JPH11178795A - Endothelium of cornea photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sense a photographing part at the time of photographing an endothelium of a cornea picture by executing alignment while observing the endothelium of the cornea. SOLUTION: This device is provided with an XY alignment index projecting system 10 projecting an index for XY alignment detection from a front side with respect to an eye to be examined, an XY alignment detecting system 20 detecting the positional relation of the right/left and up/down directions of the eye to be examined, a Z alignment detecting system 60 project-photodetecting slit light from the oblique direction with respect to the eye to be examined to detect the positional relation between a device main body and the front/back direction of the eye to be examined, an anterior chamber observing system receiving the anterior chamber image of the eye to be examined to observe it together with an reflected image at the cornea of the eye to be examined of the index, a slit illumination optical system 30 illuminating the slit light to the eye to be examined and an observing and photographing optical system 50 image-receiving the reflection of the slit light at the endothelium of the cornea of the eye to be examined to observe and photograph the endothelium of the cornea. Then, an automatic photographing mode for photographing the endothelium of the cornea by the automatic alignment is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an improvement in a corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus for photographing corneal endothelial cells of an eye to be examined.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus capable of photographing a corneal endothelial cell without contacting an eye to be examined has been known (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-146410).
Also, the relative positional relationship between the subject's eye and the device is detected photoelectrically,
There is known a corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus capable of driving the apparatus main body based on a detection result and automatically performing alignment (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-206080).

This type of apparatus has an automatic photographing mode for automatically performing alignment to photographing, and a manual photographing mode (manual photographing mode) for manually moving the apparatus body to perform alignment and photographing. Normally, when performing imaging in the auto imaging mode and observing a corneal endothelial cell image to search for a lesion (herpes, edema) and photograph a desired position, alignment detection is performed in a diseased eye having a rough corneal surface. When it is not possible, shooting is performed in the manual shooting mode.

In this manual photographing mode, rough alignment is performed while observing the anterior segment of the subject's eye, and when rough positioning is completed, the observation screen is switched to perform detailed alignment while observing corneal endothelial cells. Have been to do.

In this conventional corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus, in the auto photographing mode, the corneal endothelial cell image is photographed by performing XY alignment while observing the anterior eye image, so that the corneal endothelial cell image is photographed. It is possible to perceive which imaging region of the cornea was imaged immediately before.

[0006]

However, when imaging is performed in the manual imaging mode, the final alignment is performed while observing the corneal endothelial cells. I can't figure out if there is. Further, in the corneal endothelial cell imaging apparatus, since the object surface is inclined with respect to the optical system in order to avoid the influence of the reflected light of the cornea, the allowable range of alignment in the Z direction is extremely narrow, and manual alignment is difficult. There is also a problem that is.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even when alignment is performed while observing corneal endothelial cells and a corneal endothelial cell image is photographed, the photographed site can be perceived. An object of the present invention is to provide a corneal endothelial cell imaging device.

[0008]

A corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an XY alignment index projection system for projecting an index for XY alignment detection from the front to an eye to be inspected, An XY alignment detection system that receives reflections from the cornea of the eye to be detected to detect the positional relationship between the main body of the apparatus and the eye to be examined in the left, right, up and down directions; A Z-alignment detection system for detecting a positional relationship in the anterior-posterior direction of the optometry, an anterior segment observation system for receiving and observing an anterior segment image of the subject's eye together with a reflection image of the index on the cornea of the subject's eye, A slit illumination optical system that irradiates slit light with respect to the corneal endothelial cells of the subject's eye, and an observation and imaging optical system that receives and reflects the slit light on the corneal endothelial cells to observe and photograph the corneal endothelial cells. In a corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus capable of executing an auto photographing mode for photographing corneal endothelial cells by auto alignment, the apparatus main body is manually moved at least in the XY directions while observing a corneal endothelial cell image, and an arbitrary part of the cornea is obtained. It is characterized by having a manual imaging mode for imaging the corneal endothelial cells, and an imaging site notifying unit for notifying the examiner of the imaging site in the manual imaging mode.

In the corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus according to the present invention, the photographing region notifying means may manually photograph the corneal endothelial cell based on the XY alignment index image reflected on the anterior eye image received by the anterior eye observation system. The imaging site of the corneal endothelial cell image according to the mode is perceived.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus, the photographing region notifying means perceives a photographing region of a corneal endothelial cell image in a manual photographing mode by a numerical value based on a detection result of the XY alignment detection system. It is characterized by.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus, the photographing region notifying means forms an image of a detection result of the XY alignment detection system to perceive a photographing region of a corneal endothelial cell image in a manual photographing mode. It is characterized by.

In the corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, in the manual photographing mode, the apparatus main body is driven in the front-rear direction based on the detection result by the Z alignment detection system, and is moved in the front-rear direction with respect to the eye to be examined. It is characterized by having a front-rear direction automatic positioning means for automatically positioning the apparatus main body only.

In the corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the apparatus main body is driven in the XYZ directions based on the detection result by the XYZ alignment detection system, and automatically aligned with the eye to be examined. It is characterized by having alignment means.

A corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention has a corneal thickness measuring means for receiving the reflection of the illumination light irradiated by the illumination optical system on the cornea of the eye to be examined and measuring the thickness of the cornea.

The corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus according to the present invention has a photographing region storage means for storing the photographing region together with a corneal endothelial cell image.

[0016]

1 (a) and 1 (b), reference numeral 1 denotes an anterior ocular segment observation optical system. The anterior eye observation optical system 1 is disposed on the left and right of the eye E to be inspected, and a plurality of infrared illumination light sources 2 for directly illuminating the anterior eye, a half mirror 3, an objective lens 4, a half mirror 5, a CCD camera. 6, light shielding plate 7
Having. The reflected light from the anterior segment of the subject's eye E passes through the half mirror 3, the objective lens 4, and the half mirror 5,
The image is guided to the D camera 6, and an anterior eye image is formed on the imaging surface of the CCD camera 6. The CCD camera 6 outputs an image signal to a monitor device (not shown), and an anterior eye image 8 is displayed on a screen 7A of the monitor device, as shown in FIG. The light shielding plate 7 is retracted from the optical path of the anterior ocular segment observation optical system 1 when observing the anterior ocular segment, and is inserted into the optical path when photographing corneal endothelial cells.

In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 10 denotes an index projection optical system. The index projection optical system 10 includes a light source 11 that emits infrared light, a condenser lens 12, an aperture stop 13, a pinhole plate 14, a dichroic mirror 15, and a projection lens 16. The pinhole plate 14 has a role of forming an alignment index, and the focal point of the projection lens 16 matches the position where the pinhole plate 14 is provided. The aperture stop 13 is provided at a position conjugate with the vertex P of the cornea C of the eye E with respect to the projection lens 16. The projection lens 16 forms a part of the fixation target optical system 17. The fixation target optical system 17 includes a fixation light source 18 that emits visible light, and a pinhole plate 19.
The pinhole plate 19 is disposed at the focal position of the projection lens 16, and fixation target light emitted from the fixation light source 18 passes through the pinhole plate 19 and the dichroic mirror 15, and is converted into a parallel light beam by the projection lens 16. And half mirror 3
And is guided to the subject's eye E. The subject gazes at the fixation target light to fix his / her gaze.

The infrared light emitted from the light source 11 is condensed by a condenser lens 12, passes through an aperture stop 13, and is guided to a pinhole plate 14. The light beam that has passed through the pinhole plate 14 is reflected by the dichroic mirror 15 and guided to the projection lens 16. The projection lens 16 converts the light beam passing through the pinhole plate 14 into a parallel light beam, and the parallel light beam is reflected by the half mirror 3 and projected on the cornea C as index light for XY alignment detection. The index projection optical system 10 plays a role of projecting the XY direction alignment detection index light toward the cornea C of the eye E to be inspected. The index light projected onto the cornea C forms a bright spot image R at an intermediate position MP between the vertex P of the cornea C and the center of curvature MR of the cornea C as shown in FIG. Is reflected by

The image reflected by the cornea C passes through the half mirror 3 and is guided to the objective lens 4. The objective lens 4 is also used for an XY alignment detection system 20 described later. Part of the index light condensed by the objective lens 4 is reflected by the half mirror 5
Image receiving element 21 forming a part of alignment detection system 20
It is led to. The image receiving element 21 is made of PSD, and the bright spot image R
Is formed on the image receiving surface of the image receiving element 21. The image receiving element 21 outputs the formation position signal of the bright spot image R1 in XY.
The signal is output to the alignment detection circuit 22. The XY alignment detection circuit 22 detects the upper, lower, left and right positional relationship of the apparatus main body with respect to the subject's eye based on the output of the image receiving element 21. The remaining index light transmitted through the half mirror 5 is guided to the CCD camera 6, and the bright spot image R2
Is formed. FIG. 2 shows a bright spot image corresponding to the bright spot image R2 as a reference symbol R2 '. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 23 denotes a mark indicating an allowable alignment range generated by an image generating unit (not shown).

In FIG. 1B, reference numeral 30 denotes a photographing illumination optical system (slit illumination system). The photographing illumination optical system 30 includes a photographing illumination light source 31, a condenser lens 32, a slit plate 33, a dichroic mirror 34, an aperture stop 35,
It has an objective lens 36. For example, a xenon lamp is used as the photographing illumination light source 31. The dichroic mirror 34 has a role of transmitting visible light and reflecting infrared light.
The aperture stop 35 is conjugate with the cornea C with respect to the objective lens 36. The dichroic mirror 34 is also used as a part of the illumination optical system 40 for Z alignment detection. The illumination optical system 40 for Z alignment detection has a light source 41, a condenser lens 42, and a slit plate 43. The light source 41 emits infrared light. The infrared light emitted from the light source 41 passes through the slit plate 43 while being converged by the condenser lens 42, becomes slit light, is reflected by the dichroic mirror 34, is guided to the aperture stop 35, and transmits through the aperture stop 35. After that, the cornea C is illuminated by being guided to the cornea C while being focused by the objective lens 36. The visible light emitted from the photographing illumination light source 31 is condensed by a condenser lens 32 and guided to a slit plate 33, and the visible light passing through the slit plate 33 passes through a dichroic mirror 34 as slit light and is similarly transmitted. The cornea C is guided by an aperture stop 35 and is illuminated from an oblique direction by an objective lens 36.

Reference numeral 50 denotes an observation and photographing optical system. The imaging optical system 50 has a role of receiving the reflected light from the endothelial cells of the cornea of the eye E and observing the corneal endothelial cells from an oblique direction substantially symmetrical to the illumination optical system with respect to the optical axis of the eye E. The photographing optical system 50 includes an objective lens 51, a half mirror 5,
2. It has a mask 53, a mirror 54, a relay lens 55, a light shielding plate 56, and a mirror 57. The mirror 57 is disposed at a position that does not hinder the anterior segment observation light beam, and is tilted at the same angle as the tilt angle θ on the object side (the eye E side).

The slit light beam L emitted by the photographing illumination optical system 30 is reflected by the cornea C as shown in FIG. Part of the slit light beam L is first reflected on a corneal surface T which is a boundary surface between the air and the cornea C. Further, a part of the light beam transmitted through the corneal surface T is reflected by the corneal endothelial cell surface N. The light amount of the reflected light beam T 'from the corneal surface T is the largest, the light amount of the reflected light beam N' from the corneal endothelial cell surface N is relatively small, and the light amount of the reflected light beam M 'from the corneal stroma M is the smallest. The reflected light beam is transmitted through the half mirror 52 while being focused by the objective lens 51, and is once formed on the mask 53. Further, extra reflected light fluxes T ′ and M ′ other than forming a corneal endothelial cell image are blocked by the mask 53, and the reflected light flux N ′ that has passed through the mask 53 is reflected by the mirror 54,
While being focused by the relay lens 55, the light is reflected by the mirror 57, and a corneal endothelial cell image is formed on the CCD camera 6. On the screen 7 of the monitor device, as shown in FIG.
8 is displayed.

The objective lens 51 has a Z alignment detection system 6
0. The Z alignment detection system 60 has a linear sensor 61. The linear sensor 61 is provided at a position conjugate with the cornea C with respect to the objective lens 51. The reflected light by the cornea C of the slit light projected by the illumination optical system 40 for Z alignment detection is reflected by the objective lens 51.
While being converged, the light is reflected by the half mirror 52 to form an image on the linear sensor 61. The linear sensor 61 has a role of detecting a light intensity distribution. The linear sensor 6
6 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 62 indicates a peak portion of the light beam reflected on the surface T of the cornea C, and reference numeral 63 indicates a peak portion of the light beam reflected on the corneal endothelial cell surface N.

