# US 11,896,311 B2 · Ophthalmic imaging system

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- Number: US 11,896,311 B2
- Document ID: US11896311B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/929,521
- Filed: 2020-07-15
- Published: 2020-11-05
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2018-01-15
- Assignees: King's College London
- Applicants: King's College London
- Inventors: Brice Thurin; Christos Bergeles
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896311B2

## CPC

- A61B 3/145: {by video means}
- A61B 3/12: for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes (A61B3/13 takes precedence)
- A61B 3/13: Ophthalmic microscopes
- A61B 3/14: Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography
- G02B 27/0075: {with means for altering, e.g. increasing, the depth of field or depth of focus}
- H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An ophthalmic imaging system comprises a first imaging subsystem, a sensor array and a second imaging subsystem. The first imaging subsystem forms a primary image of the interior of an eye through the diameter of the eye pupil. The second imaging subsystem comprises a lens array to form an array of secondary images on the sensor array. The lens array is composed of a plurality of types of lenses, each type having a different optical power.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ophthalmic imaging system comprising:
a first imaging subsystem configured to form a primary image of the interior of an eye through the diameter of the eye pupil;
a sensor array; and
a second imaging subsystem comprising a lens array configured to form an array of secondary images on the sensor array;
wherein the optical distance between the lenses and the sensor array (b), the diameter of the lenses (d), the diameter of the eye pupil (D), the optical distance between the object plane to be imaged and the eye lens (e) and the minimum radius of circle required to cover the lens array with circles having the minimum radius if the circles were centred on the centres of the lenses (R) obey the relation
b
d
=
Xe
D
⁢
(
1
D
4
⁢
R
-
1
)
,
where
⁢
⁢
X
≤
82.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein X≤24.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein X≤5.0.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein X≥0.50.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the lens array is arranged such that X is variable.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein D=7 mm and e=17 mm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein for each type of lens of the lens array, the optical distance between the lenses and the sensor array (b) and the diameter of the lenses (d) obey the relation
b
d
≤
6.8
.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein for each type of lens of the lens array, the optical distance between the lenses and the sensor array (b) and the diameter of the lenses (d) obey the relation
b
d
≥
2.9
.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first imaging subsystem comprises an objective lens group, a first intermediate lens group and a second intermediate lens group, wherein in use the first intermediate lens group and the second intermediate lens group are configured to be positioned optically between the objective lens group and the eye pupil.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the first intermediate lens group and the second intermediate lens group are configured to relay an image of the eye pupil onto the principal plane of the objective lens group.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the first intermediate lens group and the second intermediate lens group are configured to magnify the image of the eye pupil by a ratio f141/142 where f141 is the focal length of the first intermediate lens group and f142 is the focal length of the second intermediate lens group.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system as recited in claim 11, wherein for each type of lens of the lens array, the optical distance between the lenses and the sensor array (b), the diameter of the lenses (d), the diameter of the eye pupil (D), the optical distance between the object plane to be imaged and the eye lens (e) and the minimum radius of circle required to cover the lens array with circles having the minimum radius if the circles were centred on the centres of the lenses (R) obey the relation
b
d
=
Xe
D
⁢
(
1
D
4
⁢
R
-
f
⁢
⁢
142
f
⁢
⁢
141
)
,
where
⁢
⁢
X
≤
82.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first imaging subsystem comprises an objective lens group configured to be positioned such that the eye pupil or an image of the eye pupil is at the back focal plane of the objective lens group.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system as recited in claim 13, wherein for each type of lens of the lens array, the optical distance between the lenses and the sensor array (b), the diameter of the lenses (d), the diameter of the eye pupil (D), the optical distance between the object plane to be imaged and the eye lens (e) and the minimum radius of circle required to cover the lens array with circles having the minimum radius if the circles were centred on the centres of the lenses (R) obey the relation
b
d
=
4
⁢
XRe
D
2
,
where
⁢
⁢
X
≤
82.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first imaging subsystem is a variable power imaging subsystem.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A vitreoretinal surgical imaging system comprising the system as recited in claim 1.