# US 9,517,006 B2 · Systems and methods for obtaining low-angle circumferential optical access to the eye

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- Number: US 9,517,006 B2
- Document ID: US9517006B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/372,599
- Filed: 2013-01-24
- Published: 2014-12-04
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2012-01-24
- Assignees: Duke University
- Applicants: Duke University
- Inventors: Joseph A. Izatt; Anthony N. Kuo; Ryan P. McNabb
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517006B2

## CPC

- A61B 3/102: {for optical coherence tomography [OCT]}
- A61B 3/117: for examining the anterior chamber or the anterior chamber angle, e.g. gonioscopes
- A61B 3/1225: {using coherent radiation}
- A61B 3/125: with contact lenses
- A61B 3/14: Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography
- A61F 9/00814: {Laser features or special beam parameters therefor}
- A61F 9/00827: {Refractive correction, e.g. lenticle}
- G01B 9/02004: using frequency scans
- G01B 9/02058: {by particular optical compensation or alignment elements, e.g. dispersion compensation}
- G01B 9/02091: Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence
- A61F 9/0008: {Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein (putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00)}
- A61F 2009/00851: {Optical coherence topography [OCT]}
- A61F 2009/00863: {Retina}
- A61F 2009/00868: {Ciliary muscles or trabecular meshwork}
- A61F 2009/00891: {Glaucoma}
- A61F 2009/00897: {Scanning mechanisms or algorithms}
- G01B 2290/65: Spatial scanning object beam
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS

## Abstract

A system for obtaining low-angle circumferential optical access to an eye of a subject. The system includes a light source to generate a beam of light; a beam steering mechanism to steer the beam of light a focusing lens to focus the beam of light; and a contact lens to direct the beam of light into the eye of the subject, the contact lens including a tapered reflective surface to direct the beam of light into the eye of the subject.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for obtaining low-angle circumferential optical access to an eye of a subject, the system comprising:
a light source to generate a beam of light;
a beam steering mechanism to steer the beam of light;
a focusing lens to focus the beam of light; and
a contact lens to direct the beam of light into the eye of the subject, the contact lens including
a refractive surface through which the beam of light enters the contact lens, and
a tapered reflective surface to direct the beam of light into the eye of the subject such that circumferential optical access is obtained by adjusting a steered position of the beam of light, wherein the tapered reflective surface is radially symmetric about a central axis, wherein the refractive surface is shaped to refract the beam of light entering the contact lens through the refractive surface at an angle away from the central axis and towards the tapered reflective surface, and wherein the reflective surface reflects the refracted beam of light towards the central axis and into the eye of the subject.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a detector to detect light reflected from the eye of the subject.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the refractive surface of the contact lens includes a tapered annular aspheric surface through which the beam of light enters the contact lens, wherein the tapered annular aspheric surface is radially symmetric about the central axis of the contact lens.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the contact lens comprises an optically transparent material and wherein the tapered reflective surface of the contact lens has a reflective material applied thereto.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the beam steering mechanism comprises at least one galvanometer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the focusing lens comprises a focusing lens pair.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the beam of light is directed to the iridocorneal angle of the eye of the subject.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the contact lens is coupled to the eye of the subject using a saline solution.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a therapeutic light source for generating a beam of therapeutic light, wherein the beam of therapeutic light is directed through the contact lens into the eye of the subject.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a therapeutic light source.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the tapered reflective surface has a shape selected from frustoconical and parabolic.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein contact lens is configured such that the beam of light reflected internally by the tapered reflective surface remains internal to a material of the contact lens until exiting the contact lens into the eye of the subject.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the tapered reflective surface includes a frustoconical exterior surface of the contact lens, wherein the refractive surface includes a tapered frustoconical interior surface of the contact lens.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the tapered reflective surface provides a positive focusing of the beam of light that varies as the beam of light contacts different points along the tapered reflective surface, and wherein the refractive surface is shaped to provide a negative focus of the beam of light to counteract the positive focusing caused by the tapered reflective surface.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the refractive surface of the contact lens includes a convex surface through which the beam of light enters the contact lens.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the convex surface includes a hemitoroidal projection positioned on a surface of the contact lens opposite the eye of the subject.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the beam of light is divided into a sample arm and a reference arm and wherein the sample arm is directed to the beam steering mechanism and the reference arm is directed to a reference mirror.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein light returned from the sample arm is combined with light returned from the reference arm to produce an interference signal.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the interference signal is detected by the detector.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the interference signal from a plurality of locations on the eye of the subject is combined to produce at least one image.