical member 35 'is outside the position shown in the figure, and the projection lens 3
5 and the cornea C may be provided. When the alignment is completed, the slit plate 34 and the cornea C are substantially conjugate with respect to the light projecting lens 35, and the cornea C is irradiated with the slit light flux. This slit light flux traverses the cornea C from its surface T toward the inside.

The light source section including the illumination light source 30, the condenser lens 31, the infrared filter 31 ', the illumination light source 32, and the condenser lens 33 may be arranged as shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 37 denotes a dichroic mirror;
Is a concave reflector. The dichroic mirror 37 is arranged between the condenser lens 31 and the slit plate 34, transmits infrared light, and reflects visible light.

The observation / photographing optical system 29 generally comprises an objective lens 40, a half mirror 41, a mask 42, a relay lens 43, a mirror 44, a variable power lens 45, a focusing lens 46, and an optical path switching mirror 5.

The optical path switching mirror 5 is an anterior ocular segment observation optical system 1 based on the detection output of the alignment detection sensor 4 '.
Automatically inserted in the optical path of. When the alignment is completed, the mask 42 and the cornea C are substantially conjugate with respect to the objective lens 40.

The slit light beam is scattered and reflected by the cornea C. The state of the scattering reflection is shown in FIG. Part of the slit light beam is first reflected on the corneal surface T which is the boundary surface between the air and the cornea C. The light quantity of the scattered reflected light flux L from the corneal surface T is the largest. The light quantity of the scattered reflected light flux M from the corneal endothelial cell N is relatively small. The light amount of the reflected light flux L ′ from the corneal substance M ′ is the smallest. The scattered reflected light flux M is condensed by the objective lens 40, is guided to the half mirror 41 through the optical path length correction member 40 ′.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical path length correcting member 40 'is inserted into the optical path during observation with infrared illumination light, and retracted from the optical path during photographing with visible light. At this time, a convex lens is used as the optical path length correction member 40 '. On the contrary, a plane-parallel plate or a concave lens is inserted into the optical path as an optical path length correcting member 40 'during photographing to form a corneal endothelial cell image at the reference position, and the optical path correcting member 40' is used during observation. It is also possible to evacuate from. An optical path length correcting member 43 ', which will be described later, also has the same movement and shape as the optical path length correcting member 40', and its insertion position is at the position shown in FIG. 1 and in front of the objective lens 40 (on the side of the cornea C). ), Between the half mirror 41 and the mask 42, and between the focusing lens 46 and the optical path switching mirror 5, the same effect can be obtained.

A part of the scattered reflected light beam is reflected by the half mirror 41 and is reflected by the line sensor 4 as a focused image receiving element.
Guided to 7. Further, the scattered reflected light flux that has passed through the half mirror 41 is guided to the mask 42, and a corneal cross-sectional image including the corneal endothelial cells N is formed at the arrangement position of the mask 42.

The mask 42 plays a role of blocking extra reflected light beams other than forming a corneal endothelial cell image. The scattered and reflected light flux forming the corneal endothelial cell image is transmitted by the optical path length correction member 4
3 ', relay lens 43, mirror 44, variable magnification lens 4
5. After being guided to the optical path switching mirror 5 through the focusing lens 46 and reflected by the optical path switching mirror 5, CC
An image is formed on D6. A corneal endothelial cell image 48 is displayed on the screen 25 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, 4
Reference numeral 9 is an optical image formed by the reflected light flux from the corneal surface T if it is not shielded by the mask 42, and 50 is an optical image by the scattered reflected light flux from the corneal substance M ′.

The line sensor 47 is arranged as shown in FIG. 9B with respect to the cross-sectional direction of the cornea C, and the intensity distribution of the scattered reflected light flux is as shown in FIG. 9A. In FIG. 9A, the symbol U is a peak due to the scattered reflected light flux scattered and reflected on the surface T of the cornea C.
The symbol V is the peak of the endothelial cell portion of the cornea C. The peak U corresponds to the optical image 49, and the peak V corresponds to the optical image 48.

The output of the element at each address of the line sensor 47 is input to the focus determination circuit 47 'as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9A, the focus determination circuit 47 'determines the address of the peak V by storing all signals including the peak U and the peak V and performing arithmetic processing. Then, the focus determination circuit 47 'determines whether or not the address L of the peak V coincides with the central address Q of the line sensor 47.

