Macular pigment measurements
US7441896B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B3/14
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus for use in measuring the density and spatial distribution of macular pigment in an eye comprises a camera (4) for capturing a color image of an eye, at least one filter (36) for filtering light reaching the camera (preferably by filtering the light illuminating the eye). The filter (36) has a transmission spectrum with one peak in the region of light absorbed by the pigment and another peak in a region where no such absorption occurs. The filter increases the sensitivity of the camera to macular pigment while enabling the effect of other pigments to be reduced or eliminated. A method of measuring macular pigment involves obtaining a color image of an eye, the image having two color components each having a spectrum having a respective one of said peaks. Corresponding portions of the components are mathematically combined so as to provide a measurement of macular pigment density and the results of the combination are used to provide an output representative of the contribution of macular pigment to the image.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.