US4711542A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ophthalmic disease detection apparatus
Assignee: Kowa Co Ltd
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Filing: 1986-05-22
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Granted: 1987-12-08
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Expires: 2006-05-22
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for detecting ophthalmic diseases such as a cataract in the lens of a patient's eye which includes means for focussing a laser beam at a selected spot in the lens of an eye, and according to which the light back-scattered from the eye are photoelectrically detected and converted into an electrical signal which is subsequently used to determine an autocorrelation function relating to the fluctuation of intensity of the back-scattered light over time, and to derive therefrom a protein particle distribution essential to ophthalmic disease detection.
Inventors
- 👤 Tadashi Ichihashi
- 👤 Koichiro Kakizawa
- 👤 Masunori Kawamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/10; A61B3/117; A61B3/1173; A61B3/1176
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for detecting ophthalmic diseases in the lens of a patient's eye comprising: a laser for producing a laser beam; means for focussing said laser beam at a selected spot in the lens of said patient's eye; photoelectric converting means for receiving light scattered from said lens and converting same into an electric signal; an autocorrelator for determining an autocorrelation function in response to an electrical signal received from said photoelectric converting means; and means for calculating the distribution of protein particles in the lens of said eye in terms of the diameters thereof in response to an output signal from said autocorrelator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for detecting ophthalmic diseases in the lens of a patient's eye comprising: a laser for producing a laser beam; means for focussing said laser beam at a selected spot in the lens of said patient's eye; photoelectric converting means for receiving light scattered from said lens and converting same into an electric signal; an autocorrelator for determining an autocorrelation function in response to an electrical signal received from said photoelectric converting means; and means for calculating the distribution of protein particles in the lens of said eye in terms of the diameters thereof in response to an output signal from said autocorrelator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said autocorrelator determines the correlation function relating to the fluctuation of intensity of the scattered light over time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said photoelectric converting means is a photomultiplier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said photoelectric converting means is a photomultiplier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4402601A
Cited
US4582405A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-12-07 | 1991-06-08 | 1991-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-12-07 | 1995-06-08 | 1995-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-12-07 | 1999-06-08 | 1999-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |