JP2022033895A - Ophthalmologic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ophthalmologic system capable of appropriately monitoring a distance between a subject and a measuring head.

SOLUTION: In an ophthalmologic system which is provided with an ophthalmologic apparatus 10 that has a measuring head storing eye information acquisition part 21 acquiring eye information of the eye to be tested, a drive mechanism 15 driving the measuring head so that it can approach and separate from the subject, and control parts 19R, 19L, 27 controlling driving of the drive mechanism 15, and with a controller 25 for an examiner, the control parts 19R, 19L, 27 and the controller 25 for an examiner are connected via a communication line. The ophthalmologic apparatus 10 is provided with a cover member having a projection projecting to an examinee side and a proximity sensor 30 detecting a distance between an examinee and the projection of the measuring head. The controller 25 for an examiner has a notification part 29 which gives notification when a distance measured by the proximity sensor 30 is a prescribed distance or less.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

COPYRIGHT: (C)2022,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an ophthalmic apparatus including a measuring head and a driving mechanism for driving the measuring head in close proximity to and away from a subject, and an ophthalmic system including a controller.

As an ophthalmic apparatus provided with a measuring head and a driving mechanism for driving the measuring head so as to be close to and separated from the subject, conventionally, for example, an ophthalmic apparatus as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. There is.

The conventional ophthalmic apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a pair of left and right main body portions incorporating a drive mechanism box and a measurement optical system. The main body is supported by the columns. In the drive mechanism box, an XYZ drive mechanism that independently drives each of the columns is provided. Further, in the drive mechanism box, a rotation drive mechanism for independently rotating and driving the columns in the horizontal direction and in the opposite direction is provided.

International Publication No. 2003/041571

However, since the conventional ophthalmic appliance disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not have a means for detecting the distance between the main body and the subject, the examiner who operates the drive mechanism box appropriately uses the main body. It was necessary to visually recognize the distance to the subject. In particular, when the examiner remotely controls the ophthalmic device, it is difficult for the examiner to visually recognize the distance between the main body and the subject.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ophthalmic apparatus capable of appropriately monitoring the distance between a subject and a measurement head.

In order to achieve the above object, the ophthalmic system of the present invention has a measuring head in which a measuring optical system for acquiring eye information of the eye to be inspected is stored, and the measuring head is suspended and supported to be close to the subject. An ophthalmologist device having a drive mechanism for driving the drive mechanism and a control unit for controlling the drive of the drive mechanism, and an examiner's controller operated by the examiner, the control unit and the examiner's controller. Is connected via a communication line, and the ophthalmic apparatus includes a cover member that covers the measurement head and has a convex portion that protrudes toward the subject, and the subject and the measurement head. A proximity sensor for detecting the distance between the convex portion of the cover member and the convex portion thereof is provided, and the examiner controller notifies the notification unit when the distance measured by the proximity sensor becomes equal to or less than a predetermined distance. It is characterized by having.

Here, the examiner controller may be provided with display means, and the notification unit may be configured to notify by blinking of the display means.

Further, the ophthalmologic apparatus has an imaging unit capable of capturing an image of the subject's face on the side of the measurement optical system and on the back side opposite to the subject side, and the examiner. The controller is configured to display the captured image captured by the imaging unit on the display means, and the notification unit is configured to notify by blinking or a specific display of the captured image displayed on the display means. can do.

Further, the control unit recognizes the face image of the subject captured by the imaging unit, and detects that the face of the subject is approaching the measurement head based on the recognition result. Occasionally, the proximity sensor may be configured to start detection.

The measurement heads may be configured to be paired so as to individually correspond to the left and right eyes of the subject.

The ophthalmic apparatus of the present invention configured as described above includes a proximity sensor in which the measuring head has a convex portion protruding toward the subject and detects the distance between the subject and the convex portion of the measuring head. It has a notification unit that notifies when the distance measured by the proximity sensor becomes less than or equal to a predetermined distance.

Therefore, since the distance between the convex portion of the measuring head and the subject can be detected by the proximity sensor, the distance between the subject and the measuring head can be appropriately monitored.

Here, the controller for the examiner is provided with display means, and the notification unit notifies by blinking of the display means, so that the monitor result can be made more reliable.

Further, the ophthalmic apparatus has an image pickup unit capable of capturing an image of the subject's face on the side of the measurement optical system and opposite to the subject's side, and the examiner's controller displays the image. The means is configured to display the captured image captured by the imaging unit, and the notification unit notifies by blinking or a specific display of the captured image displayed on the display means, so that the subject and the measurement head are connected to each other. It is possible to properly monitor the distance.

Further, the control unit recognizes the face image of the subject captured by the imaging unit, and when it detects that the face of the subject is approaching the measurement head based on the recognition result, the proximity unit. Since the detection by the sensor is started, the distance between the subject and the measurement head can be appropriately monitored, and the contact between the subject and the measurement head can be suppressed.

Since the measurement heads are provided in pairs to individually correspond to the left and right eyes of the subject, the distance between the subject and the pair of measurement heads should be appropriately monitored. Is possible.

It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the ophthalmic apparatus which is this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the measurement head part of the ophthalmic apparatus which is this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the optical system of the ophthalmic apparatus which is this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the ophthalmic apparatus which is this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the ophthalmic apparatus which is this embodiment.

Hereinafter, the ophthalmic apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. First, the overall configuration of the ophthalmic apparatus 10 will be described.
(Overall configuration of ophthalmic appliances)

As shown in FIG. 1, the ophthalmic apparatus 10 includes a base 11, an optometry table 12, a support column 13, an arm 14, a drive mechanism 15, and a pair of measurement heads 16. In the ophthalmology apparatus 10, the subject facing the optometry table 12 acquires information on the subject's eye to be inspected while the subject is in contact with the forehead portion 17 provided between the measurement heads 16. As shown in FIG. 1 throughout the present specification, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are taken, and when viewed from the subject, the left-right direction is the X direction, the vertical direction (vertical direction) is the Y direction, and the X direction. And the direction orthogonal to the Y direction (the depth direction of the measuring head 16) is the Z direction.

The optometry table 12 is a desk on which a controller 25 for an examiner and a controller 26 for an examinee, which will be described later, are placed and a table 12 for optometry is placed, and is supported by a base 11. The optometry table 12 may be supported on the base 11 so that the position (height position) in the Y direction can be adjusted.

The stanchion 13 is supported by a base 11 so as to extend in the Y direction at the rear end of the optometry table 12, and an arm 14 is provided at the tip.

The arm 14 suspends both measurement heads 16 on the optometry table 12 via a drive mechanism 15, and extends in the Z direction from the support column 13 toward the front side. The arm 14 is movable in the Y direction with respect to the support column 13. The arm 14 may be movable in the X direction and the Z direction with respect to the support column 13. A pair of measuring heads 16 are supported at the tip of the arm 14 by being suspended by a drive mechanism 15.

The measurement heads 16 are provided in pairs to individually correspond to the left and right eyes of the subject, and will be referred to as the left eye measurement head 16L and the right eye measurement head 16R when individually described below. .. The measurement head 16L for the left eye acquires information on the eye to be inspected on the left side of the subject, and the measurement head 16R for the right eye acquires information on the eye to be inspected on the right side of the subject. The measurement head 16L for the left eye and the measurement head 16R for the right eye have a plane-symmetrical configuration with respect to a vertical plane located between the two in the X direction.

Each measurement head 16 is provided with a mirror 18 which is a deflection member, and information on the corresponding eye to be inspected is acquired by the eye information acquisition unit (measurement optical system) 21 described later through the mirror 18.

Each measurement head 16 has an eye information acquisition unit 21 for acquiring eye information of the eye to be inspected (when individually described, an eye information acquisition unit 21R for the right eye and an eye information acquisition unit 21L for the left eye are used (see FIG. 5). )) Is provided. The eye information includes an image of the eye to be inspected, an image of the fundus of the eye to be inspected, a tomographic image of the retina of the inspected eye, a corneal endothelial image of the inspected eye, a refractive force of the inspected eye, a corneal shape of the inspected eye, and the like. It refers to the intraocular pressure of the eye to be inspected. Each eye information acquisition unit 21 measures a low vision test device that performs a low vision test while switching the target to be presented, a folopter that switches and arranges a correction lens to acquire an appropriate corrective refractive force of the eye to be inspected, and a refractive force. Refractometer and wave surface sensor, fundus camera that captures images of the fundus, tomography device (OCT) that captures tomographic images of the retina, specular microscope that captures corneal endothelial images, keratometer that measures corneal shape, and intraocular pressure. The tonometer or the like to be measured is configured alone or in combination.

Each eye information acquisition unit 21 is configured to be provided with optical systems such as a fixation projection system, an observation system, an alignment detection system, and a measurement system, and each optical system is appropriately provided with a light source, a sensor, a drive unit, and the like.

The fixation projection system presents an fixation target to the eye to be inspected and fixes the visual axis of the eye to be inspected. The observation system photographs the anterior segment of the eye to be inspected and displays the image (observation image) on a display unit, a connected external device, or the like. This makes it possible to check the condition of the eye to be inspected, and to acquire alignment information in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis (XY direction) based on the reference point (pupil, iris, etc.) in the image and the projected optotype image. Make it possible.

The alignment detection system acquires alignment information in the optical axis direction (Z direction (working distance direction)) of each eye information acquisition unit 21 and alignment information in the XY direction. The alignment information is information used for alignment (alignment) of each eye information acquisition unit 21 with respect to the eye to be inspected.

The measurement system irradiates the eye to be inspected with a luminous flux for acquiring the eye characteristics of the eye to be inspected, and receives the reflected light to acquire the eye characteristics.

Both measurement heads 16 are movably suspended by a drive mechanism 15 provided on a base portion 19 suspended from the tip of the arm 14. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the drive mechanism 15 has a vertical drive unit 22L for the left eye, a horizontal drive unit 23L for the left eye, and a rotation drive unit 24L for the left eye corresponding to the measurement head 16L for the left eye. And a vertical drive unit 22R for the right eye, a horizontal drive unit 23R for the right eye, and a rotation drive unit 24R for the right eye corresponding to the measurement head 16R for the right eye.

The configuration of each drive unit corresponding to the measurement head 16L for the left eye and the configuration of each drive unit corresponding to the measurement head 16R for the right eye are horizontally symmetrical with respect to the vertical plane located between the two in the X direction. It is simply referred to as a vertical drive unit 22, a horizontal drive unit 23, and a rotation drive unit 24, except when described individually.

The vertical drive unit 22 is provided between the base unit 19 and the horizontal drive unit 23, and moves the horizontal drive unit 23 in the Y direction (vertical direction) with respect to the base unit 19. The horizontal drive unit 23 is provided between the vertical drive unit 22 and the rotation drive unit 24, and moves the rotation drive unit 24 in the X direction and the Z direction (horizontal direction) with respect to the vertical drive unit 22.

The vertical drive unit 22 and the horizontal drive unit 23 are provided with an actuator that generates a driving force such as a pulse motor and a transmission mechanism that transmits a driving force such as a combination of gears or a rack and pinion. It is composed of. The horizontal drive unit 23 can be easily configured and can be easily controlled to move in the horizontal direction by, for example, providing a combination of an actuator and a transmission mechanism individually in the X direction and the Z direction.

The rotation drive unit 24 rotates the measurement head 16 corresponding to the horizontal drive unit 23 about the rotation axis of the eyeball of the corresponding eye to be inspected. The rotation drive unit 24 is configured such that, for example, a transmission mechanism that receives a driving force from an actuator moves along an arc-shaped guide groove, and the center position of the guide groove coincides with the eyeball rotation axis, so that the eye to be inspected is inspected. The measuring head 16 is rotated around the axis of rotation of the eyeball.

The rotation drive unit 24 may rotate around the rotation axis provided by the rotation drive unit 24 while rotatably supporting the measurement head 16 and changing the position of supporting the measurement head 16 in cooperation with the horizontal drive unit 23. good.

As a result, the drive mechanism 15 moves each measurement head 16 individually or in conjunction with each other in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction in addition to moving the measurement heads 16 in close proximity and distance to the subject. At the same time, it can be rotated around the axis of rotation of the eyeball of the eye to be inspected.

Further, in the ophthalmic apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a proximity sensor 30 is provided on the convex portion 16a protruding toward the subject side (front direction in the figure) of both measurement heads 16. There is. The proximity sensor 30 detects the distance between the subject and the convex portion 16a.

The proximity sensor 30 is not particularly limited in its method as long as it is a sensor capable of detecting the distance between the subject and the convex portion 16a, and as an example, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a photoelectric sensor, etc. are known. Any proximity sensor can be suitably applied. Further, a touch sensor such as a tape switch or a mat switch for detecting that the subject has touched the convex portion 16a may be included in the proximity sensor 30 as used herein.

Further, the position where the proximity sensor 30 is arranged can be appropriately selected according to the shape of the measurement head 16. The convex portion 16a protruding toward the subject side of the measurement head 16 is driven in a direction in which the measurement head 16 approaches and separates from the subject when the eye information acquisition unit 21 acquires the eye information of the eye to be inspected. Then, it is a place that is likely to be close to the subject. Therefore, by arranging the proximity sensor 30 on the convex portion 16a, the distance between the measurement head 16 and the subject can be appropriately monitored, and the contact between the measurement head 16 and the subject (mainly the face portion) can be monitored. You can avoid the situation of contact.

The proximity sensor 30 may be provided in addition to the convex portion 16a, or a plurality of proximity sensors 30 may be provided in a single measurement head 16 as shown in FIG. Further, the convex portion 16a and the flat surface portion of the measurement head 16 may be provided in a composite manner. In this way, when a plurality (composite) proximity sensors 30 are provided on a single measurement head 16, the notification mode by the notification unit 29 may be changed for each proximity sensor 30.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the ophthalmic apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with a camera (imaging unit) 32 capable of capturing a facial image of the subject under examination. The camera 32 is suspended from the base portion 19 by a support means (not shown), is located behind the measurement head 16 in the Z direction (horizontal direction) when viewed from the subject, and is a mirror 18 of both measurement heads 16. Located in between.

The position and imaging range of the camera 32 are adjusted so that at least a part of the face of the subject under examination can be imaged.

(Optical system of ophthalmic appliances)
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical system of an ophthalmic apparatus according to the present embodiment. Since the configuration of the left eye information acquisition unit 21L is the same as that of the right eye information acquisition unit 21R, the description thereof will be omitted, and only the right eye information acquisition unit 21R will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the eye information acquisition unit 21R for the right eye has an alignment detection system 31. As described above, the alignment detection system 31 acquires the alignment information in the optical axis direction (Z direction (working distance direction)) of the eye information acquisition unit 21R for the right eye.

The alignment detection system 31 has a pair of stereo cameras (imaging units) 31a and 31b, and these stereo cameras 31a and 31b are capable of imaging the anterior eye portion of the ER to be inspected.

The control unit 27 or the examiner moves the measurement head 16 in the optical axis direction based on the anterior eye portion of the eye to be inspected ER imaged by the stereo cameras 31a and 31b, so that the direction along the optical axis of the observation system (front and back). Alignment (direction).

(Control system for ophthalmic appliances)
The base 11 is provided with a control unit 27 that collectively controls each part of the ophthalmic apparatus 10 (see FIG. 1), and the base unit 19 is provided with a drive mechanism 15 provided on the base unit 19 and measurement. Head control units (control units) 19R and 19L that control the head 16 are provided (see FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 5, the head control units 19R and 19L are connected to the above-mentioned eye information acquisition unit 21, a vertical drive unit 22 as a drive mechanism 15, a horizontal drive unit 23, and a rotation drive unit 24, and are controlled. A controller 25 for an examiner, a controller 26 for an examinee, a storage unit 28, a proximity sensor 30, a notification unit 29, and a camera 32 are connected to the unit 27.

The examiner controller 25 is used by the examiner to operate the ophthalmic apparatus 10. Further, the controller 25 for an examiner has a display means (not shown), and the display means displays the eye information of the subject acquired by the eye information acquisition unit 21 and the image captured by the camera 32. The subject controller 26 is used for the subject to respond when acquiring various types of eye information of the subject. The control unit 27 is connected to the controller 25 for the examiner and the controller 26 for the subject via a wired or wireless communication line, respectively.

The control unit 27 expands the program stored in the connected storage unit 28 or the built-in internal memory 27a, for example, on a RAM, and appropriately responds to an operation on the examiner controller 25 or the examinee controller 26. The operation of the ophthalmic apparatus 10 is comprehensively controlled. In the present embodiment, the internal memory 27a is composed of RAM or the like, and the storage unit 28 is composed of ROM, EEPROM or the like.

The ophthalmic apparatus 10 automatically performs alignment under the control of the head control units 19R and 19L and the control unit 27 to acquire eye information of the eye to be inspected. Specifically, the head control units 19R and 19L operate the eye information acquisition unit 21 (its alignment detection system 31 and the like) and the drive mechanism 15 (vertical drive unit 22, horizontal drive unit 23 and rotation drive unit 24). Based on the alignment information from the alignment detection system 31 or the like, the eye information acquisition unit 21 (measurement head 16) is aligned in the XYZ direction with respect to the corresponding eye to be inspected.

After that, the head control units 19R and 19L appropriately drive the eye information acquisition unit 21 to acquire various eye information of the eye to be inspected. In the ophthalmic apparatus 10, the eye information acquisition unit 21 is aligned with the eye to be inspected by manual operation, that is, the examiner operates the controller 25 for the examiner, and the eye information acquisition unit 21 is driven to drive various eyes of the eye to be inspected. You can get information.

In the ophthalmology apparatus 10, when acquiring various eye information of the eye to be inspected, the subject can respond by operating the controller 26 for the subject, and assists in the acquisition of various eye information of the eye to be inspected. ..

Further, at least one of the head control units 19R and 19L and the control unit 27 is moved in the XYZ direction by at least the drive mechanism 15 due to the eye information acquisition work of the eye to be inspected by the eye information acquisition unit 21. , The distance between the subject measured by the proximity sensor 30 and the convex portion 16a of the measuring head 16 is monitored, and when this distance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined distance, the notification unit 29 notifies.

The notification unit 29 determines the distance between the subject measured by the proximity sensor 30 and the convex portion 16a of the measurement head 16 for at least the examiner of the ophthalmic apparatus 10 and further to the subject. There is no particular limitation on the notification method as long as it can notify that the distance has fallen below. As an example, a lamp having a warning color such as red provided on the top of the measuring head 16 blinks, a buzzer sounds, and the like. Further, the inspector controller 25 may be provided with the notification unit 29. Further, as described above, the display means of the examiner controller 25 may blink, for example, the image captured by the camera 32 may blink, or a specific display may be performed.

Further, at least one of the head control units 19R and 19L and the control unit 27 recognizes the face image of the subject captured by the camera 32, and the notification unit 29 also notifies based on the recognition result of the face image. May be good. However, the recognition result of the face image is only an auxiliary one, and it is not always possible to accurately detect the distance between the subject and the measurement head 16 only by the recognition result of the face image. However, since it is possible to roughly grasp how close the subject and the measurement head 16 are based on the recognition result of the face image, for example, the face of the subject can be grasped from the recognition result of the face image. It is preferable to detect that the image is approaching the measurement head 16 and to perform an operation such as starting detection by the proximity sensor 30. In addition, the notification unit 29 may notify the subject in consideration of the front eye image of the subject captured by the stereo cameras 31a and 31b of the alignment detection system 31.

Further, when at least one of the head control units 19R and 19L and the control unit 27 has a distance between the subject measured by the proximity sensor 30 and the convex portion 16a of the measurement head 16 becomes a predetermined distance or less. The drive of the measurement head 16 by the drive mechanism 15 may be stopped.
(Effect of ophthalmic appliances)

The ophthalmic apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above has a convex portion 16a in which the measuring head 16 projects toward the subject, and is located between the subject and the convex portion 16a of the measuring head 16. It has a proximity sensor 30 that detects a distance, and a notification unit 29 that notifies when the distance measured by the proximity sensor 30 becomes a predetermined distance or less.

Therefore, since the proximity sensor 30 can detect the distance between the convex portion 16a of the measuring head 16 and the subject, it is possible to appropriately monitor the distance between the subject and the measuring head 16. It becomes.

Here, the eye information acquisition unit 21 has a camera 32 capable of capturing a face image of the subject, and the notification unit 29 also notifies based on the recognition result of the face image captured by the camera 32. The distance between the subject and the measurement head 16 can be monitored even based on the recognition result of the facial image, and the monitor result can be made more reliable.

Further, since the control unit 27 stops driving the drive mechanism 15 when the distance measured by the proximity sensor 30 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined distance, the control unit 27 appropriately monitors the distance between the subject and the measurement head 16. In addition to this, contact between the subject and the measurement head 16 can be suppressed.

Since the measurement heads 16 are provided in pairs to individually correspond to the left and right eyes of the subject, the distance between the subject and the pair of measurement heads 16 is appropriately monitored. It becomes possible to do.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiments and examples, and the design changes to the extent that the gist of the present invention is not deviated. Is included in the present invention.

As an example, in the above-described embodiment, the ophthalmology device 10 is integrally configured, but while the ophthalmology device 10 is provided in a single facility, the notification unit 29 is provided outside this facility, and the notification unit 29 and the ophthalmology device are provided. 10 may be configured to be communicable with a communication line.

Even with such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately monitor the distance between the subject and the measurement head 16.

ER Eye to be inspected 10 Ophthalmology device 15 Drive mechanism 16 Measurement head 16a Convex portion 19R, 19L Head control unit (control unit)
21 Eye information acquisition unit (measurement optical system)
27 Control unit 29 Notification unit 30 Proximity sensors 31a, 31b Stereo camera (imaging unit)
32 Camera (imaging unit)

Claims (4)

A measurement head that houses a measurement optical system that acquires eye information of the eye to be inspected, a drive mechanism that suspends and supports this measurement head and drives it so that it can be approached and separated from the subject, and the drive of the drive mechanism. It is equipped with an ophthalmic device having a control unit and a controller for an examiner operated by an examiner.
The control unit and the examiner controller are connected to each other via a communication line.
The ophthalmic apparatus detects a distance between a cover member that covers the measurement head and has a convex portion protruding toward the subject, and the convex portion of the cover member of the measurement head and the subject. With a proximity sensor,
The ophthalmic system, wherein the controller for an examiner includes a notification unit that notifies when the distance measured by the proximity sensor becomes a predetermined distance or less. The ophthalmic system according to claim 1, wherein the controller for an examiner includes display means, and the notification unit notifies by blinking of the display means. The ophthalmic apparatus has an imaging unit capable of capturing a facial image of the subject on the side of the measurement optical system and on the back side opposite to the subject side.
The examiner controller is configured to display the captured image captured by the imaging unit on the display means.
The ophthalmic system according to claim 2, wherein the notification unit notifies by blinking or a specific display of the captured image displayed on the display means. When the control unit recognizes the face image of the subject captured by the imaging unit and detects that the face of the subject is approaching the measurement head based on the recognition result. The ophthalmic system according to claim 3, wherein the detection by the proximity sensor is started.

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