Visual examination apparatus

Abstract

An automated visual examination apparatus for measuring visual sensitivity and mapping blind spot location including a projection system for displaying to a patient a series of visual stimuli, a response switch enabling him to indicate his reaction to the stimuli, and a recording system responsive to both the visual stimuli per se and the patient's responses, the recording system thereby providing a correlated permanent record of both stimuli and response from which a substantive and readily apparent visual evaluation can be made.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Visual examination apparatus, comprising: light receiving means including, a display screen for displaying visual stimuli to a patient, and photosensitive means .[.responsive to light and operative to generate binary coded decimal signals which control the meridian.]. .Iadd.positioned to receive coded images for generating binary coded decimal signals as a function of said coded images representative of the meridian .Iaddend.location.Iadd., .Iaddend..[.and.]. direction of .[.the stimulous image.]. .Iadd.movement and on-off status of the stimulus images; .Iaddend.   light projecting means for projecting stimulus images onto said signal display screen, and for projecting .[.control.]. .Iadd.said coded .Iaddend.images commensurate with said stimulus images onto said photosensitive means; .Iadd.   said stimulus projecting means including means for sequentially projecting onto said display screen a continuously moving light image as an interrupted random trace in a pre-determined direction along a pre-determined meridian, said direction and meridian being automatically selected by means of a pre-set vision testing program and without active interaction with the patient being tested; .Iaddend.   .[.said light projecting means including means for projecting light through a flimstrip containing said stimulus images and said control images and onto said light receiving means;.].   patient response means for developing response signals commensurate with said visual stimuli as perceived by said patient;   means responsive to said .[.stimuli signals.]. .Iadd.binary coded decimal signals .Iaddend.and said response signals and operative to develop recorder control signals; and   a recorder responsive to said recorder control signals and operative to provide a comparable record of said visual stimuli and the patient response corresponding thereto.   
     
     
       2. Visual examination apparatus as recited in claim 1 and further comprising means for projecting .[.one or more.]. .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.fixed position fixation .[.images.]. .Iadd.image .Iaddend.onto said display screen. 
     
     
       3. Visual examination apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means responsive to said signals includes electronic control circuitry responsive to said .[.stimuli.]. .Iadd.binary coded decimal .Iaddend.signals and said response signals and operative to develop a first set of said recorder control signals, said control circuitry being further responsive to said .[.stimuli.]. .Iadd.binary coded decimal .Iaddend.signals to develop a second set of said recorder control signals. 
     
     
       4. Visual examination apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said recorder includes a pair of trace developing means responsive to said first set of control signals, and positioning means responsive to said second set of control signals and operative to position said trace developing means. 
     
     
       5. Visual examination apparatus as recited in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.6 .Iaddend.wherein .[.said light projecting means.]. .Iadd.said means for displaying .Iaddend.includes a cathode ray tube and programmable means for driving said cathode ray tube in accordance with a test program. .Iadd.6. Visual examination apparatus, comprising: means for displaying visual stimuli on a display screen to a patient;   said means for displaying visual stimuli including means for sequentially projecting onto said display screen a continuously moving interrupted random trace of a light image in a pre-determined direction along a pre-determined meridian, and means for automatically selecting the direction and meridian without interaction with the subject, said means including an already prepared vision testing program;   means for simultaneously generating electrical stimuli signals representative of the meridian location and direction of stimulus images;   patient response means for developing response signals commensurate with said visual stimuli as perceived by said patient;   means comprising electronic control circuitry responsive to said stimuli signals and said response signals and operative to develop concurrent recorder control signals therefor, and   a recorder responsive to said recorder signals including independent dual trace producing means and operative to provide a comparable record of said visual stimuli and the patient response corresponding thereto. .Iaddend..Iadd.7. Visual examination apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for displaying includes:   a filmstrip containing stimulus images and coded images, a display screen, and a projector for projecting said stimulus images onto said display screen and said coded images onto said means for generating electrical stimuli signals. .Iaddend..Iadd.8. Visual examination apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for displaying includes:   light receiving means including a display screen for displaying visual stimuli to a patient, and photosensitive means for generating binary coded decimal signals representative of the meridian location and direction of stimulus images; and   light projecting means for projecting stimulus images onto said display screen, and for projecting coded images commensurate with said stimulus images onto said photosensitive means. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. Visual examination apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said electronic control means is operative to develop first and second sets of recorder control signals and said dual trace producing means is actuated in response to said first set of control signals and positioned in response to said second set of controls signals. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. Visual examination apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said electronic control means is operative to develop first and second sets of recorder control signals and said dual trace producing means is actuated in response to said first set of control signals and positioned in response to said second set of controls signals. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. Visual examination apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said   light projecting means includes a filmstrip containing stimulus images and control images. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. Visual examination apparatus as recited in claim 6 and further comprising at least one visual fixation cross projector. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. A visual examination apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said programmable means includes a digital computer. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. A visual examination apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said programmable means includes a video tape player. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. A visual examination apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said programmable means includes a punched paper tape player. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. Visual examination apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said response means includes switch button means to be depressed by the patient when the stimulus image is not observed on the display screen and released when it is observed on the said screen. .Iaddend.