KR20190006766A - Device for Measuring Microcirculation of Conjunctiva Non-Invasively - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a device for non-invasively measuring the microcirculation of a blood stream passing through the conjunctival blood vessels of a subject. The device includes: a photographing part for non-invasively photographing the conjunctival blood vessels of the subject; and a measuring part for deriving quantitative data on conjunctival microcirculation based on an image photographed by the photographing part. It is possible to easily diagnose and treat eye diseases.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a noninvasive conjunctival microcirculation measuring apparatus,

The present invention relates to a non-invasive conjunctival microcirculation measuring device, and more particularly to a device for noninvasively photographing conjunctival blood vessels of a subject and deriving quantitative data on conjunctival microcirculation based on the captured image will be.

Eye is an important sensory organ that accepts most of the information needed for life. The anterior surface of the eye consists of the cornea or conjunctiva and the sclera that follows it. The middle consists of the iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid, and the inside is the retina. The lens, the vitreous body, and the anhedral water correspond to the refractive medium.

On the other hand, the surface of such an eye is likely to experience fatigue by keeping exposed to the external environment, and the possibility of disease is relatively higher than other parts of the eye due to contamination by foreign substances introduced from the outside. Recently, the use of devices including optical displays such as computers, tablet PCs, and smart phones has been increasing, and the problems are increasing due to air pollution sources such as fine dust.

A representative example of such an eye disease is dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome is known to be a disorder of the tear film due to tear deficiency or excessive evaporation and is associated with the symptoms of eye discomfort, which causes damage to the interpalpebral eye surface. Recently, the Definition and Classification Subcommittee of the Joint Study Group on International Dry Eye Symptoms has been developed for the treatment of tear and eye surface multi-factor disease (ECD), which cause potential damage to the eye's surface as well as symptoms of discomfort, visual disturbance and tear film instability , A disease associated with increased osmotic pressure of the tear film and inflammation of the ocular surface, has led to a new definition of dry eye syndrome.

At this time, ocular diseases such as dry eye syndrome are very complex diseases, and various phenomena and indications are different or overlapping. On the other hand, the diagnosis is based on the subjective clinical experience of the physician, The degree of congestion in the eye is evaluated, the score is evaluated, and the amount or turbidity of the secretion secreted from the eye is scored and evaluated.

However, these diagnostic methods are subjective and the degree of these findings and symptoms may not be consistent with the patient 's symptoms. Therefore, there are many difficulties in diagnosing and there is a risk of misdiagnosis due to the subjective judgment of physicians who are not objective. In addition, it is known that there is a problem in customized diagnosis of patients due to a large variation in the individual, and the diagnosis is difficult in a case of a physician who lacks experience, especially in the first year.

In this regard, among the constituent parts of the eyeball, blood vessels and lymphatic vessels capable of circulating lymphatic fluid and blood are present in the conjunctiva, and hemodynamics of conjunctival microcirculation is known to reflect the surface state of the eyeball in physiological or pathological situations .

More specifically, microcirculation of the blood vessels adjusts the degree of tension of the blood vessels and the oxygen need of the human tissues, and provides contact with most of the cells in the human body, supplying necessary nutrients and oxygen and removing waste products. It plays a decisive role.

Particularly, since the conjunctiva is a translucent tissue and the sclera is white, it is a very ideal tissue for observing the hemodynamics of blood microcirculation. Since the surface of the eyeball including the conjunctiva is continuously exposed to the outside in the state where the eye is open, Microcirculation can be more sensitive to various internal and external stimuli.

That is, microcirculation of the conjunctival vessels has ideal conditions that can be used to derive a measure for diagnosing and predicting the abnormal state of the eye disease or eyeball, that is, a biomarker. Furthermore, because microcirculation of these conjunctival vessels can be measured and observed noninvasively, unlike the invasive examination methods such as injection, the physical pain of the subject and the fear of the subject due to the measurement and observation of the blood vessel microcirculation of the conjunctiva Can be eliminated or minimized.

However, optical equipment capable of objectively quantifying the shape of the conjunctival vessels and confirming the rate of blood flow in the conjunctiva vessel in real time, and easily observing the difference in microcirculation according to the abnormal state of the eye disease or eyeball, And thus there is no established quantitative database of differences in the microcirculation of the conjunctival vessels according to the abnormal state of ocular disease or eyeball. Therefore, the difference in microcirculation of the conjunctival vessels is not related to the ocular disease, It can not be objectively confirmed whether or not it is valid as a biomarker for diagnosis and prediction of a state.

