# US 11,998,276 B2 · Reflectometry instrument and method for measuring macular pigment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,276 B2 - Document ID: US11998276B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/053,090 - Filed: 2022-11-07 - Published: 2023-04-13 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-27 - Assignees: ZeaVision LLC - Applicants: ZeaVision, LLC - Inventors: Scott J. Huter; Kevin Martin Magrini; Edward Allen DeHoog; Jeff Alan Burke; Nathan Franklin Engel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998276B2 ## CPC - A61B 3/12: for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes (A61B3/13 takes precedence) - A61B 3/0025: {characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models} - A61B 3/0083: {provided with means for patient positioning} - A61B 3/10: Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions - A61B 3/145: {by video means} - A61B 3/152: {for aligning} - G01J 3/0202: {Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements} - G01J 3/0208: {using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction} - G01J 3/021: {using plane or convex mirrors, parallel phase plates, or particular reflectors} - G01J 3/0229: {using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators or spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters} - G01J 3/0237: {Adjustable, e.g. focussing} - G01J 3/42: Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry (beam switching arrangements G01J3/08) - A61B 3/0008: {provided with illuminating means (A61B3/117, A61B3/14 take precedence)} - G01J 3/0218: {using optical fibers} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) ## Abstract A reflectometry instrument includes a light source for emitting an illumination beam that illuminates the macula. A portion of the illumination beam is reflected from the macula and forms a detection beam. The detection beam is indicative of macular pigment in the macula. The instrument also includes a first mirror for reflecting the illumination beam toward the macula and for reflecting the detection beam from the macula. The instrument is configured so that the illumination beam and the detection beam remain separated between the macula and the first mirror. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reflectometry instrument for illuminating a macula of a human eye, comprising: a light source for emitting an illumination beam, the illumination beam illuminating the macula; a spectrometer for measuring a detection beam, the detection beam being a portion of the illumination beam being reflected from the macula, the detection beam being indicative of an amount of macular pigment in the macula; an afocal mirror relay for reflecting the illumination beam from the light source and toward the macula and for reflecting the detection beam from the macula and toward the spectrometer; and an afocal lens relay for transmitting the detection beam to the spectrometer, the afocal lens relay including an afocal lens configured to translate along the detection beam path for adjusting a refractive error of the human eye, wherein the illumination beam and the detection beam reflect off each mirror of the afocal mirror relay offset from each other to remain separated after the macula. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reflectometry instrument of claim 1, further comprising a dichroic fold mirror between the human eye and the afocal mirror relay within the illumination beam path and the detection beam path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reflectometry instrument of claim 1, wherein the afocal mirror relay includes two afocal relay mirrors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reflectometry instrument of claim 1, wherein the afocal lens relay for transmitting the illumination beam to the human eye, the afocal lens configured to translate along the illumination beam path for focusing the illumination beam on the macula. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The reflectometry instrument of claim 1, further comprising: a series of mirrors for reflecting the illumination beam toward the macula and for reflecting the detection beam from the macula, the series of mirrors including the afocal mirror relay and a first mirror, wherein an incident ray of the illumination beam and a reflected ray of the detection beam at the first mirror are parallel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The reflectometry instrument of claim 5, further comprising: a D-shaped mirror included within the series of mirrors, the D-shaped mirror being arranged relative to the illumination beam to allow the illumination beam to pass by the D-shaped mirror and being arranged relative to the detection beam to reflect the detection beam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The reflectometry instrument of claim 5, wherein the illumination beam and the detection beam reflect off each mirror of the series of mirrors offset from each other. ### Claim 8 A reflectometry instrument for illuminating a macula of a human eye, comprising: a light source for emitting an illumination beam, the illumination beam illuminating the macula, a portion of the illumination beam being reflected from the macula and forming a detection beam, the detection beam being indicative of macular pigment in the macula; a plurality of mirrors in series for reflecting the illumination beam toward the macula and for reflecting the detection beam from the macula; and a beam dump in optical alignment with the detection beam for absorbing stray light within the reflectometry instrument, wherein the illumination beam and the detection beam reflect off of and remain separated between each mirror of the plurality of mirrors. ### Claim 9 A reflectometry instrument to measure macular pigment of a macula of a human eye, comprising: an illumination system for generating an illumination beam and directing the illumination beam to the macula, a detection beam being generated as a portion of the illumination beam reflected by the macula; a detection system for receiving and measuring the detection beam to determine an amount of the macular pigment in the macula; a camera for obtaining a live image of the human eye prior to, during, or after directing the illumination beam to the macula; an electronic display for presenting the live image of the human eye to an operator of the reflectometry instrument; and a series of mirrors, wherein each mirror of the series of mirrors reflects the illumination beam to the macula and reflects the detection beam from the macula. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The reflectometry instrument of claim 9, wherein the electronic display presents a reticle overlaid on the live image of the human eye for the operator to align the human eye with the illumination beam. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The reflectometry instrument of claim 10, wherein the illumination beam and the detection beam are kept separated between the one or more mirrors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The reflectometry instrument of claim 10, further comprising: a beam dump in optical alignment with the detection beam for absorbing stray light within the reflectometry instrument. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The reflectometry instrument of claim 12, further comprising a housing including an illumination system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The reflectometry instrument of claim 13, further comprising an eyepiece connected to the housing and being configured to interface with the human eye to prevent ambient light from entering the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The reflectometry instrument of claim 14, wherein the beam dump and the eyepiece allow the reflectometry instrument to measure the macular pigment of the macula in a lit environment. ### Claim 16 A reflectometry instrument for illuminating a macula of a human eye, comprising: a light source for emitting an illumination beam, the illumination beam illuminating the macula; a spectrometer for measuring a detection beam, the detection beam being a portion of the illumination beam being reflected from the macula, the detection beam being indicative of an amount of macular pigment in the macula; an afocal mirror relay for reflecting the illumination beam from the light source and toward the macula and for reflecting the detection beam from the macula and toward the spectrometer; a series of mirrors for reflecting the illumination beam toward the macula and for reflecting the detection beam from the macula, the series of mirrors including the afocal mirror relay and a first mirror; and a D-shaped mirror included within the series of mirrors, the D-shaped mirror being arranged relative to the illumination beam to allow the illumination beam to pass by the D-shaped mirror and being arranged relative to the detection beam to reflect the detection beam, wherein the illumination beam and the detection beam reflect off each mirror of the afocal mirror relay offset from each other to remain separated after the macula, and an incident ray of the illumination beam and a reflected ray of the detection beam at the first mirror are parallel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The reflectometry instrument of claim 16, further comprising a dichroic fold mirror between the human eye and the afocal mirror relay within the illumination beam path and the detection beam path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The reflectometry instrument of claim 16, wherein the afocal mirror relay includes two afocal relay mirrors. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The reflectometry instrument of claim 16, further comprising: an afocal lens relay for transmitting the illumination beam to the human eye, the afocal lens relay including an afocal lens configured to translate along the illumination beam path for focusing the illumination beam on the macula. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The reflectometry instrument of claim 16, wherein the illumination beam and the detection beam reflect off each mirror of the series of mirrors offset from each other.