The output of the linear sensor 61 is guided to a Z alignment detection circuit 64, which outputs a peak 63 due to a light beam reflected from the corneal endothelial cell surface N.
By comparing the position with the reference position, the positional relationship of the apparatus main body with respect to the subject's eye in the front-back direction is detected. on the other hand,
The light transmitted through the half mirror 52 is once imaged on the mask 53. Then, the light flux passes through a mask 53, a mirror 54, a relay lens 55, and a mirror 57, and forms a corneal endothelial cell image on the CCD camera 6.

When the automatic photographing mode in which the alignment operation is performed automatically is selected, the control circuit 65 drives a device moving means (not shown) based on the outputs of the XY alignment detection circuit 22 and the Z alignment detection circuit 64, The corneal endothelial cells are photographed by automatically setting the eye to be examined and the apparatus main body in a predetermined positional relationship.

That is, in the case of the automatic photographing mode, the alignment is automatically executed, and upon completion of the alignment, the control circuit 65 causes the light source 31 to emit light and the corneal endothelial cell image 58 is automatically photographed.

When the manual photographing mode for manually performing the alignment operation is selected, the control circuit 65 turns on the light sources 2, 11, 18, and 41, and the examiner moves the apparatus main body while looking at the screen 7A of the monitor apparatus. Then, in the anterior ocular segment image 8, a rough alignment is performed so that a site where corneal endothelial cells are to be photographed is located at the center of the screen. After the rough alignment is completed, the examiner presses a changeover switch (not shown). When the changeover switch is pressed, the control circuit 65 sets the light shielding plate 7
Is inserted into the optical path, and the light shielding plate 56 is retracted. Thereby, the state is switched from the anterior segment observation state to the endothelial cell observation state.

A corneal endothelial cell image 58 is displayed on the screen 7A of the monitor as shown in FIG. The examiner moves the apparatus main body in the XYZ directions so that the position of the corneal endothelial cell image becomes a predetermined position. The examiner presses a photographing switch (not shown) when it is considered that the alignment is completed. When the photographing switch is pressed, the control circuit 65 controls the light sources 2, 11, 1
Lights 8 and 41 are turned off, and light source 31 emits light. Thereby, a corneal endothelial cell image is captured by the CCD 6. afterwards,
The light-shielding plate 56 is inserted into the optical path, the light-shielding plate 7 is retracted from the optical path, the light sources 2 and 11 are turned on, and the anterior eye image is captured together with the XY alignment index image. The captured anterior ocular segment image 8 is displayed together with the corneal endothelial cell image 58 on the screen 7A of the monitor device as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the examiner can perceive the site where the corneal endothelial cell image has been captured by confirming the position of the bright spot image R2 'that is displayed together with the anterior ocular segment image 8.

That is, the screen 7A of the monitor functions together with the control circuit 65 as an imaging region notifying means.

Further, in the state of observation of corneal endothelial cells,
When the Z alignment detection circuit 64 can detect the signal, the control circuit 65 automatically or automatically presses a switch (not shown) based on the output of the Z alignment detection circuit 64 so that the control device 65 May be driven to automatically start alignment only in the Z direction. In this case, the Z alignment detection circuit 64 and the control circuit 65 function as a front-rear direction automatic positioning unit.

Further, the thickness of the cornea may be measured using known means based on the corneal reflection image detected by the linear sensor 61.

In the present embodiment, both the bright spot image as the XY alignment index image and the anterior segment image can be perceived by photographing the anterior ocular segment image. Based on this, the coordinate values may be displayed as numbers as shown in FIG. FIG.
As shown in (b), the imaging site may be imaged and displayed based on the XY alignment detection result. In FIG. 8B, reference numeral RN is a mark indicating an imaged imaging region. Further, as shown in FIG.
The anterior eye image may be displayed graphically, and the mark RN indicating the imaging region may be displayed together with the graphicized anterior eye image 8.

Further, a storage means may be provided for storing the coordinate values of the imaging site and the anterior eye image together with the imaging results of the corneal endothelial cells. With this configuration, by feeding back the stored information to the alignment detection system, it is possible to image the same part as the part previously photographed.

[0034]

As described above, the present invention is configured as described above, so that even when photographing while observing corneal endothelial cells,
The imaging site of the corneal endothelial cells on the cornea can be perceived.