Therefore, there is a high need for a technique capable of fundamentally solving such problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and the technical problems required from the past.

The inventors of the present application have conducted intensive research and various experiments. As a result, as described later, based on images obtained by noninvasively photographing the conjunctival vessels of a testee, It is possible to more objectively data on the change in the microcirculation of the conjunctiva generated according to the disease state of the examinee by constructing the measurement device. Further, based on such quantitative data, there is no change in the microcirculation of the conjunctival blood vessel It can be objectively verified whether or not it can function as a biomarker for diagnosing and predicting the abnormal state of disease or eyeball. Further, based on the data verified as the biomarker, it is possible to perform accurate diagnosis through a simpler method for an eye disease or an abnormal state of the eye, and customized diagnosis of a personal variation of a testee can be performed. Therefore, The risk of misdiagnosis that could be caused by In addition, since the diagnosis through non-invasive observation can eliminate or minimize the pain or the fear of the test due to the testee, it is possible to diagnose and treat the eye disease more easily And have completed the present invention.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for measuring microcirculatory microcirculation,

An apparatus for non-invasively measuring microcirculation of blood flow passing through a conjunctival blood vessel of an examinee,

A photographing unit for non-invasively photographing the conjunctival blood vessel of the examinee; And

A metering unit for deriving quantitative data on the conjunctival microcirculation based on the image photographed by the photographing unit; . ≪ / RTI >

The photographing unit may photograph at least two images with a time difference.

In addition, the measuring unit can derive quantitative data on the microcirculation of the conjunctiva by measuring the movement path of the target element in the bloodstream passing through the conjunctival vessel with time.

More specifically, the measuring unit may determine the same target element in at least two images photographed with a time difference, and measure the movement path.

At this time, the measuring unit compares images photographed with a time difference of 1/100 second to 1/10 second, more specifically, 1/50 second to 1/20 second, more specifically, 1/30 second, The identity can be determined.

In addition, quantitative data on the conjunctival microcirculation may be blood flow velocity and / or blood flow volume.

At this time, the blood flow velocity can be calculated by measuring the movement distance from the position difference according to the time difference of the target elements in the bloodstream.

In addition, the blood flow rate can be calculated by measuring the amount of passage of the target element in accordance with the time difference based on the specific position of the conjunctival vessel.

In addition, the target component in the bloodstream may be at least one selected from the group consisting of white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets and lymphocytes, and more specifically, red blood cells.

In addition, quantitative data on the microcirculation of the conjunctiva may be different depending on the steady state of the subject's eye and the eye disease state.

At this time, the ocular disease may be immune and non-immunological dry eye syndrome, conjunctival diseases caused by wearing contact lenses, or conjunctival diseases occurring after ophthalmic surgery.

In addition, the measurement device is capable of deriving a biomarker for the ocular disease through quantitative data difference of conjunctival microcirculation observed in a conjunctival vascular microcirculation in ocular disease, Information on the difference may be provided.

In addition,

A base plate having a plate-like structure;

A stem protruded upward from one surface of the base plate and having a height adjusted and fixed in a state where at least one portion of the photographing unit is mounted; a face fixing unit fixing the face position of the examinee; And

And a display unit for displaying visual images of the conjunctival blood vessels obtained in the photographing unit and quantitative data derived from the measuring unit.

In addition,

A sensor unit for emitting and collecting an optical signal with respect to the eye of the examinee;

A light source unit connected to the sensor unit through an optical fiber to provide a light source;

A detector for detecting a reflected optical signal collected by the sensor unit; And

An adapter unit for connecting the sensor unit and the detection unit,

. ≪ / RTI >

As described above, the apparatus for measuring conjunctival microcirculation according to the present invention is configured to derive quantitative data on conjunctival microcirculation based on images obtained by noninvasively photographing the conjunctival blood vessels of a subject, The change in the microcirculation of the conjunctiva generated in accordance with the present invention can be more objectively data-converted.

Based on such quantitative data, it can be objectively verified whether a change occurring in the microcirculation of the conjunctival vessels can function as a biomarker for diagnosing and predicting the abnormal state of eye diseases or eyeballs.

Further, based on the data verified as the biomarker, it is possible to perform accurate diagnosis through a simpler method for an eye disease or an abnormal state of the eye, and customized diagnosis of a personal variation of a testee can be performed. Therefore, The risk of misdiagnosis that could be caused by

In addition, because the diagnosis through non-invasive observation can eliminate or minimize the pain or the fear of the test due to the testee, the diagnosis of the eye disease can be more easily diagnosed and treated .

