阅读说明：本技术 裂隙灯显微镜以及眼科系统 (Slit-lamp microscope and ophthalmological system ) 是由 大森和宏 福间康文 清水仁 于 2019-06-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：例示性实施方式的裂隙灯显微镜包括照明系统、拍摄系统以及移动机构。照明系统向被检眼的前眼部照射狭缝光。拍摄系统包括：光学系统,对来自照射有狭缝光的前眼部的光进行引导；摄像元件,在摄像面接收被所述光学系统引导的光。移动机构移动照明系统以及拍摄系统。沿照明系统的光轴的物面、光学系统以及摄像面满足防反光条件。拍摄系统通过与基于移动机构的照明系统以及拍摄系统的移动并行地进行重复拍摄来获取前眼部的多个图像。(The slit-lamp microscope of an exemplary embodiment includes an illumination system, a camera system, and a movement mechanism. The illumination system irradiates slit light to the anterior segment of the eye to be examined. The photographing system includes: an optical system that guides light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated; and an imaging element that receives the light guided by the optical system on an imaging surface. The moving mechanism moves the lighting system and the photographing system. The object plane, the optical system, and the image pickup plane along the optical axis of the illumination system satisfy the anti-reflection condition. The imaging system acquires a plurality of images of the anterior segment by repeatedly imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system and the imaging system by the moving mechanism.)

1. A slit-lamp microscope, comprising:

an illumination system that irradiates slit light to an anterior eye of an eye to be examined;

an imaging system including an optical system that guides light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated, and an imaging element that receives the light guided by the optical system on an imaging surface; and

a moving mechanism that moves the illumination system and the photographing system,

the object plane along the optical axis of the illumination system, the optical system and the image pickup plane satisfy an anti-reflection condition,

the photographing system acquires a plurality of images of the anterior segment by repeatedly photographing in parallel with the movement of the illumination system and the photographing system based on the moving mechanism.

2. The slit-lamp microscope of claim 1,

the photographing system includes:

a first imaging system including a first optical system that guides light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated and a first imaging element that receives the light guided by the first optical system on a first imaging surface, and acquiring a first image group by repeatedly imaging in parallel with the movement; and

a second imaging system including a second optical system for guiding light from the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light and a second imaging element for receiving the light guided by the second optical system on a second imaging surface, and acquiring a second image group by repeatedly imaging in parallel with the movement,

an optical axis of the first optical system and an optical axis of the second optical system are arranged in different orientations from each other,

the object plane, the first optical system, and the first image pickup plane satisfy an anti-reflection condition, and the object plane, the second optical system, and the second image pickup plane satisfy an anti-reflection condition.

3. The slit-lamp microscope of claim 2,

an optical axis of the first optical system and an optical axis of the second optical system are arranged to be inclined in directions opposite to each other with respect to an optical axis of the illumination system,

the slit-lamp microscope further comprises:

and an image selecting unit that determines whether or not an artifact is included in any one of two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the first imaging system and the second imaging system, and selects one of the two images when it is determined that the artifact is included in the other image.

4. The slit-lamp microscope of claim 3,

the slit-lamp microscope further comprises:

and a three-dimensional image constructing unit configured to construct a three-dimensional image from an image group including images selected by the image selecting unit from the first image group and the second image group.

5. The slit-lamp microscope of claim 2,

the slit-lamp microscope further comprises:

and an artifact removing unit that compares two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the first imaging system and the second imaging system to determine whether or not an artifact is included in any one of the two images, and removes the artifact when it is determined that the artifact is included in any one of the two images.

6. The slit-lamp microscope of claim 5,

the slit-lamp microscope further comprises:

and a three-dimensional image constructing unit for constructing a three-dimensional image from the image group including the image from which the artifact has been removed by the artifact removing unit.

7. Slit-lamp microscope according to claim 4 or 6,

the moving mechanism includes:

a rotation mechanism that integrally rotates the illumination system and the imaging system with an optical axis of the illumination system as a rotation axis,

the camera system acquires the plurality of images when the illumination system and the camera system are configured in a first rotational position,

the photographing system acquires an image of the anterior segment illuminated with slit light by the illumination system when the illumination system and the photographing system are arranged at a second rotational position different from the first rotational position,

the three-dimensional image construction unit includes:

and an image position determining unit configured to determine relative positions of the plurality of images based on the image acquired at the second rotational position.

8. The slit-lamp microscope of any one of claims 1 to 7,

the illumination system and the imaging system are configured such that at least the imaging system is focused at a portion divided by the anterior surface of the cornea and the posterior surface of the crystalline lens.

9. The slit-lamp microscope of any one of claims 1 to 8,

the illumination system irradiates slit light having a body axis direction of a subject as a longitudinal direction toward the anterior eye,

the moving mechanism moves the illumination system and the imaging system in a direction orthogonal to the body axis direction.

10. The slit-lamp microscope of claim 9,

the slit light has a length equal to or greater than the corneal diameter in the body axis direction,

the moving distance of the illumination system and the imaging system by the moving mechanism is equal to or greater than the corneal diameter in the direction orthogonal to the body axis direction.

11. The slit-lamp microscope of any one of claims 1 to 10,

the optical system included in the photographing system includes:

a reflector that reflects light from the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light and traveling in a direction away from an optical axis of the illumination system, in a direction closer to the optical axis of the illumination system; and

and one or more lenses for imaging the light reflected by the reflector on the image pickup surface.

12. An ophthalmic system, comprising:

a slit-lamp microscope; and

an information processing device connected to the slit-lamp microscope via a communication line and processing an image of an anterior segment of the eye to be examined acquired by the slit-lamp microscope,

the slit-lamp microscope includes:

an illumination system that irradiates slit light to an anterior eye of an eye to be examined;

an imaging system including an optical system that guides light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated, and an imaging element that receives the light guided by the optical system on an imaging surface; and

a moving mechanism that moves the illumination system and the photographing system,

the object plane along the optical axis of the illumination system, the optical system and the image pickup plane satisfy an anti-reflection condition,

the photographing system acquires a plurality of images of the anterior segment by repeatedly photographing in parallel with the movement of the illumination system and the photographing system based on the moving mechanism.

13. The ophthalmic system of claim 12,

the shooting system of the slit-lamp microscope comprises:

a first imaging system including a first optical system that guides light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated and a first imaging element that receives the light guided by the first optical system on a first imaging surface, and acquiring a first image group by repeatedly imaging in parallel with the movement; and

a second imaging system including a second optical system for guiding light from the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light and a second imaging element for receiving the light guided by the second optical system on a second imaging surface, and acquiring a second image group by repeatedly imaging in parallel with the movement,

an optical axis of the first optical system and an optical axis of the second optical system are arranged in different orientations from each other,

the object plane, the first optical system, and the first image pickup plane satisfy an anti-reflection condition, and the object plane, the second optical system, and the second image pickup plane satisfy an anti-reflection condition.

14. The ophthalmic system of claim 13,

an optical axis of the first optical system and an optical axis of the second optical system are arranged to be inclined in directions opposite to each other with respect to an optical axis of the illumination system,

the information processing apparatus includes:

and an image selecting unit that determines whether or not an artifact is included in any one of two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the first imaging system and the second imaging system, and selects one of the two images when it is determined that the artifact is included in the other image.

15. The ophthalmic system of claim 14,

the information processing apparatus includes:

and a three-dimensional image constructing unit configured to construct a three-dimensional image from an image group including images selected by the image selecting unit from the first image group and the second image group.

16. The ophthalmic system of claim 13,

the information processing apparatus includes:

and an artifact removing unit that compares two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the first imaging system and the second imaging system to determine whether or not an artifact is included in any one of the two images, and removes the artifact when it is determined that the artifact is included in any one of the two images.

17. The ophthalmic system of claim 16,

the information processing apparatus includes:

and a three-dimensional image constructing unit for constructing a three-dimensional image from the image group including the image from which the artifact has been removed by the artifact removing unit.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to slit-lamp microscopes and ophthalmic systems.

Background

In the field of ophthalmology, image diagnosis occupies an important place. In image diagnosis, various ophthalmic imaging apparatuses are used. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus includes a slit lamp microscope, a fundus camera, a Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (SLO), an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), and the like. In addition, various ophthalmic devices or measuring devices such as a refractometer, a keratometer, an tonometer, a corneal endothelial microscope, a wavefront phase contrast instrument, and a micro-perimeter are also equipped with a function of imaging the anterior segment or the fundus oculi.

One of the most widely and frequently used devices among such various ophthalmic devices is a slit-lamp microscope. A slit-lamp microscope is an ophthalmologic apparatus for illuminating an eye to be examined with slit light and observing the illuminated cross section or taking an image of the illuminated cross section with a microscope from the side (see, for example, patent documents 1 and 2).

Slit-lamp microscopes are generally used for observation and diagnosis of anterior eye parts such as cornea and crystalline lens. For example, a doctor observes the entire diagnostic region while moving the illumination region and the focal position of the slit light to determine the presence or absence of an abnormality. In addition, a slit lamp microscope may be used for a prescription for confirming a vision correction instrument such as a fitting state of a contact lens. In addition, a slit-lamp microscope may be used by a person who is qualified other than a doctor, such as an optometrist, or an eyeglass shop assistant for the purpose of screening for an eye disease patient.

However, with the recent progress of information communication technology, research and development relating to remote medical technology have been advanced. The telemedicine is a behavior of diagnosing and treating a patient living in a remote area by using information technologies such as the internet. Techniques for operating a slit-lamp microscope from a remote area are disclosed in patent documents 3 and 4.

However, in order to obtain a good image using a slit lamp, fine and complicated operations such as adjustment of an illumination angle and an imaging angle are required. In the techniques disclosed in patent documents 3 and 4, even when the examiner who lives in a remote area observes the eyes of the examiner who is in front of the examiner, the examiner needs to perform a difficult operation, which causes problems such as a long examination time and failure to obtain a good image.

In addition, although the slit-lamp microscope is effective in examination such as screening as described above, the holder of the related art holding the apparatus is insufficient, and it is not possible to provide high-quality examination to many people at present.

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2016-159073

Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2016-

Patent document 3: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2000-116732

Patent document 4: japanese patent laid-open No. 2008-284273

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to realize slit-lamp microscopy capable of widely providing high quality.

A first aspect of an exemplary embodiment provides a slit-lamp microscope, comprising: an illumination system that irradiates slit light to an anterior eye of an eye to be examined; an imaging system including an optical system that guides light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated, and an imaging element that receives the light guided by the optical system on an imaging surface; and a moving mechanism that moves the illumination system and the imaging system, an object plane along an optical axis of the illumination system, the optical system, and the imaging plane satisfying an anti-glare condition, the imaging system acquiring a plurality of images of the anterior segment by repeatedly imaging in parallel with movement of the illumination system and the imaging system by the moving mechanism.

Second mode of the illustrative embodiments a slit-lamp microscope according to the first mode is characterized in that the photographing system includes: a first imaging system including a first optical system that guides light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated and a first imaging element that receives the light guided by the first optical system on a first imaging surface, and acquiring a first image group by repeatedly imaging in parallel with the movement; and a second imaging system including a second optical system that guides light from the anterior eye portion irradiated with the slit light and a second imaging element that receives the light guided by the second optical system on a second imaging surface, and acquiring a second image group by performing repeated imaging in parallel with the movement, an optical axis of the first optical system and an optical axis of the second optical system being arranged in different orientations from each other, the object plane, the first optical system, and the first imaging surface satisfying an anti-reflection condition, and the object plane, the second optical system, and the second imaging surface satisfying an anti-reflection condition.

A third mode of an exemplary embodiment a slit-lamp microscope according to the second mode, characterized in that an optical axis of the first optical system and an optical axis of the second optical system are arranged to be inclined in directions opposite to each other with respect to an optical axis of the illumination system, the slit-lamp microscope further comprising: and an image selecting unit that determines whether or not an artifact is included in any one of two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the first imaging system and the second imaging system, and selects one of the two images when it is determined that the artifact is included in the other image.

Fourth mode of the illustrative embodiments the slit-lamp microscope according to the third mode is characterized by further comprising: and a three-dimensional image constructing unit configured to construct a three-dimensional image from an image group including images selected by the image selecting unit from the first image group and the second image group.

Fifth mode of the illustrative embodiments a slit-lamp microscope according to the second mode, characterized by further comprising: and an artifact removing unit that compares two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the first imaging system and the second imaging system to determine whether or not an artifact is included in any one of the two images, and removes the artifact when it is determined that the artifact is included in any one of the two images.

Sixth mode of the illustrative embodiments the slit-lamp microscope according to the fifth mode is characterized by further comprising: and a three-dimensional image constructing unit for constructing a three-dimensional image from the image group including the image from which the artifact has been removed by the artifact removing unit.

A seventh mode of the exemplary embodiment a slit-lamp microscope according to the first mode, characterized by further comprising: and a three-dimensional image constructing unit configured to construct a three-dimensional image from the plurality of images acquired by the imaging system.

An eighth aspect of the exemplary embodiment is a slit-lamp microscope according to any one of the fourth, sixth, and seventh aspects, characterized in that the moving mechanism includes: a rotation mechanism that integrally rotates the illumination system and the imaging system about an optical axis of the illumination system as a rotation axis, wherein the imaging system acquires the plurality of images when the illumination system and the imaging system are arranged at a first rotation position, and the imaging system acquires an image of the anterior segment onto which a slit light is irradiated by the illumination system when the illumination system and the imaging system are arranged at a second rotation position different from the first rotation position, the three-dimensional image construction unit including: and an image position determining unit configured to determine relative positions of the plurality of images based on the image acquired at the second rotational position.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is the slit-lamp microscope according to any one of the fourth, sixth to eighth aspects, wherein the three-dimensional image constructing unit includes: an image region extraction unit that extracts an image region corresponding to an irradiation region of the slit light from each of the plurality of images; and an image combining unit configured to combine the plurality of image regions extracted by the image region extracting unit from the plurality of images to construct a three-dimensional image.

A tenth aspect of the exemplary embodiment is the slit-lamp microscope according to the ninth aspect, wherein the image region extracting unit extracts an image region corresponding to both the irradiation region of the slit light and the predetermined portion of the anterior segment from each of the plurality of images.

Eleventh mode of the illustrative embodiment the slit-lamp microscope according to the tenth mode is characterized in that the predetermined portion is a portion divided by the anterior surface of the cornea and the posterior surface of the crystalline lens.

Twelfth mode of the illustrative embodiment the slit-lamp microscope according to any one of the fourth, sixth to eleventh modes, characterized by further comprising: and a rendering unit that renders the three-dimensional image to construct a rendered image.

A thirteenth aspect of the exemplary embodiment is the slit-lamp microscope according to the twelfth aspect, wherein the rendering unit is configured to construct a three-dimensional partial image by cutting the three-dimensional image with a cross section when the cross section is designated for the three-dimensional image.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is the slit-lamp microscope according to the twelfth aspect, wherein the drawing unit constructs a two-dimensional cross-sectional image representing a cross-section when the cross-section is specified for the three-dimensional image.

A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is the slit-lamp microscope according to the twelfth aspect, wherein the rendering unit constructs a three-dimensional slice image corresponding to a slice when the slice is designated for the three-dimensional image.

A sixteenth mode of the illustrative embodiments a slit-lamp microscope according to any one of the first to fifteenth modes, characterized in that the slit-lamp microscope further comprises: and a distortion correcting unit that applies a process for correcting distortion caused by an optical axis angle, which is an angle formed by the optical axis of the illumination system and the optical axis of the imaging system, to at least one of the plurality of images.

A seventeenth aspect of the exemplary embodiment is the slit-lamp microscope according to the sixteenth aspect, wherein an optical axis of the optical system included in the imaging system is arranged to be inclined with respect to an optical axis of the illumination system in a third direction orthogonal to both a first direction along the optical axis of the illumination system and a second direction along a longitudinal direction of the slit light, and the distortion correcting section performs processing for correcting distortion on a plane including both the first direction and the second direction.

An eighteenth aspect of the exemplary embodiment is the slit-lamp microscope according to the sixteenth or seventeenth aspect, wherein the distortion correcting section stores a correction coefficient set based on a predetermined reference angle and the optical axis angle in advance, and performs the process for correcting the distortion in accordance with the correction coefficient.

Nineteenth mode of the illustrative embodiments the slit-lamp microscope according to any one of the first to eighteenth modes, characterized by further comprising: and a first measurement unit configured to obtain a predetermined measurement value by analyzing at least one of the plurality of images acquired by the imaging system.

Twentieth of the exemplary embodiments is the slit-lamp microscope according to any one of the fourth, sixth to fifteenth, characterized by further comprising: and a second measurement unit configured to obtain a predetermined measurement value by analyzing the three-dimensional image constructed by the three-dimensional image construction unit.

A twenty-first aspect of the exemplary embodiment is the slit-lamp microscope according to any one of the first to twenty aspects, wherein the illumination system and the imaging system are configured such that at least the imaging system is focused at a portion divided by a cornea anterior side and a crystalline lens posterior side.

A twenty-second aspect of the present invention is the slit-lamp microscope according to any one of the first to twenty-first aspects, wherein the illumination system irradiates the anterior segment with a slit light having a longitudinal direction of a body axis direction of the subject, and the moving mechanism moves the illumination system and the imaging system in a direction orthogonal to the body axis direction.

A twenty-third aspect of the present invention is the slit-lamp microscope according to the twenty-second aspect, wherein the slit-lamp light has a length equal to or greater than a corneal diameter in the body axis direction, and a moving distance of the illumination system and the imaging system by the moving mechanism is equal to or greater than the corneal diameter in a direction orthogonal to the body axis direction.

A twenty-fourth aspect of the exemplary embodiments is a slit-lamp microscope according to any one of the first to twenty-third aspects, characterized in that the optical system included in the photographing system includes: a reflector that reflects light from the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light and traveling in a direction away from an optical axis of the illumination system, in a direction closer to the optical axis of the illumination system; and one or more lenses that form the image of the light reflected by the reflector on the image pickup surface.

A twenty-fifth mode of the illustrative embodiments is the slit-lamp microscope according to any one of the first to twenty-four modes, characterized by further comprising: a video capture system to video capture the anterior segment from a fixed location in parallel with the capture system based acquisition of the plurality of images.

