JP2012019971A - Eye fundus observation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a fundus oculi observation device that can easily obtain detailed information without significant changes from conventional devices.
The fundus oculi observation device of the present invention includes a first light source that emits light in the visible region, a second light source that emits light in the near-infrared region, and a second light source that polarizes light from the second light source device. One polarization filter device, and a photographing device that photographs light from the first light source device and light from the second light source device. Alternatively, the fundus oculi observation device of the present invention includes a light source that emits light in the visible region and near-infrared region, a wavelength selection filter that extracts light in the visible region or near-infrared region from the light from the light source, and polarized light. A first polarizing filter device and a photographing device for photographing light.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a fundus oculi observation device.

  The fundus oculi observation device is a device that can observe the human fundus, and is a useful device that can detect retinal detachment and the like by observing the human fundus.

  As a known technique for imaging a fundus blood vessel, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, a technique for observing the fundus using a xenon flash to cut out light in the ultraviolet region and light in the infrared region to extract light in the visible light region. Is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 below discloses a fundus observation method using a single wavelength using a laser light source, and Patent Document 3 discloses an optical coherence tomography method using an extremely narrow wavelength band.

JP 2008-278914 A JP 2008-228781 A JP 2009-103688 A

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, only light in the visible region is used, only information on the fundus surface is acquired, and information is not sufficient for more detailed and accurate fundus observation. There is.

  The techniques described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 are apparatuses using a laser light source, and the measurement principle itself is different from a general fundus camera. In addition, the laser light source can see a limited range (spot), and in order to observe a wide range, it is necessary to perform scanning, which not only complicates the process but also processes the information. There is a problem that it becomes complicated.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a fundus oculi observation device that can easily obtain detailed information without significant changes from conventional devices.

  The inventors of the present invention have made extensive studies on the above problems, and have found that information in the fundus depth direction can be obtained by using light in the near-infrared region and making this light polarized. The present invention has been completed.

  That is, a fundus oculi observation device according to an aspect of the present invention is configured to polarize light from a first light source that emits light in the visible region, a second light source that emits light in the near infrared region, and light from the second light source device. A first polarizing filter device, and a photographing device for photographing light from the first light source device and light from the second light source device.

  Further, a fundus oculi observation device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a light source that emits light in the visible region and near infrared region, and a wavelength selection that extracts light in the visible region or light in the near infrared region from the light of the light source. A filter; a first polarizing filter device that polarizes light; and a photographing device that photographs light.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fundus oculi observation device that can easily obtain detailed information without significant changes from conventional devices.

1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a fundus oculi observation device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the outline of the 1st polarizing filter apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of a 1st polarizing filter apparatus. It is a figure which shows the outline of the 2nd polarizing filter apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the 2nd polarizing filter apparatus. 6 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a fundus oculi observation device according to a second embodiment. FIG. It is a figure which shows the outline of the wavelength selection filter which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. 3 is a fundus image obtained by observing blood vessels in the fundus with light in a visible region according to an example. It is the fundus image which observed the blood vessel of the fundus with the light in the near infrared region according to the example. It is the fundus image which observed the optic disc of the fundus with the light of the visible region concerning an example. It is the fundus image which observed the optic nerve head of the fundus with the light in the near infrared region according to the example. It is the fundus image which observed the optic nerve head of the fundus with the light in the near infrared region according to the example. It is the fundus image which observed the optic nerve head of the fundus with the light in the near infrared region according to the example. It is the fundus image which observed the optic nerve head of the fundus with the light in the near infrared region according to the example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms, and is not limited to the following embodiments and examples.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a fundus oculi observation device (hereinafter referred to as “the present device”) 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the apparatus 1 includes a first light source 2 that emits light in the visible region, a second light source 3 that emits light in the near-infrared region, and the light from the second light source device as polarized light. The first polarizing filter device 4, the light from the first light source device 2, and the photographing device 5 for photographing the light from the second light source device 3, and a specific polarization component is extracted to the photographing device 5 And a second polarizing filter device 6 to be incident.

  In the present embodiment, the light emitted from the first light source 2 and the second light source 3 is transmitted through the first filter device and reflected on the fundus of the observation subject, and then the second filter device. And is incident on the imaging device. At this time, general optical path changing means such as a mirror or a half mirror can be used as appropriate, and the arrangement can be adjusted.

  The first light source 2 according to the present embodiment can emit light in the visible region as described above, and is not limited to this, and various types can be adopted. Here, “light in the visible region” refers to light having a wavelength that can be seen by human eyes, and specifically in this specification, refers to light in a range of 360 nm to 720 nm, preferably The range is from 460 nm to 700 nm. Naturally, the peak wavelength is preferably included in this range. The first light source 2 is not limited as long as it can emit light in the visible region with the intensity required for fundus observation, but is in the range of 360 nm to 720 nm or 460 nm to 700 nm. It is preferable that light can be emitted with an intensity distribution of 80% or more.

  Note that it is also preferable to divide the wavelength region more finely for the light emitted from the first light source 2 according to the present embodiment. For example, it is also preferable to arrange a plurality of light sources, that is, a light source that emits light in a range of 360 nm to 550 nm and a light source that emits light in a range of 550 nm to 720 nm. By doing in this way, there exists an advantage that a more detailed analysis is attained.

  As described above, the second light source 3 according to the present embodiment can emit light in the near-infrared region, and is not limited to this, and various light sources can be adopted. Here, “near-infrared region light” refers to light having a wavelength that can be seen by the human eye, and specifically in this specification, refers to light in the range of 720 nm to 1000 nm. Preferably it is the range of 720 nm or more and 900 nm or less. Naturally, the peak wavelength is preferably included in this range. The second light source 3 is not limited as long as it can emit light in the near-infrared region having the intensity required for fundus observation, but the range of 720 nm to 1000 nm, or 720 nm to 900 nm. It is preferable that the light in the above can be emitted with an intensity distribution of 80% or more. When a light source that emits a wide wavelength range is used, it is preferable to separately provide a wavelength selection filter that cuts unnecessary wavelengths between the first polarizing filter device.

  Note that it is also preferable to divide the wavelength region more finely for the light emitted from the second light source according to the present embodiment. For example, it is also preferable to dispose a plurality of light sources, that is, a light source that emits light in the range of 700 nm to 800 nm and a light source that emits light in the range of 800 nm to 1000 nm. By doing in this way, there exists an advantage that a more detailed analysis is attained. In this case, for example, in the rotatable holder 41, the number of windows can be increased, and a filter that transmits a desired wavelength region or cuts light outside the wavelength region can be disposed in the window.

  Moreover, the 1st polarizing filter apparatus 4 which concerns on this embodiment can polarize the light which the 2nd light source device 3 discharge | releases as mentioned above. Here, the polarized light includes linearly polarized light and circularly polarized light. That is, the polarization filter device 4 can convert the light from the second light source device 3 into linearly polarized light or circularly polarized light.

  The configuration of the first polarizing filter device 4 is not limited as long as it has the above function, but as shown in FIG. 2, a linear polarizing filter 42 for converting incident light into linearly polarized light, and incident light. It is preferable to have a circularly polarizing filter 43 for making the circularly polarized light, and a holder 41 for holding and rotating these. Further, in the present embodiment, a part of the holder 41 of the polarization filter device 4 may have a vacant window region 44 in which no polarization filter is provided so that the polarization filter device 4 can be in a non-polarized state. . In this case, it is also preferable that the polarization direction can be adjusted in the case of linearly polarized light. By doing so, it is possible to adjust appropriately according to the arrangement of the observation target site such as blood vessels in the fundus. When the first polarizing filter device produces circularly polarized light, the circularly polarizing filter can be directly arranged, but a linear polarizing filter and a ¼λ plate may be combined. In this case, a separately rotatable holder 45 can be provided, and a structure having a quarter λ plate 46 and an empty window region 47 can be provided. The figure in this case is shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, it is also preferable to arrange a filter device for absorbing heat rays before the light from the light source is incident on the first polarizing filter device 4.

  Moreover, the imaging device 5 according to the present embodiment is a device that can capture the light from the first light source device 2 and the light from the second light source device 3. Various devices can be adopted without limitation, and the light from the first light source device 2, that is, the light in the visible region, and the light from the second light source, that is, the light in the near infrared region. Although it is preferable from the viewpoint of device volume to employ a device adapted to both, if difficult, a photographing device corresponding to each may be provided.

  In addition, the second polarizing filter device 6 according to the present embodiment can extract a specific polarization component to be incident on the photographing device 5, and specifically, the first polarizing filter device 4 can perform polarization. The incident light is incident on the fundus of the observation subject, reflected on the surface or inside of the fundus, and a specific polarization component can be extracted and incident from the reflected light. By doing in this way, the difference between the state of polarized light incident on the fundus of the observation subject and the state of polarized light after reflection can be evaluated, and more detailed information can be acquired.

  The configuration of the second polarizing filter device 6 according to the present embodiment is not limited as long as it has the above function, and the same configuration as that of the first polarizing filter device 4 can be adopted. A linear polarizing filter 62 that transmits only polarized light at an angle; a circular polarizing filter 63 that transmits only specific circularly polarized light out of incident light; and a holder 61 that holds and rotates the circularly polarizing filter 63. It is preferable. This figure is shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, a part of the holder 61 of the polarizing filter device 6 has a vacant window area 64 where no polarizing filter is provided so that the reflected light can be transmitted as it is. It may be. When the first polarizing filter device produces circularly polarized light, the circularly polarizing filter can be directly arranged, but a linear polarizing filter and a ¼λ plate may be combined. In this case, a separate holder 65 may be provided, and a 1 / 4λ plate 66 and an empty window area 67 may be provided in this holder. An example of this case is shown in FIG.

  Here, specific observation using the present apparatus 1 will be described.

  First, the observer instructs a person to be observed (hereinafter simply referred to as “subject”), and fixes the fundus of the subject to a fundus one fixing unit 91 separately provided in the apparatus 1.

  After fixing the fundus position of the subject person, a person who observes (hereinafter referred to as “observer”) starts observation. Specifically, when either the first light source 2 or the second light source 3 is selected and the second light source 3 is selected, the polarization state is further selected and the first light source 3 is selected. The states of the polarizing filter device 4 and the second polarizing filter device 6 are adjusted. After that, light is emitted from the selected light source, is made into the selected polarization state, and is incident on the fundus of the subject using an optical path changing unit such as a reflection mirror.

  The light incident on the fundus of the subject is reflected on the surface or inside of the fundus of the subject, exits the fundus again, and enters the second polarizing filter device 6.

  The light incident on the second polarizing filter device 6 is modulated into a necessary polarization state by the internal polarizing filter or the like, or only a necessary polarization component is taken out, or is incident on the photographing device as it is.

  And the imaging device 5 images the incident light.

  In addition, it is preferable that the imaging device 5 is separately connected to an information processing device such as a computer and outputs a captured image as image data.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fundus oculi observation device that can easily obtain detailed information without significant changes from conventional devices.

(Embodiment 2)
The present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first embodiment, but the arrangement of the light source and the filter is different. The different points will be described in detail.

  A fundus oculi observation device (hereinafter referred to as “the present device”) 1 according to the present embodiment includes a third light source 7 that emits light in the visible region and near-infrared region, and light in the visible region from the light from the third light source 7. A wavelength selection filter 8 that extracts light in the near-infrared region, a polarization filter device 4 that polarizes light, a photographing device 5 that photographs light, and a specific polarization component that is extracted and incident on the photographing device 5 And a second polarizing filter device 6 to be operated. A schematic diagram of the configuration of this apparatus is shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the third light source 7 can emit light in the visible region and the near-infrared region as described above, and is not limited to this, and various types can be adopted. The third light source 7 is not limited as long as it can emit light in the visible region having the intensity required for fundus observation, but the light in the range of 360 nm to 1000 nm, or 460 nm to 900 nm. It is preferable that it can be emitted with an intensity distribution of 80% or more. Naturally, the peak wavelength is preferably included in this range.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the wavelength selection filter 8 can cut unnecessary wavelengths and take out light in the visible region or light in the near infrared region, and is not limited, for example, 7, a visible region filter 82 for extracting light in the visible region, a near infrared region filter 83 for extracting light in the near infrared region, and a holder for holding these filters 81. In this case, an empty window 84 may be provided.

  As for the light in the visible region, the light in the visible region may be extracted with one filter, but the visible region can be divided into a plurality of regions and separated and extracted with different filters. For example, it is also preferable to separately provide a filter for extracting light in the range of 360 nm to 500 nm and a filter for extracting light in the range of 500 nm to 720 nm, more finely in the visible region. Naturally, the peak wavelength is preferably included in this range. By doing in this way, there exists an advantage that a more detailed analysis is attained. In this case, for example, it is preferable to provide a filter for increasing a window in the holder 71 for holding the wavelength filter and transmitting light in a desired wavelength range or blocking light in other wavelength ranges.

  As for the light in the near infrared region, the light in the near infrared region may be extracted with one filter, but the near infrared region can be divided into multiple regions and separated by different filters. It is. For example, it is also preferable to separately provide a filter for extracting light in the range of 700 nm to 800 nm and a filter for extracting light in the range of 800 nm to 1000 nm more finely in the near infrared region. By doing in this way, there exists an advantage that a more detailed analysis is attained.

  As described above, according to the present apparatus, it is possible to provide a fundus oculi observation device that can easily obtain detailed information without greatly changing the conventional apparatus. In particular, according to the present embodiment, since one light source can be provided, there is an advantage that the size of the device itself can be made compact.

  In this example, the fundus oculi observation device having the above configuration was prepared, and the actual fundus was observed to confirm the effect. This will be described below. The light source includes a light source (TOPKON TRC / 50DX) that emits light in the visible region and near infrared region, and a wavelength selection filter (manufactured by ASAHI SPECTRA, peak wavelength 865 nm, half-value width 70 nm) that extracts light in the near infrared region. ) Was used.

  First, light in the visible region is emitted from the first light source, and the fundus image regarding the blood vessel is obtained by observing the fundus with the light in the visible region without modulation by the first polarizing filter device and the second polarizing filter device. . The result is shown in FIG. The left side of the figure is a photographic diagram in which the upper fundus image in contact with the optic nerve head is in gray scale, and the right side is a sketch image thereof.

  As a result, fundus vein A1, fundus artery B1, fundus vein A2, fundus vein A3, fundus vein A4, and fundus artery B2 were photographed. The fundus artery B1 and the fundus artery B2 could be observed up to the inside of the blood vessel.

  On the other hand, light in the near-infrared region was emitted from the second light source, converted into linearly polarized light by the first polarizing filter device, and irradiated to the fundus, thereby obtaining a fundus image of the blood vessel at the same location as in FIG. The result is shown in FIG. The left side of the figure is a photographic diagram in which the upper fundus image in contact with the optic nerve head is in gray scale, and the right side is a sketch image thereof.

  As a result, the fundus vein A1, the fundus artery B2, the fundus vein A4, and the fundus artery B2 could be confirmed, and the fundus vein A2 and the fundus vein A3 observed by visible light photography in FIG. 8 were not observed. The fundus artery B1, the fundus vein A4, and the fundus artery B2 were observed up to the inside of the blood vessel. As a result, it was confirmed that the internal information on the surface of the fundus could be analyzed.

  Next, similarly to the above, the optic nerve head was also observed. For the optic disc, circularly polarized light was used instead of linearly polarized light.

  First, light in the visible region is emitted from the first light source. In particular, the fundus image of the optic nerve head is obtained by observing the fundus with light in the visible region without modulation by the first polarizing filter device and the second polarizing filter device. It was. The result is shown in FIG. The left side of the figure is a photographic diagram in which the upper fundus image in contact with the optic disc is gray scale.

  On the other hand, light in the near-infrared region is emitted from the second light source, linearly polarized by the first polarizing filter device, further circularly polarized by the 1 / 4λ wavelength plate, and then irradiated to the fundus. A fundus image of the optic disc at the same location was obtained. The results are shown in FIGS. FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show the case where circularly polarized light whose rotation directions are opposite to each other is irradiated, and FIG. 13 shows the fundus image when the eyeball is tilted 45 degrees in the case of FIG. 11 (clockwise circularly polarized light). FIG. 14 is a fundus image when the eyeball is tilted by −45 degrees in the case of FIG. 11 (clockwise circularly polarized light).

  According to these figures, the state of blood vessels and optic nerve heads differs depending on the rotation direction of circularly polarized light, the rotation angle of the eyeball, etc., and the fundus image by the light in the near infrared region differs, making it possible to observe from various viewpoints. It was. In particular, in the case of the above-mentioned optic papilla, the optic papilla (the part in the center that is slightly white), in the case of the fundus image by the light in the visible region, the boundary of the deep part of the optic papilla was difficult to understand, but by the light in the near infrared region In the case of the fundus image, it was confirmed that it was possible to clearly observe even the deep sieve plate, and various states could be confirmed depending on the angle of the eyeball and the polarization direction. This is expected to be useful for early detection of glaucoma, for example.

  As described above, according to the fundus examination, it is possible to select light in the visible region and the near infrared region, and it has been confirmed that not only the fundus surface but also internal information can be analyzed in detail at the same place.

  The present invention has industrial applicability as a fundus oculi observation device.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fundus observation apparatus, 2 ... 1st light source, 3 ... 2nd light source, 4 ... 1st polarizing filter apparatus, 5 ... imaging | photography apparatus, 6 ... 2nd polarizing filter apparatus, 7 ... 3rd light source, 8 ... Wavelength selection filter

Claims (7)

A first light source that emits light in the visible region;
A second light source that emits light in the near infrared region;
A first polarizing filter device that polarizes light of the second light source device;
A fundus oculi observation device comprising: an imaging device that images light from the first light source device and light from the second light source device.   The fundus oculi observation device according to claim 1, further comprising a second polarization filter device that causes a specific polarization component of the polarized light to be incident on the imaging device.   The fundus oculi observation device according to claim 1, wherein the polarizing filter device converts the second light into linearly polarized light or circularly polarized light.   The fundus observation device according to claim 1, wherein the light in the visible region is in a range of 460 nm or more and 720 nm or less.   The fundus oculi observation device according to claim 1, wherein the light in the near infrared region is in a range of 720 nm to 900 nm. A light source that emits light in the visible and near infrared regions;
A wavelength selective filter for extracting light in the visible region or light in the near infrared region from the light of the light source;
A first polarizing filter device that polarizes the light;
A fundus oculi observation device comprising: an imaging device that images the light. The fundus oculi observation device according to claim 6, further comprising a second polarizing filter device that causes a specific polarization component of the polarized light to be incident on the imaging device.