Michael Zelina

US Patent:

8215774, Jul 10, 2012

Filed:

Apr 1, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/798324

Inventors:

Donald R. Korb - Boston MA, US
William L. Weber - Olivebridge NY, US
Randal B. Chinnock - Southbridge MA, US
Benjamin T. Gravely - Raleigh NC, US
Stephen M. Grenon - Durham NC, US
Michael Zelina - Lakewood OH, US

Assignee:

TearScience, Inc. - Morrisville NC

International Classification:

A61B 3/14
A61B 3/10

US Classification:

351206, 351205, 351221

Abstract:

Ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for measuring a tear film layer thickness (TFLT) of the ocular tear film, including lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT). The measured TFLT can be used to diagnosis dry eye syndrome (DES). In certain disclosed embodiments, a multi-wavelength light source can be controlled to illuminate the ocular tear film. Light emitted from the multi-wavelength light source undergoes optical wave interference interactions in the tear film. An imaging device can be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture optical wave interference interactions of specularly reflected light from the tear film combined with a background signal(s) in a first image. The imaging device can also be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture a second image containing the background signal(s) present in the first image. The second image can be subtracted from the first image to reduce and/or eliminate the background signal(s) in the first image to produce a resulting image.

US Patent:

20100259723, Oct 14, 2010

Filed:

Apr 1, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/798326

Inventors:

Donald R. Korb - Boston MA, US
William L. Weber - Olivebridge NY, US
Randal B. Chinnock - Southbridge MA, US
Benjamin T. Gravely - Raleigh NC, US
Stephen M. Grenon - Durham NC, US
Michael Zelina - Lakewood OH, US

Assignee:

TearScience, Inc. - Morrisville NC

International Classification:

A61B 3/14

US Classification:

351206

Abstract:

Ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for measuring a tear film layer thickness (TFLT) of the ocular tear film, including lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT). The measured TFLT can be used to diagnosis dry eye syndrome (DES). In certain disclosed embodiments, a multi-wavelength light source can be controlled to illuminate the ocular tear film. Light emitted from the multi-wavelength light source undergoes optical wave interference interactions in the tear film. An imaging device can be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture optical wave interference interactions of specularly reflected light from the tear film combined with a background signal(s) in a first image. The imaging device can also be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture a second image containing the background signal(s) present in the first image. The second image can be subtracted from the first image to reduce and/or eliminate the background signal(s) in the first image to produce a resulting image. The resulting image can be processed and analyzed to measure a tear film layer thickness (TFLT), including lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT).