Non-invasive measurement of tear volume systems and methods
US7520609B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 18, 2006 |
| Grant date | Apr 21, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 20, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2009/0088
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Devices systems, and methods can measure, diagnose and/or characterize an eye of a patient, including physiologic and optical properties, such as hydration and tear volume in relation to an optical surface of the eye, including topography of a corneal surface of the eye and/or a wavefront elevation map of the eye. The system forms an image of a tear meniscus along an eyelid. The eye can be illuminated so that the meniscus appears as a dark band in the image. Tear volume can be determined by measuring a height across the tear meniscus. The tear volume can be used to determine the optical properties of the tear of the eye and to diagnose conditions of the eye. The patient can be screened for treatment of the eye with refractive surgery using a measured pupil size, hydration and topography and/or wavefront.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.