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a structure of a conjunctival microcirculation measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figs. 2 and 3 are schematic views schematically showing microcirculation of an exemplary conjunctival blood vessel measured using the conjunctival microcirculatory measurement apparatus of Fig. 1. Fig.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings according to the embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view schematically showing the structure of a conjunctiva-microcirculation measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conjunctival microcirculation measuring apparatus 100 includes a photographing unit 110, a measuring unit 120, a base plate 131, a stem 132, and a face fixing unit 133.

First, the face fixing part 133 fixes the face position of the examinee 101.

More specifically, the face-to-face fixing section 133 makes contact with the forehead and jaw of the examinee 101 to detect the position of the examinee's face 101 in at least two positions, more specifically, It is possible to eliminate or minimize inspection errors or errors that may occur due to the change of the position of the eye of the examinee 101 in the photographing process of the eye 101 of the examinee 101.

The photographing unit 110 includes a sensor unit 111, a detecting unit 112, an adapter unit 113 and a light source unit 114. The photographing unit 110 is fixed to a stem 132 protruding from the base plate 131 have.

In detail, the base plate 131 has a plate-like structure so as to more stably support and fix the imaging unit 110 fixed to the stem 132 and the stem 132.

The width and thickness of the base plate 131 and the shape of the base plate 131 are not limited so long as they can stably support and fix the imaging unit 110 fixed to the stem 132 and the stem 132, It is not.

The stem 132 has a bar structure protruded upward from one side of the base plate 131 and an adapter unit 113 of the photographing unit 110 is mounted.

Therefore, the height of the photographing unit 110 along the longitudinal direction of the stem 132 can be easily adjusted and fixed in accordance with the height corresponding to the eye of the examinee 101.

The light source unit 114 is connected to the sensor unit 111 through the optical fiber 115 and thus provides the light source to the sensor unit 111 through the optical fiber 115.

The sensor unit 111 radiates an optical signal to the eye of the examinee 101 using the light source transmitted from the light source unit 114 at a height corresponding to the eye of the examinee 101, Captures the optical signal reflected from the eye again, and non-invasively captures the conjunctival blood vessels of the examinee 101.

The detection unit 112 is located behind the sensor unit 111 with respect to the eye of the examinee 101 and is connected to the sensor unit 111 by an adapter unit 113 that transmits the optical signal collected by the sensor unit 111. [ So that the optical signal collected by the sensor unit 111 is detected.

The optical signal detected by the detection unit 112 is converted into an electronic signal and transmitted to the measurement unit 120 connected to the detection unit 112.

The measuring unit 120 may be, for example, an information processing apparatus such as a computer, and includes a display unit 121. [

The measuring unit 120 derives quantitative data on the conjunctival microcirculation based on the image photographed by the photographing unit 110 with the optical signal.

The display unit 121 displays the visual images of the conjunctival blood vessels obtained in the photographing unit 110 and the quantitative data derived from the measuring unit 120 so as to be visually distinguishable so that the smile of the conjunctival blood vessels of the subject 101 The image and the data for the circulation can be observed and identified visually more easily in real time.

Figs. 2 and 3 are schematic views schematically showing microcirculation of an exemplary conjunctival blood vessel measured using the conjunctival microcirculatory measurement apparatus of Fig. 1. Fig.

Referring to Fig. 2 together with Fig. 1, the photographing unit 110 photographs images at three time points (T-1, T, T + 1) with a time difference t.

As described above, the metrology department derives quantitative data on conjunctival microcirculation, where the quantitative data may be the blood flow velocity and / or blood flow through the conjunctival blood vessel 210.

To this end, the photographing unit 110 obtains the image M of the viewpoint T and the images of the viewpoints T-1 and T + 1 of the same time difference t at a single viewpoint T M-1, and M + 1, respectively. The three images (M-1, M, M + 1) photographed in this way are sequentially displayed at a first time point T-1, a second time point T and a third time point T +1), respectively.

Therefore, a moving path of the target element 220 in the bloodstream passing through the conjunctival blood vessel 210 appears in each of the three images M-1, M, M + 1.

Based on this, the metering unit can derive quantitative data on the microcirculatory microcirculation by measuring the movement path of the target element 220 in the blood flowing through the conjunctival blood vessel 210 with time, a specific movement path for the target element 220 can be measured by discriminating the same target element 220 appearing in each of the three images M-1, M and M + 1 shot at the time t.

At this time, the target element 220 in the blood stream may be at least one selected from the group consisting of white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets and lymphocytes, but is not limited thereto, and can be easily photographed and observed by the photographing unit 110, The kind of the blood that can substantially reflect the velocity and / or the blood flow rate of the blood flowing through the blood vessel 210 is not limited.

The time difference t for photographing the three images M-1, M, M + 1 may be in the range of about 1/100 second to 1/10 second.

In this regard, the blood vessels 210 of the conjunctiva are made of capillaries of a small diameter, so that the velocity of blood flow through the blood vessels 210 of the conjunctiva is in a very low range of about 0.3 m / s to 1.5 m / s , And the moving velocity is 0.5 m / s, which is the most frequently measured value. In addition, elements such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which can be the target element 220 in the bloodstream, have a diameter of about several micrometers or less.

The time difference t for photographing the blood vessels 210 of the conjunctiva may be in the range of 1/100 sec to 1/10 sec. More specifically, the time difference t is 1 The time difference t is set to 1/30 second so that the same target element 220 can be obtained by comparing the images based on the photographed images with the time difference t, Can be more easily distinguished and tracked.

If the time difference t is out of the above range and too large, the target element 220 passing through the conjunctival blood vessel 210 will pass through a narrow imaging range, It is difficult to accurately calculate the moving distance, and the error may increase. Conversely, if the time difference t is too small beyond the above range, the moving distance of the target element 220 in the three images M-1, M, M + 1 becomes too short, 210 and / or the blood flow rate of blood flowing through the blood vessels 210 and 210 may be difficult to measure easily.

Therefore, the measuring unit calculates the time difference (t) of 1/100 second to 1/10 second, more specifically, the time difference (t) of 1/50 second to 1/20 second, more specifically, t) are compared with each other and the target element 220 is tracked to determine the identity.

On the other hand, the blood flow rate is calculated by measuring the amount of passage of the target element 220 according to the time difference t with reference to the specific position of the conjunctival blood vessel 210.

Similarly, the blood flow velocity is calculated by measuring the movement distance from the position difference according to the time difference (t) of the target element 220 in the blood stream, and the method therefor will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a two-dimensional view of the movement path of the target element 220 in the bloodstream passing through the conjunctival blood vessel 210.

In this regard, the images M-1, M and M + 1 of FIG. 2 are obtained by photographing the position of the target element 220 in the bloodstream passing through the conjunctival blood vessel 210. FIG.

Accordingly, in order to calculate an accurate moving distance of the target element 220, a path through which the target element 220 moves can be converted into a two-dimensional graph represented by a straight line as shown in FIG. When the time difference t is sufficiently small, even when the time difference t is sufficiently small, an error with the actual moving distance hardly occurs, and the calculation of the converting operation and the moving distance can be automatically performed through the measuring unit.

Referring to FIG. 3 together with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the target element 220 has a movement path from the first time point T-1 to the third time point T + 1 via the second time point T .

At this time, the moving distances (d ₁ , d ₂ ) between the time points T-1, T, T + 1 of the target element 220 are the distance (x ₁ , x ₂ ) Is calculated by the following equations (1) and ( ₂ ) based on the distance (y ₁ , y ₂ ) moved on the axis;

(1)

(One)

(2)

(2)

That is, the distance d ₁ from the first point of time T-1 to the second point of time T and the distance d ₁ from the second point of time T to the third point of time T + The distance d ₂ that the moving object 220 moves can be calculated using Equations 1 and 2, respectively.

Based on this, the velocity of movement (v ₁ , v ₂ ) of the blood flow is the distance that the target element 220 moves per unit time, and the time difference t between the time points T-1, T, T + The moving speeds v ₁ and v ₂ of the blood flow are equal to the time differences t between the time points T-1, T and T + 1 and the calculated moving distances d ₁ and d ₂ , , By the following equations 3 and 4;

(3)

(3)

(4)

(4)

Therefore, the apparatus 100 for measuring microcirculatory microcirculation according to the present invention non-invasively measures the microcirculation of the bloodstream passing through the conjunctival blood vessel 210 of the examinee 101 and easily and objectively and quantitatively analyzes the data .

At this time, the quantitative data on the microcirculation of the conjunctiva are different according to the steady state of the eye 101 of the testee and the eye disease condition, wherein the eye disease is caused by immune and nonimmune related dry eye syndrome, , Or conjunctival disease that occurs after ophthalmic surgery.

That is, the moving speed of the blood flow through the conjunctival blood vessels (210) (v _1, v _2), and more particularly not the moving velocity (v _1, v ₂₎ is examinee 101 in the blood flow within the target element 220 And the apparatus 100 for measuring conjunctival microcirculation according to the present invention can provide quantitative data on the difference or change in the moving speeds (v ₁ , v ₂ ).