When the apparatus main body H is moved toward and away from the anterior segment of the eye E (the optical system of the apparatus is moved in the Z direction), the address L of the peak V is moved. The device body H is designed so that the corneal endothelial cells are focused when the address L of the peak V coincides with the central address Q. When the address L of the peak V coincides with the center address Q, the focusing judgment circuit 47 'outputs a photographing signal to the photographing light source light emission control circuit 32',
As a result, the illumination light source 32 emits light, the eye E to be inspected is illuminated, and photographing is automatically performed.

As shown in FIG. 10, the line sensor 47 is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the thickness of the cornea C, and the detection output W of the corneal endothelial cell image 48 based on the contrast is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the illumination light source 32 may be automatically caused to emit light when the level is equal to or higher than the predetermined level V1, and the corneal endothelial cell image 48 may be captured.

The anterior segment observation optical system 1, the illumination optical system 28, and the observation / photographing optical system 29 are housed in an apparatus body case 52 as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 53 is a base having a built-in power supply. A pedestal 54 is provided above the base 53 so as to be movable back and forth and left and right by operating a control lever 54a. The control lever 54a is provided with a photographing switch 54b, which is used in the manual photographing mode. A motor 55 and a pillar 56 are provided on the top of the gantry 54.

The motor 55 and the support column 56 are coupled to each other by a pinion rack (not shown), and the support column 56 is vertically moved by the motor 55. A table 57 is provided at the upper end of the pillar 56.

The table 57 is provided with columns 58 and a motor 59. A table 60 is slidably provided on the upper ends of the columns 58. A rack 61 is provided at the rear end of the table 60, as shown in FIG. A pinion 62 is provided on the output shaft of the motor 59, and the pinion 62 is meshed with the rack 61. Further, a motor 63 and a support column 64 are provided above the table 60. The output shaft of the motor 63 is provided with a pinion 65. The device main body case 52 is slidably provided on the upper part of the support column 64. A rack 66 is provided on the side of the apparatus main body case 52. Rack 66 is pinion 65
Is meshed with. In FIG. 13, 6a is a signal processing unit.

The motor 55 is a device body H for the eye E to be examined.
The motor 59 is used for automatically aligning the apparatus body H with respect to the eye E in the X direction, and the motor 63 is used for automatically aligning the apparatus body H with respect to the eye E. Are automatically performed in the Z direction, and these can be operated in the automatic photographing mode.

That is, a motor 55 and a pinion rack (not shown) for connecting the motor 55 and the support 56,
The motor 59, the pinion 62, and the rack 61 constitute alignment driving means for the apparatus optical system in the up, down, left, and right directions with respect to the eye E to be driven, which is driven in conjunction with the image receiving result of the alignment detection sensor 4 '. The pinion 65 and the pinion 65 constitute focusing drive means for the apparatus optical system in the front-rear direction with respect to the subject's eye E driven in conjunction with the image reception result of the line sensor 47.

In this automatic photographing mode, the user operates the control lever 54a while looking at the anterior eye image 26 displayed on the screen 25 by the anterior eye observation optical system 1, and operates the bright spot image R '.
Can be clearly seen, and the gantry 54 is roughly operated so that the bright spot image R ′ approaches the predetermined annular circle 27. Thereby, the scattered reflected light beam forming the bright spot image R 'is guided to the alignment detection sensor 4'.

The X-direction position information and the Y-direction position information of the bright spot image R 'are detected by the alignment detecting sensor 4'. The X-direction position information and the Y-direction position information are input to the image switching circuit 4 ″ serving as image switching means.

The image switching circuit 4 ″ is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the XY alignment detection circuit 67 and the mirror drive circuit 68 are provided.

The XY alignment detection circuit 67 determines whether or not the alignment in the X direction and the alignment in the Y direction have been completed. For example, when the XY alignment is completed when the optical path switching mirror 5 is retracted from the optical path of the anterior segment observation optical system 1, when the XY alignment is completed, the XY alignment signal of “High” is directed to the mirror drive circuit 68. When the XY alignment is not completed, the “Low” XY alignment signal is output to the mirror drive circuit 68.

When the "High" XY alignment signal is output to the mirror drive circuit 68, the optical path switching mirror 5 is driven to be inserted into the optical path of the anterior ocular segment observation optical system 1 and "Lo"
When the XY alignment signal of w ″ is output to the mirror drive circuit 68, the optical path switching mirror 5 maintains the state retracted from the optical path of the anterior segment observation optical system 1. Further, the optical path switching mirror 5 observes the anterior segment observation. When the "Low" XY alignment signal is output to the mirror drive circuit 68 while being inserted in the optical path of the optical system 1, the optical path switching mirror 5 is driven again to retract from the optical path of the anterior segment observation optical system 1. To be done.

The X-direction position information and the Y-direction position information of the alignment detection sensor 4'are input to an alignment judgment circuit (not shown). This alignment judging circuit uses X
The optical axis O1 of the device optical system from the X direction based on the directional position information.
Drives the motor 59 so as to approach the eyeball optical axis O2 of the eye E, and based on the Y direction position information, the motor 59 moves the optical axis O1 of the apparatus optical system from the Y direction toward the eyeball optical axis O2 of the eye E. 55 is driven. The table 60 is slid in the X direction by the motor 59, the table 57 is moved in the Y direction by the motor 55, and the optical axis O1 of the optical system of the apparatus and the eye optical axis of the eye E are automatically moved based on the alignment detection sensor 4 '. Positioning with O2 is performed.

On the other hand, the motor 63 moves the apparatus main body case 52 in the Z direction so that the address L of the peak V detected by the one-dimensional line sensor 47 and the central address Q coincide with each other. Thereby, the alignment of the apparatus optical system with respect to the subject's eye E is automatically completed, and imaging of the corneal endothelial cells N is performed.

Incidentally, the image switching means 4 "is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, the image switching means 4 "of the modification shown in FIG. 15 includes a pair of absolute value circuits 82a and 82b, level detectors 83a and 83b, level output devices 84a and 84b, an AND circuit 85, and a flip-flop circuit 86. , A mirror driving circuit 68.

The absolute value circuits 82a and 82b are shown in FIG.
The output voltage having a positive or negative value at the time of the alignment operation of the X-axis and the Y-axis, which is detected by the alignment detection sensor 4 ', is converted into an output voltage value having an absolute value.

Each level signal from the level output units 84a and 84b output to the level detectors 83a and 83b is set to be larger than the annular pattern image 27 displayed on the screen 25 as shown in FIG. This corresponds to the alignment area e1 of the bright spot image R 'and the alignment area e2 of the bright spot image R' set to be smaller than the annular pattern image 27. In FIG. 17, the annular pattern image 2
7 is shown for comparison, and is not actually required in this embodiment.

At the time of the alignment operation, the area in the alignment state is set small, and the bright spot image R 'is set in the area e.
1, the optical path switching mirror 5 is driven and is not retracted from the optical path as long as the bright spot image R ′ is located in the area e2 when a slight deviation of the eye to be inspected occurs. It was done like this.

FIG. 18 shows a second modification of the image switching circuit 4 "as the image switching means. The image switching circuit 4" includes an XY alignment detecting circuit 67 and a mirror driving circuit 68. And delay timer circuit 6
9 is equipped.

In the delay timer circuit 69, the XY alignment signal from the XY alignment detection circuit 67 is "H".
from “high” to “Low” or from “Low” to “H”
Even if the signal is changed to "high", the drive of the optical path switching mirror 5 is delayed within a predetermined time set by the delay timer circuit 69 to maintain the mirror position before the signal change.

FIG. 19 shows a third modification of the image switching circuit 4 "as the image switching means.
The image switching circuit 4 ″ includes an XY alignment detection circuit 67 and a mirror drive circuit 68, and also includes a pair of holding timer circuits 70a and 70b and a holding timer circuit 70.
and an inverter 71 for inverting the input signal of b.

The holding timer circuits 70a and 70b
When the output of the XY alignment signal from the alignment detection circuit 67 is "High", the hold timer circuit 70
The driving of the optical path switching mirror 5 is delayed for a predetermined time by a, and the driving of the optical path switching mirror 5 is delayed by the holding timer circuit 70b for a predetermined time when the output of the XY alignment signal from the XY alignment detection circuit 67 is "Low". It is composed.

FIG. 20 shows a fourth modification of the image switching circuit 4 "as the image switching means.
The image switching circuit 4 ″ includes an XY alignment detection circuit 67 and a mirror drive circuit 68, a lock switch 72 and an OR circuit 73, and switches the optical path by the output of the XY alignment signal from the XY alignment detection circuit 67. It is configured such that the mirror 5 is driven, and the drive of the optical path switching mirror 5 by the mirror drive circuit 68 is stopped by the lock signal from the lock switch 72 so that the optical path switching mirror 5 can be driven by a manual operation. .

FIG. 21 shows a fifth modification of the image switching circuit 4 "serving as the image switching means.
The image switching circuit 4 ″ includes an XY alignment detection circuit 67 and a mirror drive circuit 68, and also includes a photographing illumination drive circuit 74 and an anterior segment illumination drive circuit 75.

The photographing illumination driving circuit 74 and the anterior segment illumination driving circuit 75 are interlocked with the drive of the optical path switching mirror 5 so that the illumination light source 32 for photographing and the anterior segment illumination light source 7 emit light.
It is configured to perform N / OFF control.

FIG. 22 shows a sixth modification of the image switching means 4 ". In the figure, the image switching means 4"
A switch circuit 76 and a mirror drive circuit 68 are provided.

The switch circuit 76 is electrically connected to a manual image changeover switch (not shown), performs an alignment operation while looking at the anterior ocular segment image 26 on the screen 25, and operates the manual image changeover switch when the XY alignment is completed. Thus, the optical path switching mirror 5 is driven.

FIGS. 23 and 24 show a seventh modification of the image switching means 4 ". In the figure, the image switching means 4" outputs a signal from the XY alignment detection circuit 67 to the delay timer 81. On the other hand, the output signal of the element of each address of the line sensor 47 input to the focus determination circuit 47 'is guided to the AND circuit 82 via the delay timer 83, and both signals are inputted to the AND circuit 82. The configuration is such that the optical path switching mirror 5 is driven via the mirror driving circuit 68 only when guided to 82.

Thus, when the vertical alignment has been continued for a certain period of time, the focus determination circuit 4
7'has some signal (for example, a signal based on the light reflected from the surface of the cornea, not limited to a signal from the endothelium), the optical path is switched only when it is continued for a certain time, and the alignment state at a better position is obtained. You can switch images only when

When the intensity distribution of the scattered and reflected light beams from the line sensor 47 arranged as shown in FIG. 24B becomes as shown in FIG.
If it exceeds the arbitrary slice level SL shown in (a), it is determined that some signal is present in the focus determination circuit 47 '. At this time, the illumination light source 30 is assumed to be on from the beginning.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 25 shows a second embodiment of the corneal endothelial cell observation and photographing device according to the present invention, in which a dichroic mirror 77 is used instead of the optical path switching mirror 5. is there. At this time, infrared light sources are used as the illumination light sources 7, 7 for observing the anterior segment shown in FIG. 1, the alignment index light and the pattern forming light flux are infrared light, and the alignment index reflected by the cornea C is used. The light flux and the reflected light flux reflected by the anterior segment are transmitted, and the slit light flux reflected by the cornea C is reflected. On the screen 25, switching from the anterior ocular segment image 26 to the corneal endothelial cell image 48 is performed by turning off the illumination light source 7, the alignment light source 9, and the alignment pattern light source 22. Also, a shutter (not shown) may be provided during use of one optical path and in the other optical path, for example, immediately before the dichroic mirror 69.
Is valid even if you insert.

(Third Embodiment) FIGS. 26 to 28 show a third embodiment of the corneal endothelial cell observation and photographing apparatus according to the present invention.
Is shown. In the figure, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 26, the anterior segment observation optical system 1 is
Half mirror 2, objective lens 3, half mirror 4, CC
The observation / photographing optical system 29 is generally composed of an objective lens 40, a half mirror 41, a mask 42, a relay lens 43, and a second CCD 6 '.

A part of the reflected light beam guided to the objective lens 3 is reflected by the half mirror 4, and the remaining light beam passes through the half mirror 4 and is received by the CCD 6. The reflected light flux reflected by the half mirror 4 is guided to an alignment detection sensor 4'as a light receiving means. The XY alignment signal from the alignment detection sensor 4 'is output to the image switching circuit 4 ".

The scattered reflected light beam forming the corneal endothelial cell image is collected by the relay lens 43 and is imaged on the second CCD 6 '.

