US 11,298,014 B2Granted

Photobleaching method

AssigneeThe UAB Research Foundation

InventorsJohn G. Edwards, Gregory R. Jackson

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Abstract

The present disclosure provides an improved method for photobleaching an eye of a subject. The disclosed method may be used in a number of psychophysical test methods, including, but not limited to, measurement of dark adaptation. The improved method for photobleaching involves at least one of the following improvements: (i) the use of a bleaching light emitting a particular wavelength of light or a tailored spectrum of wavelengths; (ii) restricting or otherwise spatially tailoring the region of the retina that is subject to photobleaching; and (iii) utilizing a bleaching light having an intensity that is at or below the intensity of ambient daylight. The present disclosure additionally provides a combination of a photobleaching light and an apparatus to administer a psychophysical test suitable for use in practicing the disclosed methods.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An apparatus for measuring an ability of an eye of a test subject to adapt to darkness using a series of responses, received from the test subject over a period of time, which indicate the test subject's observation of a stimulus light beam after exposure to a photobleaching light beam, the apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising:
a viewing opening;
a photobleaching light source configured to generate the photobleaching light beam, the photobleaching light beam having a tailored wavelength spectra spanning within a spectrum visible to human eye;
a stimulus light source configured to generate the stimulus light beam for stimulating the eye of the test subject;
and
a display configured to:
a) display a bleach spot generated by the photobleaching light source and direct the photobleaching light beam to the eye of the test subject to photobleach one or more photoreceptors of the eye;
and
b) display a stimulus spot generated by the stimulus light source and direct the stimulus light beam to the eye of the test subject.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/522,800Filed 9 Nov 2021 · continuation
Priority: 15 Feb 2007
Published: US 2022/0061657 A13 Mar 2022
Granted: 12 Apr 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

A61B 3/063
For testing light sensitivity, e.g. adaptation; for testing colour vision: for testing light sensitivity, i.e. adaptation
A61B 3/0008
Apparatus for testing the eyes; Instruments for examining the eyes: provided with illuminating means
A61B 3/0033
Operational features thereof: characterised by user input arrangements
A61B 3/022
Subjective types, i.e. testing apparatus requiring the active assistance of the patient: for testing contrast sensitivity

Family

Application60/890,131Us provisional application · filed 15 Feb 2007
PCT/US2008/002095Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Feb 2008
Application14/451,077Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Aug 2014
US 8,795,191 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 5 Aug 2014
Application16/940,942Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Jul 2020
US 10,779,722 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Sep 2020
Application17/349,546Parent of this continuation · filed 16 Jun 2021
US 2022/0061657 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Mar 2022
US 11,224,340 B2Parent of this continuation
Application12/527,384Parent of this continuation
US 11,844,572 B2Related patent
US 2010/0168606 A1Published application
US 2014/0340641 A1Published application
US 2020/0352434 A1Published application
US 2021/0307601 A1Published application
US 11,298,014 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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