Disposable cap for an eye imaging apparatus and related methods

A plug-in disposable system for an eye imaging apparatus with an optical window and a plurality of locking grooves, the plug-in disposable system comprising:

• a disposable cap configured to be in contact with an eye of a patient, the disposable cap having an open end at a proximal end and a covering end at a distal end, the disposable cap comprising:
• an optically transparent window cover comprising a concave front surface and a convex back surface;
• a flat ring extending radially outward from the optically transparent window cover to a distal ridge, the flat ring having a distally facing ring surface and a proximally facing surface configured to fit a flat ring of the optical window;
• a distal ridge extending further distally and radially outward from the flat ring, the distal ridge having a proximal surface disposed distal to the distally facing ring surface and adapted to engage with a corresponding ridge of the eye imaging apparatus, the distal ridge configured to be a buffer to absorb a pulling force to prevent the optical window cover from bulging and keep the convex back surface in shape;
• a side wall extending proximally and radially outwardly from the distal ridge toward the open end;
• a locking element comprising
• a plurality of radially inward projections disposed at the open end, the plurality of projections movably supported with respect to the side wall and configured to latch onto the plurality of locking grooves of the eye imaging apparatus by a latching action and attach the disposable cap to the eye imaging apparatus;
• and
• a plurality of radially outward releasing tabs disposed at a same position and an opposite side of the plurality of projections at the open end and configured to detach the disposable cap from the eye imaging apparatus;
• wherein a width of the plurality of releasing tabs is larger than a width of the plurality of projections;
• and
• a disposable packaging shell of the disposable cap, the disposable packaging shell comprising:
• a sealing lid at a top end;
• a head extending outward at a bottom end;
• and
• a plurality of radially inward shell tabs disposed at the top end and a plurality of open spaces therebetween, the plurality of radially inward shell tabs adapted to mate with the plurality of radially outward releasing tabs;
• wherein the disposable cap is rotationally movable with respect to the disposable packaging shell;
• wherein the plurality of radially outward releasing tabs configured to be rotatable to be aligned with the plurality of open spaces to enable the disposable cap being pulled out of the packaging shell along with the eye imaging apparatus by the latching action, and further rotatable to be underneath the plurality of radially inward shell tabs to enable the plurality of radially inward shell tabs applying a pulling force to the plurality of releasing tabs to unlatch the plurality of locking projections out of the plurality of locking grooves, thereby detaching the disposable cap from the eye imaging apparatus.