The anterior ocular segment image and the corneal endothelial cell image received by the CCD 6 and the second CCD 6 'are passed through frame memories 78 and 79 as shown in FIG.
And the anterior ocular segment image and the corneal endothelial cell image synthesized by the image synthesis circuit 80 are displayed on the screen 25 ′ of the monitor device via the D / A converter 81.

The screen 25 'has a large screen 25a and a small screen 25b.
It has and. As shown in FIG. 28A, in the screen 25 ', the anterior segment image 26 is displayed on the large screen 25a and the corneal endothelial cell image 48 in the out-of-focus state is displayed on the small screen 25b before the XY alignment is completed. It Then, when the XY alignment is completed, the alignment detection sensor 4 ′ moves to X
When the Y alignment signal is output to the image switching circuit 4 ", the screen 2 is displayed by the image switching signal from the image switching circuit 4".
The display state of No. 5 is reversed as shown in FIG.

As described above, in the corneal endothelial cell observing / photographing apparatus of the present invention, the adjustment of the first stage by the conventional visual measurement is more accurate while observing the anterior segment of the eye to be inspected with the monitor (not shown). Therefore, the corneal endothelial cells in the second stage can be easily and quickly found.

Further, since the illumination optical system and the observation / photographing optical system are arranged with the optical axis of the eyeball of the subject's eye as a boundary, the operation for aligning the eyeball of the subject's eye can be facilitated. It can be carried out.

Further, since the image receiving element for the anterior segment image guided to the anterior segment observation optical system and the image receiving element for the corneal endothelial cell image guided to the observation and photographing optical system are shared, it is expensive. Only one image receiving element is required.

Moreover, since the observation illumination light provided in the illumination optical system is infrared light, it is possible to reduce the pain caused to the subject.

[0082]

Since the corneal endothelial cell observation and imaging device according to the present invention is configured as described above, it enables automatic alignment of the device main body with respect to the eye to be inspected in the vertical and horizontal directions as well as in the anteroposterior direction. Alignment can be performed without requiring, and the burden on the examiner and the subject can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an optical system showing an embodiment of a corneal endothelial cell observation and imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an alignment optical system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a fixation target projection optical system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a reflection state of an alignment index light beam according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display state of an anterior segment image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the light source section of the illumination optical system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a reflection state of a slit light beam on the cornea.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a reflection state of a corneal endothelial cell image.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between a corneal endothelial cell image and the amount of light received by a line sensor.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an arrangement state of a line sensor for an image of a corneal endothelial cell.

11 is a diagram showing an output state from the line sensor shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a corneal endothelial cell observation and imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view partially showing the corneal endothelial cell observation and photographing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of an image switching circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a modified example of the image switching circuit.

FIG. 16 is also an explanatory diagram of an alignment detection sensor.

FIG. 17 is also XY by an alignment detection sensor.
It is a front view of a monitor showing a screen display state during an alignment operation.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a second modification of the image switching circuit of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a third modified example of the image switching circuit.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a fourth modification of the image switching circuit of the same.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a fifth modified example of the image switching circuit.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a sixth modified example of the image switching circuit.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a seventh modified example of the image switching circuit of the same.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a relationship between a corneal endothelial cell image and a light amount received by a line sensor in a seventh modified example.

25 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of a corneal endothelial cell observation and imaging device according to the present invention, in which a dichroic mirror is used instead of the optical path switching mirror shown in FIG.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram of an optical system showing a third embodiment of the corneal endothelial cell observation / imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing an image switching circuit of the same.

28A is a diagram showing a screen display state during a ZY alignment operation, and FIG. 28B is a diagram showing a screen display state in a corneal endothelial cell image observation state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 E ... Eye 4 '... Alignment detection sensor 47 ... Line sensor (focus state detection sensor) 55 ... Motor 59 ... Motor 61 ... Rack 62 ... Pinion 63 ... Motor 65 ... Pinion 66 ... Rack

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An alignment detection sensor for detecting position information of an eye to be examined in up, down, left and right directions, a focus state detection sensor for detecting position information of the eye to be examined in the front and back direction, and an output result from each sensor. A corneal endothelial cell observation and imaging device, comprising: a drive unit that drives the device body to align the eye to be inspected with the device body. 2. The photographing illumination light source is connected to a light source drive circuit, and the light source drive circuit automatically causes the photographing illumination light source to emit light based on an image receiving state of the focusing image receiving element. The corneal endothelial cell observation and imaging device according to claim 1.