US 2008/0300485 A1 · ULTRASONIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASUREMENT OF OCULAR BIOMECHANICS

Abstract

A system and a method for non-invasively ultrasonically measuring biomechanical properties of ocular tissue in vivo is presented. The method comprises positioning an ultrasonic transducer proximally to the ocular tissue. Reflections of the ocular tissue can be ultrasonically obtained using the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic reflections can be converted into reflection spectra. Biomechanical properties of the ocular tissue, such as, for example, thickness, corneal stiffness, density, and longitudinal modulus, can be determined based on the reflection spectra. A wave propagation model can be developed to simulate ultrasound propagation of ocular tissue in vivo. The ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation method and system for the non-invasive measuring of reflection spectra and determining biomechanical properties of ocular tissue in vivo can provide information for ocular disease management and therapeutic and refractive procedures.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A system for non-invasively ultrasonically measuring biomechanical properties of ocular tissue, the system comprising:

a ultrasonic transducer positioned substantially proximate to the ocular tissue to be measured;
a pulser-receiver to excite the ultrasonic transducer to produce incident ultrasound waves towards the ocular tissue and to receive the ultrasonic reflections back from the ocular tissue;
and
a processor to convert the ultrasonic reflections from the pulser-receiver into reflection spectra that are indicative of the biomechanical properties of the ocular tissue, wherein variation of the biomechanical properties alter the reflection spectra distinctly.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ultrasonic system and method for measurement of ocular biomechanics

Life of this patent

Ultrasonic system and method for measurement of ocular biomechanics

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21