Video Infrared Retinal Image Scanner

Abstract

A method of scanning a retinal image includes providing a light source, emitting radiation from the light source toward a beam splitter, focusing the radiation with a focusing lens on a retina, collecting radiation reflected by the retina with a camera, producing an image signal representative of a plurality of images of the retina based on the collected radiation, selecting one of the plurality of images of the retina for display from the image signal, displaying the selected image of the retina on a display, comparing the selected image of the retina to at least one of a plurality of images of retinas stored in the database that matches the selected image of the retina, and displaying the one of the matching image of the retina on the display along with the selected image of the retina.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A retinal image scanner, comprising:
 an infrared light source;   a beam splitter reflecting infrared radiation from the light source through one of a plurality of focusing lenses to a retina;   a camera collecting radiation reflected by the retina through the beam splitter;   an analog to digital convertor receiving a raw signal from the camera based on the collected radiation;   the analog to digital convertor converting the raw signal to a digital signal;   a streaming video converter processing the digital signal into a video signal; and   a video monitor displaying an image of the retina based on the video signal;   the retinal image scanner further comprising a video transmitter, the video transmitter transmitting the video signal to a computer over a network, the computer extracting a plurality of images from the video signal;   a comparator comparing at least one of the plurality of images with at least one of a plurality of stored images; and   a selector selecting one of the plurality of stored images that matches the one of the plurality of images.   
     
     
         2 . The retinal image scanner of  claim 1 , wherein the video monitor comprises a high-resolution liquid crystal display screen. 
     
     
         3 . The retinal image scanner of  claim 1 , wherein the light source further comprises a rheostat dimmer circuit, an infrared filter, and a focusing lens, the infrared filter substantially blocking visible and ultraviolet radiation, and the focusing lens focusing the infrared radiation from the light source on the beam splitter. 
     
     
         4 . The retinal image scanner of  claim 1 , further comprising a lithium ion battery power supply power to the light source. 
     
     
         5 . The retinal image scanner of  claim 1 , wherein the network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network, and a wireless network. 
     
     
         6 . The retinal image scanner of  claim 1 , wherein the computer comprises: a real-time video capture capturing images from the video signal, a black-and-white to color converter for converting the images to color, 3D rendering software, and a messaging system. 
     
     
         7 . The retinal image scanner of  claim 1 , further comprising a black and white to color converter scaling a plurality of wavelengths of the digital signal into a color signal, wherein the streaming video converter processes the color signal into the video signal. 
     
     
         8 . A method of scanning a retinal image, comprising:
 providing an infrared light source;   emitting infrared radiation from the infrared light source toward a beam splitter;   reflecting the infrared radiation with the beam splitter through a focusing lens;   focusing the infrared radiation with the focusing lens on a retina;   collecting radiation reflected by the retina through the beam splitter at a camera;   producing an image signal representative of a plurality of images of the retina with the camera based on the collected radiation;   selecting one of the plurality of images of the retina for display from the image signal;   displaying the selected image of the retina on display;   comparing the selected image of the retina to at least one of a plurality of images of retains stored in a database;   selecting one of the plurality of images of retinas stored in the database that matches the selected image of the retina; and   displaying the one of the matching image of the retina on the display along with the selected image of the retina.   
     
     
         9 . The method of scanning a retinal image of  claim 8 , further comprising converting the image signal into a color signal; and displaying a plurality of color images of the retina on the display.