Twenty-sixth mode of the illustrative embodiments a slit-lamp microscope according to the twenty-fifth mode, characterized by further comprising: and a motion detection unit that analyzes the moving image acquired by the video imaging system to detect a motion of the eye to be inspected.

Twenty-seventh mode of the illustrative embodiments the slit-lamp microscope according to the twenty-sixth mode, characterized by further comprising: and a movement control unit that controls the movement mechanism based on an output from the motion detection unit.

A twenty-eighth aspect of the exemplary embodiment is the slit-lamp microscope according to any one of the first to twenty-seventh aspects, characterized by further comprising: and a communication unit that transmits the image acquired for the anterior segment to an information processing apparatus.

A twenty-ninth aspect of the illustrative embodiments provides an ophthalmic system comprising, a slit-lamp microscope; and an information processing device which is connected to the slit-lamp microscope via a communication line and processes an image of an anterior ocular segment of the eye to be examined acquired by the slit-lamp microscope. The slit-lamp microscope includes: an illumination system that irradiates slit light to an anterior eye of an eye to be examined; an imaging system including an optical system that guides light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated, and an imaging element that receives the light guided by the optical system on an imaging surface; and a moving mechanism that moves the lighting system and the photographing system. The object plane along the optical axis of the illumination system, the optical system, and the image pickup plane satisfy an anti-reflection condition. The photographing system acquires a plurality of images of the anterior segment by repeatedly photographing in parallel with the movement of the illumination system and the photographing system based on the moving mechanism.

Thirtieth mode of the exemplary embodiments an ophthalmic system according to the twenty-ninth mode, wherein the photographing system of the slit-lamp microscope includes: a first imaging system including a first optical system that guides light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated and a first imaging element that receives the light guided by the first optical system on a first imaging surface, and acquiring a first image group by repeatedly imaging in parallel with the movement; and a second imaging system including a second optical system that guides light from the anterior eye portion irradiated with the slit light and a second imaging element that receives the light guided by the second optical system on a second imaging surface, and acquiring a second image group by performing repeated imaging in parallel with the movement, an optical axis of the first optical system and an optical axis of the second optical system being arranged in different orientations from each other, the object plane, the first optical system, and the first imaging surface satisfying an anti-reflection condition, and the object plane, the second optical system, and the second imaging surface satisfying an anti-reflection condition.

Thirty-first mode of illustrative embodiments an ophthalmic system according to the thirty-first mode, wherein an optical axis of the first optical system and an optical axis of the second optical system are arranged to be inclined in opposite directions to each other with respect to an optical axis of the illumination system, the information processing apparatus comprising: and an image selecting unit that determines whether or not an artifact is included in any one of two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the first imaging system and the second imaging system, and selects one of the two images when it is determined that the artifact is included in the other image.

A thirty-second mode of the exemplary embodiment is an ophthalmologic system according to the thirty-first mode, characterized in that the information processing apparatus includes: and a three-dimensional image constructing unit configured to construct a three-dimensional image from an image group including images selected by the image selecting unit from the first image group and the second image group.

A thirty-third mode of the illustrative embodiments an ophthalmologic system according to the thirty-third mode, characterized in that the information processing apparatus includes: and an artifact removing unit that compares two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the first imaging system and the second imaging system to determine whether or not an artifact is included in any one of the two images, and removes the artifact when it is determined that the artifact is included in any one of the two images.

A thirty-fourth mode of the illustrative embodiments an ophthalmic system according to the thirty-third mode, characterized in that the information processing apparatus includes: and a three-dimensional image constructing unit for constructing a three-dimensional image from the image group including the image from which the artifact has been removed by the artifact removing unit.

A thirty-fifth mode of the illustrative embodiments is an ophthalmic system according to the twenty-ninth mode, wherein the information processing apparatus includes: and a three-dimensional image constructing unit configured to construct a three-dimensional image from the plurality of images acquired by the imaging system.

A thirty-sixth mode of the illustrative embodiments an ophthalmic system according to any of the thirty-second, thirty-fourth, and thirty-fifth modes, wherein the moving mechanism comprises: a rotation mechanism that integrally rotates the illumination system and the imaging system about an optical axis of the illumination system as a rotation axis, wherein the imaging system acquires the plurality of images when the illumination system and the imaging system are arranged at a first rotation position, and the imaging system acquires an image of the anterior segment onto which a slit light is irradiated by the illumination system when the illumination system and the imaging system are arranged at a second rotation position different from the first rotation position, the three-dimensional image construction unit including: and an image position determining unit configured to determine relative positions of the plurality of images based on the image acquired at the second rotational position.

A thirty-seventh aspect of the present exemplary embodiment is the ophthalmic system according to any one of the thirty-second, thirty-fourth, and thirty-sixth aspects, wherein the three-dimensional image constructing unit includes: an image region extraction unit that extracts an image region corresponding to an irradiation region of the slit light from each of the plurality of images; and an image combining unit configured to combine the plurality of image regions extracted by the image region extracting unit from the plurality of images to construct a three-dimensional image.

A thirty-eighth aspect of the present exemplary embodiment is the ophthalmic system according to the thirty-seventh aspect, wherein the image region extracting section extracts an image region corresponding to both the irradiation region of the slit light and the predetermined portion of the anterior segment from each of the plurality of images.

Thirty-ninth of the illustrative embodiments an ophthalmic system according to the thirty-eighth aspect, characterized in that the predetermined portion is a portion divided by an anterior surface of the cornea and a posterior surface of the crystalline lens.

A fortieth aspect of the exemplary embodiment is the ophthalmic system according to any one of the thirty-second, thirty-fourth, and thirty-ninth aspects, wherein the information processing apparatus includes: and a rendering unit that renders the three-dimensional image to construct a rendered image.

A fortieth aspect of an exemplary embodiment is the ophthalmic system according to the fortieth aspect, wherein when a cross section is designated to the three-dimensional image, the drawing unit cuts the three-dimensional image by the cross section to construct a three-dimensional partial image.

A forty-second aspect of the present invention is the ophthalmic system according to the fortieth aspect, wherein when a cross section is designated to the three-dimensional image, the drawing unit constructs a two-dimensional cross-sectional image representing the cross section.

A forty-third aspect of the present invention is the ophthalmic system according to the fortieth aspect, wherein when a slice is designated for the three-dimensional image, the drawing unit constructs a three-dimensional slice image corresponding to the slice.

A forty-fourth aspect of the exemplary embodiment is the ophthalmic system according to any one of the twenty-ninth to forty-third aspects, characterized in that the information processing apparatus includes: and a distortion correcting unit that applies a process for correcting distortion caused by an optical axis angle, which is an angle formed by the optical axis of the illumination system and the optical axis of the imaging system, to at least one of the plurality of images.

A forty-fifth aspect of the present invention is the ophthalmic system according to the forty-fourth aspect, wherein an optical axis of the optical system included in the imaging system is arranged to be inclined with respect to an optical axis of the illumination system in a third direction orthogonal to both a first direction along the optical axis of the illumination system and a second direction along a longitudinal direction of the slit light, and the distortion correcting unit performs processing for correcting distortion on a plane including both the first direction and the second direction.

A forty-sixth aspect of the present invention is the ophthalmic system according to the forty-fourth or forty-fifth aspect, wherein the distortion correcting section stores a correction coefficient set based on a predetermined reference angle and the optical axis angle in advance, and executes processing for correcting the distortion based on the correction coefficient.

A forty-seventh aspect of the present exemplary embodiment is the ophthalmic system according to any one of the twenty-ninth to forty-sixth aspects, characterized in that the information processing device further includes: and a first measurement unit configured to obtain a predetermined measurement value by analyzing at least one of the plurality of images acquired by the imaging system.

A forty-eighth aspect of the exemplary embodiment is the ophthalmic system according to any one of the thirty-second, thirty-fourth, and forty-third aspects, characterized in that the information processing apparatus further includes: and a second measurement unit configured to obtain a predetermined measurement value by analyzing the three-dimensional image constructed by the three-dimensional image construction unit.

A forty-ninth aspect of the present invention is the ophthalmic system according to any one of the twenty-ninth to forty-eighth aspects, wherein the illumination system and the imaging system are configured such that at least the imaging system is focused on a portion divided by a cornea and a crystalline lens.

A fifty-fifth aspect of the present invention is the ophthalmic system according to any one of the twenty-ninth to forty-ninth aspects, wherein the illumination system irradiates the anterior segment with the slit light having a body axis direction of the subject as a longitudinal direction, and the moving mechanism moves the illumination system and the imaging system in a direction orthogonal to the body axis direction.

A fifty-first aspect of the present exemplary embodiment is the ophthalmic system according to the fifty-first aspect, wherein a length of the slit light is equal to or greater than a corneal diameter in the body axis direction, and a moving distance of the illumination system and the imaging system by the moving mechanism is equal to or greater than the corneal diameter in a direction orthogonal to the body axis direction.

A fifty-second mode of the illustrative embodiments an ophthalmic system according to any of the twenty-ninth to fifty-first modes, characterized in that the optical system included in the photographing system includes: a reflector that reflects light from the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light and traveling in a direction away from an optical axis of the illumination system, in a direction closer to the optical axis of the illumination system; and one or more lenses that form the image of the light reflected by the reflector on the image pickup surface.

A fifty-third aspect of the exemplary embodiments an ophthalmic system according to any of the twenty-ninth to fifty-second aspect, wherein the slit-lamp microscope further comprises: a video capture system to video capture the anterior segment from a fixed location in parallel with the capture system based acquisition of the plurality of images.

A fifty-fourth mode of the illustrative embodiments an ophthalmic system according to the fifty-third mode, wherein the slit-lamp microscope comprises: and a motion detection unit that analyzes the moving image acquired by the video imaging system to detect a motion of the eye to be inspected.

Fifty-fifth mode of the illustrative embodiments an ophthalmic system according to the fifty-fourth mode, wherein the slit-lamp microscope comprises: and a movement control unit that controls the movement mechanism based on an output from the motion detection unit.

According to exemplary embodiments, high quality slit-lamp microscopy can be provided generally.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a slit-lamp microscope of an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 2A is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 2B is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the manner in which the slit-lamp microscope of an illustrative embodiment is used.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a slit-lamp microscope according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a modification of the structure of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a slit-lamp microscope according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a slit-lamp microscope according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a slit-lamp microscope according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a slit-lamp microscope according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a slit-lamp microscope according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a slit-lamp microscope according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a slit-lamp microscope according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a slit-lamp microscope according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a slit-lamp microscope according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 18 is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 19A is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 19B is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 20 is a diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope of the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 21A is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 21B is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 22 is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 23 is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 24 is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 25 is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 26 is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 27 is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 28 is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 29 is a schematic diagram for explaining a use mode of the slit-lamp microscope according to the exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 30 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an ophthalmic system according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 31 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an ophthalmic system according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 32 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an ophthalmic system according to an exemplary embodiment.

Detailed Description

Exemplary embodiments are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, any known technique such as that disclosed in documents cited in the present specification may be combined with the embodiment.

The slit-lamp microscope according to the embodiment may be installed in, for example, a spectacle store or a medical facility, or may be of a portable type. Typically, the slit-lamp microscope of an embodiment is used in a situation or environment where the holder of the relevant professional technology holding the device is not at hand. Further, the slit-lamp microscope of the embodiment may be used in a situation or environment where a professional holder is not present, or in a situation or environment where a professional holder can monitor, instruct, or operate from a remote place.

An ophthalmic system of an embodiment may include one or more slit-lamp microscopes and one or more information processing devices, for example, for telemedicine. The information processing device receives and processes the image acquired by the slit-lamp microscope. It suffices that the information processing apparatus can transmit data to the slit-lamp microscope or other information processing apparatus. The information processing device may be used for image analysis, image processing, image reading, and the like.

In the case where the ophthalmologic system of the embodiment is used for telemedicine, image reading of an image acquired by a slit-lamp microscope is performed by a person located in a remote area remote from a facility in which the slit-lamp microscope is installed. Typically, the image reader is a physician, a holder of the relevant professional in possession of the slit-lamp microscope. Further, video reading support by a computer using an information processing technique (for example, artificial intelligence, image analysis, and image processing) can be employed.

Examples of facilities for installing the slit-lamp microscope include a spectacle store, an optician (optometrist), a medical institution, a health diagnosis conference site, an examination and diagnosis conference site, a patient's house, a welfare facility, a public facility, and an examination and diagnosis vehicle.

The slit-lamp microscope of the embodiment is an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus having at least a function as a slit-lamp microscope, and may further have another imaging function (modality). As examples of other modalities, there are a fundus camera, SLO, OCT, and the like. The slit-lamp microscope according to the embodiment may further include a function of measuring a characteristic of the eye to be examined. Examples of the measurement function include optometry, dioptric measurement, intraocular pressure measurement, corneal endothelial cell measurement, astigmatism measurement, and visual field measurement. The slit-lamp microscope according to the embodiment may further include an application program for analyzing the captured image and the measurement data. The slit-lamp microscope of the embodiment can be used for treatment and operation. As other examples, photocoagulation therapy, photodynamic therapy, exist.

Various exemplary embodiments are described below. Any two or more of these embodiments may be combined. Further, modifications (additions, substitutions, and the like) by any known technique may be performed on each of these embodiments or on combinations of 2 or more.

In the embodiments illustrated below, a "processor" refers to, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a Programmable Logic Device (for example, SPLD (Simple Programmable Logic Device), CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), FPGA (field Programmable Gate array), or other Circuit.

First embodiment

An example of a slit-lamp microscope of the first embodiment is shown in fig. 1.

The slit-lamp microscope 1 is used for photographing the anterior segment of the eye E, and includes an illumination system 2, a photographing system 3, a moving mechanism 6, a control section 7, a data processing section 8, and a communication section 9. Further, reference symbol C denotes a cornea, and reference symbol CL denotes a lens.

The slit-lamp microscope 1 may be a single apparatus or a system including 2 or more apparatuses. As an example of the latter, the slit-lamp microscope 1 includes: a main body device provided with an illumination system 2, an imaging system 3, and a moving mechanism 6; a computer provided with a control unit 7, a data processing unit 8, and a communication unit 9; and a communication device for performing communication between the main apparatus and the computer. The computer may be provided together with the main apparatus or on a network, for example.

[ Lighting System 2]

The illumination system 2 irradiates slit light to the anterior segment of the eye E. Reference numeral 2a denotes an optical axis (illumination optical axis) of the illumination system 2. The illumination system 2 may have the same configuration as that of a conventional slit-lamp microscope. For example, although not shown, the illumination system 2 includes an illumination light source, a positive lens, a slit forming portion, and an objective lens in this order from the eye E to the far side.

The illumination light source outputs illumination light. The illumination system 2 may be provided with a plurality of illumination light sources. For example, the illumination system 2 may include an illumination source that outputs continuous light and an illumination source that outputs a flash of light. In addition, the illumination system 2 may include an anterior-segment illumination light source and a posterior-segment illumination light source. In addition, the illumination system 2 may include 2 or more illumination light sources different in output wavelength. A typical lighting system 2 comprises a visible light source as the illumination light source. The illumination system 2 may also comprise an infrared light source. Illumination light output from the illumination light source is projected to the slit forming portion through the positive lens.

The slit forming section generates slit light by passing a part of the illumination light. A typical slit forming portion has a pair of slit blades. The width of the region (slit) through which the illumination light passes is changed by changing the interval (slit width) of these slit blades, thereby changing the width of the slit light. The slit forming portion may be configured to be able to change the length of the slit light. The length of the slit light refers to a cross-sectional dimension of the slit light in a direction perpendicular to a cross-sectional width direction of the slit light corresponding to the slit width. Typically, the width and length of the slit light represent the size of the projected image of the slit light toward the anterior eye.

The slit light generated by the slit forming section is refracted by the objective lens and irradiated to the anterior segment of the eye E.

The illumination system 2 may also further comprise a focusing mechanism for changing the focal position of the slit light. The focusing mechanism moves the objective lens along the illumination optical axis 2a, for example. The movement of the objective lens can be performed automatically and/or manually. Further, a focus lens may be disposed at a position on the illumination optical axis 2a between the objective lens and the slit forming section, and the focus position of the slit light may be changed by moving the focus lens along the illumination optical axis 2 a.

Fig. 1 is a plan view, and as shown in the drawing, in the present embodiment, a direction along the axis of the eye E is a Z direction, and of directions orthogonal thereto, a left-right direction for the subject is an X direction, and a direction orthogonal to both the X direction and the Z direction is a Y direction. Typically, the X direction is an arrangement direction of the left and right eyes, and the Y direction is a direction along the body axis of the subject (body axis direction). In the present embodiment, the slit-lamp microscope 1 is calibrated so that the illumination optical axis 2a coincides with the axis of the eye E, and more broadly, the illumination optical axis 2a is arranged parallel to the axis of the eye E. The calibration will be described later.

[ imaging System 3]

The imaging system 3 images the anterior segment to which the slit light from the illumination system 2 is irradiated. Reference numeral 3a denotes an optical axis (photographing optical axis) of the photographing system 3. The imaging system 3 of the present embodiment includes an optical system 4 and an imaging element 5.

The optical system 4 guides light from the anterior segment of the eye E to which the slit light is irradiated to the imaging device 5. The image pickup device 5 receives light guided by the optical system 4 on an image pickup surface.

The light guided by the optical system 4 (i.e., light from the anterior segment of the eye E) includes return light of the slit light irradiated on the anterior segment, and may further include other light. Examples of the return light include reflected light, scattered light, and fluorescence. As another example of the light, there is light (indoor light, sunlight, or the like) from the installation environment of the slit-lamp microscope 1. In the case where an anterior ocular segment illumination system for illuminating the entirety of the anterior ocular segment is provided separately from the illumination system 2, the return light of the anterior ocular segment illumination light may be included in the light guided by the optical system 4.

The image pickup element 5 is an area sensor having a two-dimensional image pickup area, and may be, for example, a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor or a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor.

The optical system 4 may have a configuration similar to that of an imaging system of a conventional slit-lamp microscope, for example. For example, the optical system 4 includes an objective lens, a variable magnification optical system, and an imaging lens in this order from the side close to the eye E to be inspected. Light from the anterior ocular segment of the eye E irradiated with the slit light passes through the objective lens and the variable magnification optical system, and is imaged on the imaging surface of the imaging element 5 by the imaging lens.

The photographing system 3 may include, for example, a first photographing system and a second photographing system. Typically, the first photographing system and the second photographing system have the same structure. The case where the imaging system 3 includes the first imaging system and the second imaging system will be described in another embodiment.

The photographing system 3 may also further include a focusing mechanism for changing a focal position thereof. The focusing mechanism moves the objective lens along the photographing optical axis 3a, for example. The movement of the objective lens may be performed automatically and/or manually. Further, a focus lens may be disposed at a position on the photographing optical axis 3a between the objective lens and the imaging lens, and the focus position may be changed by moving the focus lens along the photographing optical axis 3 a.

The illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 function as an anti-reflection camera. That is, the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 are configured such that the object plane along the illumination optical axis 2a, the optical system 4, and the imaging plane of the imaging element 5 satisfy a so-called anti-reflection condition. More specifically, a YZ plane (including an object plane) passing through the illumination optical axis 2a, a principal plane of the optical system 4, and an imaging plane of the imaging element 5 intersect on the same straight line. This enables imaging to be performed in focus at all positions (all positions in the direction along the illumination optical axis 2 a) on the object plane.

In the present embodiment, the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 are configured such that the imaging system 3 is focused at least at a portion defined by the front surface of the cornea C and the rear surface of the crystalline lens CL. That is, the imaging system 3 can perform imaging in a state of focusing on the entire range from the vertex (Z ═ Z1) on the front surface of the cornea C to the vertex (Z ═ Z2) on the rear surface of the crystalline lens CL shown in fig. 1. Further, Z — Z0 indicates a Z coordinate of the intersection of the illumination optical axis 2a and the photographing optical axis 3 a.

Typically, such conditions are realized by the structure and arrangement of the requirements included in the lighting system 2, the structure and arrangement of the requirements included in the photographing system 3, and the relative positions of the lighting system 2 and the photographing system 3. The parameter indicating the relative position of the illumination system 2 and the photographing system 3 includes, for example, an angle θ formed by the illumination optical axis 2a and the photographing optical axis 3 a. The angle θ is set to, for example, 17.5 degrees, 30 degrees, or 45 degrees. Further, the angle θ may also be changed.

[ moving mechanism 6]

The moving mechanism 6 moves the lighting system 2 and the imaging system 3. In the present embodiment, the moving mechanism 6 integrally moves the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 in the X direction.

For example, the moving mechanism 6 includes a movable stage on which the lighting system 2 and the imaging system 3 are mounted, an actuator that operates in accordance with a control signal input from the control unit 7, and a mechanism that moves the movable stage based on a driving force generated by the actuator. In another example, the moving mechanism 6 includes a movable stage on which the lighting system 2 and the imaging system 3 are mounted, and a mechanism that moves the movable stage based on a force applied to an unillustrated operation device. The operating device is for example a control stick. The movable stage may be movable at least in the X direction and may be movable in the Y direction and/or the Z direction.

[ control section 7]

The control section 7 controls each section of the slit-lamp microscope 1. For example, the control unit 7 controls the elements of the illumination system 2 (the illumination light source, the slit forming unit, the focusing mechanism, and the like), the elements of the imaging system 3 (the focusing mechanism, the imaging device, and the like), the moving mechanism 6, the data processing unit 8, the communication unit 9, and the like. In addition, the control unit 7 may be capable of executing control for changing the relative positions of the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3.

The control unit 7 includes a processor, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, and the like. The auxiliary storage device stores a control program and the like. The control program and the like may be stored in a computer or a storage device readable by the slit-lamp microscope 1. The function of the control unit 7 is realized by cooperation of software such as a control program and hardware such as a processor.

In order to scan the three-dimensional region of the anterior segment of the eye E with the slit light, the controller 7 can apply the following control to the illumination system 2, the imaging system 3, and the moving mechanism 6.

First, the control unit 7 controls the moving mechanism 6 so that the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 are located at predetermined scanning start positions (calibration control). The scanning start position is, for example, a position corresponding to an end (first end) of the cornea C in the X direction or a position farther from the axis of the eye E. Reference numeral X0 in fig. 2A denotes a scanning start position corresponding to the first end of the cornea C in the X direction. In addition, reference symbol X0' in fig. 2B denotes a scanning start position that is farther from the axis EA of the eye E than a position corresponding to the first end of the cornea C in the X direction.

The control section 7 controls the illumination system 2 to start irradiation of the anterior segment of the eye E with the slit light (slit light irradiation control). Further, the slit light irradiation control may also be performed before or during the execution of the calibration control. Typically, the illumination system 2 irradiates continuous light as slit light, but may irradiate intermittent light (pulsed light) as slit light. In addition, the illumination system 2 typically irradiates visible light as slit light, but may irradiate infrared light as slit light.

The control unit 7 controls the imaging system 3 to start video imaging of the anterior segment of the eye E to be inspected (imaging control). Further, the imaging control may be performed before or during the execution of the calibration control. Typically, the photographing control is performed simultaneously with or later than the slit light irradiation control.

After the calibration control, the slit-light irradiation control, and the imaging control are executed, the control section 7 controls the moving mechanism 6 to start the movement of the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 (movement control). By the movement control, the lighting system 2 and the imaging system 3 move integrally. That is, the lighting system 2 and the imaging system 3 are moved while maintaining the relative positions (angle θ and the like) of the lighting system 2 and the imaging system 3. The movement of the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 is performed from the aforementioned scanning start position to a predetermined scanning end position. The scanning end position is, for example, a position corresponding to an end (second end) of the cornea C on the opposite side of the first end in the X direction or a position farther from the axis of the eye E than the scanning start position. In this case, the range from the scanning start position to the scanning end position becomes the scanning range.

Typically, the front eye is irradiated with slit light having the X direction as the width direction and the Y direction as the length direction, and the lighting system 2 and the photographing system 3 are moved in the X direction, while video photographing by the photographing system 3 is performed.

Here, the length of the slit light (i.e., the size of the slit light in the Y direction) is set to be equal to or larger than the diameter of the cornea C on the surface of the eye E to be examined, for example. That is, the length of the slit light is set to be equal to or greater than the corneal diameter in the Y direction. As described above, the movement distance (i.e., the scanning range) of the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 by the movement mechanism 6 is set to be equal to or larger than the corneal diameter in the X direction. This makes it possible to scan at least the entire cornea C with the slit light.

By such scanning, a plurality of anterior segment images with different slit light irradiation positions can be obtained. In other words, a moving image drawn as if the irradiation position of the slit light was moved in the X direction can be obtained. An example of such a plurality of anterior segment images (i.e., a group of frames constituting a moving image) is shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 3 shows a plurality of anterior segment images (frame groups) F1, F2, F3, …, FN. The subscript N of these anterior segment images Fn (N ═ 1, 2, …, N) represents the time series order. That is, the nth acquired anterior eye image is denoted by reference numeral Fn. The anterior segment image Fn includes a slit light irradiation region An. As shown in fig. 3, the slit light irradiation regions a1, a2, A3, …, AN move in the right direction in time series. In the example shown in fig. 3, the scanning start position and the scanning end position correspond to both ends of the corner film C in the X direction. The scanning start position and/or the scanning end position are not limited to this example, and may be, for example, a position farther from the axis of the eye E than the cornea end. The direction and the number of times of scanning can be set arbitrarily.

[ data processing section 8]

The data processing section 8 performs various data processes. The processed data may be any one of data acquired by the slit-lamp microscope 1 and data input from the outside. For example, the data processing unit 8 can process images acquired by the lighting system 2 and the imaging system 3. The structure and function of the data processing unit 8 will be described in other embodiments.

The data processing section 8 includes a processor, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, and the like. The auxiliary storage device stores a data processing program and the like. The data processing program and the like may be stored in a computer or a storage device readable by the slit-lamp microscope 1. The function of the data processing unit 8 is realized by cooperation of software such as a data processing program and hardware such as a processor.

[ communication section 9]

The communication section 9 performs data communication between the slit-lamp microscope 1 and other devices. That is, the communication unit 9 performs data transmission to and data reception from another device.

The data communication method performed by the communication unit 9 is arbitrary. For example, the communication unit 9 includes one or more of various communication interfaces such as a communication interface according to the internet, a communication interface according to a dedicated line, a communication interface according to a LAN, and a communication interface according to near field communication. The data communication may be either wired communication or wireless communication.

Data transmitted and received through the communication unit 9 may be encrypted. In this case, for example, the control unit 7 and/or the data processing unit 8 include at least one of an encryption processing unit that encrypts data transmitted through the communication unit 9 and a decryption processing unit that decrypts data received through the communication unit 9.

[ other essential elements ]

The slit-lamp microscope 1 may be provided with a display device and an operation device, in addition to the elements shown in fig. 1. Alternatively, the display device and the operation device may be peripheral devices of the slit-lamp microscope 1.

The display device receives control of the control section 7 and displays various information. The display device may include a flat panel display such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

The operating device comprises a device for operating the slit-lamp microscope 1, a device for inputting information. The operation devices include, for example, buttons, switches, levers, dials, knobs, mice, keyboards, trackballs, operation panels, and the like.

As the touch panel, a device in which a display device and an operation device are integrated may be used.

The subject and the assistant can operate the slit-lamp microscope 1 by using the display device and the operation device.

[ calibration ]

The calibration of the eye to be examined E by the slit-lamp microscope 1 will be described. In general, the calibration is an operation of arranging the optical system of the apparatus at a position suitable for imaging and measuring the eye E. In the calibration of the present embodiment, the operation of the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 is arranged at a preferred position where a moving image as shown in fig. 3 is acquired.

Various methods exist for the calibration of ophthalmic devices. Hereinafter, several calibration methods are exemplified, but the method applicable to the present embodiment is not limited to this.

As a calibration method applicable to this embodiment, there is stereo calibration. The stereo calibration can be applied to an ophthalmic apparatus capable of photographing the anterior segment from 2 or more different directions, and a specific method thereof is disclosed in japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2013-248376 and the like of the present applicant. The stereo calibration includes, for example, the following procedures: a step of acquiring 2 or more captured images by capturing the anterior segment from different directions by 2 or more anterior segment cameras; a step in which the processor analyzes the captured images to determine the three-dimensional position of the eye to be examined; and a step in which the processor controls the movement of the optical system based on the obtained three-dimensional position. Thus, the optical system (the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 in this example) is arranged at a position suitable for the eye to be inspected. In typical stereo calibration, the position of the pupil (the center or center of gravity of the pupil) of the eye to be examined is used as a reference.

In addition to such stereo calibration, any known calibration method such as a method using a purkinje image obtained by calibrating light, a method using an optical lever, or the like can be employed. In the method using the purkinje image or the method using the optical lever, the corneal vertex position of the eye to be inspected is used as a reference.

Further, the above-described typical calibration method in the related art is included for the purpose of matching the axis of the eye to be inspected with the optical axis of the optical system, but in the present embodiment, calibration may be performed such that the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 are arranged at positions corresponding to the scanning start position.

As a first example of the calibration in the present embodiment, after performing calibration using the pupil or the corneal vertex of the eye E as a reference by applying any of the above-described calibration methods, the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 may be moved (in the X direction) by a distance corresponding to a predetermined standard value of the corneal radius. Alternatively, instead of using the standard value, a measured value of the corneal radius of the eye E to be examined may be used.

As a second example, after calibration is performed using the pupil or the corneal vertex of the eye E as a reference by applying any of the above-described calibration methods, the image of the anterior segment of the eye E is analyzed to measure the corneal radius, and the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 are moved (in the X direction) by a distance corresponding to the measured value. The image of the anterior segment analyzed in this example is, for example, an anterior segment image obtained by the photographing system 3 or other images. The other image may be any image such as an image obtained by the anterior segment camera, an image obtained by the anterior segment OCT, or the like.

As a third example, the first end of the cornea may be obtained by analyzing an image of the anterior segment obtained by the anterior segment camera for stereo calibration or the imaging system 3, and the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 may be moved to positions corresponding to the first end by applying stereo calibration.

Further, calibration with reference to the pupil or the corneal vertex of the eye E to be inspected may be performed using any of the above-described calibration methods, and anterior segment scanning by the slit light may be started from the position determined thereby. In this case, the scanning order may be set so as to scan the entire cornea C. For example, the scanning order is set so that scanning is performed from the position determined by the calibration to the left and then to the right.

[ other items ]

The slit-lamp microscope 1 may include a fixation system that outputs light (fixation light) for fixing the eye E to be examined. Typically, the fixation system comprises at least one visible light source (fixation light source) or a display device displaying images such as landscape images or fixation targets. The fixation system is arranged coaxially or non-coaxially with the illumination system 2 or the imaging system 3, for example.

The kind of image that can be acquired by the slit-lamp microscope 1 is not limited to the aforementioned dynamic image (plurality of anterior segment images) of the anterior segment. For example, the slit-lamp microscope 1 includes a three-dimensional image based on the dynamic image, a rendering image based on the three-dimensional image, a transillumination image, a dynamic image showing the movement of a contact lens worn in the eye to be examined, an image showing a gap between the contact lens and the corneal surface based on an applicable fluorescent agent, and the like. The drawing image will be described in another embodiment. The transillumination image is an image obtained by transillumination that traces turbidity or foreign matter in the eye using retinal reflection of illumination light. Further, fundus imaging, corneal endothelial cell imaging, meibomian gland imaging, and the like may be performed.

[ means of use ]

The mode of use of the slit-lamp microscope 1 (system provided with the slit-lamp microscope) will be described. Fig. 4 shows an example of the manner of use.

Although not shown, the subject or the assistant inputs subject information into the slit-lamp microscope 1 at any step. The inputted subject information is stored in the control unit 7. Typically, the subject information includes identification information (subject ID) of the subject.

Also, input of background information may be performed. The background information is arbitrary information related to the subject, and examples thereof include inquiry information of the subject, information written by the subject on a predetermined card, information recorded in an electronic case of the subject, and the like. Typically, the background information includes sex, age, height, weight, disease name, disease candidate name, examination result (visual power value, eye refractive power value, intraocular pressure value, etc.), wearing history or power of the refractive correction tool (spectacles, contact lenses, etc.), examination history, treatment history, and the like. These are examples and the background information is not limited to these.

(S1 adjusting table, chair, jaw bracket)

First, a table on which the slit-lamp microscope 1 is installed, a chair on which a subject sits, and a jaw mount of the slit-lamp microscope 1 are adjusted (all of which are not shown). For example, height adjustment of tables, chairs, jaw holders is performed. These adjustments are made by the subject himself, for example. Alternatively, the assistant may perform any of these adjustments. Further, a jaw pad and a forehead pad for stably arranging the face of the subject may be provided in the jaw pad holder.

(S2: instruction of start of shooting)

When the adjustment in step S1 is completed, the subject sits on the chair, places the jaw on the jaw rest, and abuts against the forehead pad. Before or after these operations, the subject or the assistant performs an instruction operation to start imaging of the subject's eye. This operation is, for example, a pressing operation of an unillustrated imaging start trigger button.

(S3: calibration)

Upon receiving the instruction of step S2, the slit-lamp microscope 1 performs the calibration of the eye E in the manner described above. After the calibration is completed, the focus adjustment may be performed.

(S4: scanning anterior eye)

The slit-lamp microscope 1 scans the anterior segment of the eye E by combining the irradiation of the slit light by the illumination system 2, the image capturing by the imaging system 3, and the movement of the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 by the moving mechanism 6 in the above-described manner. Thereby, for example, a plurality of anterior segment images F1 to FN shown in fig. 3 are obtained.

The data processing unit 8 can process at least one of the anterior segment images F1 to FN. For example, as described in the other embodiments, the data processing unit 8 can construct a three-dimensional image from the anterior segment images F1 to FN. In addition, predetermined image processing and predetermined image analysis may be performed.

(S5: sending image)

The control unit 7 controls the communication unit 9 to transmit the anterior segment images (anterior segment images F1 to FN, a part of anterior segment images F1 to FN, three-dimensional images based on the anterior segment images F1 to FN, and the like) acquired by the slit-lamp microscope 1 to another device.

As examples of the other devices, there are an information processing device and a storage device. The information processing apparatus is, for example, a server on a wide area line, a server on a LAN, a computer terminal, or the like. The storage device is a storage device provided on a wide area line, a storage device provided on a LAN, or the like.

The background information may be transmitted together with the image of the anterior segment. In addition, identification information of the subject is transmitted together with the image of the anterior segment. The identification information may be the subject ID (described above) input to the slit-lamp microscope 1, or may be identification information generated based on the subject ID. As an example of the latter, a subject ID (internal identification information) for personal identification in a facility in which the slit-lamp microscope 1 is installed may be converted into external identification information for use outside the facility. This can improve the information security regarding personal information such as the image of the anterior segment and background information.

(S6: Observation and diagnosis)

The image of the anterior segment of the eye E to be examined (and the identification information, background information, and the like of the examinee) transmitted from the slit-lamp microscope 1 in step S5 is directly or indirectly transmitted to an information processing apparatus used by a doctor (or optometrist), for example.

A doctor (or optometrist) can observe an image of the anterior segment of the eye E to be examined. In this case, for example, anterior segment images F1 to FN are displayed for a predetermined number of sheets, anterior segment images F1 to FN are displayed in a list, anterior segment images F1 to FN are displayed by viewing pictures, and a three-dimensional image is constructed from anterior segment images F1 to FN to display a three-dimensional image.

A doctor (or optometrist) can perform image diagnosis (image reading) by observing an image of the anterior segment of the eye E to be examined. The physician (or optometrist) can create a report recording the information obtained by the image reading. The report is sent, for example, to a facility in which the slit-lamp microscope 1 is installed. Alternatively, the report may be transmitted to address information (e-mail address, etc.) registered by the subject. The processing of this example is thus ended.

[ Effect ]

The effects achieved by the present embodiment will be described.

The slit-lamp microscope 1 includes an illumination system 2, a photographing system 3, and a moving mechanism 6. The illumination system 2 irradiates slit light to the anterior segment of the eye E. The imaging system 3 includes an optical system 4 that guides light from the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light, and an imaging element 5 that receives the light guided by the optical system 4 on an imaging surface. The moving mechanism 6 moves the lighting system 2 and the imaging system 3.

The illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 are configured such that an object plane along an optical axis (illumination optical axis) 2a of the illumination system 2, the optical system 4, and an imaging plane of the imaging element 5 satisfy a light reflection prevention (Shine proof) condition.