In manual alignment, the most difficult alignment in the Z direction can be automated.
The measurement time can be reduced, and the burden on the examiner and the subject can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus according to the present invention, wherein an optical system (a) of an optical system viewed from a lateral direction and an optical system viewed from an upper side are connected to a control circuit. FIG.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an anterior segment image displayed on a screen of a monitor device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a projection state of alignment index light onto the cornea shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an irradiation state of slit light to the cornea shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a corneal endothelial cell image displayed on a screen of a monitor device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a light amount distribution state of a slit light beam on the line sensor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows a state in which a corneal endothelial cell image and its photographed site are displayed on a screen, an anterior ocular segment image is displayed together with a corneal endothelial cell image, and a corneal endothelial cell image is displayed based on the position of a bright spot image as an alignment index image. 3 shows a state in which the imaging region is notified.

8A and 8B show a state in which a corneal endothelial cell image and an imaging region thereof are displayed on a screen, and FIG. 8A shows a state in which an imaging region is displayed on a screen of a monitor device by digitizing an alignment detection result; (b) shows a state in which the imaging region is displayed together with the anterior eye image by imaging the alignment detection result, and (c) shows the imaging region by imaging the alignment detection result and graphically displaying the anterior eye image. It shows the state where it was done.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Anterior eye observation optical system 7A ... Screen of monitor device (imaging part notifying means) 10 ... XY alignment index projection system 20 ... XY alignment detection system 30 ... Imaging illumination optical system (slit illumination system) 50 ... Observation imaging optical System 60: Z-alignment detection system 65: Control circuit (imaging area notification means)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An XY alignment index projection system for projecting an index for XY alignment detection from the front onto an eye to be inspected, and receiving the reflection of the index on the cornea of the eye to be inspected, and moving the apparatus main body and the eye to be inspected right, left, up and down An XY alignment detection system for detecting a positional relationship in a direction, and a Z for projecting and receiving slit light from a diagonal direction with respect to the subject's eye to detect a positional relationship between the apparatus body and the subject's eye in the front-back direction.
An alignment detection system, an anterior segment observation system for receiving and observing an anterior segment image of the subject's eye together with a reflection image of the index on the cornea of the subject's eye, and a slit illumination optical system for irradiating the subject's eye with slit light. And an observation imaging optical system that receives and reflects the reflection of the slit light on the corneal endothelial cells of the eye to be examined and observes and photographs the corneal endothelial cells, and has an automatic imaging mode for imaging the corneal endothelial cells by auto alignment. An executable corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus, wherein a manual photographing mode for manually photographing a corneal endothelial cell at an arbitrary part of the cornea by manually moving the apparatus body at least in the XY directions while observing a corneal endothelial cell image; A corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus, comprising: a photographing region notifying unit for notifying an examiner of a region photographed in a photographing mode. 2. The imaging region notifying unit perceives an imaging region of a corneal endothelial cell image in a manual imaging mode based on an XY alignment index image reflected on an anterior segment image received by the anterior segment observation system. The corneal endothelial cell imaging device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The cornea according to claim 1, wherein the imaging region notifying unit perceives an imaging region of a corneal endothelial cell image in a manual imaging mode by a numerical value based on a detection result of the XY alignment detection system. Endothelial cell imaging device. 4. The cornea according to claim 1, wherein the imaging region notifying unit images the detection result of the XY alignment detection system to perceive an imaging region of a corneal endothelial cell image in a manual imaging mode. Endothelial cell imaging device. 5. In the manual photographing mode, the apparatus main body is driven in the front-rear direction based on the detection result by the Z alignment detection system, and the apparatus main body is automatically positioned only in the front-rear direction with respect to the subject's eye. 2. The corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a front-back direction automatic positioning unit. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic positioning means for driving the apparatus main body in the XYZ directions based on a detection result by said XYZ alignment detection system, and for automatically performing positioning with respect to the eye to be inspected. Item 8. The corneal endothelial cell imaging device according to Item 1. 7. A corneal thickness measuring means for receiving a reflection of the illumination light irradiated by the illumination optical system on the cornea of the eye to be examined and measuring a thickness of the cornea. The corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus according to any one of the above items. 8. An imaging site storage means for storing the imaging site together with a corneal endothelial cell image.
8. The corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus according to any one of 7.