Systems and methods for enabling customers to obtain vision and eye health examinations
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10762994-B2
Publication Date
2020-09-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for eye health and vision examinations. A customer diagnostic center is configured to generate customer examination data pertaining to an examination of a customer's eye. The customer diagnostic center provides a user interface for communicating with a customer and ophthalmic equipment for administering tests to the customer. A diagnostic center server is configured to receive the customer examination data from the customer diagnostic center over a network and allow the customer examination data to be accessed by an eye-care practitioner. A practitioner device associated with the eye-care practitioner is configured to receive the customer examination data from the diagnostic center server and display at least a portion of the customer examination data to the eye-care practitioner. Customer evaluation data is generated pertaining to the eye-care practitioner's evaluation of the customer examination data. An eye health report is provided to the customer via the network.
Core Innovation
A diagnostic center for providing a remotely assisted eye examination includes ophthalmic equipment comprising a set of instruments, with at least a portion coupled to an equipment controller configured to receive commands over a network. The system enables remote control of the ophthalmic equipment by multiple individuals during the eye examination, and the ophthalmic equipment located at the diagnostic center includes an auto-phoropter. During the eye examination, the equipment controller enables control of the auto-phoropter as part of administering one or more tests.
The system establishes a first connection between the diagnostic center and a first remote device over the network, providing real-time video conferencing between a first remote individual and a customer. The first connection enables the first remote individual to transmit commands over the network to remotely switch one or more lenses of the auto-phoropter. The system also establishes a second connection between the diagnostic center and a second remote device over the network, providing real-time video conferencing between a second remote individual and the customer, and enabling the second remote individual to transmit commands over the network to remotely control the auto-phoropter.
With remote assistance from both the first remote individual and the second remote individual, the system facilitates administration of the eye examination to the customer, including one or more tests and enabling a subjective refraction to be administered to the customer located at the diagnostic center. Evaluation data associated with the eye examination is generated based at least in part on at least one of the first remote individual's and the second remote individual's review of the one or more tests.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are clm-00001 (system) and clm-00010 (method). Each independent claim centers on the same core inventive setup: a diagnostic center with network-controlled ophthalmic equipment including an auto-phoropter, multiple remote individuals using real-time video conferencing connections to remotely control the auto-phoropter, conducting tests with enabled subjective refraction, and generating evaluation data based on the remote individuals’ review.
Multi-individual network remote control of an auto-phoropter in a diagnostic center
A diagnostic center including ophthalmic equipment coupled to an equipment controller receiving commands over a network to enable remote control of the ophthalmic equipment by multiple individuals during the eye examination, wherein the ophthalmic equipment includes an auto-phoropter.
Dual real-time video conferencing connections enabling remote auto-phoropter lens switching and control
A first connection over the network providing real-time video conferencing between a first remote individual and a customer and enabling the first remote individual to transmit commands to remotely switch one or more lenses of the auto-phoropter; and a second connection over the network providing real-time video conferencing between a second remote individual and the customer and enabling the second remote individual to transmit commands to remotely control the auto-phoropter.
Remote-assisted administration of tests with subjective refraction
With remote assistance from both the first remote individual and the second remote individual, administration of the eye examination to the customer including one or more tests, wherein the equipment controller enables both the first remote individual and second remote individual to control the auto-phoropter during the one or more tests and enables a subjective refraction to be administered to the customer located at the diagnostic center.
Evaluation data based on remote individuals’ review of the tests
Generating evaluation data associated with the eye examination based, at least in part, on at least one of the first remote individual's and the second remote individual's review of the one or more tests administered to the customer.
Remotely assisted method implementing the same dual-remote auto-phoropter control and evaluation data generation
Administering the eye examination at a diagnostic center including ophthalmic equipment coupled to an equipment controller configured to receive commands over a network enabling remote control by multiple individuals during the eye examination, wherein the ophthalmic equipment includes an auto-phoropter; establishing first and second connections providing real-time video conferencing and command transmission for remote lens switching and control; administering with remote assistance from both remote individuals including one or more tests and subjective refraction; and generating evaluation data based at least in part on at least one of the first remote individual's and the second remote individual's review of the one or more tests.
Across the provided independent claims, coverage is centered on remote-assisted eye examination at a diagnostic center using an equipment controller to allow multiple remote individuals to participate via two real-time video conferencing connections, remotely control an auto-phoropter during tests, administer subjective refraction, and generate evaluation data based on the remote individuals’ review.
Stated Advantages
Enables remote assisted participation by multiple individuals during an eye examination with remote control of the auto-phoropter.
Supports real-time video conferencing between remote individuals and a customer during the eye examination.
Allows remote individuals to transmit commands to remotely switch one or more lenses of the auto-phoropter and to remotely control the auto-phoropter.
Generates evaluation data based at least in part on remote individuals’ review of tests.
Enables subjective refraction to be administered at the diagnostic center during the remotely assisted eye examination.
Documented Applications
Remotely assisted eye examination where multiple remote individuals participate using real-time video conferencing connections and remote control of an auto-phoropter during tests and subjective refraction.
Providing evaluation data that includes an optical prescription and/or a referral for further evaluation by an eye-care professional or specialist.
Applying remotely assisted eye examination workflows that include additional ophthalmic equipment such as an eye chart and, in some embodiments, preliminary testing using a lensometer or auto-refractor.
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