Illumination source and method for use with imaging device

The present specification generally relates to ophthalmic imaging systems and methods used in diagnosing and treating eye conditions, more specifically slit lamps, surgical microscopes, direct ophthalmoscopes, or inversion ophthalmoscopes. For imaging systems and methods.

A slit lamp is an instrument composed of a high-intensity light source, and the high-intensity light source can be focused to illuminate a patient's eye with a light beam. The slit lamp allows the practitioner to obtain an image of the selected structure in the patient's eye, which facilitates examination and diagnosis of the medical condition. Further, a laser supply device equipped with a slit lamp is generally used for laser phototherapy such as photocoagulation for a condition such as age-related macular degeneration.

According to one embodiment, the system receives a plurality of spatially separated color components, each of which is a plurality of spatially separated color components, each containing light of a different wavelength. Includes a first element that performs the focusing of a plurality of spatially separated color components on the first surface of the second element. The system also includes a second element having a first surface and a second surface, the second element receiving a plurality of color components through the first surface and the second surface. In addition, uniform light containing the plurality of color components in a mixed state is transmitted, and uniform light is emitted through the second surface.

Also, in one embodiment, the system includes a multicolor light source that produces a plurality of spatially separated color components. The multicolor light source may further include a plurality of light sources, each of which produces color components associated with individual wavelengths. The multicolor light source may also further include a control unit that controls the intensity of the color components generated by one or more of these light sources. The plurality of light sources may include a plurality of LED light sources.

In other embodiments, the plurality of light sources includes a first light source that produces a first color component associated with the red wavelength, a second light source that produces a second color component associated with the green wavelength, and blue. It includes a third light source that produces a third color component related to the wavelength and a fourth light source that produces a fourth color component related to the amber wavelength.

In one embodiment, the imaging system is a slit lamp. The second surface of the second element may provide a reference plane for the optical element of the imaging system. The optical element may be, for example, a lens or a mirror.

In another embodiment, the first element has a center point and a plurality of facets concentrically arranged around the center point. Each facet has an individual height, and the height of the facets varies based on the distance from the center point. In one embodiment, at least one facet has a vertical inner surface and a second surface having an inclined configuration.

According to other embodiments, methods are provided. A plurality of spatially separated color components are received by the first element. The first element focuses a plurality of spatially separated color components onto the first surface of the second element. The second element mixes a plurality of color components to produce uniform light containing a plurality of spatially separated color components in a mixed state. The second element emits uniform light through the second surface of the second element, where the second surface provides a reference plane for the optical element of the imaging system.

In one embodiment, a multicolor light source produces a plurality of spatially separated color components. It takes an input and changes the intensity of one of the first, second, and third color components based on this input. The imaging system may be, for example, a slit lamp.

According to another embodiment, the system is a first element comprising a light source configured to produce a plurality of spatially separated color components, a transmissive material and a plurality of facets, and the plurality of spaces. Includes a first element, which is configured to refract the separated color components onto the surface of the second element. The system is also a second element containing a transmissive material, configured to mix a plurality of color components to produce uniform light and provide this uniform light to a slit lamp. Includes a second element. The system also includes a slit lamp. The light source receives an input indicating a change in the intensity of one selected of a plurality of spatially separated color components, and based on this input, among a plurality of spatially separated color components. It is further configured to change the intensity of one of the selected ones and to do so. In one embodiment, the light source is a multicolor light source that includes a plurality of LED light sources.

In one embodiment, the first element comprises a focusing homogenizer and the second element comprises a focusing filament.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate these and other advantages of the present disclosure by reference to the "forms for carrying out the invention" and the accompanying drawings below.

<figref num="1">An exemplary imaging system is shown.</figref>

<figref num="2">The slit lamp system imaging system which concerns on one Embodiment is shown.</figref>

<figref num="3A">A three-color light source according to an embodiment is shown.</figref>

<figref num="3B">A four-color light source according to an embodiment is shown.</figref>

<figref num="4">The components of the focusing element according to one embodiment are shown.</figref>

<figref num="5">FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of each function performed by a multicolor light source, a focusing homogenizer, and a focusing filament according to an embodiment.</figref>

<figref num="6A">The focusing homogenizer according to one embodiment is shown.</figref>

<figref num="6B">A cross-sectional view of the focusing homogenizer of FIG. 6A is shown.</figref>

<figref num="6C">Figures 6A-6B show some facets of the focused homogenizer.</figref>

<figref num="6D">The light refracted on the focal plane by the focusing homogenizer shown in FIGS. 6A to 6B is shown.</figref>

<figref num="7A">The focused filament according to one embodiment is shown.</figref>

<figref num="7B">A cross-sectional view of the focused filament of FIG. 7A is shown.</figref>

<figref num="7C">An optical element of a focusing filament and a slit lamp according to an embodiment is shown.</figref>

<figref num="8">It is a flowchart of the method which concerns on one Embodiment.</figref>

<figref num="9">Illustrative computer components that can be used to implement certain embodiments of the invention are shown.</figref>

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary imaging system 100. The imaging system 100 includes a light source 115 and a slit lamp 105. The light source 115 produces the light used in the slit lamp 105. Further, the light source 115 may provide a reference plane for one or more optical elements of the optical system in the slit lamp 105. For example, the light source 115 may provide a reference plane for the lens or mirror in the slit lamp 105.

The slit lamp 105 may be any kind of commonly used slit lamp. For example, the slit lamp 105 may be SL-D7, which is a slit lamp manufactured by Topcon Corporation (location, Japan, Tokyo). Alternatively, other slit lamps such as Topcon's slit lamp SL-D3, Topcon's slit lamp SL-D4, Topcon's surgical microscope OMS-710, and Topcon's laser inversion ophthalmoscope. May be used. The use of slit lamps is known.

In many current slit lamp supply systems, a light source such as a halogen light source is used to generate white light, which is then flowed into the slit lamp via one or more optical fibers.

Since white light is used, the practitioner cannot precisely adjust the color of the light entering the slit lamp, which limits the range of observation that the practitioner can perform. For example, it may be advantageous to select and use the color of light in the observation of certain structures of the eye and / or certain medical conditions. Existing supply systems use one or more color filters to adjust the color of the light supplied to the eye, giving the specific appearance of the eye that may be difficult to visualize under white light. It is easy to observe. For example, filters may be used to remove infrared light, for example to produce red, blue, or green light. Even with filters, practitioners may not be able to obtain the desired level of precision in selecting the color of light used due to the limitations of currently available filters.

Improvements in observation and diagnosis are facilitated and beneficial by the use of slit lamps and imaging systems that allow practitioners to adjust one or more colors that enter the patient's eye much more easily and precisely. Will be.

An improved slit lamp imaging system according to an embodiment includes a slit lamp and a multicolor light source that produces a plurality of light components. The multicolor light source can be controlled to determine the color of the slit lamp and the light entering the patient's eye. In addition, the imaging system includes a focusing element that focuses and mixes different light components and emits uniform light for use in slit lamps.

FIG. 2 shows a slit lamp system imaging system 200 according to an embodiment. The imaging system 200 includes a slit lamp 205, a multicolor light source 230, and a focusing element 240.

The slit lamp 205 may be any kind of slit lamp. For example, the slit lamp 205 may be SL-D7, which is a slit lamp manufactured by Topcon (location, Japan, Tokyo). Alternatively, other slit lamps such as Topcon's slit lamp SL-D3, Topcon's slit lamp SL-D4, Topcon's surgical microscope OMS-710, and Topcon's laser inversion ophthalmoscope. May be used. Other types of slit lamps, or other feeders, or systems may be used.

The multicolor light source 230 includes a plurality of light sources, each of which produces a color component associated with a range of individual colors or wavelengths (eg, red, green, blue, amber, etc.). These color components produced by the multicolor light source 230 are spatially separated. For example, in one embodiment, the multicolor light source 230 includes a red light source, a green light source, and a blue light source, which are separated from each other by 0.1 millimeters. Therefore, the multicolor light source 230 produces three rays of red, green, and blue that are 0.1 millimeters apart from each other upon emission. Also, in other embodiments, the multicolor light source 230 may include a light source that produces invisible light components such as infrared or ultraviolet light.

The focusing element 240 receives and focuses the various light components generated by the multicolor light source 230, mixes the color components, and the various color components are in a mixed state (spatial separation). Produces light (not). The focusing element 240 emits uniform light containing mixed color components. The focusing element 240 also provides a reference plane for one or more optical elements of the slit lamp 220, such as a lens or mirror. Therefore, one or more optical elements of the slit lamp 220 can utilize this reference plane as a point light source. Multicolor light source

The multicolor light source 230 may have any number of light sources that produce spatially separated individual color components. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, the multicolor light source 230-A is an RGB light emitting diode (LED) light source. Thus, the multicolor light source 230-A is associated with a red LED light source 322, which produces light in the wavelength range associated with red, a green LED light source 324, which produces light in the wavelength range associated with green, and blue. Includes a blue LED light source 326, which produces light in the wavelength range. The wavelength range produced by each light source may vary.

Further, the multicolor light source 230-A includes a control unit 380-A and an interface 381-A. The control unit 380-A controls the red LED light source 322, the green LED light source 324, and the blue LED light source 326. Interface 381-A receives input from the practitioner. For example, interface 381-A is one or more buttons, dials, switches, or digital adjusters (eg, on a touch screen) that allow the practitioner to adjust the intensity of each light source 322, 324, 326. The indicator) may be included. For example, the control unit 380-A may turn on, turn off, or change the intensity of the light sources 322, 324, and 326 in response to the input from the practitioner. Therefore, the practitioner can select the desired combination of red, green, and blue wavelengths by adjusting the intensity of the light sources 322, 324, 326.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, the multicolor light source 230-B is an RGBA light emitting diode (LED) light source. Therefore, the multicolor light source 230-B includes a red LED light source 332, a green LED light source 334, a blue LED light source 336, and an amber LED light source 338.

In one embodiment, the red LED light source 332 produces light in the wavelength range associated with red, the green LED light source 334 produces light in the wavelength range associated with green, and the blue LED light source 336 is associated with blue. The amber LED light source 338 produces light in the wavelength range associated with amber.

Further, the multicolor light source 230-B includes a control unit 380-B and an interface 381-B. The control unit 380-B controls the red LED light source 332, the green LED light source 334, the blue LED light source 336, and the amber LED light source 338. Interface 381-B receives input from the practitioner. For example, interface 381-B is one or more buttons, dials, switches, or digital adjusters (eg, touch screens) that allow the practitioner to adjust the intensity of each light source 332, 334, 336, 338. The above indicator) may be included. For example, the control unit 380-B may turn on, turn off, or change the intensity of the light sources 332, 334, 336, 338 in response to the input from the practitioner. Thus, the practitioner may select the desired combination of red, green, blue, and amber wavelengths by adjusting the intensity of the light sources 332, 334, 336, 338.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the multicolor light sources 230-A and 230-B each include three or four LED light sources, whereas in other embodiments the multicolor light source 230 is an LED. It may contain less than three or more light sources in any color combination.

For convenience, the specific functions, features, and advantages of the multicolor light source 230 are described below with reference to the multicolor light source 230-B of FIG. 3B, although the following description is described in the multicolor light source 230- Equally applicable to A and other embodiments.

With reference to FIG. 3B, the light sources of each color of the multicolor light sources 230-B can be controlled independently in order to select the desired color for the light entering the patient's eyes. For example, the practitioner can adjust the red LED light source 332 to increase or decrease the red component of the light entering the patient's eyes.

Advantageously, multicolor light sources such as those shown in Figure 3B allow finer adjustments over the wavelength range that the patient's eye sees than existing systems. For example, adjusting the color / wavelength of light used in a slit lamp system can advantageously facilitate high contrast visualization of the retina. Also, adjusting the color / wavelength of the light used in the slit lamp system can advantageously facilitate visualization of drug interactions (when the drug is delivered to the retina). Further, such a multicolor light source may be cheaper and easier to use than an existing system because it is not necessary to use a filter and an adjustment mechanism.

Since each color component emitted by the multicolor light source 230-B is in a spatially separated state, the different color components produced by the different light sources are mixed to produce a uniform light that can be used by the slit lamp 220. It is desirable to do. Referring again to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the plurality of spatially separated color components generated by the multicolor light source 230 are received by the focusing element 240. The focusing element 240 mixes spatially separated color components to generate uniform light. Further, the focusing element 240 directs uniform light toward the slit lamp 205 and provides a reference plane for the optical system of the slit lamp 205. As used herein, a reference plane is defined as a plane in space, and optical elements such as lenses or mirrors are constructed such that light from the reference plane is focused on the focal plane. The reference plane is sometimes referred to as the object plane.

For example, referring to FIG. 3B, red light produced by a red LED light source 332, green light produced by a green LED light source 334, blue light produced by a blue LED light source 336, and produced by an amber LED light source 338. The amber light can be received by the focusing element 240 and mixed by the focusing element 240 to produce uniform light. The focusing element 240 emits uniform light toward the slit lamp 205. Focusing element

FIG. 4 shows the components of the focusing element 240 according to the embodiment. The focusing element 240 includes a focusing homogenizer 415 and a focusing filament 425.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of each function performed by the multicolor light source 230-B, the focusing homogenizer 415, and the focusing filament 425 according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is merely exemplary and should not be construed as being restricted to the components or functions of the components shown.

The multicolor light source 230-B produces a red component 510-R, a green component 510-G, a blue component 510-B, and an amber component 510-A. These color components may be emitted as separate rays, for example. These color components are transmitted, for example, through the air and received by the focused homogenizer 415. The focusing homogenizer 415 receives each color component 510 in a first spatially separated state. The focusing homogenizer 415 focuses these color components on the first surface of the focusing filament 425. In one embodiment, the focusing homogenizer 415 focuses these color components in such a way that each color component overlaps within a selected region of the first surface of the focusing filament 425. The focused filament 425 mixes the color components 510-R, 510-G, 510-B, and 510-A to produce uniform light (where these color components are in the second mixed state). is there). The focusing filament 425 emits uniform light through the second surface toward the slit lamp 205 as uniform light 520. As a result, the second surface of the focusing filament 425 can serve as a reference plane for one or more elements of the slit lamp 205 optics. For example, the slit lamp 205 may include one or more lenses, and the surface of the focusing filament 425 may provide a reference plane for the lenses disposed within the slit lamp 205.

The structures of the focusing homogenizer 415 and the focusing filament 425 are described in more detail below. Focus homogenizer

FIG. 6A shows the focusing homogenizer 415 according to one embodiment. Focusing homogenizer 415 includes a circular lens containing a transparent material. For example, the focusing homogenizer 415 may include glass, plastic, and the like. In one embodiment, the focused homogenizer 415 comprises a clear thermoplastic such as poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). In other embodiments, the focusing homogenizer 415 may contain other types of materials. In other embodiments, the focusing homogenizer 415 may have a different shape.

The focusing homogenizer 415 includes a continuous facet 632 similar to that found on Fresnel lenses. Fresnel lenses are known. In the embodiment of FIG. 6A, the facets 632 are concentrically arranged around a central point 629-P associated with the central axis of the focusing homogenizer 415. In other embodiments, the facets 632 may be arranged differently. Similar to the action of a Fresnel lens, the facet 632 refracts the incident light and focuses it on a defined focal point or focal plane. Specifically, the facet 632 corrects the spatial separation between each color component produced by the multicolor light source 230 so that these different color components overlap at a defined focal point or focal plane.

The focused homogenizer 415 is different from the Fresnel lens. Fresnel lenses generally focus most or all of the incident light at a center point. The surface of each facet of a Fresnel lens retains the curvature associated with the corresponding spherical or curved lens. In contrast, the surface of each facet 632 of the focusing homogenizer 415 does not retain the curvature associated with the corresponding curved lens and refracts light using the prism effect. Therefore, the surface of the facet 632 of the focusing homogenizer 415 may be, for example, flat or nearly flat.

FIG. 6B shows a cross-sectional view of the focusing homogenizer 415 of FIG. 6A. Focus homogenizer 415 includes a second surface 620 containing a first surface 610 and facets 632, and facets 632 contains inner facets 632-I and outer facets 632-O. Facets 632 are arranged concentrically around the central axis 629-A. The focusing homogenizer 415 has a diameter D and a thickness T. The thickness T of the focusing homogenizer 415 may vary. For example, in some embodiments, the focused homogenizer 415 may have a diameter D of 6 inches or less. In one embodiment, the focused homogenizer 415 has a diameter D of approximately 25 millimeters. The focusing homogenizer 415 may have other diameters, depending on the requirements of the optical visual system of the device used.

FIG. 6C shows some facets, including facets 632-I, according to the embodiments of FIGS. 6A-6B. Each facet 632 is defined by various features such as height, width and facet angle. For example, facet 632-I has a facet height h, a facet width W, and a facet angle α. Facets may have other features not shown in Figure 6C, such as radius, smoothness, and reflectance.

Each facet is further defined by the distance from the central axis 629-A. Referring to FIG. 6C, facet 632-I is at a distance df from centerline C (629). More specifically, the distance df represents the distance between the central axis 629-A and the innermost part of facet 632-I.

Referring to FIG. 6C, facet 632-I has a first inner surface S-1 and a second outer surface S-2. In this description, the inner surface of the facet is the surface closest to the central axis 629-A, and the outer surface is the surface of the facet farthest from the central axis 629-A. In an exemplary embodiment, the inner surface S-1 of facet 632-I is vertical and the outer surface S-2 has an inclined configuration.

In FIG. 6C, the inner surface S-1 of facet 632-I is vertical and the outer surface S-2 of facet 632-I is beveled, but other facets may be configured differently. In some examples where a facet with an inclined inner surface is adjacent to a facet with an inclined outer surface, these facets may be connected and may not have a vertical surface. In other embodiments, the facets have two beveled surfaces and may not have vertical surfaces.

In an exemplary embodiment, the surface of surface S-1 and the surface of surface S-2 are flat or nearly flat. The surfaces of the other facets are also flat or nearly flat.

In this discussion, the facet angle α of a particular facet is the angle between the facet surface S-1 of the facet and the facet surface S-2 of the facet. For a particular facet, the value of the facet angle α is negative if the inner surface S-1 is the inclined surface of the facet, and the facet angle α if the outer surface S-2 is the inclined surface of the facet. The value is positive.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the height of the facet 632 is changed. For example, the height of the facet 632 may be varied based on the distance of the facet from the central axis 629-A. In one embodiment, the height of the inner facet 632-I is lower than the height of the outer facet 632-O. The height of the facet 632 may be uniformly increased from the inner facet 632-I to the outer facet 632-O. In other embodiments, the height of the facet 632 may vary in a non-uniform manner, for example, according to a selected linear or non-linear function, or based on other factors.

The width of the facet 632 may vary. In one embodiment, the width of each facet 632 is less than the overlap diameter (defined as the diameter of the region on the focused filament 425 where each color component overlaps).

Similarly, the number of facets 632 may vary. Although FIGS. 6A-6C show embodiments with a certain number of facets, in other embodiments the focused homogenizer 415 has a different number of facets than shown. You may.

Specific dimensions and characteristics of the focusing homogenizer 415, such as facet height, facet width, facet angle, thickness T, diameter D, number of facets, facet arrangement and shape, are characteristics of the slit lamp system used, many used. It may be determined experimentally based on the color light source, the size of the focused area, and other factors. For example, the focusing homogenizer 415 may be designed and manufactured to work with a given multicolor light source and slit lamp system. Therefore, the number, size, and spacing of facets 632 are the characteristics of the multicolor light source 230, such as the number of colors / wavelengths produced, the spatial separation between wavelengths, and one or more lenses in a slit lamp. It may be selected based on the characteristics of the slit lamp 205 such as the size and position of the lens. In another example, facet 632 properties such as facet angle may be selected based on working distance, desired spot or ring size, possible manufacturing tolerances, number and spacing of grooves on the focusing homogenizer 415, etc. ..

FIG. 6D shows the focusing homogenizer 415 according to one embodiment, which refracts the rays 604 and 605 and focuses them on the focal plane 663. In this example, the rays 604 and 605 are focused on the focal point P (665).

Table 1 contains data defining the focused homogenizer 415 according to one embodiment. Each row in Table 1 contains data that defines one facet of focused homogenizer 415. Specifically, Table 1 shows (1) the facet angle α (in degrees), and (2) the facet distance that defines the distance between the central axis 629-A of the focusing homogenizer 415 and the innermost part of the facet. It contains four columns that specify df, (3) facet width W, and (4) facet angle α (in seconds).

In the embodiments defined in Table 1, all facets have a positive facet angle and thus have an inclined outer surface. In other embodiments, the facet angles may be selected and arranged in any combination. For example, in some embodiments, all facets may have a negative facet angle. In other embodiments, the facets of the focusing homogenizer may have any combination of positive and negative facet angles.<tables num="1"><img id="000003" he="230" wi="164" file="JP2017503584A_D0001.tif" img-format="tif" img-content="drawing" /></tables>Focusing filament

FIG. 7A shows the focusing filament 425 according to one embodiment. The focusing filament 425 contains a permeable material such as glass or plastic. Other materials may be used.

FIG. 7B shows a cross-sectional view of the focusing filament 425 of FIG. 7A. The focusing filament 425 includes a first surface 736 and a second surface 738.

The focusing filament 425 may be a lens having a size and shape selected to collect and mix the light produced by the focusing homogenizer 415 and emit the light into the slit lamp 205. The size and shape of the focusing filament 425 may be determined experimentally, for example, based on the type and configuration of the slit lamp 205.

In one embodiment, the focusing filament 425 is a zero-power lens. For example, in one embodiment, the focusing filament 425 is a transparent glass cylindrical component. In other embodiments, the focusing filament 425 may be another type of lens.

FIG. 7C shows the optical elements of the focusing filament and the slit lamp according to the embodiment. Referring to FIG. 7C, the focusing filament 425 emits a uniform light 785 to the optical element 771 of the slit lamp 205 through the second surface 738, for example, to focus the slit lamp 205. Is configured to maintain.

In other embodiments, the focusing homogenizer 415 and focusing filament 425 may be used to provide uniform light to other types of imaging systems. For example, the systems, devices, and methods described herein may be used to provide uniform light to any imaging system that uses focused light.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the method according to the embodiment. The methods summarized in FIG. 8 will be described below with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 3B and FIG.

In step 810, a plurality of spatially separated color components are generated by a multicolor light source. With reference to FIG. 3B and as shown in FIG. 5, light source 332 (of multicolor light source 230-B) produces a first color component 510-R with a wavelength associated with red, which is the light source. 334 produces a second color component 510-G with a wavelength associated with green, light source 336 produces a third color component 510-B with a wavelength associated with blue, and light source 338 produces amber. It produces a fourth color component 510-A with a color-related wavelength. As shown in FIG. 5, each color component 510-R, 510-G, 510-B, and 510-A are in a spatially separated state when generated by the light sources 332, 334, 336, 338.

In step 820, the input is received. For example, a practitioner who wishes to use red light to illuminate the patient's retina can turn the dial to increase the intensity of the red light produced by light source 332. The practitioner's input may be in the form of commands, choice choices, indicator or icon choices, signals and the like. The practitioner may also reduce the intensity of other wavelengths. Interface 381-B receives the practitioner's input, generates a control signal corresponding to such input, and transmits it to control unit 380-B. The control unit 380-B receives the control signal from the interface 381-B.

In step 830, the intensity of one or more of each color component is changed, or the intensity of any color component is not changed, based on the input. The control unit 380-B receives one or more control signals and, in response, controls the light source 332 to increase the intensity of the red light. In addition, the control unit 380-B may also control other light sources as appropriate in response to one or more control signals.

In step 840, a plurality of spatially separated color components are received by the first element. Seeing FIG. 5 again, the color components 510-R, 510-G, 510-B, and 510-A generated spatially separated by the multicolor light source 230-B were received by the focusing homogenizer 415. Is done.

In step 850, a plurality of spatially separated color components are focused on the first surface of the second element by the first element. The focusing homogenizer 415 focuses the color components 510-R, 510-G, 510-B, and 510-A onto the first surface 736 of the focusing filament 425. In one embodiment, the focusing homogenizer 415 focuses the various color components 510 onto the first surface 736 of the focusing filament 425 so that each color component overlaps within a selected region of the first surface 736. The diameter of the selected region may be referred to as the overlap diameter.

In step 855, the second element mixes a plurality of spatially separated color components to generate uniform light containing the plurality of spatially separated color components in a mixed state. Since each color component 510-R, 510-G, 510-B, and 510-A overlap on a selected region of the first surface 736, these multiple color components are mixed on the surface 736 of the focused filament. It becomes a state, and in a mixed state, it is transmitted from the first surface 736 to the second surface 738 in the focused filament 425.

In step 860, the second element emits uniform light through the second surface of the second element. Here, the second surface provides a reference plane for the lens of the imaging system. The color components 510-R, 510-G, 510-B, and 510-A are transmitted in a mixed state through the focused filament 425 to the second surface 738 and emitted as uniform light 520 through the surface 738. Will be done. In one embodiment, the second surface 738 serves as a reference plane for the lens (or mirror) in the slit lamp 205. FIG. 7C shows the optical element 771 of the focusing filament 725 and the slit lamp 205 according to one embodiment. In this example, the plurality of color components are received by the focused filament 425 via the first surface 736, as described above. These plurality of color components are transmitted from the first surface 736 to the second surface 738 in the focused filament 425 in a mixed state, and are emitted as uniform light 785 through the second surface 738. The optical element 771 may be, for example, a lens or mirror in the slit lamp 205, using the second surface 738 of the focusing filament 425 as a reference plane to receive uniform light 785.

In various embodiments, the steps of the method described herein, including the steps of the method described in FIG. 8, can be performed in a different order than the particular order described or shown. Is. In other embodiments, other steps may be provided or steps may be omitted from the methods described.

The systems, devices and methods described herein are one or more computers using digital circuits or using well-known computer processors, memory units, storage devices, computer software and other components. Can be implemented using. Typically, a computer includes a processor for executing instructions and one or more memories for storing instructions and data. The computer may also include one or more high capacity storage devices such as one or more magnetic disks, internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, optical disks, etc. It may be combined with these devices.

The systems, devices and methods described herein are implemented in information carriers for execution by programmable processors, eg, in non-temporary machine-readable storage devices, using tangibly embodied computer program products. The steps of the method described herein, including one or more steps of FIG. 8, can be performed using one or more computer programs that can be executed by such a processor. Can be implemented. A computer program is a set of computer program instructions that can be used directly or indirectly within a computer to perform an action or produce a result. Computer programs may be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and may be used, for example, as a stand-alone program or in a module, component, subroutine, or computing environment. It can be implemented in any format, such as another unit suitable for doing so.

An advanced block diagram of an exemplary computer that can be used to implement the systems, devices and methods described herein is shown in FIG. The computer 900 includes a processor 901 operably coupled to a data storage device 902 and a memory 903. Processor 901 controls the operation of the entire computer 900 by executing computer program instructions that define such operations. The computer program instructions may be stored in the data storage device 902 or in another computer readable medium, and may be loaded into the memory 903 when the computer program instructions are desired to be executed. Therefore, the steps of the method of FIG. 8 can be defined by the computer program instructions stored in the memory 903 and / or the data storage device 902, and the steps of these methods can be defined by the processor 901 that executes the computer program instructions. Can be controlled. For example, a computer program instruction can be implemented as computer executable code programmed by one of ordinary skill in the art to implement the algorithm defined by the steps of the method of FIG. Therefore, by executing these computer program instructions, processor 901 executes the algorithm defined by the steps of the method of FIG. The computer 900 also further comprises one or more network interfaces 904 for communicating with another device over the network. The computer 900 also comprises one or more input / output devices 905 (eg, display, keyboard, mouse, speaker, buttons, etc.) that allow user interaction with the computer 900.

The processor 901 can include both a general purpose microprocessor and a dedicated microprocessor, and the processor 901 may be the only processor of the computer 900 or one of a plurality of processors. Good. Processor 901 may include, for example, one or more central processing units (CPUs). Processor 901, data storage device 902 and / or memory 903 includes one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and / or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Or they may be complemented by or incorporated into them.

The data storage device 902 and the memory 903 each include a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The data storage device 902 and memory 903 may be dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR RAM), or other random. Each may include high speed random access memory such as an access type solid state storage device, and may also include one or more internal hard disks and magnetic disk storage devices such as removable disks, optical magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, etc. Semiconductor memory devices such as flash memory devices, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disks It may include read-only memory (DVD-ROM) disks or non-volatile memory such as other non-volatile solid state storage devices.

The input / output device 905 may include peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, display screens, and the like. For example, the input / output device 905 can provide a display device such as a brown tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor for displaying information to the user and the user can provide input to the computer 900. , Keyboards and pointing devices such as mice or trackballs.

Any or all of the systems and devices described herein, including the multicolor light source 230, control unit 380, interface 381, can be implemented using a computer such as computer 900.

Those skilled in the art may have different configurations of the actual computer or computer system implementation, and may include other components, and FIG. 9 shows such a computer for illustrative purposes. You will recognize that it is an advanced representation of some of the components of.

The embodiments for carrying out the above invention are intended to be exemplary in all respects and should not be understood as limiting the invention, and the scope of the invention disclosed herein is the invention. It should not be judged from the form for carrying out the above, but the scope of claims should be interpreted and judged according to the maximum range permitted by the patent law. The embodiments described and shown herein merely illustrate the principles of the invention, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and gist of the invention. It should be understood that it is a thing. One of ordinary skill in the art can implement a combination of various other features without departing from the scope and gist of the present invention.