Meanwhile, the measurement apparatus 100 compares the quantitative data of the conjunctival microcirculation observed in the microcirculation of the conjunctival vessel 210 with the eye disease in comparison with the normal conjunctival blood vessel 210, It is possible to provide information for deriving the biomarker of Korean.

Specifically, a biomarker is an index capable of recognizing a change occurring in the body. By using the biomarker, it is possible to objectively measure the normal or pathological condition of the body, the degree of reaction to the drug, and the like.

In this regard, the apparatus 100 for measuring microcirculatory microcirculation according to the present invention quantitatively measures the difference in microcirculation of the bloodstream passing through the conjunctival blood vessel 210 according to the steady state and the ocular disease state of the examinee 101 Lt; / RTI >

Accordingly, when a plurality of quantified data depending on the difference in the ocular disease state have consistency with respect to a specific ocular disease state, the quantitative data, that is, the change in microcirculation of the conjunctival blood vessel 210, Or difference may be regarded as a biomarker as an objective measure for diagnosing and predicting the ocular disease.

The comparison of the quantitative data on the microcirculation of the conjunctival blood vessel 210 may be performed between the normal test subject 101 and the other test subject 101 having eye disease or may be performed between the steady state of the same testee 101 Can be performed between states with a disease.

At this time, when the comparison of the quantitative data on the microcirculation of the conjunctival blood vessel 210 is performed between the examinee 101 in the normal state and the other examinee 101 having the eye disease, Quantitative data differences on microcirculation can be obtained.

In addition, when the comparison of the quantitative data is performed between the steady state of the examinee 101 and the eye disease state, individualized data can be obtained for each patient individually.

Further, when such data is repeatedly obtained and analyzed for a plurality of examinees 101, the accumulated difference in the quantitative data observed in the conjunctival microcirculation can be used to determine whether or not it can function as a biomarker for a particular ocular disease It provides objective and easy-to-judge basis, so that it is possible to exert a superior effect in deriving a suitable biomarker for each eye disease.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, It will be possible.

Claims (14)

An apparatus for non-invasively measuring microcirculation of blood flow passing through a conjunctival blood vessel of an examinee,
A photographing unit for non-invasively photographing the conjunctival blood vessel of the examinee; And
A metering unit for deriving quantitative data on the conjunctival microcirculation based on the image photographed by the photographing unit; And a microcirculation microcirculation measuring device. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing section photographs at least two images with a time difference. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the metering unit derives quantitative data on conjunctival microcirculation by measuring a movement path of a target element in a blood flow passing through a blood vessel of the conjunctiva over time. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the metering unit measures the movement path by discriminating the same target element from at least two images photographed with a time difference. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the measuring unit compares images photographed with a time difference of 1/100 second to 1/10 second and identifies the identity by tracking the target element. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the quantitative data on the conjunctival microcirculation is a blood flow velocity and / or a blood flow volume. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the blood flow velocity is calculated by measuring a moving distance from a positional difference according to a time difference of the target elements in the bloodstream. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the blood flow amount is calculated by measuring a passage amount of a target element according to a time difference based on a specific position of the conjunctival blood vessel. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the blood flow target element is at least one selected from the group consisting of white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, and lymphocytes. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the quantitative data on the microcirculation of the conjunctiva are different according to a steady state of the subject's eye and an eye disease state. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the ocular disease is conjunctival disease caused by dry eye syndrome related to immune and non-immunological diseases, conjunctival disease caused by contact lens wear, or ophthalmic surgery. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device is a biomarker for the ocular disease by quantitative data on the conjunctival microcirculation observed in a conjunctival vascular microcirculation with ocular disease, biomarker) of the conjunctival microcirculation measuring device. The measuring device according to claim 1,
A base plate having a plate-like structure;
A stem protruded upward from one surface of the base plate and having a height adjusted and fixed in a state where at least one portion of the photographing unit is mounted; a face fixing unit fixing the face position of the examinee; And
Further comprising a display unit for displaying visual images of the conjunctival blood vessels obtained in the photographing unit and quantitative data derived from the measuring unit. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1,
A sensor unit for emitting and collecting an optical signal with respect to the eye of the examinee;
A light source unit connected to the sensor unit through an optical fiber to provide a light source;
A detector for detecting a reflected optical signal collected by the sensor unit; And
An adapter unit for connecting the sensor unit and the detection unit,
And a microcirculation microcirculation measuring device.

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