Method for quantifying optical properties of the human lens
US5894340A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 13, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 6, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B3/10
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Method for quantifying optical properties of the human lens. The present invention includes the application of fiberoptic, OMA-based instrumentation as an in vivo diagnostic tool for the human ocular lens. Rapid, noninvasive and comprehensive assessment of the optical characteristics of a lens using very modest levels of exciting light are described. Typically, the backscatter and fluorescence spectra (from about 300- to 900-nm) elicited by each of several exciting wavelengths (from about 300- to 600-nm) are collected within a few seconds. The resulting optical signature of individual lenses is then used to assess the overall optical quality of the lens by comparing the results with a database of similar measurements obtained from a reference set of normal human lenses having various ages. Several metrics have been identified which gauge the optical quality of a given lens relative to the norm for the subject's chronological age. These metrics may also serve to document accelerated optical aging and/or as early indicators of cataract or other disease processes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.