# US 8,540,368 B2 · Ophthalmic photographing apparatus

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,540,368 B2
- Document ID: US8540368B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/801,282
- Filed: 2010-06-01
- Published: 2010-12-02
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2009-06-02
- Assignees: Nidek Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Mitsuo Yamamoto; Seiji Taki; Norimasa Satake
- Inventors: Mitsuo Yamamoto; Seiji Taki; Norimasa Satake
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540368B2

## CPC

- G01B 9/02091: Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence
- A61B 3/102: {for optical coherence tomography [OCT]}
- G01B 9/0203: {With imaging systems}
- G01B 9/02044: {Imaging in the frequency domain, e.g. by using a spectrometer}
- G01B 9/02064: {by particular adjustment of coherence gate, i.e. adjusting position of zero path difference in low coherence interferometry}
- G01B 9/02089: {Displaying the signal, e.g. for user interaction}
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An ophthalmic photographing apparatus including an interference optical system for dividing light from a first light source into measurement light and reference light, directing measurement light to a fundus and reference light to a reference optical system, and photo-receiving by a first photodetector interference light, a first optical scanner disposed in a measurement light optical path and scanning measurement light in two dimensional directions, a driving unit moving an optical member in an optical path of measurement light or reference light to change an optical path length, a control unit controlling the driving unit to adjust an optical path length difference, controlling the optical scanner to scan measurement light at a given photographing view angle, and obtaining a tomographic image based on a photodetector signal, and a calculation unit converting a photographing range into an actual distance based on optical member positional information and view angle information.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ophthalmic photographing apparatus comprising:
an interference optical system arranged to divide light emitted from a first light source into measurement light and reference light, direct the measurement light to a fundus of an examinee's eye, direct the reference light to a reference optical system, and photo-receive by a first photodetector interference light that is obtained by combining the measurement light reflected from the fundus and the reference light;
a first optical scanner disposed in an optical path of the measurement light and arranged to scan the measurement light in two dimensional directions on the fundus;
a driving unit arranged to move an optical-path-length varying optical member in an optical axis direction, the optical member being disposed in one of the optical path of the measurement light and an optical path of the reference light and being capable of changing an optical path length of one of the measurement light and reference light;
a photographing control unit arranged to:
control an operation of the first optical scanner, scan the measurement light on the fundus of the examinee's eye, and obtain a tomographic image based on a photo-receiving signal outputted from the first photodetector, and
control an operation of the driving unit to adjust a position of the optical-path-length varying optical member based on the obtained tomographic image so as to obtain a fundus tomographic image, and obtain the fundus tomographic image of the examinee's eye; and
a calculation unit arranged to determine a photographing range of the tomographic image based on positional information of the optical-path-length varying optical member in a state that the fundus tomographic image is obtained, and information on the photographing view angle of the fundus tomographic image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ophthalmic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
an observation optical system arranged to direct observation light emitted from a second light source to the fundus of the examinee's eye, and photo-receive by a second photodetector the observation light reflected from the fundus of the examinee's eye; and
a second optical scanner disposed in an optical path of the observation light and arranged to scan the observation light in the two dimensional directions on the fundus of the examinee's eye,
wherein the photographing control unit is arranged to control an operation of the second optical scanner to scan the observation light at a given photographing view angle on the fundus of the examinee's eye, and obtain a fundus front image of the fundus of the examinee's eye based on a photo-receiving signal outputted from the second photodetector, wherein
the calculation unit is arranged to determine a photographing range of the fundus front image into an actual distance based on the positional information on the optical-path-length varying optical member in a state that the fundus tomographic image is obtained, and information on the photographing view angle of the fundus front image.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The ophthalmic photographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is arranged to convert the determined photographing range into an actual distance, and measure a given portion that is specified in the fundus tomographic image.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The ophthalmic photographing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the calculation unit calculates an actual area of the given portion that is specified in the fundus tomographic image.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The ophthalmic photographing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:
a monitor arranged to display the fundus tomographic image; and
an operation input unit arranged to designate at least two points in the fundus tomographic image displayed on the monitor in order to specify the given portion in the fundus tomographic image.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The ophthalmic photographic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit is arranged to convert the determined photographing range into an actual distance, and measure a given portion that is specified in the fundus tomographic image.