The imaging system 3 repeatedly performs imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 by the moving mechanism 6, thereby acquiring a plurality of images of the anterior segment of the eye E. Typically, the repeated shooting is video shooting, whereby a moving image composed of a plurality of anterior segment images is acquired.

According to the slit-lamp microscope 1, by moving the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3, the three-dimensional region of the anterior segment of the eye E can be scanned with the slit light, and an image representing the three-dimensional region can be acquired. Therefore, a doctor or optometrist can observe the image acquired by the slit-lamp microscope 1 to grasp the state of a desired portion of the anterior segment.

In addition, the image acquired by the slit-lamp microscope 1 can be provided to a doctor or optometrist located in a remote area. Typically, the slit-lamp microscope 1 is capable of transmitting an image acquired for the anterior segment of the eye E to be examined to an information processing apparatus used by a doctor or optometrist via the communication unit 9. The communication unit 9 is provided arbitrarily. The method of providing the image acquired by the slit-lamp microscope 1 is not limited to such data communication, and may be a method of providing a recording medium, a printing medium, or the like on which the image is recorded. Recording on the recording medium is performed by a recording device (data writer) following the recording medium, and recording on the medium is performed by a printing apparatus.

Further, the slit-lamp microscope 1 is configured such that the object plane along the illumination optical axis 2a, the optical system 4, and the imaging plane of the imaging element 5 satisfy the condition of preventing reflection of light, and therefore can focus in a wide range in the depth direction (Z direction). For example, the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 are configured such that the imaging system 3 is focused at least at a portion divided by the anterior surface of the cornea and the posterior surface of the crystalline lens. This enables high-definition imaging of the entire main part of the anterior segment to be examined by the slit-lamp microscope. The range of focusing is not limited to the area divided by the anterior surface of the cornea and the posterior surface of the crystalline lens, and can be set arbitrarily.

In the case of applying a configuration that does not satisfy the anti-reflection condition, it is necessary to focus on a wide range in the depth direction to photograph a three-dimensional region, and to move the illumination system and the photographing system along a curved path corresponding to the shape of the anterior surface of the cornea while focusing on the respective anterior portions.

The illumination system 2 may irradiate the anterior segment with slit light having the body axis direction (Y direction) of the subject as the longitudinal direction. The moving mechanism 6 may be configured to be able to move the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 in a direction (X direction) orthogonal to the body axis direction of the subject. The direction and the moving direction of the slit light are not limited to these, and may be arbitrarily set, and typically the moving direction is set to the width direction of the slit light.

When the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 are moved in a direction perpendicular to the body axis direction while irradiating the slit light having the body axis direction as the longitudinal direction, the illumination system 2 may be configured such that the length of the slit light (the size of the slit light in the body axis direction) is equal to or greater than the cornea diameter in the body axis direction. In addition, the movement mechanism 6 may be configured such that the movement distance of the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 by the movement mechanism 6 is equal to or greater than the corneal diameter in the direction (X direction) orthogonal to the body axis direction. The corneal diameter may be the corneal diameter of the eye E to be examined or may be a standard corneal diameter. The length and the moving distance of the slit light are not limited to these values, and can be set arbitrarily.

With this configuration, an image can be acquired for the entire cornea. Further, by combining the structure satisfying the anti-reflection condition, an image representing the entire cornea and representing a sufficient depth range can be acquired.

As described above, according to the slit-lamp microscope 1, it is possible to automatically acquire a high-quality image representing a wide range (three-dimensional region) of the anterior segment without performing a delicate and troublesome operation by a professional. The image reader can perform observation and diagnosis by receiving the image acquired by the slit-lamp microscope 1.

Therefore, the problem of the shortage of professional technical holders can be solved, and the slit-lamp microscopy with high quality can be widely provided. For example, such a slit-lamp microscope 1 can be said to be effective in screening for anterior ocular diseases and the like.

In the following, exemplary functions and exemplary structures that can be combined with the slit-lamp microscope 1 are described. In the following embodiments, the same elements as those in the first embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals. In the drawings shown in the following embodiments, the same elements as those in the first embodiment may be omitted.

Second embodiment

In the present embodiment, a configuration of an optical system applicable to the slit-lamp microscope 1 of the first embodiment will be described. An example of which is shown in figure 5. Further, the elements shown in other embodiments may be provided in addition to the element group shown in fig. 5. For example, the control unit 7, the data processing unit 8, the communication unit 9, and the like of the first embodiment may be provided.

The lighting system 20 shown in fig. 5 is an example of the lighting system 2 of the first embodiment, and the left imaging system 30L and the right imaging system 30R are examples of the imaging system 3. Reference numeral 20A denotes an optical axis (illumination optical axis) of the illumination system 20, reference numeral 30LA denotes an optical axis (left photographing optical axis) of the left photographing system 30L, and reference numeral 30Ra denotes an optical axis (right photographing optical axis) of the right photographing system 30R. The left photographing optical axis 30La and the right photographing optical axis 30Ra are arranged in different orientations from each other. An angle formed by the illumination optical axis 20a and the left photographing optical axis 30La is represented by θ L, and an angle formed by the illumination optical axis 20a and the right photographing optical axis 30Ra is represented by θ R. The angle θ L and the angle θ R may be equal to or different from each other. The illumination optical axis 20a, the left photographing optical axis 30La, and the right photographing optical axis 30Ra intersect at one point. The Z-coordinate of this intersection point is denoted Z0, as in fig. 1.

The moving mechanism 6 can move the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R in a direction (X direction) indicated by an arrow 49. Typically, the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R are mounted on a table that is movable at least in the X direction, and the moving mechanism 6 moves the movable table in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 7.

The illumination system 20 irradiates slit light to the anterior segment of the eye E to be inspected. Like the illumination system of the conventional slit-lamp microscope, the illumination system 20 includes an illumination light source 21, a positive lens 22, a slit forming portion 23, an objective lens group 24, and an objective lens group 25 in this order from the far side of the eye E to be examined.

Illumination light (typically, visible light) output from the illumination light source 21 is refracted by the positive lens 22 and projected onto the slit forming portion 23. A part of the projected illumination light passes through the slit formed by the slit forming section 23 to become slit light. The generated slit light is refracted by the objective lens group 24 and the objective lens group 25, reflected by the beam splitter 47, and irradiated to the anterior eye of the eye E to be inspected.

The left photographing system 30L includes a reflector 31L, an imaging lens 32L, and an image pickup element 33L. The reflector 31L and the imaging lens 32L guide light from the anterior segment (light traveling in the direction toward the left imaging system 30L) irradiated with slit light by the illumination system 20 to the imaging element 33L.

The light traveling in the direction from the anterior segment toward the left imaging system 30L is light from the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light, and travels in a direction away from the illumination optical axis 20 a. The reflector 31L reflects the light toward the illumination optical axis 20 a. The imaging lens 32L refracts the light reflected by the reflector 31L to form an image on the imaging surface 34L of the imaging element 33L. The imaging element 33L receives the light on the imaging surface 34L.

As in the first embodiment, the left imaging system 30L performs repeated imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R by the moving mechanism 6. Thereby obtaining a plurality of anterior segment images.

As in the first embodiment, the object plane along the illumination optical axis 20a, the optical system including the reflector 31L and the imaging lens 32L, and the image pickup surface 34L satisfy the anti-reflection condition. More specifically, considering the optical path deflection of the imaging system 30L by the reflector 31L, the YZ plane (including the object plane) passing through the illumination optical axis 20a, the principal plane of the imaging lens 32L, and the imaging plane 34L intersect on the same straight line. Thus, the left imaging system 30L can perform imaging in focus at all positions in the object plane (for example, a range from the anterior of the cornea to the posterior of the lens).

The right photographing system 30R includes a reflector 31R, an imaging lens 32R, and an image pickup element 33R. As with the left imaging system 30L, the right imaging system 30R guides light from the anterior segment to which slit light is applied by the illumination system 20 to the imaging surface 34R of the imaging device 33R through the reflector 31R and the imaging lens 32R. In addition, the right imaging system 30R repeatedly performs imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20 by the moving mechanism 6, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R, as in the left imaging system 30L, and acquires a plurality of anterior segment images. Like the left photographing system 30L, the object plane along the illumination optical axis 20a, the optical system including the reflector 31R and the imaging lens 32R, and the image pickup surface 34R satisfy the anti-reflection condition.

The control section 7 may synchronize the repetition of shooting by the left shooting system 30L and the repetition of shooting by the right shooting system 30R. Thereby, the correspondence between the plurality of anterior segment images obtained by the left photographing system 30L and the plurality of anterior segment images obtained by the right photographing system 30R is obtained. The correspondence is a temporal correspondence, more specifically, a correspondence of pairing between images to be acquired substantially simultaneously.

Alternatively, the control section 7 or the data processing section 8 may execute processing of finding the correspondence between the plurality of anterior segment images obtained by the left imaging system 30L and the plurality of anterior segment images obtained by the right imaging system 30R. For example, the control unit 7 or the data processing unit 8 may pair the anterior segment image sequentially input from the left imaging system 30L and the anterior segment image sequentially input from the right imaging system 30R at their input timings.

The present embodiment also includes a video capture system 40. The video imaging system 40 performs video imaging of the anterior segment of the eye E from a fixed position in parallel with imaging by the left imaging system 30L and the right imaging system 30R. The phrase "image capturing from a fixed position" means that the image capturing system 40 is not moved by the moving mechanism 6, unlike the lighting system 20, the left image capturing system 30L, and the right image capturing system 30R.

The video capture system 40 of the present embodiment is disposed coaxially with the illumination system 20, but the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the video capture system may be configured non-coaxially with the lighting system 20. In addition, an optical system may be provided in which the anterior segment is illuminated with illumination light of a frequency band having sensitivity by the video capture system 40.

The light transmitted through the beam splitter 47 is reflected by the reflector 48 and enters the video shooting system 40. Light incident on the image pickup system 40 is refracted by the objective lens 41, and then is imaged on the imaging surface of the imaging element 43 by the imaging lens 42. The image pickup element 43 is an area sensor.

When the video camera system 40 is provided, the movement of the eye E to be inspected can be monitored and tracked. Tracking is processing for making an optical system follow the movement of the eye E to be inspected. This process will be described in another embodiment.

The beam splitter 47 is, for example, a dichroic mirror or a semi-transparent and semi-reflective mirror, depending on the output wavelength of the illumination system 20 and the detection wavelength of the video capture system 40.

The effects achieved by the present embodiment will be described.

The present embodiment is an example of the imaging system 3 of the first embodiment, and includes a left imaging system 30L and a right imaging system 30R. The combination of the left photographing system 30L and the right photographing system 30R is a combination example of the first photographing system and the second photographing system.

The left photographing system 30L includes: a reflector 31L and an imaging lens 32L (first optical system) that guide light from the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light; and an image pickup element 33L (first image pickup element) that receives the guided light on an image pickup surface 34L (first image pickup surface). Similarly, the right photographing system 30R includes: a reflector 31R and an imaging lens 32R (second optical system) for guiding light from the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light; and an image pickup element 33R (second image pickup element) that receives the guided light on an image pickup surface 34R (second image pickup surface).

The optical axis of the left photographing system 30L (left photographing optical axis 30La) and the optical axis of the right photographing system 30R (right photographing optical axis 30Ra) are arranged in different orientations from each other. Also, the object plane along the optical axis (illumination optical axis 20a) of the illumination system 20, the reflector 31L, the imaging lens 32L, and the image pickup plane 34L satisfy the anti-reflection condition. Similarly, the object plane, the reflector 31L, the imaging lens 32L, and the image pickup plane 34L satisfy the anti-reflection condition.

The left imaging system 30L acquires a first image group by performing repeated imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R by the moving mechanism 6. Similarly, the right imaging system 30R acquires a second image group by performing repeated imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R by the moving mechanism 6.

According to this configuration, the anterior segment illuminated with the slit light can be imaged separately from each other in different directions. Even when an image acquired by one imaging system includes an artifact, an image acquired by the other imaging system substantially simultaneously with the image may not include an artifact. Even when artifacts are included in both of a pair of images acquired substantially simultaneously by two imaging systems, and when an artifact in one image overlaps a region of interest (for example, a slit-light-irradiated region), an artifact in the other image may not overlap the region of interest. Thus, the possibility of being able to acquire a good image increases. The process of obtaining a good image from a pair of images obtained substantially simultaneously will be described later.

The imaging system 3 may include a third imaging system, …, and a K-th imaging system (K is an integer of 3 or more) having the same configuration, in addition to the first imaging system and the second imaging system.

The left photographing system 30L of the present embodiment includes a reflector 31L and an imaging lens 32L. The reflector 31L reflects light from the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light, which travels in a direction away from the illumination optical axis 20a, in a direction closer to the illumination optical axis 20 a. Further, the imaging lens 32L forms an image of the light reflected by the reflector 31L on the imaging surface 34L. Here, the imaging lens 32L includes one or more lenses.

Similarly, the right photographing system 30R includes a reflector 31R and an imaging lens 32R. The reflector 31R reflects light from the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light, which travels in a direction away from the illumination optical axis 20a, in a direction closer to the illumination optical axis 20 a. The imaging lens 32R forms an image of the light reflected by the reflector 31R on the imaging surface 34R. Here, the imaging lens 32R includes one or more lenses.

With this configuration, the device can be miniaturized. That is, although the image acquired by the imaging device 33L (33R) is output through the cable extending from the surface opposite to the imaging surface 34L (34R), according to the present configuration, the cable can be arranged from the back surface of the imaging device 33L (33R) existing closer to the illumination optical axis 20a toward the direction opposite to the eye to be inspected E. Therefore, the cables can be arranged well, and the device can be miniaturized.

Further, according to the present configuration, since the angle θ L and the angle θ R can be set to be large, when an image acquired by one imaging system includes an artifact, it is possible to increase the possibility that an image acquired by the other imaging system substantially simultaneously with the image does not include an artifact. In addition, when artifacts are included in both of a pair of images acquired substantially simultaneously by two imaging systems and when an artifact in one image overlaps a region of interest (for example, a slit-light-irradiated region), it is possible to reduce the possibility that an artifact in the other image overlaps the region of interest.

The present embodiment includes a video capture system 40. The left and right imaging systems 30L and 30R repeatedly image the anterior segment in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R by the moving mechanism 6. The video shooting system 40 shoots the anterior segment from the fixed position video in parallel with the repeated shooting.

With this configuration, by performing image capturing from a fixed position (for example, the front side) in parallel with scanning of the anterior segment by the slit light, it is possible to grasp the state of the eye E during scanning and perform control in accordance with the state of the eye E. An example thereof will be described in other embodiments.

An example of an optical system that can be applied in place of the structure shown in fig. 5 is shown in fig. 6. In addition, reference numerals for each element are omitted. In the left imaging system 30L 'of the optical system of this example, the reflector reflects light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is applied, and light traveling in a direction away from the illumination optical axis 20 a', in a direction away from the illumination optical axis 20 a. The imaging lens forms an image of the light reflected by the reflector on an imaging surface of the imaging element.

Although such a configuration may be adopted, the cable is disposed laterally (or in a direction toward the eye to be inspected E) from the back surface of the imaging element which is located farther from the illumination optical axis 20 a', which causes a problem that the cable cannot be laid out satisfactorily.

Third embodiment

In the present embodiment, a configuration of a treatment system applicable to the slit-lamp microscope 1 of the first embodiment will be described. In the imaging system 3 according to the present embodiment, for example, as shown in fig. 5 described in the second embodiment, the left imaging optical axis 30La and the right imaging optical axis 30Ra are arranged to be inclined in opposite directions with respect to the illumination optical axis 20 a. The processing system of the present embodiment performs the following artifact processing.

The data processing unit 8A shown in fig. 7 is an example of the data processing unit 8 of the first embodiment. The data processing section 8A includes an image selecting section 81.

The image selecting unit 81 determines whether or not an artifact is included in any one of two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the left imaging system 30L and the right imaging system 30R. Artifact determination includes predetermined image analysis, typically including thresholding associated with intensity information assigned to a pixel.

In the threshold processing, for example, a pixel to which a luminance value exceeding a preset threshold is assigned is specified. Typically, the threshold value is set higher than the luminance value of the slit light irradiation region in the image. In this case, the image selecting unit 81 determines not the irradiation region of the slit light as an artifact but an image brighter than the irradiation region (for example, a specular reflection image) as an artifact.

For the artifact determination, the image selecting unit 81 may perform any image analysis other than the threshold processing such as pattern recognition, segmentation, and edge detection. In general, any information processing technique such as image analysis, image processing, artificial intelligence, cognitive calculation, or the like can be applied to artifact determination.

As a result of the artifact determination, when it is determined that an artifact is included in one of the two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the left imaging system 30L and the right imaging system 30R, the image selecting unit 81 selects the other image. That is, the image selecting unit 81 selects one of the two images which is not the image determined to include the artifact.

When two images include an artifact, the image selecting unit 81 may evaluate a bad influence of the artifact on observation or diagnosis, and select an image having a small bad influence. The evaluation is performed, for example, based on the size and/or location of the artifact. Typically, an image including a large artifact is evaluated as having a large adverse effect, and an image including an artifact in a region of interest such as a slit light irradiation region or in the vicinity thereof is evaluated as having a large adverse effect.

In addition, when two images include an artifact, the artifact removal described in the fourth embodiment may be applied.

As described in the second embodiment, the left imaging system 30L repeatedly performs imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R by the moving mechanism 6, and thereby a first image group is acquired. Similarly, the right imaging system 30R acquires a second image group by performing repeated imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R by the moving mechanism 6. The repetitive photographing is typically video photographing, and the first image group and the second image group are each a frame group constituting a moving image. In addition, as previously described, images acquired substantially simultaneously in the first image group and the second image group are paired with each other.

The image selecting section 81 selects one of the paired two images (a combination of an image from the first image group and an image from the second image group). Thus, for example, one image is selected from each of the plurality of image pairs, and a plurality of images substantially not including the artifact are selected.

The data processing unit 8A further includes a three-dimensional image constructing unit 82. The three-dimensional image constructing unit 82 constructs a three-dimensional image from an image group including images selected from the first image group and the second image group by the image selecting unit 81. The image group may include only one of the plurality of images selected from the first image group and the second image group by the image selecting unit 81, or may include images other than these.

