US5861939A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable fundus viewing system for an undilated eye
Assignee: Idemia Identity and Security USA LLC
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Filing: 1997-10-16
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Granted: 1999-01-19
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Expires: 2017-10-16
Abstract
Abstract The system of the present invention allows the fundus of an undilated eye to be viewed extremely easily and without the need for the viewer to align a hand held unit with a head mounted unit. The system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye in accordance with the present invention includes a number of point sources of light that are individually actuable and arranged in a linear array. A lens converts each point of light to a line of light. The point sources of light are sequentially actuated, i.e. turned on and off in sequence, so as to scan the fundus of the undilated eye with lines of light that are directed from the lens to the eye by an optical system. The optical system directs light reflected from the fundus to an image generating apparatus that is responsive to the reflected light to provide an image of the fundus that can be viewed.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory Lee Heacock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/10; A61B3/12; A61B3/1208
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye comprising: a plurality of point sources of noncoherent light individually actuable and arranged in a line; a scanner for converting a point of light from said sources to a line of light; an optical system for directing light from said scanner to an undilated eye; a controller for sequentially actuating said point sources of light to scan the fundus of the eye with lines of light directed to the eye by said optical system; an image detector for receiving light reflected from the fundus and said detector generating signals representing the image of the fundus; and a display responsive to said signals for displaying an image of the fundus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye comprising: a plurality of point sources of noncoherent light individually actuable and arranged in a line; a scanner for converting a point of light from said sources to a line of light; an optical system for directing light from said scanner to an undilated eye; a controller for sequentially actuating said point sources of light to scan the fundus of the eye with lines of light directed to the eye by said optical system; an image detector for receiving light reflected from the fundus and said detector generating signals representing the image of the fundus; and a display responsive to said signals for displaying an image of the fundus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 1 wherein said point sources of light include a linear array of light emitting diodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 1 wherein said scanner is a passive scanner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 1 wherein said scanner is a cylindrical lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 1 wherein said optical system includes an objective lens and a partially reflective mirror, said mirror being disposed between said sources of light and said image detector so that the central axis of the sources of light is generally perpendicular to the central axis of the image detector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 5 wherein said objective lens focuses light from the sources of light on an area of the patient's eye and said objective lens intercepts light reflected from the patient's eye and focuses the intercepted light onto an image plane disposed between the objective lens and the image detector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 1 wherein said image detector is a CCD camera.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 1 wherein said sources of light, scanner, optical system and image detector are contained in a housing forming a unit that is hand held in use and said display forms a portion of a head mounted display system that is in communication with said hand held unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye comprising: a plurality of point sources of light individually actuable and arranged in a line; a lens for converting a point of light from said sources to a line of light; an optical system for directing light from said lens to an undilated eye; a controller for sequentially actuating said point sources of light to scan the fundus of the eye with lines of light directed to the eye by said optical system; an image detector for receiving light reflected from the fundus and directed to the detector by said optical system, said detector generating signals representing the image of the fundus; and a display responsive to said signals for displaying an image of the fundus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
127 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye comprising: a plurality of point sources of light individually actuable and arranged in a line; a lens for converting a point of light from said sources to a line of light; an optical system for directing light from said lens to an undilated eye; a controller for sequentially actuating said point sources of light to scan the fundus of the eye with lines of light directed to the eye by said optical system; an image detector for receiving light reflected from the fundus and directed to the detector by said optical system, said detector generating signals representing the image of the fundus; and a display responsive to said signals for displaying an image of the fundus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 9 wherein said sources of light generate noncoherent light and said system further includes a slit aperture through which said light passes to said lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 9 wherein said lens is a cylindrical lens.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 9 wherein said optical system includes an objective lens and a partially reflective mirror, said mirror being disposed between said sources of light and said image detector so that the central axis of the sources of light is generally perpendicular to the central axis of the image detector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 9 wherein said sources of light, lens, optical system and image detector are contained in a housing forming a unit that is hand held in use and said display forms a portion of a head mounted display system that is in communication with said hand held unit.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye comprising: a linear array of a plurality of light emitting diodes; a cylindrical lens for receiving light from said array through a slit aperture to generate a line of light; an optical system for directing light from said lens to an undilated eye; a controller for sequentially actuating said light emitting diodes to scan the fundus of the eye with lines of light directed to the eye by said optical system; and image generating apparatus for receiving light reflected from the fundus and directed to the image generating apparatus by said optical system to provide an image of the fundus.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye comprising: a linear array of a plurality of light emitting diodes; a cylindrical lens for receiving light from said array through a slit aperture to generate a line of light; an optical system for directing light from said lens to an undilated eye; a controller for sequentially actuating said light emitting diodes to scan the fundus of the eye with lines of light directed to the eye by said optical system; and image generating apparatus for receiving light reflected from the fundus and directed to the image generating apparatus by said optical system to provide an image of the fundus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 14 wherein said image generating apparatus includes an image detector for receiving light reflected from the fundus to generate signals representing the image of the fundus and a display responsive to said signals for displaying an image of the fundus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 14 wherein said image generating apparatus includes an image detector for receiving light reflected from the fundus to generate signals representing the image of the fundus and a printer responsive to said signals for printing an image of the fundus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 14 wherein said image generating apparatus includes an eyepiece lens through which one person looks to view the fundus of another person.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 14 wherein said system is portable.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 18 wherein said linear array of light emitting diodes, cylindrical lens, optical system and at least a portion of said image generating apparatus are housed in a hand held unit.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
85 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye comprising: a plurality of point sources of light arranged in a linear array and sequentially actuated; a lens for converting a point of light from said sources to a line of light; an optical system for directing light from said lens to an undilated eye; and an image generating apparatus for receiving light reflected from the fundus and directed to the image generating apparatus by said optical system to provide an image of the fundus.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
85 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye comprising: a plurality of point sources of light arranged in a linear array and sequentially actuated; a lens for converting a point of light from said sources to a line of light; an optical system for directing light from said lens to an undilated eye; and an image generating apparatus for receiving light reflected from the fundus and directed to the image generating apparatus by said optical system to provide an image of the fundus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 20 wherein said system is portable.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 20 wherein said image generating apparatus includes an image detector for receiving light reflected from the fundus to generate signals representing the image of the fundus and a display responsive to said signals for displaying an image of the fundus.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 22 wherein said display is a head mounted display.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 20 wherein said image generating apparatus includes an image detector for receiving light reflected from the fundus to generate signals representing the image of the fundus and a printer responsive to said signals for printing an image of the fundus.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 20 wherein said image generating apparatus includes an eyepiece lens through which one person looks to view the fundus of another person.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 20 wherein said sources of light include an array of light emitting diodes.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 20 including a slit aperture through which light from said sources passes to said lens.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 20 wherein said lens is a cylindrical lens.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 20 wherein said sources of light emit coherent light.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 20 wherein said optical system includes an objective lens and a partially reflective mirror, said mirror being disposed between said sources of light and said image generating apparatus so that the central axis of the sources of light is generally perpendicular to the central axis of the image generating apparatus.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 30 wherein said objective lens focuses light from the sources of light on an area of the patient's eye and said objective lens intercepts light reflected from the patient's eye and focuses the intercepted light onto an image plane disposed between the objective lens and the image generating apparatus.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
100 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye comprising: a hand held unit for scanning light into an undilated eye to illuminate the fundus of the eye and responsive to light reflected from the eye to generate signals representing an image of the fundus; and a head mounted display system responsive to said fundus image signals generated by said hand held unit and including at least one display for displaying an image of the fundus and an associated optical system for projecting the displayed fundus image at a distance from the user of the head mounted system.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
100 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye comprising: a hand held unit for scanning light into an undilated eye to illuminate the fundus of the eye and responsive to light reflected from the eye to generate signals representing an image of the fundus; and a head mounted display system responsive to said fundus image signals generated by said hand held unit and including at least one display for displaying an image of the fundus and an associated optical system for projecting the displayed fundus image at a distance from the user of the head mounted system.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
63 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 32 wherein said hand held unit includes a linear array of light emitting diodes, said diodes being sequentially actuated; a lens for converting light from each light emitting diode to a line of light; and a slit aperture through which light passes form said array to said lens.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
54 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 32 wherein said hand held unit includes a linear array of point sources of laser light, said sources of laser light being sequentially actuated and a lens for converting light from each point source to a line of light.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
41 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 32 wherein said hand held unit includes a CCD camera responsive to light reflected from the fundus to generate signals representing an image of the fundus.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
40 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 32 including a printer responsive to signals representing said fundus image signals generated by said hand held unit for printing an image of the fundus.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 36 wherein said printer is portable.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
93 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye comprising: a hand held unit for scanning light into an undilated eye to illuminate the fundus of the eye and responsive to light reflected from the eye to generate signals representing an image of the fundus; a display responsive to signals representing said fundus image signals generated by said hand held unit for displaying an image of the fundus; and a printer responsive to signals representing said fundus image signals generated by said hand held unit for displaying an image of the fundus.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
93 words
A system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye comprising: a hand held unit for scanning light into an undilated eye to illuminate the fundus of the eye and responsive to light reflected from the eye to generate signals representing an image of the fundus; a display responsive to signals representing said fundus image signals generated by said hand held unit for displaying an image of the fundus; and a printer responsive to signals representing said fundus image signals generated by said hand held unit for displaying an image of the fundus.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
63 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 38 wherein said hand held unit includes a linear array of light emitting diodes, said diodes being sequentially actuated; a lens for converting light from each light emitting diode to a line of light; and a slit aperture through which light passes form said array to said lens.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
54 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 38 wherein said hand held unit includes a linear array of point sources of laser light, said sources of laser light being sequentially actuated and a lens for converting light from each point source to a line of light.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
41 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 38 wherein said hand held unit includes a CCD camera responsive to light reflected from the fundus to generate signals representing an image of the fundus.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 38 wherein said display is portable.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
21 words
A portable system for viewing the fundus of an undilated eye as recited in claim 38 wherein said printer is portable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-18 | 2002-07-20 | 2003-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-18 | 2006-07-20 | 2007-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-18 | 2010-07-20 | 2011-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |