Eye Fundus Inspection Apparatus

An eye fundus inspection apparatus, comprising:

• illumination means comprising at least a light source and adapted to project a first light beam towards a retina of an eye via an optical lighting path;
• acquisition means adapted to receive a second light beam coming from the retina via an optical acquisition path;
• scanning means adapted to scan said first light beam on the retina with a linear movement according to a rectilinear first scanning direction, or with a circular movement about a rotation axis according to a circular second scanning direction;
• light beam separating means adapted to define separated passage zones for said first and second light beams at a pupil of the eye;
• first light beam shaping means adapted to provide a first passage section for said first light beam along said optical lighting path,
• said first passage section being arranged in a position optically conjugated with the retina and defining, on the retina, a light projection region at which said first light beam is projected on the retina,
• said light projection region having a linear shape with a length measured along a direction perpendicular to said first scanning direction or along a direction radial to said second scanning direction and a width measured along a direction parallel to said first scanning direction or along a direction tangential to said second scanning direction;
• second light beam shaping means adapted to provide a second passage section for said second light beam along said optical acquisition path,
• said second passage section being arranged in a position optically conjugated with the retina and defining, on the retina, a light acquisition region from which said second light beam comes at least partially,
• said light acquisition region having a linear shape with a length measured along a direction perpendicular to said first scanning direction or along a direction radial to said second scanning direction and a width measured along a direction parallel to said first scanning direction or along a direction tangential to said second scanning direction;
• said light projection region and said light acquisition region at least partially overlapping one another and moving synchronously with respect to the retina according to said first scanning direction or said second scanning direction, said light projection region having a length shorter than the length of said light acquisition region.

The eye fundus inspection apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a control unit adapted to control operation of said inspection apparatus, and wherein:

• said second light beam shaping means comprise a light receiving surface of said acquisition means;
• said light receiving surface comprises one or more surface portions that can be selectively activated by said control unit;
• and
• each surface portion, when activated by said control unit, is adapted to define said second passage section for said second light beam.

A method comprising:

• projecting a first light beam from at least a light source towards a retina of an eye via an optical lighting path;
• receiving a second light beam coming from the retina via an optical acquisition path;
• scanning said first light beam on the retina with a linear movement according to a rectilinear first scanning direction, or with a circular movement about a rotation axis according to a circular second scanning direction;
• separating the first light beam from the second light beam at a pupil of the eye;
• providing a first passage section for said first light beam along said optical lighting path,
• said first passage section being arranged in a position optically conjugated with the retina and defining, on the retina, a light projection region at which said first light beam is projected on the retina,
• said light projection region having a linear shape with a length measured along a direction perpendicular to said first scanning direction or along a direction radial to said second scanning direction and a width measured along a direction parallel to said first scanning direction or along a direction tangential to said second scanning direction;
• providing a second passage section for said second light beam along said optical acquisition path,
• said second passage section being arranged in a position optically conjugated with the retina and defining, on the retina, a light acquisition region from which said second light beam comes at least partially,
• said light acquisition region having a linear shape with a length measured along a direction perpendicular to said first scanning direction or along a direction radial to said second scanning direction and a width measured along a direction parallel to said first scanning direction or along a direction tangential to said second scanning direction;
• wherein said light projection region and said light acquisition region at least partially overlap one another and move synchronously with respect to the retina according to said first scanning direction or said second scanning direction, said light projection region having a length shorter than the length of said light acquisition region.