Further, the three-dimensional image is an image (image data) in which pixel positions are defined by a three-dimensional coordinate system. Examples of the three-dimensional image include stack data and volume data. The stack data is constructed by filling a plurality of two-dimensional images into a single three-dimensional coordinate system according to their positional relationship. The volume data is also called voxel data, and is constructed by applying voxelization to stack data, for example.

An example of a process of constructing a three-dimensional image will be described. The image group to which the three-dimensional image construction is applied is a plurality of anterior segment images (frame groups) F1, F2, F3, …, and FN shown in fig. 3. The anterior segment image Fn includes a slit light irradiation region An (N is 1, 2, …, N).

The three-dimensional image construction unit 82 analyzes the anterior segment image Fn to extract the slit light irradiation region An. The extraction of the slit light irradiation region An is performed with reference to luminance information assigned to a pixel, and typically includes a threshold process. Thereby, a slit light irradiation region image Gn (N is 1, 2, …, N) in which the slit light irradiation region An is drawn (only) is obtained. Fig. 8 shows an example of a plurality of slit light irradiation region images G1 to GN constructed from a plurality of anterior eye images F1 to FN.

When the slit light irradiation region image Gn includes an artifact, the artifact can be removed from the slit light irradiation region image Gn by, for example, known image processing or image processing according to another embodiment. The distortion correction described in the other embodiments may be applied to the anterior segment image Fn or the slit light irradiation region image Gn.

The three-dimensional image constructing unit 82 constructs a three-dimensional image from at least a part of the plurality of slit light irradiation region images G1 to GN. The details of the three-dimensional image and the construction thereof will be described in other embodiments.

The effects achieved by the present embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, for example, as shown in fig. 5, the left photographing optical axis 30La and the right photographing optical axis 30Ra are arranged to be inclined in opposite directions to each other with respect to the illumination optical axis 20 a. The data processing unit 8A of the present embodiment includes an image selecting unit 81. The image selecting unit 81 determines whether or not an artifact is included in any one of two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the left imaging system 30L and the right imaging system 30R. When it is determined that an artifact is included in one of the two images, the image selecting unit 81 selects the other of the two images, that is, an image not including an artifact.

With this configuration, it is possible to select an image that does not include an artifact (such as a specular reflection image) that hinders observation and diagnosis.

The data processing unit 8A of the present embodiment includes a three-dimensional image constructing unit 82. The three-dimensional image constructing section 82 constructs a three-dimensional image representing the anterior segment of the eye E from the image group including the image selected by the image selecting section 81 from the plurality of images acquired by the left imaging system 30L and the plurality of images acquired by the right imaging system 30R.

With this configuration, a three-dimensional image of the anterior segment can be constructed from an image group that does not include artifacts that would interfere with observation and diagnosis.

Fourth embodiment

In the present embodiment, a configuration of a treatment system applicable to the slit-lamp microscope 1 of the first embodiment will be described.

In the imaging system 3 of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5 described in the second embodiment, the left imaging optical axis 30La and the right imaging optical axis 30Ra may be arranged to be inclined in opposite directions to each other with respect to the illumination optical axis 20a, or may be arranged so that both imaging optical axes are in the same direction with respect to the illumination optical axis. In the latter case, an angle made by one of the two photographing optical axes and the illumination optical axis and an angle made by the other photographing optical axis and the illumination optical axis are different from each other. In addition, in any case, the position of one photographing optical axis with respect to the illumination optical axis and the position of the other photographing optical axis with respect to the illumination optical axis are also different from each other. The processing system of the present embodiment executes the following processing of artifacts.

The data processing unit 8B shown in fig. 9 is an example of the data processing unit 8 of the first embodiment. The data processing unit 8B includes an artifact removing unit 83.

The artifact removing unit 83 compares two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the left imaging system 30L and the right imaging system 30R, and determines whether or not an artifact is included in any of the two images. Here, the two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the left imaging system 30L and the right imaging system 30R are, for example, images corresponding to each other by the aforementioned image pairing.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the position of one photographing optical axis with respect to the illumination optical axis and the position of the other photographing optical axis with respect to the illumination optical axis are different from each other. Thus, the artifact position in the image acquired by one photographing system (e.g., the left photographing system 30L) and the artifact position in the image acquired by the other photographing system (e.g., the right photographing system 30R) are different from each other. Alternatively, artifacts are contained in only one of the two images being compared.

The artifact removing unit 83 analyzes each of these two images to determine whether or not an artifact is included. The artifact determination is performed in the same manner as the image selecting unit 81 according to the third embodiment, for example.

When only one of the two images contains an artifact, the artifact removing unit 83 may remove the artifact, or may select an image that does not contain an artifact as in the third embodiment. Further, determining that one of the two images contains an artifact and the other does not contain an artifact corresponds to comparing the two images.

When two of the two images include an artifact, the artifact removal unit 83 removes the artifact by processing one or both of the two images.

The artifact removing unit 83 may attach a local region of another image to the artifact-removed image region. As mentioned before, when the artifact is removed from one image due to the different locations of the artifact in the two images being compared, or only one of these two images does not contain the artifact, the corresponding region in the other image is not an artifact. The artifact removal unit 83 extracts the corresponding region from the other image and attaches the extracted region to the portion from which the artifact is removed.

Alternatively, when another imaging system is provided as in the video imaging system 40 according to the second embodiment, a corresponding region in the image of the anterior segment acquired by the imaging system may be extracted and pasted to a region from which the artifact is removed.

As described in the second embodiment, the left imaging system 30L repeatedly performs imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R by the moving mechanism 6, and thereby a first image group is acquired. Similarly, the right imaging system 30R acquires a second image group by performing repeated imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R by the moving mechanism 6. The repetitive photographing is typically video photographing, and the first image group and the second image group are each a frame group constituting a moving image. In addition, as previously described, images acquired substantially simultaneously in the first image group and the second image group are paired. The artifact removal unit 83 applies the artifact removal described above to each of the plurality of image pairs.

The data processing unit 8B further includes a three-dimensional image constructing unit 84. The three-dimensional image constructing unit 84 constructs a three-dimensional image from the image group including the image from which the artifact has been removed by the artifact removing unit 83. The image group may include only one of the plurality of images processed by the artifact removing unit 83, or may include other images. The details of the three-dimensional image and the construction thereof will be described in other embodiments.

The effects achieved by the present embodiment will be described.

The data processing unit 8B of the present embodiment includes an artifact removing unit 83. The artifact removing unit 83 compares two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the left imaging system 30L and the right imaging system 30R, and determines whether or not an artifact is included in any of the two images. When it is determined that any one of the images contains an artifact, the artifact removal unit 83 performs removal of the artifact.

With this configuration, an image including no artifact (such as a specular reflection image) that would hinder observation and diagnosis can be constructed.

The data processing unit 8B of the present embodiment includes a three-dimensional image constructing unit 84. The three-dimensional image construction unit 84 constructs a three-dimensional image representing the anterior segment of the eye E from the image group including the image from which the artifact has been removed by the artifact removal unit 83.

With this configuration, a three-dimensional image of the anterior segment can be constructed from an image group that does not include artifacts that would interfere with observation and diagnosis.

Fifth embodiment

In the present embodiment, a configuration of a treatment system applicable to the slit-lamp microscope 1 of the first embodiment will be described. In the third and fourth embodiments, typically, processing relating to artifacts is applied to two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the first and second imaging systems, and a three-dimensional image is constructed from an image group not including artifacts. On the other hand, a three-dimensional image may be constructed without performing processing related to artifacts. The present embodiment can be applied to such a case.

The data processing unit 8C shown in fig. 10 is an example of the data processing unit 8 of the first embodiment. The data processing unit 8C includes a three-dimensional image constructing unit 85.

In the first example of the present embodiment, as described in the first embodiment, the imaging system 3 repeatedly performs imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 by the moving mechanism 6, thereby acquiring a plurality of images of the anterior segment of the eye E.

The three-dimensional image constructing unit 85 can construct a three-dimensional image from a plurality of images acquired by the imaging system 3. The image group used for three-dimensional image construction may include only one of the plurality of images acquired by the imaging system 3, or may include images other than these images. The details of the three-dimensional image and the construction thereof will be described in other embodiments.

In the second example of the present embodiment, as described in the second embodiment, the left imaging system 30L repeatedly performs imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R by the moving mechanism 6, and thereby a first image group is acquired. Similarly, the right imaging system 30R acquires a second image group by performing repeated imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R by the moving mechanism 6. Images acquired substantially simultaneously in the first image group and the second image group are paired.

The three-dimensional image constructing unit 85 can construct a three-dimensional image from the first image group acquired by the left imaging system 30L. The image group used for constructing the three-dimensional image may include only one of the first image group, or may include images other than these. Similarly, the three-dimensional image constructing section 85 may construct a three-dimensional image from the second image group acquired by the right imaging system 30R. The image group used for constructing the three-dimensional image may include only one of the second image group, or may include images other than these. The details of the three-dimensional image and the construction thereof will be described in other embodiments.

The effects achieved by the present embodiment will be described.

The data processing unit 8C of the present embodiment includes a three-dimensional image constructing unit 85. The three-dimensional image constructing unit 85 constructs a three-dimensional image from a plurality of images acquired by the imaging system 3. The imaging system 3 may include both the left imaging system 30L and the right imaging system 30R, or may include only a single imaging system corresponding to one of them.

With this configuration, a three-dimensional image representing a three-dimensional region in the anterior segment of the eye E can be constructed. The three-dimensional image is effective for observation and diagnosis.

Sixth embodiment

This embodiment is applicable to the case where a three-dimensional image of the anterior segment can be constructed as in the third to fifth embodiments.

As described above, a three-dimensional image is constructed from a plurality of images sequentially obtained by slit light scanning. To construct a three-dimensional image from a plurality of images, it is necessary to arrange the plurality of images, but since the plurality of images are obtained at different timings, it is difficult to arrange the plurality of images with high accuracy and high precision. The present embodiment is proposed to solve such a problem.

The control section 7 shown in fig. 11 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The moving mechanism 6A is an example of the moving mechanism 6 of the first embodiment, and includes a parallel moving mechanism 61 and a rotating mechanism 62. The data processing unit 8D includes a three-dimensional image constructing unit 86. The three-dimensional image constructing unit 86 is an example of the three-dimensional image constructing unit 82 according to the third embodiment, an example of the three-dimensional image constructing unit 84 according to the fourth embodiment, and an example of the three-dimensional image constructing unit 85 according to the fifth embodiment. The three-dimensional image construction unit 86 includes an image position determination unit 87.

When the configuration shown in fig. 1 of the first embodiment is applied, the parallel-moving mechanism 61 integrally moves the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 in the X direction in order to scan the anterior segment with the slit light.

When the configuration shown in fig. 5 of the second embodiment is applied, the parallel movement mechanism 61 integrally moves the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R in the X direction in order to scan the anterior segment with the slit light.

When the configuration shown in fig. 1 of the first embodiment is applied, the rotation mechanism 62 integrally rotates the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 with the illumination optical axis 2a as a rotation axis.

When the configuration shown in fig. 5 of the second embodiment is applied, the rotation mechanism 62 integrally rotates the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R with the illumination optical axis 20a as a rotation axis.

This makes it possible to rotate the direction of the slit light irradiated to the anterior segment of the eye E and to rotate the imaging direction by the same angle as the rotation of the direction of the slit light.

When the configuration shown in fig. 1 of the first embodiment is applied, when the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 are arranged at the first rotational position, anterior segment scanning by slit light is performed, and a plurality of images are acquired by the imaging system 3.

In the case where the configuration shown in fig. 5 of the second embodiment is applied, when the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R are arranged at the first rotational position, anterior ocular scan by slit light is performed, the first image group is acquired by the left imaging system 30L, and the second image group is acquired by the right imaging system 30R.

The first rotational position is, for example, a rotational position at which the longitudinal direction of the slit light projected to the anterior eye coincides with the body axis direction (Y direction) of the subject.

When the configuration shown in fig. 1 of the first embodiment is applied, when the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 are arranged at the second rotational position different from the first rotational position, the imaging system 3 acquires an image of the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light by the illumination system 20.

When the configuration shown in fig. 5 of the second embodiment is applied, when the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R are arranged at the second rotational position different from the first rotational position, the left imaging system 30L and the right imaging system 30R each acquire an image of the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light by the illumination system 20.

The second rotational position is, for example, a rotational position at which the longitudinal direction of the slit light projected to the anterior eye coincides with the left-right direction (X direction). Thus, 1 or more additional shots are taken with respect to the anterior ocular scan performed at the first rotational position. In this additive imaging, the direction of the slit light is different from that in the anterior ocular segment scanning. Typically, the orientation of the slit light may be set so as to pass through all the slit light irradiation areas in the anterior ocular segment scan.

The image position determining unit 87 determines the relative positions of the plurality of images of the anterior segment acquired at the first rotational position, based on the image of the anterior segment acquired at the second rotational position. The image position determination refers to the image obtained at the second rotation position, and adjusts the arrangement of the plurality of images obtained at the first rotation position.

The image position determination unit 87 analyzes each image obtained at the first rotational position and each image obtained at the second rotational position, for example, and determines a common region between the images. The image position determining unit 87 determines the relative position between each image obtained at the first rotational position and the image obtained at the second rotational position with reference to the identified common region.

By applying such processing to all the images obtained at the first rotation position, all the images obtained at the first rotation position are arranged with reference to the image obtained at the second rotation position. That is, the relative positions of all the images obtained at the first rotation position are determined using the image obtained at the second rotation position as a medium.

The processing executed by the image position determination unit 87 may include any information processing such as image correlation processing, processing using segmentation, image matching, artificial intelligence, and processing using cognitive computation, for example.

The three-dimensional image constructing unit 86 arranges the plurality of images obtained at the first rotational position in a single three-dimensional coordinate system based on the relative position determined by the image position determining unit 87, and forms a three-dimensional image.

Fig. 12 shows an example of the irradiation position of the slit light in the present embodiment. Fig. 12 shows the anterior segment as viewed from the front. When the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 are disposed at the first rotational position, the plurality of slit light irradiation regions in the anterior ocular segment scan correspond to a plurality of strip-shaped regions arranged in the X direction with the Y direction as the longitudinal direction. In the anterior segment scanning of this example, slit lights are sequentially irradiated to these band-shaped regions in the order indicated by the arrow 11. When slit light is irradiated to each band-shaped region, at least 1 time of photographing is performed.

On the other hand, reference numeral 12 denotes the position of the slit light irradiated to the anterior segment when the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 are disposed at the second rotational position. The slit light irradiation region 12 corresponding to the second rotational position is a band-shaped region having the X direction as the longitudinal direction. That is, in this example, the direction of the slit light irradiated to the anterior segment at the first rotational position and the direction of the slit light irradiated to the anterior segment at the second rotational position are orthogonal to each other. Further, the relationship between the orientation of the slit light irradiated toward the anterior eye at the first rotational position and the orientation of the slit light irradiated toward the anterior eye at the second rotational position is not limited to this as long as the orientations of the two are different.

Although the case where the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 are applied is described here, the same applies to the case where the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R are applied.

In this example, both anterior segment scanning in the first rotational position and photographing in the second rotational position are performed, but the timing for performing these may be arbitrary. For example, the anterior segment scan at the first rotational position may be performed after the image capture at the second rotational position, the image capture at the second rotational position may be performed after the anterior segment scan at the first rotational position, and the image capture at the second rotational position may be performed at a stage in the middle of the anterior segment scan at the first rotational position.

The effects achieved by the present embodiment will be described.

The moving mechanism 6A of the present embodiment includes a rotating mechanism 62 that integrally rotates the illumination systems 2 and 20 and the imaging systems 3(30L and 30R) with the illumination optical axis 2a (20a) as a rotation axis. When the illumination systems 2 and 20 and the imaging systems 3(30L and 30R) are arranged at the first rotation positions, the imaging systems 3(30L and 30R) acquire a plurality of images of the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light. When the illumination system 2(20) and the imaging system 3(30L, 30R) are disposed at a second rotational position different from the first rotational position, the imaging system 3(30L, 30R) acquires an image of the anterior segment irradiated with the slit light by the illumination system 2 (20). The image position determining unit 87 determines the relative positions of the plurality of images acquired at the first rotational position based on the images acquired at the second rotational position. The three-dimensional image constructing unit 86 performs registration between the plurality of images based on the determined relative positions to construct a three-dimensional image.

According to this configuration, since the plurality of images acquired at the first rotation position can be aligned with reference to the image acquired at the second rotation position, it is possible to improve the accuracy and precision of constructing the three-dimensional image.

Further, "determining the relative positions of the plurality of images acquired at the first rotational position" includes not only determining the relative positions of the plurality of images themselves, but also determining the relative positions of a plurality of slit light irradiation regions extracted from the plurality of images, respectively. Therefore, the present embodiment includes both a case where the slit light irradiation regions are extracted after the relative positions of the plurality of images are determined and a case where the slit light irradiation regions are extracted from the plurality of images and then the relative positions thereof are determined.

In addition, the present embodiment includes a case where the relative position of the image group selected from the plurality of images acquired at the first rotational position is determined, as in the case where the third embodiment is applied. The present embodiment also includes a case where the relative position of the image group obtained by processing the plurality of images acquired at the first rotational position is determined, as in the case where the fourth embodiment is applied. Therefore, the present embodiment includes both a case where the relative positions of the plurality of images are determined and then the images are selected or processed and a case where the relative positions of the selected images or the processed images are determined after the images are selected or processed.

(seventh embodiment)

In this embodiment, the construction of the three-dimensional image described in the third to sixth embodiments and the like will be described.

The three-dimensional image constructing unit 88 shown in fig. 13 includes an image region extracting unit 89 and an image synthesizing unit 90.

When the configuration shown in fig. 1 of the first embodiment is applied, the image area extracting unit 89 extracts an image area corresponding to an irradiation area of the slit light from the illumination system 2 from each of a plurality of images acquired by the imaging system 3 in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3. The extracted image area is a two-dimensional image area or a three-dimensional image area.

When the configuration shown in fig. 5 of the second embodiment is applied, the image area extracting unit 89 may extract an image area corresponding to an irradiation area of the slit light from the illumination system 20 from each of the plurality of images acquired by the left imaging system 30L in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R. The image area extracting unit 89 may extract an image area corresponding to an irradiation area of the slit light from the illumination system 20 from each of the plurality of images acquired by the right imaging system 30R in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R. The image region to be extracted in this example is also a two-dimensional image region or a three-dimensional image region.

The processing performed by the image region extracting unit 89 is performed in the same manner as the processing for extracting the slit light irradiation region An from the anterior segment image Fn and constructing the slit light irradiation region image Gn described in the third embodiment with reference to fig. 3 and 8, for example.

The image combining unit 90 combines a plurality of image regions (a plurality of slit light irradiation regions) extracted from the plurality of images by the image region extracting unit 89 to construct a three-dimensional image. The image synthesizing unit 90 may include, for example, processing for filling a plurality of slit light irradiation regions into a single three-dimensional coordinate system, and processing for processing the filled slit light irradiation regions. As the processing of the plurality of slit light irradiation regions, for example, processing such as noise elimination, noise reduction, and voxel formation may be performed.

Before combining the plurality of slit light irradiation regions, the relative positions of the plurality of slit light irradiation regions may be determined by applying the process of the sixth embodiment.

The image region extracting unit 89 may be configured to extract an image region corresponding to both the slit light irradiation region and the predetermined portion of the anterior segment from each of the plurality of images. The predetermined region of the anterior segment may be, for example, a region demarcated by the anterior surface of the cornea and the posterior surface of the crystalline lens.

For example, the image region extracting unit 89 first specifies the slit light irradiation region by threshold processing of the luminance information, and specifies the image region corresponding to the anterior surface of the cornea and the image region corresponding to the posterior surface of the crystalline lens by division.

Next, the image region extracting unit 89 specifies an image region (target image region) corresponding to a portion divided by the anterior surface of the cornea and the posterior surface of the crystalline lens, based on the image region corresponding to the anterior surface of the cornea and the image region corresponding to the posterior surface of the crystalline lens.

Next, the image region extracting unit 89 specifies a common region between the slit light irradiation region and the target image region, that is, an image region included in both the slit light irradiation region and the target image region. Thus, for example, a two-dimensional image region (cross section) or a three-dimensional image region (slice) in the object image corresponding to the slit light irradiation region in the range from the anterior surface of the cornea to the posterior surface of the lens is specified.

In this example, the image synthesis is performed after the extraction of the slit light irradiation region, but the extraction of the slit light irradiation region may be performed after the image synthesis, in contrast to this. In addition, the extracted image region is not limited to the slit light irradiation region, and the predetermined region is not limited to a portion from the anterior of the cornea to the posterior of the lens.

According to this structure, a three-dimensional image of a desired part of the anterior segment can be acquired from a plurality of images obtained by anterior segment scanning using slit light. In particular, a three-dimensional image of a slit light irradiation region, which is a main observation target under slit lamp microscopy, can be constructed, and a three-dimensional image of a region from the anterior surface of the cornea to the posterior surface of the crystalline lens, which is a main observation target of the anterior eye portion, can be constructed.

Eighth embodiment

In this embodiment, the rendering of the three-dimensional image constructed in the third to seventh embodiments and the like will be described.

The data processing unit 8E shown in fig. 14 includes a three-dimensional image constructing unit 91 and a rendering unit 92. The three-dimensional image constructing unit 91 may be any of the three-dimensional image constructing unit 82 according to the third embodiment, the three-dimensional image constructing unit 84 according to the fourth embodiment, the three-dimensional image constructing unit 85 according to the fifth embodiment, the three-dimensional image constructing unit 86 according to the sixth embodiment, and the three-dimensional image constructing unit 88 according to the seventh embodiment, for example.

The rendering unit 92 renders the three-dimensional image created by the three-dimensional image creating unit 91 to create a new image (rendered image).

Rendering may be any process including, for example, three-dimensional computer graphics techniques. The three-dimensional computer graphics technology is an arithmetic method for creating an image having a stereoscopic effect by converting a virtual stereoscopic object (a three-dimensional image of stack data, volume data, or the like) in a three-dimensional space defined by a three-dimensional coordinate system into two-dimensional information.

Examples of rendering include volume rendering, maximum projection (MIP), minimum projection (MinIP), surface rendering, multi-slice reconstruction (MPR), projection image formation, and shading. As further examples of the drawing, there are reproduction of a cross-sectional image obtained by a slit-lamp microscope, formation of an anti-reflection image, and the like. In addition, the rendering section 92 may be capable of executing any processing applicable together with such rendering.

The drawing section 92 may specify a region corresponding to a predetermined portion in the three-dimensional image of the anterior segment. For example, the rendering section 92 may specify a region corresponding to the anterior of the cornea, a region corresponding to the posterior of the cornea, a region corresponding to the anterior of the lens, a region corresponding to the posterior of the lens, and the like. For such image area determination, known image processing such as segmentation, edge detection, and threshold processing is applied.

Further, the three-dimensional image is typically stack data or volume data. The section designation for the three-dimensional image is performed manually or automatically.

When the cross section of the three-dimensional image is manually designated, the drawing unit 92 draws the three-dimensional image and constructs a display image for manual cross section designation. The display image is typically an image showing the entire region to be observed, for example, a region from the anterior surface of the cornea to the posterior surface of the crystalline lens. The rendering for constructing the display image is typically a volume rendering or a surface rendering method.

The control unit 7 causes the display image constructed by the rendering unit 92 to be displayed on a display device not shown. The user instructs the display image to specify a desired cross section by using an operation device such as a pointing device. Position information of a cross section designated in the display image is input to the drawing section 92.

Since the display image is a drawing image of a three-dimensional image, there is a natural positional correspondence between the display image and the three-dimensional image. Based on the correspondence, the drawing section 92 specifies a cross-sectional position in the three-dimensional image corresponding to the cross-sectional position specified in the display image. In other words, the drawing unit 92 specifies a cross-section of the three-dimensional image.

The rendering unit 92 may further create a three-dimensional partial image by cutting the three-dimensional image with the cross-section. The rendering unit 92 may render the three-dimensional partial image to construct an image for display. Examples of such a rendering, an example of a three-dimensional partial image, and an example of an image for display based on a three-dimensional partial image will be described later.

When the cross-section of the three-dimensional image is automatically designated, the data processing unit 8E (e.g., the rendering unit 92) may analyze the three-dimensional image and specify the position or region of the predetermined portion corresponding to the anterior segment, for example. For example, the anterior cornea may be determined, the apex position of the anterior cornea determined, the posterior lens determined, and the apex position of the posterior lens determined.

The data processing unit 8E (for example, the rendering unit 92) may apply the division to the three-dimensional image to specify an image region corresponding to the predetermined portion. For example, a two-dimensional region corresponding to the anterior surface of the cornea, a three-dimensional region corresponding to the lens, a three-dimensional region corresponding to the posterior surface of the lens, a three-dimensional region corresponding to the anterior chamber, and the like may be determined.

The data processing unit 8E (for example, the rendering unit 92) can specify a cross-section to the three-dimensional image based on the position and the region thus specified. For example, a plane passing through the vertex position of the anterior face of the cornea and the vertex position of the posterior face of the lens may be designated as a cross-section, and a curved surface equivalent to the anterior face of the lens may be designated as a cross-section.

The image that can be constructed by the rendering unit 92 when a cross-section is specified for a three-dimensional image is not limited to a three-dimensional partial image. For example, when a cross section is designated to the three-dimensional image, the rendering unit 92 may construct a two-dimensional cross-sectional image representing the cross section. Examples of such a rendering, a two-dimensional cross-sectional image, and an image for display based on a two-dimensional cross-sectional image will be described later.

The positional information that can specify the three-dimensional image is not limited to the cross section of the planar or curved two-dimensional region. As another example of the position information that can be specified for the three-dimensional region, there is a slice. A slice is a three-dimensional region having a predetermined thickness, typically a thin sheet having a uniform thickness.

When a slice is designated for a three-dimensional image, the rendering unit 92 may construct a three-dimensional slice image corresponding to the slice. The rendering unit 92 can render the three-dimensional slice image to construct an image for display. Examples of such a rendering, an example of a three-dimensional slice image, an example of an image for display based on a three-dimensional slice image, and the like will be described later.

The effects achieved by the present embodiment will be described.

The present embodiment includes a rendering unit 92 that renders a three-dimensional image created by the three-dimensional image creating unit 91 to create a rendered image. This enables a rendering image based on the three-dimensional image constructed by the three-dimensional image construction unit 91 to be displayed, and a desired region of the anterior segment to be observed.

The drawing method is arbitrary. For example, when a cross section is designated for the three-dimensional image, the rendering unit 92 may divide the three-dimensional image by the cross section to construct a three-dimensional partial image. This enables observation of a desired cross section of the anterior segment and grasping of the three-dimensional shape of the anterior segment.

In another example, when a cross section is designated in the three-dimensional image, the drawing unit 92 may construct a two-dimensional cross-sectional image representing the cross section. This enables observation of a desired cross section of the anterior segment.

In still another example, when a slice is designated for a three-dimensional image, the rendering unit 92 may construct a three-dimensional slice image corresponding to the slice. This enables observation of a desired slice of the anterior segment.

Ninth embodiment

In the slit-lamp microscopes according to the first to eighth embodiments, the illumination optical axis and the imaging optical axis form a predetermined angle, and the illumination system and the imaging system function as an anti-reflection camera. The image obtained by such a slit-lamp microscope is distorted. The distortion is typically keystone distortion.

In this embodiment, distortion correction will be described. The distortion correction is typically a keystone correction (keystone correction). Trapezoidal correction is a known technique, and is disclosed in, for example, japanese patent application laid-open No. 2017-163465 (U.S. patent application publication No. 2017/0262163).

As described above, in the anterior eye portion (i.e., in real space), the slit light irradiation region has a wide space in the Z direction, and is typically defined on the YZ plane, ignoring the slit width. On the other hand, the optical axis of the imaging system is inclined in the X direction with respect to the optical axis of the illumination system that irradiates the slit light. Therefore, the image pickup target region of the anterior ocular segment is drawn larger toward the surface of the eye to be inspected and smaller toward the fundus. Thus, keystone distortion in (at least) the Z direction occurs.

The data processing section 8F shown in fig. 15 includes a distortion correcting section 93. The distortion correcting portion 93 may be combined with any one of the first to eighth embodiments. The distortion correction unit 93 applies distortion correction to the anterior segment image acquired by the imaging system 3 (the left imaging system 30L and the right imaging system 30R).

More specifically, the distortion correcting section 93 applies a process (trapezoidal correction) for correcting distortion caused by the optical axis angles θ (θ L, θ R) which are angles formed by the illumination optical axis 2a (20a) and the imaging optical axes 3a (30LA, 30RA) to at least one of the plurality of images acquired by the imaging systems 3(30L, 30R) in parallel with the movement of the illumination systems 2(20) and the imaging systems 3(30L, 30R).

The image to which the distortion correction is applied is not limited to the anterior segment image itself acquired by the imaging system 3(30L, 30R), and may be a slit light irradiation region extracted from the anterior segment image acquired by the imaging system 3(30L, 30R) or the like. Therefore, the slit light irradiation region may be extracted after the distortion of the anterior segment image is corrected, or conversely, the distortion of the slit light irradiation region may be corrected after the slit light irradiation region is extracted from the anterior segment image.

Further, the distortion of the anterior segment image selected from the anterior segment images acquired by the imaging systems 3(30L, 30R) is corrected as in the "image group" in the third and fourth embodiments, and the distortion of the image obtained by processing the anterior segment image acquired by the imaging systems 3(30L, 30R) is corrected. Therefore, the anterior segment image may be selected and processed after the distortion of the anterior segment image is corrected, or the distortion of the selected image or the processed image may be corrected after the anterior segment image is selected or processed.

In a typical embodiment, the slit-lamp microscope is provided with an optical system shown in fig. 1 or 5, and the distortion on the YZ plane is corrected by the distortion correcting section 93.

In the example shown in fig. 1, the photographing optical axis 3a is arranged to be inclined with respect to the illumination optical axis 2a in a third direction (X direction) orthogonal to both the first direction (Z direction) along the illumination optical axis 2a and the second direction (Y direction) along the longitudinal direction of the slit light. Here, the optical axis angle formed by the illumination optical axis 2a and the photographing optical axis 3a is an angle θ shown in fig. 1. The distortion correcting section 93 may apply processing for correcting distortion on a plane (YZ plane) including both the first direction (Z direction) and the second direction (Y direction) to the anterior segment image acquired by the photographing system 3.

In the example shown in fig. 5, the left photographing optical axis 30La is arranged to be inclined with respect to the illumination optical axis 20a toward a third direction (X direction) orthogonal to both the first direction (Z direction) along the illumination optical axis 20a and the second direction (Y direction) along the longitudinal direction of the slit light. Here, the optical axis angle formed by the illumination optical axis 20a and the left photographing optical axis 30La is an angle θ L shown in fig. 5. The distortion correcting section 93 may apply processing for correcting distortion on a plane (YZ plane) including both the first direction (Z direction) and the second direction (Y direction) to the anterior segment image acquired through the left photographing optical axis 30 La.

Similarly, the right imaging optical axis 30Ra is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the illumination optical axis 20a in a third direction (X direction) orthogonal to both the first direction (Z direction) along the illumination optical axis 20a and the second direction (Y direction) along the longitudinal direction of the slit light. Here, an optical axis angle formed by the illumination optical axis 20a and the right photographing optical axis 30Ra is an angle θ R shown in fig. 5. The distortion correcting section 93 may apply processing for correcting distortion on a plane (YZ plane) including both the first direction (Z direction) and the second direction (Y direction) to the anterior segment image acquired through the right photographing optical axis 30 Ra.

The normal trapezoidal correction is such that the trapezoidal shape is changed back to the original rectangular shape after the rectangular shape is deformed. In the present embodiment, such a standard trapezoidal correction can be applied, but as described below, it is also effective in applying another trapezoidal correction.

In general, when an optical slice of the anterior segment (i.e., a slit-lamp light irradiation region) is observed using a slit-lamp microscope, the optical axis (observation optical axis) of the observation system is inclined with respect to the optical axis (illumination optical axis) of the illumination system. Therefore, the user observes the light slice extending in the Z direction from an oblique direction. In this case, the angle (observation angle) formed by the illumination optical axis and the observation optical axis is typically a predetermined value (for example, 17.5 degrees, 30 degrees, or 45 degrees). This predetermined value is referred to as a reference angle (α).

The correction coefficient for the distortion correction (trapezoidal correction) can be set based on the reference angle α and the optical axis angles β (θ, θ L, θ R). Correction coefficients are set for at least one reference angle α and at least one optical axis angle β (θ, θ L, θ R). The correction coefficient may be set for each of combinations of two or more reference angles and one optical axis angle, set for each of combinations of one reference angle and two or more optical axis angles, and set for each of combinations of two or more reference angles and two or more optical axis angles. In general, a discrete-type or continuous-type correction coefficient C (α, β) having one or both of the reference angle α and the optical axis angle β as variables may be set.

The distortion correcting unit 93 stores one or more correction coefficients C (α, β) set in this way. The distortion correcting section 93 may perform processing for correcting distortion in accordance with the correction coefficient C (α, β).

In the case where the correction coefficients C (α, β) provide a plurality of values, the distortion correcting section 93 or the user specifies one or both of the reference angle α and the optical axis angle β. The distortion correcting unit 93 applies a correction coefficient corresponding to the result of the specification. This configuration is applied to, for example, a slit-lamp microscope with a variable optical axis angle β, and a table or a graph showing a plurality of correction coefficients in a range with a variable optical axis angle β is prepared.

Instead of preparing information indicating the correction coefficient, the following configuration may be applied. That is, the distortion correcting unit of the present example stores a predetermined arithmetic expression for calculating the correction coefficient in advance. The distortion correcting unit of the present example receives an input of the reference angle α and/or the optical axis angle β, and calculates a correction coefficient by fitting the input value into an arithmetic expression. The distortion correcting section of this example performs distortion correction using the calculated correction coefficient.

The effects achieved by the present embodiment will be described.

The present embodiment includes a distortion correcting section 93. In the configuration shown in fig. 1, the distortion correcting unit 93 may apply a process for correcting distortion caused by an optical axis angle θ, which is an angle formed by the optical axis 2a of the illumination system 2 and the optical axis 3a of the imaging system 3, to at least one of a plurality of images acquired by repeatedly capturing images by the imaging system 3 in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 2 and the imaging system 3 by the moving mechanism 6. The same applies to the case where the structure shown in fig. 5 and other structures are employed.

According to this configuration, a good image in which distortion due to the optical axis angle θ is corrected can be provided.

In the structure shown in fig. 1, the optical axis 3a of the optical system 4 included in the photographing system 3 is arranged to be inclined with respect to the optical axis 2a of the illumination system 2 toward a third direction (X direction) orthogonal to both the first direction (Z direction) along the optical axis 2a of the illumination system 2 and the second direction (Y direction) along the length direction of the slit light. The distortion correcting section 93 may perform processing for correcting distortion on a plane (YZ plane) including both the first direction and the second direction. The same applies to the case where the structure shown in fig. 5 and other structures are employed.

According to this configuration, although keystone distortion occurs in a plane including both the first direction and the second direction, the keystone distortion can be corrected.

In the configuration shown in fig. 1, the distortion correcting section 93 stores in advance a correction coefficient C set based on a predetermined reference angle α and an optical axis angle θ. The distortion correcting unit 93 may apply, to the image, a process for correcting distortion caused by the optical axis angle θ, based on the correction coefficient C. The same applies to the case where the structure shown in fig. 5 and other structures are employed.

Tenth embodiment

In slit-lamp microscopy, the size and shape of the tissue, the positional relationship between the tissues, and the like can be referred to. In this embodiment, measurement for this purpose is explained.

The data processing unit 8G shown in fig. 16 includes a measurement unit 94. The measurement unit 94 may be combined with any one of the first to ninth embodiments.

When the measurement unit 94 is combined with the slit-lamp microscope according to the first to ninth embodiments, the measurement unit 94 can obtain a predetermined measurement value by analyzing an anterior segment image obtained by anterior segment scanning using slit light.

When the measurement unit 94 is combined with a slit-lamp microscope capable of constructing a three-dimensional image, the measurement unit 94 can obtain a predetermined measurement value by analyzing the three-dimensional image constructed by the three-dimensional image construction unit 82(84, 85, 86, 88, 91).

The measurement is performed, for example, for parameters representing the morphology of the tissue (thickness, diameter, area, volume, angle, shape, etc.), parameters representing the relationship between the tissues (distance, direction, etc.). The interpretation for the measurement includes, for example, segmentation for determining the tissue or its contour.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to measure parameters effective for observation and diagnosis of the anterior segment.

By combining the measurement unit 94 with the ninth embodiment capable of performing distortion correction, measurement can be performed based on an image to which distortion correction is applied. This can improve the measurement accuracy and the measurement precision.

Eleventh embodiment

In the case where the slit-lamp microscope has a function of video-imaging the anterior segment from a fixed position in parallel with the anterior segment scanning using the slit light as in the video-imaging system 40 of the second embodiment, the function of the present embodiment may be further added.

The control unit 7A of the present embodiment includes a movement control unit 71, and the data processing unit 8H includes a motion detection unit 95. In addition, the present embodiment includes a video shooting system 40. The video shooting system 40 video-shoots the anterior segment from a fixed position in parallel with anterior segment scanning using slit light.

The motion detection unit 95 analyzes the moving image acquired by the video imaging system 40 to detect the motion of the eye E. The motion detection is performed in parallel with the video capture system 40.

For example, the motion detection unit 95 first analyzes frames sequentially input from the video imaging system 40 to identify an image area corresponding to a predetermined portion. The predetermined location may typically be the center, center of gravity, contour, etc. of the pupil. The image area determination is made based on the luminance information assigned to the pixels. The motion detection unit 95 may determine an image region with low luminance in the image of the anterior eye as a pupil region, and determine the center of gravity or the contour of the pupil region. Alternatively, the motion detection unit 95 may determine the center or contour of the pupil area by finding an approximate circle or an approximate ellipse.

In this way, the motion detection unit 95 successively obtains the feature points in the frame input from the video imaging system 40. Then, the motion detection unit 95 obtains the temporal change of the feature point positions determined one by one. The video camera system 40 is fixedly configured, and therefore by this processing, the motion detection section 95 can detect the motion of the eye E to be inspected (in real time).

The movement control section 71 may control the movement mechanism 6 based on the output from the motion detection section 95. More specifically, the motion detection unit 95 sequentially inputs information indicating temporal changes in the positions of feature points in frames sequentially input from the video imaging system 40 to the movement control unit 71. The movement control unit 71 controls the movement mechanism 6 in accordance with the information sequentially input from the motion detection unit 95. This movement control is performed in such a manner as to cancel out the change in the calibration state caused by the movement of the eye E to be inspected. This action is called tracking.

According to this embodiment, when the eye E moves during anterior ocular segment scanning using slit light, the alignment state is automatically corrected in response to the movement. This enables anterior segment scanning using slit light to be performed without being affected by the movement of the eye to be examined.

Mode of use

An exemplary manner of use of the slit-lamp microscope of an embodiment is illustrated. Here, the optical system shown in fig. 5 is applied. Adjustment of the table, chair, jaw holder, instruction to start photographing, calibration, and the like are performed in the above-described manner.

First, as described in the sixth embodiment, the control unit 7 controls the rotation mechanism 62 so that the longitudinal direction of the slit light irradiated to the anterior segment coincides with the left-right direction (X direction). The left imaging system 30L or the right imaging system 30R images the anterior segment to which the slit light having the above orientation is irradiated.

Thereby, the anterior segment image H0 shown in fig. 18 is acquired. The anterior segment image H0 includes a slit light irradiation region J0 that is a region irradiated with slit light having a longitudinal direction in the horizontal direction (X direction).

In addition, both the left imaging system 30L and the right imaging system 30R may image the anterior segment. In this case, an image in which the slit light irradiation region is photographed from obliquely above and an image photographed from obliquely below are obtained.

Next, the controller 7 controls the rotating mechanism 62 so that the longitudinal direction of the slit light irradiated to the anterior eye coincides with the vertical direction (Y direction). The control section 7 controls the illumination system 20, the left photographing system 30L, the right photographing system 30R, and the moving mechanism 6 to perform anterior segment scanning using the slit light. That is, the left imaging system 30L and the right imaging system 30R repeatedly image the anterior segment of the eye E in parallel with the movement of the illumination system 20, the left imaging system 30L, and the right imaging system 30R by the moving mechanism 6.

Thus, the left photographing system 30L acquires a first image group including the N anterior eye images HL1 to HLN shown in fig. 19A, and the right photographing system 30R acquires a second image group including the N anterior eye images HR1 to HRN shown in fig. 19B. A slit light irradiation region JLn photographed from an oblique left side is drawn in the anterior segment image HLn acquired by the left photographing system 30L (N is 1, 2, …, N). The slit light irradiation region JRn photographed obliquely from the right is drawn in the anterior segment image HRn acquired by the right photographing system 30R (N is 1, 2, …, N).

Here, the anterior segment image HLn and the anterior segment image HRn are associated with each other by the aforementioned image pairing (N is 1, 2, …, N). In the actual anterior segment scan, the number N of the left and right anterior segment images is set to 200 or more in consideration of the resolution of the three-dimensional image to be constructed later. The number N is arbitrary.

Fig. 20 shows an anterior segment image obtained by actually performing anterior segment scanning. Each of these anterior segment images includes a slit light irradiation region that appears with high luminance.

Next, the image region extraction section 89 of the seventh embodiment (fig. 13) extracts the slit light irradiation region JLn from the anterior segment image HLn, and extracts the slit light irradiation region JRn from the anterior segment image HRn. Fig. 21A shows a plurality of slit light irradiation region images KL1 to KLN constructed from a plurality of anterior segment images HL1 to HLN, respectively. Fig. 21B shows a plurality of slit light irradiation region images KR1 to KRN respectively constructed from the plurality of anterior segment images HR1 to HRN.

Next, by applying the processing of the third embodiment or the fourth embodiment to the slit light irradiation region image KLn and the slit light irradiation region image KRn, a plurality of slit light irradiation region images including no artifact are obtained. None of the slit light irradiation region images K1 to KN illustrated in fig. 22 includes an artifact. The slit light irradiation region images K1 to KN include slit light irradiation regions J1 to JN, respectively.

Next, the distortion correction (trapezoidal correction) described in the ninth embodiment is applied to each of the slit light irradiation region images K1 to KN. Thereby, a plurality of slit light irradiation region images in which the distortion is corrected without including the artifact are obtained. None of the slit light irradiation region images P1 to PN illustrated in fig. 23 includes an artifact. The slit light irradiation region images P1 to PN include slit light irradiation regions Q1 to QN, respectively.

Next, the image position determining unit 87 of the sixth embodiment determines the relative positions of the plurality of slit light irradiation region images P1 to PN from the anterior segment image H0 shown in fig. 18. For example, the image position determination unit 87 arranges the slit light irradiation region images P1 to PN based on the image region corresponding to the anterior surface of the cornea (the curve having a small radius of curvature in the slit light irradiation region J0) drawn in the anterior segment image H0. Thus, the slit light irradiation region images P1 to PN are arranged in accordance with the curve of the anterior surface of the cornea.

The three-dimensional image constructing unit 86 of the sixth embodiment constructs a three-dimensional image from the plurality of slit light irradiation region images P1 to PN arranged in accordance with the curve of the anterior surface of the cornea. The three-dimensional image contains no artifacts and its distortion is corrected.

Next, the data processing unit 8 corrects the aspect ratio of the three-dimensional image based on the length (Y-direction dimension) of the slit light projected onto the anterior segment during anterior segment scanning and the moving distance (X-direction dimension) of the slit light by the moving mechanism 6. Thereby, the ratio of the size in the X direction and the size in the Y direction of the three-dimensional image is corrected.

Next, the measurement unit 94 according to the tenth embodiment analyzes the three-dimensional image to obtain a predetermined measurement value. As examples of the measurement parameters, there are anterior corneal curvature, anterior corneal radius of curvature, posterior corneal radius of curvature, corneal diameter, corneal thickness, corneal topography, anterior chamber depth, angular angle, anterior lens curvature, anterior lens radius of curvature, posterior lens radius of curvature, lens thickness, and the like.

Fig. 24 shows a display image R0 obtained by volume rendering an actually acquired three-dimensional image. The drawing is performed by the drawing section 92 of the eighth embodiment. The control unit 7 causes the display image R0 to be displayed on a display device not shown. The display image R0 depicts a region divided by the anterior surface of the cornea and the posterior surface of the lens.

The user can observe the display image R0 displayed on the display device and specify a desired cross section using an operation device not shown. The broken line shown in fig. 25 indicates the cross-sectional position designated by the user for the display image R0.

The rendering unit 92 may construct a three-dimensional partial image by cutting the three-dimensional image with a cross-section designated by the user. An image R1 shown in fig. 26 is a display image obtained by rendering a three-dimensional partial image obtained by cutting a three-dimensional image in the cross section shown in fig. 25. This display image is also referred to as a three-dimensional partial image R1. The three-dimensional partial image R1 is an image representing a three-dimensional region of the anterior segment with the cross section shown in fig. 25 being a part of the outer surface.

The rendering unit 92 may construct a two-dimensional cross-sectional image representing a cross-section designated by the user. The image R2 shown in fig. 27 is a two-dimensional sectional image obtained by cutting a three-dimensional image in the section shown in fig. 25.

The user can observe the display image R0 displayed on the display device and specify a desired slice using an operation device not shown. The two broken lines shown in fig. 28 indicate the positions of the two cross sections that divide the slice designated by the user for the display image R0. That is, the region sandwiched by these two cross sections is a slice designated by the user for the display image R0.

The rendering unit 92 may construct a three-dimensional slice image corresponding to a slice designated by the user. An image R3 shown in fig. 29 is a display image obtained by rendering a three-dimensional slice image obtained by cutting a three-dimensional image in the cross section shown in fig. 28. This display image is also referred to as a three-dimensional slice image R3. The three-dimensional slice image R3 is an image representing a three-dimensional region of the anterior segment with the two cross-sections shown in fig. 28 as outer portions.

The user can grasp the state of the anterior segment by observing the outer surface of the anterior segment or a desired cross section by drawing a three-dimensional image or by performing the measurement of the tenth embodiment. Also, an image reading report may be created.

Twelfth embodiment

In this embodiment, an ophthalmologic system including an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus and an information processing apparatus will be described. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus has at least a function as a slit-lamp microscope. The slit-lamp microscope included in the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus may be the slit-lamp microscope of any one of the first to eleventh embodiments. The following description uses the elements, structures, and reference numerals described in the first to eleventh embodiments as appropriate.

The ophthalmologic system 1000 illustrated in fig. 30 is constructed by using a communication path (communication line) 1100 through which each of T facilities (first to tth facilities) for performing ophthalmologic imaging, a server 4000, and a remote terminal 5000m are connected.

Here, the ophthalmologic photographing includes at least anterior ocular photographing using a slit-lamp microscope. The anterior segment imaging includes at least the anterior segment scanning using the slit light described in the first to eleventh embodiments.

An ophthalmologic imaging apparatus 2000-i is provided in each facility (tth facility: T is 1 to T, and T is an integer of 1 or more)_t(i_t＝1～K_t，K_tIs an integer of 1 or more). That is, one or more ophthalmologic photographing apparatuses 2000-i are provided in each facility (tth facility)_t. Ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tForming part of the ophthalmic system 1000. The ophthalmologic system 1000 may include an inspection apparatus capable of performing an inspection other than ophthalmology.

The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i of this example_tThe imaging apparatus includes both a function as an "imaging device" for imaging an eye to be examined and a function as a "computer" for performing various data processing and communication with an external device. In other examples, the photographing device and the computer may be separately provided. In this case, the photographing device and the computer may be configured to be able to communicate with each other. Further, the number of photographing devices and the number of computers are each arbitrary, and for example, a single computer and a plurality of photographing devices may be provided.

Ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tThe "photographing device" in (1) includes at least a slit-lamp microscope. The slit-lamp microscope may be the slit-lamp microscope of any one of the first to eleventh embodiments, and includes at least the structure of the first embodiment (fig. 1) or the structure of the second embodiment (fig. 5).

Each facility (tth facility) is provided with an information processing device (terminal 3000-t) that can be used by an assistant or a subject. The terminal 3000-t is a computer used in the facility, and may be, for example, a tablet terminal, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a server provided in the facility, or the like. Further, the terminal 3000-t may include a wearable device such as a wireless headset. Note that the terminal 3000-t may be a computer whose function can be used in the facility, and may be a computer (such as a cloud server) provided outside the facility.

Ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tThe terminal 3000-t can be configured to communicate with a network (such as an in-facility LAN) constructed in the t-th facility, a wide area network (such as the internet), or a short-range communication technique.

Ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tThe function as a communication device such as a server can be provided. In this case, the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tAnd terminal 3000-t may be configured to communicate directly. Thereby, the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i can be used_tCommunication between the server 4000 and the terminal 3000-t is performed, and thus a function of performing communication between the terminal 3000-t and the server 4000 does not need to be provided.

Typically, the server 4000 is installed in a facility different from the first to tth facilities, for example, in a management center. The server 4000 can communicate with a remote terminal 5000M (M is 1 to M, and M is an integer of 1 or more) via a network (LAN, wide area network, or the like). Further, the server 4000 may communicate with the ophthalmic photographing devices 2000-i provided in the first to tth facilities via a wide area network_tIs communicated between at least a portion of the first and second communication devices.

The server 4000 includes, for example, a relay ophthalmologic image pickup apparatus 2000-i_tA function of communicating with the remote terminal 5000m, a function of recording the communication contents, a function of communicating with the ophthalmic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tAcquired data, function of information storage, data to be acquired through the remote terminal 5000m, function of information storage. The server 4000 may also have a data processing function.

The remote terminal 5000m includes a camera 2000-i capable of being used for photographing through the eye_tA computer for reading images of the eye to be examined (a plurality of anterior segment images or a three-dimensional image based on these images) and creating a report. The remote terminal 5000m may also have a data processing function.

The server 4000 will be explained. The server 4000 illustrated in fig. 31 includes a control unit 4010, a communication establishing unit 4100, and a communication unit 4200.

The control section 4010 performs control of each section of the server 4000. The control section 4010 may be capable of executing other arithmetic processing. The control section 4010 includes a processor. The control section 4010 may further include RAM, ROM, a hard disk drive, a solid state disk, and the like.

The control unit 4010 includes a communication control unit 4011 and a transfer control unit 4012.

The communication control section 4011 executes the ophthalmic photographing apparatus 2000-i including a plurality of the ophthalmic photographing apparatuses_tThe communication among the plurality of devices including the plurality of terminals 3000-t and the plurality of remote terminals 5000m is controlled. For example, the communication control unit 4011 transmits a control signal for establishing communication to each of 2 or more devices selected by the selection unit 4120 described later from among the plurality of devices included in the ophthalmologic system 1000.

The transfer control unit 4012 performs control related to information transmission and reception between 2 or more devices that establish communication by the communication establishing unit 4100 (and the communication control unit 4011). For example, the transfer control unit 4012 functions to transfer information transmitted from one of at least two devices that establish communication by the communication establishing unit 4100 (and the communication control unit 4011) to another device.

As a specific example, an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i is established_tIn the case of communication with the remote terminal 5000m, the transfer control unit 4012 may select the slave ophthalmic imaging apparatus 2000-i_tThe transmitted information (for example, a plurality of anterior segment images obtained by anterior segment scanning using slit light or a three-dimensional image constructed based on these anterior segment images) is transferred to the remote terminal 5000 m. Conversely, the transfer control unit 4012 may transmit information (for example, to the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i) transmitted from the remote terminal 5000m_tIndication and shadow ofLike a reading report, etc.) to the ophthalmic camera 2000-i_tAnd (4) transferring.

The transfer control unit 4012 may have a function of processing information received from a transmission source device. In this case, the transfer control unit 4012 may transmit at least one of the received information and the information obtained by the processing to the transfer target device.

For example, the transfer control unit 4012 may select the slave ophthalmic imaging apparatus 2000-i_tAnd the like, and transmits a part of the transmitted information to the remote terminal 5000m and the like. In addition, the slave ophthalmic photographing device 2000-i may be used_tThe transmitted information (for example, the anterior segment image or the three-dimensional image) is analyzed by the server 4000 or another device, and the analysis result (and the original information) is transmitted to the remote terminal 5000m or the like.

In the slave ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tWhen a plurality of anterior segment images are transmitted, the server 4000 or another device may construct a three-dimensional image (for example, stack data or volume data) from the anterior segment images, and the transfer control unit 4012 may transmit the constructed three-dimensional image to the remote terminal 5000 m.

In the slave ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tWhen the stack data is transmitted, the server 4000 or another device may be configured to transmit the constructed volume data to the remote terminal 5000m based on the stack data construction volume data by the transfer control unit 4012.

The data processing that can be performed by the server 4000 or other device is not limited to the above-described example, and may include any data processing. For example, the server 4000 or another device may be capable of executing any of the processes described in the first to eleventh embodiments, such as rendering of a three-dimensional image, artifact removal, distortion correction, and measurement.

The communication establishing section 4100 performs a process for establishing communication from a plurality of ophthalmic photographing devices 2000-i_tA plurality of terminals 3000-t and a plurality of remote terminals 5000 m. In the present embodiment, "establishment of communication" means, for example, including (1) being communicated from communicationThe disconnected state establishes one-way communication, (2) two-way communication is established from the state in which communication is disconnected, (3) switching from the state in which only information can be received to the state in which information can also be transmitted, and (4) switching from the state in which only information can be transmitted to the state in which information can also be received.

The communication establishment unit 4100 may execute a process of disconnecting the established communication. In the present embodiment, "disconnection of communication" means, for example, including at least one of (1) disconnection of communication from a state in which unidirectional communication is established, (2) disconnection of communication from a state in which bidirectional communication is established, (3) switching from a state in which bidirectional communication is established to unidirectional communication, (4) switching from a state in which information can be transmitted and received to a state in which information can only be received, and (5) switching from a state in which information can be transmitted and received to a state in which information can only be transmitted.

Ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tEach of the terminal 3000-t and the remote terminal 5000m can send at least one of a communication request (paging request) for paging the other device (its user) and a communication request (insertion request) for inserting communication between the other two devices to the server 4000. Paging requests and insertion requests are issued manually or automatically. The server 4000 (communication section 4200) receives the information from the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tTerminal 3000-t or remote terminal 5000 m.

In the present embodiment, the communication establishing section 4100 may include a selecting section 4120. The selection unit 4120 is selected based on, for example, the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tA communication request transmitted from the ophthalmic photographing apparatus 2000-i, the terminal 3000-t or the remote terminal 5000m_tOne or more devices other than the device that transmitted the communication request are selected from among the terminal 3000-t and the remote terminal 5000 m.

A specific example of the process executed by the selection unit 4120 will be described. Upon receiving a request from the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tOr communication requirements of the terminal 3000-t (e.g., via the ophthalmic camera 2000-i)_tA request for image reading of an acquired image), the selection unit 4120 selects any one of the plurality of remote terminals 5000m, for example. Communication establishment unit 4100 set up the selected remote terminal 5000m and the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tAnd at least one of the terminals 3000-t.

The selection of devices in response to a communication request is performed, for example, according to a preset attribute. Examples of the attribute include a type of examination (for example, a type of imaging modality, a type of image, a type of disease, a type of candidate disease, and the like), a required level of expertise, a required level of proficiency, a type of language, and the like. To realize the processing of this example, the communication establishing section 4100 may include a storage section 4110 in which attribute information created in advance is stored. The attribute information includes attributes of the remote terminal 5000m and/or its user (doctor, optometrist, etc.).

The user is identified by a previously assigned user ID. The remote terminal 5000m is identified by, for example, a device ID and a web address assigned in advance. In a typical example, the attribute information includes a professional field (for example, medical department, good illness, and the like), a professional level and a proficiency level, a language type that can be used, and the like as attributes of each user.

When the selection unit 4120 refers to the attribute information, the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tThe communication requirements transmitted by the terminal 3000-t or the remote terminal 5000m may comprise information relating to the attributes. For example, from an ophthalmic camera 2000-i_tThe transmitted image reading request (i.e., diagnostic request) may include any of the following information: (1) information indicating a kind of a photographing mode; (2) information indicating a kind of the image; (3) information indicating disease names and candidate disease names; (4) information indicating the difficulty of image reading; (5) showing an ophthalmic photographing device 2000-i_tAnd/or information of the language used by the user of terminal 3000-t.

When receiving such a video reading request, the selection unit 4120 may select any one of the remote terminals 5000m based on the video reading request and the attribute information stored in the storage unit 4110. At this time, the selection unit 4120 compares the information on the attribute included in the image reading request with the information recorded in the attribute information stored in the storage unit 4110. Thus, the selection unit 4120 selects, for example, the remote terminal 5000m corresponding to the doctor (or optometrist) to which any of the following attributes belongs: (1) taking the corresponding shooting modality as a special doctor; (2) the corresponding image category is taken as a professional physician; (3) the corresponding disease (the candidate disease) is used as a professional physician; (4) a doctor who can read images with corresponding difficulty; (5) a physician in the corresponding language can be used.

Further, the correspondence establishment between the doctor or optometrist and the remote terminal 5000m is performed by, for example, a user ID input at the time of registration in the remote terminal 5000m (or the ophthalmologic system 1000).

The communication section 4200 communicates with other devices (e.g., the ophthalmologic photographing device 2000-i)_tTerminal 3000-t, and remote terminal 5000 m). The data communication method, encryption, and the like can be performed with respect to the ophthalmic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tThe same applies to the communication unit (communication unit 9 in the first embodiment) in (1).

The server 4000 includes a data processing section 4300. The data processing section 4300 executes various data processes. The data processing section 4300 can process the data passed through the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tA plurality of anterior ocular images or three-dimensional images (in particular, slit-lamp microscopes). The data processing section 4300 includes a processor, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, and the like. The auxiliary storage device stores a data processing program and the like. The function of the data processing unit 4300 is realized by cooperation of software such as a data processing program and hardware such as a processor.

The data processing unit 4300 may include at least one of the data processing unit 8, the data processing unit 8A (image selecting unit 81, three-dimensional image constructing unit 82), the data processing unit 8B (artifact removing unit 83, three-dimensional image constructing unit 84), the data processing unit 8C (three-dimensional image constructing unit 85), the data processing unit 8D (three-dimensional image constructing unit 86, image position determining unit 87), the three-dimensional image constructing unit 88 (image region extracting unit 89, image synthesizing unit 90), the data processing unit 8E (three-dimensional image constructing unit 91, rendering unit 92), the data processing unit 8F (distortion correcting unit 93), and the data processing unit 8G (measuring unit 94).

The server 4000 may provide data obtained by the data processing section 4300 to other devices. For example, the data processing section 4300 passes the data streamOphthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tWhen the acquired plurality of anterior segment images construct a three-dimensional image, the server 4000 can transmit the three-dimensional image to the remote terminal 5000m through the communication unit 4200. The data processing section 4300 controls the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tAlternatively, when the three-dimensional image constructed by the data processing unit 4300 is to be rendered, the server 4000 may transmit the constructed rendering image to the remote terminal 5000m through the communication unit 4200. When the data processing unit 4300 applies measurement processing to one or more anterior segment images or three-dimensional images, the server 4000 may transmit the obtained measurement data to the remote terminal 5000m via the communication unit 4200. When the data processing unit 4300 applies distortion correction to one or more anterior ocular images or three-dimensional images, the server 4000 may transmit the corrected images to the remote terminal 5000m through the communication unit 4200.

Next, the remote terminal 5000m will be explained. The remote terminal 5000m illustrated in fig. 32 includes a control unit 5010, a data processing unit 5100, a communication unit 5200, and an operation unit 5300.

The control section 5010 performs control of each section of the remote terminal 5000 m. The control section 5010 may be capable of executing other arithmetic processing. The control section 5010 includes a processor, RAM, ROM, hard disk drive, solid state disk, and the like.

The control section 5010 includes a display control section 5011. The display control unit 5011 controls the display device 6000 m. The display device 6000m may be included in the remote terminal 5000m or may be a peripheral device connected to the remote terminal 5000 m. The display control unit 5011 causes the display device 6000m to display an image of the anterior segment of the eye E. Examples of the image of the anterior segment include a slit-shot image, an anti-glare shot image, a three-dimensional image, a frontal image, an image of another modality (such as an OCT image), an image representing a measurement result, and an image representing an analysis result.

The control section 5010 includes a report creation control section 5012. The report creation control part 5012 executes various controls for creating a report related to information displayed by the display control part 5011. For example, the report creation control unit 5012 causes the display device 6000m to display a screen for creating a report and a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The report creation control unit 5012 also inputs information input by the user, an image of the anterior segment, measurement data, analysis data, and the like into a predetermined report template.

Data processing unit 5100

The data processor 5100 performs various data processing. The data processing unit 5100 can process the image captured by the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tA plurality of anterior ocular images or three-dimensional images (in particular, slit-lamp microscopes). The data processor 5100 may process a three-dimensional image or a rendered image constructed by another information processing device such as the server 4000. The data processing unit 5100 includes a processor, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, and the like. The auxiliary storage device stores a data processing program and the like. The function of the data processor 5100 is realized by cooperation of software such as a data processing program and hardware such as a processor.

The data processing unit 5100 includes at least one of the data processing unit 8, the data processing unit 8A (image selecting unit 81, three-dimensional image constructing unit 82), the data processing unit 8B (artifact removing unit 83, three-dimensional image constructing unit 84), the data processing unit 8C (three-dimensional image constructing unit 85), the data processing unit 8D (three-dimensional image constructing unit 86, image position determining unit 87), the three-dimensional image constructing unit 88 (image region extracting unit 89, image synthesizing unit 90), the data processing unit 8E (three-dimensional image constructing unit 91, drawing unit 92), the data processing unit 8F (distortion correcting unit 93), and the data processing unit 8G (measuring unit 94).

The communication section 5200 can be connected to another apparatus (e.g., an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i)_tTerminal 3000-t, and server 4000). As to the manner of data communication, encryption, and the like, it is possible to communicate with the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i_tThe same applies to the communication section.

The operation unit 5300 is used for operation of the remote terminal 5000m, input of information to the remote terminal 5000m, and the like. In this embodiment, the operation unit 5300 is used for creating a report. The operation portion 5300 includes an operation device and an input device. The operation portion 5300 includes, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a trackball, an operation panel, a switch, a button, and a dial. The operation portion 5300 may include a touch panel.

The effects achieved by the present embodiment will be described.

The ophthalmic system 1000 includes more than one slit-lamp microscope (ophthalmic camera 2000-i)_t) And one or more information processing apparatuses (the server 4000 and/or the remote terminal 5000 m). The information processing device is connected with the slit-lamp microscope via a communication line, and processes the image of the anterior segment of the eye to be examined, which is acquired by the slit-lamp microscope.

Slit-lamp microscope (ophthalmology shooting device 2000-i)_t) Comprises an illumination system, a shooting system and a moving mechanism. The illumination system irradiates slit light to the anterior segment of the eye to be examined. The imaging system includes an optical system that guides light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated, and an imaging element that receives the light guided by the optical system on an imaging surface. The moving mechanism includes a moving mechanism that moves the lighting system and the photographing system. The object plane, the optical system, and the image pickup plane along the optical axis of the illumination system satisfy the anti-reflection condition. The imaging system repeatedly performs imaging in parallel with the movement of the illumination system and the imaging system by the moving mechanism, thereby acquiring a plurality of images of the anterior segment.

Slit-lamp microscope (ophthalmology shooting device 2000-i)_t) The illumination system and the imaging system of (1) may be configured such that at least the imaging system is focused at a portion divided by the anterior surface of the cornea and the posterior surface of the crystalline lens.

The illumination system may be configured to irradiate the anterior segment with slit light having the body axis direction of the subject as the longitudinal direction. In this case, the moving mechanism may be configured to move the illumination system and the imaging system in a direction orthogonal to the body axis direction.

The length of the slit light may be set to be equal to or greater than the corneal diameter in the body axis direction. In addition, the moving distance of the illumination system and the imaging system by the moving mechanism may be set to be equal to or greater than the corneal diameter in the direction perpendicular to the body axis direction.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, at least the same effects as those of the first embodiment are obtained. In addition, any matters such as the structure, elements, functions, actions, and effects described in the first embodiment can be applied to this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, a slit-lamp microscope (ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i)_t) The photographing system of (1) may include a first photographing system and a second photographing system. The first imaging system includes a first optical system that guides light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated, and a first imaging element that receives the light guided by the first optical system on a first imaging surface. Further, the first photographing system acquires a first image group by repeatedly photographing in parallel with the movement of the lighting system and the photographing system. The second imaging system includes a second optical system that guides light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated, and a second imaging element that receives the light guided by the second optical system on a second imaging surface. Further, the second photographing system acquires a second image group by repeatedly photographing in parallel with the movement of the lighting system and the photographing system. In addition, the optical axis of the first optical system and the optical axis of the second optical system are arranged in different orientations from each other. In addition, the object plane, the first optical system and the first image pickup plane satisfy an anti-reflection condition, and the object plane, the second optical system and the second image pickup plane satisfy an anti-reflection condition.

The optical system included in the photographing system may include a reflector and one or more lenses. The reflector is configured and arranged to reflect light from the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated, the light traveling in a direction away from the optical axis of the illumination system, toward a direction closer to the optical axis of the illumination system. The one or more lenses are configured and arranged to form an image of the light reflected by the reflector on the image pickup surface.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, at least the same effects as those of the second embodiment are obtained. In addition, any matters such as the structure, elements, functions, actions, and effects described in the second embodiment can be applied to this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the optical axis of the first optical system and the optical axis of the second optical system may be arranged to be inclined in directions opposite to each other with respect to the optical axis of the illumination system. The information processing apparatus (the server 4000 and/or the remote terminal 5000m) may further include an image selection unit that determines whether or not an artifact is included in any one of two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the first imaging system and the second imaging system, and selects one of the two images when it is determined that the artifact is included in the other image.

In addition, the information processing apparatus (the server 4000 and/or the remote terminal 5000m) may include a three-dimensional image constructing section that constructs a three-dimensional image from an image group including images selected by the image selecting section from the first image group and the second image group.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, at least the same effects as those of the third embodiment are obtained. In addition, any matters such as the structure, elements, functions, actions, and effects described in the third embodiment can be applied to this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus (the server 4000 and/or the remote terminal 5000m) may include an artifact removal unit that determines whether or not an artifact is included in any one of two images acquired substantially simultaneously by the first imaging system and the second imaging system by comparing the two images, and removes the artifact when it is determined that the artifact is included in any one of the two images.

The information processing apparatus (the server 4000 and/or the remote terminal 5000m) may further include a three-dimensional image constructing unit that constructs a three-dimensional image from an image group including the image from which the artifact has been removed by the artifact removing unit.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, at least the same effects as those of the fourth embodiment are obtained. In addition, any matters such as the structure, requirement, function, action, and effect described in the fourth embodiment can be applied to this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus (the server 4000 and/or the remote terminal 5000m) may include a three-dimensional image construction section that constructs an image by passing through a slit-lamp microscope (the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i)_t) A three-dimensional image is constructed from the plurality of acquired images.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, at least the same effects as those of the fifth embodiment are obtained. In addition, any matters such as the structure, elements, functions, actions, and effects described in the fifth embodiment can be applied to this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the moving mechanism may include a rotating mechanism that integrally rotates the illumination system and the photographing system with the optical axis of the illumination system as a rotation axis. Further, the imaging system may acquire a plurality of images when the illumination system and the imaging system are arranged at a first rotational position, and the imaging system may acquire an image of the anterior segment to which the slit light is irradiated by the illumination system when the illumination system and the imaging system are arranged at a second rotational position different from the first rotational position. In addition, the three-dimensional image constructing unit may include an image position determining unit that determines relative positions of the plurality of images based on the image acquired at the second rotational position.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, at least the same effects as those of the sixth embodiment are obtained. In addition, any matters such as the structure, requirement, function, action, and effect described in the sixth embodiment can be applied to this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the three-dimensional image constructing section may include a slit-lamp microscope (ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i)_t) The image processing apparatus includes an image region extracting unit that extracts an image region corresponding to an irradiation region of the slit light from each of the plurality of acquired images, and an image synthesizing unit that synthesizes the plurality of image regions extracted from the plurality of images by the image region extracting unit to construct a three-dimensional image.

The image area extracting unit may be configured to pass through a slit-lamp microscope (ophthalmic imaging device 2000-i)_t) Each of the plurality of acquired images extracts an image region corresponding to both the irradiation region of the slit light and the predetermined portion of the anterior segment.

The predetermined site may be a site demarcated by the anterior surface of the cornea and the posterior surface of the lens.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, at least the same effects as those of the seventh embodiment are obtained. In addition, any matters such as the structure, elements, functions, actions, and effects described in the seventh embodiment can be applied to this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus (the server 4000 and/or the remote terminal 5000m) may include a rendering unit that renders a three-dimensional image to construct a rendered image.

When a cross section is designated for the three-dimensional image, the rendering unit may construct a three-dimensional partial image by dividing the three-dimensional image by the cross section.

When a cross section is designated for the three-dimensional image, the rendering unit may construct a two-dimensional cross-sectional image representing the cross section.

When a slice is designated for a three-dimensional image, the rendering unit may construct a three-dimensional slice image corresponding to the slice.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, at least the same effects as those of the eighth embodiment are obtained. In addition, any matters such as the structure, elements, functions, actions, and effects described in the eighth embodiment can be applied to this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus (the server 4000 and/or the remote terminal 5000m) may include a distortion correcting section adapted to correct distortion caused by an angle formed by the optical axis of the illumination system and the optical axis of the photographing system, that is, an optical axis angle, by a slit-lamp microscope (the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i)_t) At least one of the plurality of images acquired.

The optical axis of the optical system included in the photographing system may be configured to be inclined with respect to the optical axis of the illumination system toward a third direction orthogonal to both the first direction along the optical axis of the illumination system and the second direction along the length direction of the slit light. In this case, the distortion correcting section may perform processing for correcting distortion on a plane including both the first direction and the second direction.

The distortion correcting section may be configured to store a correction coefficient set based on a predetermined reference angle and an optical axis angle in advance, and execute processing for correcting distortion based on the correction coefficient.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, at least the same effects as those of the ninth embodiment are obtained. In addition, any matters such as the structure, elements, functions, actions, and effects described in the ninth embodiment can be applied to this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus (the server 4000 and/or the remote terminal 5000m) may include a first measurement section that passes through a slit-lamp microscope (the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i)_t) At least one of the acquired images is analyzed to find a predetermined measurement value.

In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus (the server 4000 and/or the remote terminal 5000m) may include a second measurement unit that obtains a predetermined measurement value by analyzing the three-dimensional image constructed by the three-dimensional image construction unit.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, at least the same effects as those of the tenth embodiment are obtained. In addition, any matters such as the structure, elements, functions, actions, and effects described in the tenth embodiment can be applied to this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, a slit-lamp microscope (ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 2000-i)_t) A video capture system may be included that video captures the anterior segment from a fixed location in parallel with the capture of multiple images based on the capture system.

Further, a slit-lamp microscope (ophthalmic photographing device 2000-i)_t) A motion detection section may be included that analyzes a moving image acquired by the video camera system to detect the motion of the eye to be inspected.

In addition to this, slit-lamp microscope (ophthalmological photographing apparatus 2000-i)_t) A movement control section may be included that controls the movement mechanism according to an output from the motion detection section.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, at least the same effects as those of the eleventh embodiment are obtained. In addition, any matters such as the structure, elements, functions, actions, and effects described in the eleventh embodiment can be applied to this embodiment.

Other items

The embodiments described above are merely typical examples of the present invention. Therefore, any modification (omission, replacement, addition, or the like) within the gist of the present invention can be appropriately carried out.

The processing of any one or a combination of any two or more of the first to twelfth embodiments may be configured as a program to be executed by a computer. In addition, a process realized by any modification that is suitable for any one or any two or more groups of the first to twelfth embodiments and is within the scope of the present invention may be configured as a program to be executed by a computer.

Also, a non-transitory storage medium readable by a computer in which such a program is recorded may be created. The non-transitory storage medium may be in any form, and there are, as examples thereof, magnetic disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, semiconductor memories, and the like.

The present invention includes a method realized by any one of the first to twelfth embodiments or a combination of any two or more of them. In addition, a method realized by applying any variation within the scope of the gist of the present invention to any one or any combination of two or more of the first to twelfth embodiments is also included in the present invention.

(description of reference numerals)

1 slit-lamp microscope

2 illumination system

3 shooting system

4 optical system

5 image pickup element

6 moving mechanism

7 control system

8 data processing part

9 communication part